A SYSTEM OF SIGNAL FLAGS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Ward, of the City of Auburn, in the
County of Cayuga and State of New York, one of the United States of
T
T
2
97
Sealed the 22nd May 1860, and dated the 23rd November 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Ward
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 23rd November 1859.
I, WILLIAM HENRY WARD, of the City of Auburn, in the County of Cayuga
and State of New York, one of the United States of North America, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "A SYSTEM OF SIGNAL FLAGS," to
be as follows:-
This Invention consists in a system or series of "signal flags," made in
pennant form of not more than three colors, in manner following:
Three flags are each of one color respectively, and six flags are of two colors,
each divided transversely, and six other flags are likewise of two colors each,
with one of the colors repeated in the same flag divided transversely, and six
other flags more (may be added), having but two colors each, with their colors
divided longitudinally, and yet other six flags (may be added) of the tri

page_text: color, each divided transversely. The colors used are those nearest that of the
"rainbow," which in combination with their form and division of color they
are distinguishable one from the other any distance seen, whether extended by
the breeze or drooping in a calm.
I do not confine myself to any given number of flags to form a series of 5
signal flags; but what I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters
Patent, is the division of color in the flags, and not useing more than three
colors in combination with their form, as set forth.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Henry Ward in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 23rd May 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HENRY WARD, of the City of Auburn, in the County of Cayuga and State of
New York, one of the United States of North America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Henry Ward, Her special licence that I, the said
William Henry Ward, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Henry Ward, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "A SYSTEM OF SIGNAL FLAGS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Henry Ward, my executors or administra-
tors, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Henry Ward, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the sanie
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the

page_text: following statement, in which the accompanying Drawing represents "the
flags" that constitute this Invention.
The flags, as shown in the Drawing, are twenty-seven in number, in which
Fig. 1 represents them as seen when extended by the breeze, and Fig. 2
represents them as seen when drooping in a calm. By the use of three colors
in combination with their form, eighteen changes are made with but two colors
in the same flag, while six have the tri-color each, and the remaining three
are of one color each respectively.
In order to point out the advantages and merits of this arrangement of
colors in signal flags, a brief description of existing systems is necessary for
comparison, which in the heretofore existing systems have flags in their various.
series of many colors; or when but two colors are used in the same flag, one-
or both are repeated, or symbols of small area introduced, whereby the flag:
is divided into a number of small spaces, with a limited area of space to eaclu
color or symbol respectively, thereby diminishing the distance the flag can be
distinguished when extended by the breeze; but if drooping in a calm (or
wet), it is scarcely distinguishable by the person making the signal, as in a
drooping position, the folds of the flag cover or screen some of the symbols or
colors from observation, thereby making the signal undistinguishable, which in
critical times or positions might lead to consequences the most serious; or
when white is introduced in any of the flags of the series, its distinctness is
lost when displayed in front of white clouds or sails. The great desideratum
in a system of signal flags is to combine perfect accuracy in communicating
the signal with the greatest attainable simplicity.
In order to prevent
mistakes there should not be the slightest possibility of one flag being taken
for any other of the series. Each flag should have its distinctive colors or
symbobs so clearly arranged, and differing from all the others, that, under, all
circumstances, at the greatest distance the flag can be seen, it can be
clearly distinguished, extended or drooping.
The object of my improvements in signal flags is to overcome existing diffi-
culties and objections of signal flags in use. And my Invention for effecting
the same consists in the use of but three colors (that present the strongest
contrast to each other and distinguishable the greatest distances by day,
under ordinary circumstances), in combination with the pennant form of flag
(whether made sharp, round, or square pointed), whereby twenty-seven dif-
ferent flags are produced of the same form and size without the repetition of
any color in the same flag for twenty-one of their number, or more than three
divisions of color in any one flag of the entire series or number, and allotting

page_text: to each division of color in the same flag an equal area of space respectively,
thereby giving range and distinctness to the signal, as the flags and colors in
the flags are distinguishable one from the other in any position or distance
seen, whether extended by the breeze or drooping in a calm.
By referring to the accompanying Drawing forming part of this Specifica-
tion, it will be seen that three of these flags are one color each respectively;
six others of two colors each (without a division of color in the same flag); and
six others of two colors each, with one of the colors in the same flag divided;
and six others of three colors each, all of which have their colors divided
transversely with the flag (wherein therein is a division of color). The remain-
ing six flags are of two colors each, with their colors divided longitudinally
with the flag, and are in like manner distinguishable when drooping, as shown
in the Drawing, Fig. 2. The advantages these flags possess is, that their
division of color, in combination with their form, is such that they are distin-
guishable in all positions any distance seen, and exceed in number the letters
of the alphabet, which adapts them for all purposes and systems for time to
come, as the numerals and letters of the alphabet can be designated by a
single flag.
By a reference to printed lithograph plates of these flags, and entered at
Stationers' Hall in January 1860, it will be seen that selections have been
made to form some of their number into series for the numerical or cypher
alphabet systems, with one of their number as an indicating flag to indicate or
designate the system by which the signal will be made, with an answering and
repeating flag, thereby adapting themselves to any code in use of whatever
language, government, or nation. The flags comprising this Invention are in
number sufficient to indicate all the letters of the alphabet in the English lan-
guage respectively, and makes them applicable for spelling, or any increase of
indicating letters that may be required for the cypher alphabet system, thereby
anticipating the wants of commerce.
I do not confine myself to any color, set of colors, form, shape, or number of
flags that may be required to form a series or serieses, system or systems for
signal purposes; but to three colors in combination with the pennant form of
flag (whether made sharp, round, or square pointed), with their colors divided
transversely and longitudinally with the flag as set forth. When selections of
these flags are made exceeding three in number for signal purposes, it will be
considered as an infringement on the rights, interests, and emoluments of this
Invention, and any such infringement will be held liable for damage under the
Patent Laws (Amendment Act) of any Government wherever patented.

page_text: Having thus fully described the nature of my Invention, what I claim
therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-
First, the arrangement of colors in the flags in combination with their form,
as described, for the purposes set forth.
Second, the use of any number of these flags to form, constitute, or complete
a series for signal purposes.
Third, the use of these flags, or any number thereof required to form
"A System of Signal Flags," applicable to any code or system in use, or here-
after to be used, with new codes for marine or other signals by day.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Ward, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of May, A.D. One
thousand eight hundred and sixty.