IMPROVEMENTS IN GIVING SIGNALS AND SOUNDING ALARUMS AT DISTANT PLACES BY MEANS OF ELECTRIC CURRENTS
Year: 1840

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME I CHARLES
WHEATSTONE of Conduit Street Hanover Square in the County of Middlesex
Esquire for myself and for WILLIAM FOTHERGILL COOKE of Sussex Cottage
Slough in the County of Berks Esquire send greeting.
WHEREAS we the said Charles Wheatstone and William Fothergill
Cooke did by Petition humbly represent unto Her present most Excellent
Majesty Queen Victoria that after considerable application and expence we
had invented "IMPROVEMENTS IN GIVING SIGNALS AND SOUNDING ALARUMS AT
DISTANT PLACES BY MEANS OF ELECTRIC CURRENTS" and Her said Majesty being.
willing to give encouragement to all arts and inventions which may be for
the public good was graciously pleased by Her Royal Letters Patent under
the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland bearing
date at Westminster the Twenty-first day of January One thousand eight
hundred and forty in the third year of Her reign for Herself Her heirs
and successors to give and grant unto us the said Charles Wheatstone and
William Fothergill Cooke our executors administrators and assigns Her
especial licence full power sole privilege and authority that we or they
by ourselves or themselves or by our or their deputies servants or agents or
such others as we or they should agree with and no others during the term of
fourteen years from the date of the said Letters Patent should and lawfully
might make use exercise and vend our said Invention within that part of
Her said Majesty's Dominions called England Her Dominion of Wales
10131-3

page_text: 4
and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed in such manner as to us our executors
administrators and assigns shall seem meet and as that we or they shall
enjoy the whole profit and advantage arising by reason of the said Invention
during the said term of fourteen years and for that end Her said Majesty
requires and strictly commands all Her subjects whatsoever within England,
Wales and Berwick-upon-Tweed aforesaid that they shall not neither directly
or indirectly make use or put in practice our said Invention or any part
thereof nor in anywise counterfeit imitate or resemble the same nor make
any addition thereto or subtraction therefrom whereby to pretend himself or
themselves to be the inventor or inventors thereof. And whereas the said
Letters Patent contain a proviso obliging us the said Charles Wheatstone
and William Fothergill Cooke particularly to describe and ascertain the
nature of our said Invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals or under the
hand and seal of one of us and to cause the same to be enrolled in Her
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar mouths next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent as in
and by the same (reference being thereunto had) will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE that in compliance with the said proviso I the said
Charles Wheatstone for myself and for the said William Fothergill Cooke
do hereby declare that our said Invention is described and ascertained in
manner following and by the aid of the four Sheets of Drawings hereunto
annexed that is to say
Whereas a former Patent was granted to us the said Charles Wheatstone
and William Fothergill Cooke by His late Majesty King William the Fourth
bearing date at Westminster the Twelfth day of June One thousand eight
hundred and thirty-seven for improvements in giving signals and sounding
alarums in distant places by means of electric currents transmitted through
metallic circuits and whereof the Specification stands enrolled in the Chapel
of the Rolls and in that Specification it was explained amongst other matters
how the attractive force of occasional or temporary magnetism which may
be excited in masses of iron (that are not magnets of themselves) by electric
currents conducted in suitable spiral convolutions around such masses
could be applied for giving signals and for sounding alarums at distant
places our present improvements are for the most part further and improved
means of applying the said attractive force of occasional magnetism for such
purposes.
I shall first describe certain apparatus or mechanism which is constructed

page_text: according to our said improvements and then at the conclusion of this
our Specification I shall point out the particular improvements whereof
the exclusive use is granted to us by the said Letters Patent.
An apparatus capable of giving signals and sounding alarums is represented
in Sheet I. of the Drawings hereunto annexed. One such apparatus is to be
situated at one of the distant places and another like apparatus at the other
of the distant places between which communication of the nature of telegraphic
intelligence is to be carried on by giving signals and sounding alarums by means
of electric currents transmitted through two long metallic wires extending from
one of the distant places to the other and forming a metallic circuit in the
manner fully explained in our said former Specification that is to say the
said two long conducting wires or telegraphic wires forming a continuity of
metal and being kept insulated one from the other (although laid close side
by side) if the end of one of the two wires is brought in contact with one
pole of a voltaic battery and the end of the other wire with the contrary
pole of the same battery the two distant ends of both the wires being con-
joined with metallic contact then the two wires will form what is called
a metallic circuit through the whole length of which an electric current will
be transmitted in consequence of a continual transmission of electric action
which as soon as such circuit is formed begins to proceed from one pole of the
battery along or through all the length of one wire and then back again
through all the length of the other wire with a very great velocity of trans-
mission in order to return to the other pole of the same battery the electric
current thereby performing a circuit from the battery and back again thereto
and providing the battery is kept in working order the said electric current
or transmission of electric action in a circuit will continue without interruption
or cessation so long as the metallic circuit is maintained that is so long
as the aforesaid contacts of the ends of the two wires with the two poles
of the battery (and so long as the continuity of metal throughout the whole
length of the two wires and at their distant ends) is continued. And if one of
the said long conducting wires is coiled spirally to form a great number of
convolutions around a mass of soft iron although the same is not magnetic
magnetism will be excited in such mass whenever an electric current is
transmitted through the said circuit and convolutions and by such occasional
or temporary magnetism another small piece of iron being suitably disposed
may be attracted and drawn towards the first-mentioned mass with a suffi-
cient force and motion to give a small action to some suitable mechanism
but if either or both the ends of the two wires are disconnected from the pole,
or poles of the battery or if the wires are disconnected one from the other at

page_text: their distant ends or in short if the continuity of. metal throughout the
circuit is broken at any part thereof then the electric current will cease to be
transmitted whereupon the said occasional or temporary magnetismṁ will
cease also and consequently the aforesaid small piece of iron which was
previously attracted by such magnetism as aforesaid being no longer attracted
may retreat from the said mass of soft iron by the reaction of some small
weight or spring which is suitably applied so as to be always operative on the
said small piece of iron with a slight tendency to draw the same away from
the mass of soft iron. But when occasional or temporary magnetism is
excited therein then the attractive force of that magnetism will overcome the
said tendency so as to give motion to the small picce of iron in manner above
stated but on the cessation of the magnetism the reacting spring or weight
will give a contrary motion to the same piece of iron. And in our said
former Specification the action so produced by the attractive force of occa-
sional or temporary magnetism and the reaction consequent upon the cessa-
tion of such magnetism was described as being applied to the sounding of
alarums in distant places. But the chief object of our present improvements
is to obtain (by various means now about to be described) a sufficient diversity
of signals from successive alternatious of such action and reaction for car-
rying on a telegraphic communication of intelligence by means of such
signals between distant places where duplicates of the apparatus are
situated with the two (or in some cases three) long conducting or telegraphic
wires extended from one apparatus to the other. The mechanism which we
employ for obtaining diversity of signals is of the nature of clockwork and
in its simplest form may be described as containing parts answering to the
escapement wheel of a clock with its axis and the seconds' hand fixed on that
axis for pointing out seconds on the dial plate. Let the said dial plate be
divided into twenty-four or thirty or other suitable number of divisions
(instead of sixty as is usual for seconds) and let each division be numbered or
lettered with those characters which are to be used for signals; the escape-
ment wheel having twelve or fifteen teeth that is half as many teeth as the
number of divisions and characters on the dial also let any suitable kind of
pallets of an escapement or driver and clawker be applied to the teeth of the
wheel with the small piece of iron before mentioned connected with the said
pallets or driver and clawker in any such manner as that whenever the said
piece of iron is moved in manner already mentioned by the attractive force of
the occasional or temporary magnetism that is excited by the transmission of
an electric current through the metallic circuit which is formed as aforesaid
the said motion of the piece of iron shall then cause the wheel to be turned

page_text: round a space just equal
one half tooth whereby the hand will be moved
away from one division and character on the dial plate and carried forward to
point to the next adjacent division and character thereon also that whenever
by cessation of such magnetism consequent on breaking the circuit the said
piece of iron returns or moves in a contrary direction by reaction of its
aforesaid weight or spring such returning motion shall cause the wheel to be
turned round a space just equal to another half tooth whereby the hand
will be moved forwards to point to another succeeding division and character
on the dial. This being premised it may be understood that an apparatus
so constructed may be placed at each of the distant places between which
telegraphic communication is to be carried on having two long conducting or
telegraphic wires exténding from one such apparatus to the other and one
of those wires making like coils or convolutions around the aforesaid masses: of
soft iron belonging to each apparatus the two apparatuses being in every
respect alike and when the two wires are conjoined together at their most
distant ends so as to prepare them for forming a metallic circuit then the near
end of one wire being connected with one pole of the voltaic battery and the
like end of the other wire being connected with the other pole of the same
battery an electric current will be transmitted throughout their whole length
and that current will excite occasional magnetism in the masses of soft iron
belonging to both the near and the distant apparatus at the same time and by
the action already described of that magnetism the hands of both apparatuses
(those hands having been previously adjusted to point to like characters on
their respective dials) will be moved simultaneously one division each on their
respective dials so as both to point to a like character thereon and then by
disconnecting either of the wires from its connection with the battery or by
breaking the circuit in any way the transmission of the electric current
together with the occasional magnetism which it had excited ceases in both
apparatuses at the same time whereupon the reaction by weight or spring
already described as being consequent upon such cessation causes the hands
of both apparatuses to move, simultaneously one division further on their
respective dials but so as both to point to a like character thereon. Then by
again reconnecting the said disconnected wire with the battery or by otherwise
restoring the circuit another repetition of the same action as above described
takes place and both hands are thereby moved forward another division and
then, on breaking the circuit both hands are again moved another division
more and so on by alternately forming and breaking the metallic circuit in
that manner the two hands may be worked round step by step from one
division and character on their respective dials to the next division and

page_text: character at pleasure but nevertheless the two hands will in all cases point
to a like character on their respective dials therefore a person situated at one
of the said apparatuses can by alternately forming and breaking the said
metallic circuit cause the hands of both apparatuses to move round alike and
by leaving only very short but regular intervals between each act of breaking
and forming the circuit he can cause the said hands to advance forwards with
a continual stepping motion without resting long enough at any one character
on their respective dials to indicate any deciding pointing thereto. But when
he has thus brought the hand of his own near apparatus and consequently the
hand of the other distant apparatus to point to some one character which he
intends to use at the time for giving a signal then by ceasing to go on making
and breaking the circuit both hands will stand still both pointing alike to the
said character for a sufficient time for his correspondent at the distant place to
observe (by the pause that the hand of his apparatus has made opposite to the
said character on its dial) that he is to note down that character as a signal
given to him and after a sufficient pause for that purpose then the first-
mentioned person may resume the aforesaid operation of alternately making
and breaking the circuit in order to cause the hands of both dials to begin
moving forwards again step by step without any decided pause in their motions
until the hands are brought opposite to some other character which he intends
to use for giving his next signal and then he again discontinues the alternate
making and breaking of the circuit in order to leave both hands standing still
opposite to the said character for a sufficient time for his correspondent at the
distant place to observe by the pausing of the hand of his apparatus that he
is to note down the said character as another signal given to him and after
due pause the first-mentioned person inay begin again alternately making and
breaking the circuit as before in order to move both hands forwards to the
character which he intends to use for giving his next signal where he
again and so on he gives signal after signal as his communication requires
and when he has by so doing completed a sentence of telegraphic communi-
cation he brings both the hands to point upwards to a blank division or
character and there he leaves them standing still to denote that no signal is
intended to be given notwithstanding that the hands stand, still in fact they
then indicate blank or nothing and whenever the hands are left so standing
at blank the near ends of both the telegraphic wires must be discon-
nected from the two poles of the battery and the said two ends must be
connected one with another by way of preparation of the apparatus in
order that the person at the distant apparatus may be enabled to give signals
by it in return if he desires to do so for his apparatus is in all respects like
pauses

page_text: to the other and has a battery wherefore if he separates his two ends of the two
telegraphic wires one from the other and then connects those two ends with the
two opposite poles of his battery then a metallic circuit will be formed and an
electric current will be transmitted through that circuit and although excited
by the distant battery instead of the near one the current will produce all the
same effects as already described viz..it will excite magnetism in the masses
of soft iron in both apparatuses at the same time so as to cause the hands of
both apparatuses to move forwards one division each and then if the person
at the distant apparatus breaks the said circuit both hands will be again
moved forwards another division each by reaction as already explained where-
fore the person situated at the distant apparatus can give signals to the person
situated at the near apparatus by alternately making and breaking the circuit
and by pausing in that alternation whenever he has brought both hands to point
to the character which he intends to use for giving a signal. In fact he can
do every thing that has been already described as being done by the person
situated at the near apparatus so that the whole apparatus is adapted for
communicating telegraphic intelligence in either direction. The construction
of the apparatus.admits of many modifications in its parts and mechanism; for
instance instead of a hand pointing to divisions on the dial a small circular
dial with the characters marked thereon may be fixed on the axis so as to
turn round therewith and being situated behind the dial plate of the mechanism
the said revolving dial will be concealed except one character at a time which
will be exhibited through a suitable aperture cut out through the dial plate
the effect whereof will be 'the same as that of a hand as is well known in
ordinary clockwork also the toothed wheel or escapement wheel or ratchet
wheel with its pallets or driver and clawker may be constructed in various
ways well known and commonly used in other mechanism for various purposes
preferring that way which will be most certain to move the wheel without fail
one half tooth by the action resulting from the excitement of the occasional or
temporary magnetism and then one other half tooth by the reaction (of a
weight or spring) which attends the cessation of that magnetism. And in
order to facilitate the said motion that the wheel with its hand or dial is
required to perform it may have a tendency given to it to turn round by
means of wheelwork actuated by a maintaining power of weight or spring in
the manner of ordinary clocks and the anchor or pallets which apply to the
teeth of the escapement wheel in the usual manner of clocks will prevent that
wheel from turning more than half a tooth at a time the action of the
occasional or temporary magnetism and the reaction by weight or spring
being operative alternately on the anchor or pallets of the escapement so as to

page_text: move the same alternately one way and then the other way with a like motion
to that which takes place in an ordinary clock when its pendulum is removed
leaving the escapement complete and what is called the crotch for connecting
the same with the pendulum and instead of an escapement' or ratchet wheel
with teeth projecting around its circumference a wheel having pins projecting
laterally from its flat surface or surfaces may be used with suitable pallets to
catch and detain those pins and prevent the wheel from moving more than
half the space between two of its pins at a time and instead of applying pallets
in the ordinary form of an anchor moveable about a centre or axis they may
be applied to a sliding spindle moveable endways in a direction parallel to
the axis of the wheel: And mechanism may be employed to facilitate and
expedite the alternate making and breaking of the circuit whereby as already
mentioned the said action and reaction is rendered operative to turn round the
wheel and its hand or its revolving dial without pauses until the character
intended to be given as a signal is indicated and then to stop with a decided
pause. Amongst a diversity of constructions for the parts of the apparatus which
may be used we have found the apparatuses represented in the Drawings to
answer the intended purposes and I shall now proceed to describe the Drawings
by way of illustration.
Sheet. I. Figure 1 is a front elevation of the box containing the mechanism
of clockwork and masses of soft iron with a dial for exhibiting the characters
which are to constitute signals and also clockwork for sounding alarums.
Figure 2 is a vertical section shewing the interior mechanism sideways.
Figure 3 a front section to shew the interior clockwork in front. Figure 4
a horizontal plan and Figure 5 detached parts to explain the masses of soft
iron in which occasional magnetism is excited. The same letters and figures
are used to denote the same parts in all the Figures. One such apparatus
as that represented by those Figures is situated at each of the distant places
between which the telegraphic communication is to be carried on the
apparatuses at each place being exactly alike. A A are the plates of the
frame united with pillars like the frame of a common clock. B the spring
barrel for a maintaining power whereby a train of four wheels and four
pinions gives motion to an axis a on which is fixed the escapement wheel b
and also the revolving dial d is fixed on the extreme front end of the axis a
so as to turn round therewith. The revolving dial d is divided into twenty-four
spaces and lettered as represented in Figure d. The front of the wooden
box or case in which the whole is enclosed has a fixed dial plate c with an
aperture in it behind which the moveable dial d is disposed so that the
characters can be seen one at a time through the aperture. The escapement

page_text: wheel has twelve pins fixed into its rim and projecting out on each side
thereof parallel. to its axis a. The pallets of the escapement are two small.
upright prongs projecting downwards from a horizontal sliding spindle e, which
situated over the axis a and which spindle can slide freely endways in the
direction of its length to serve as a horizontal slider for carrying the pallets
one of the prongs of those pallets being at one side of the wheel b is for
catching the ends of the pins on that side and the other prong being on the
opposite side of the wheel is for catching the ends of the pins on that opposite
side. The space between the prongs (measured in the direction of the
spindle e) is much less than the length of the pins, wherefore when the
spindle e is pushed endways backwards its backmost pallet retreats from the
backmost end of one of the pins in the wheel and allows the wheel to turn
round until the frontmost pallet intercepts the front end of the next following
pin in the wheel b so as to detain the wheel from turning round further than
half the space between two of its adjacent pins and then if the sliding
spindle e is drawn forwards endways its frontmost pallet comes forward out
of the way of the front end of that pin which rested against the said pallet
and allows the wheel to turn round until the backmost pallet intercepts the
back most end of the next following pin in the wheel so as to prevent it from
turning more than another half space between two pins. Note an escapement
of a somewhat similar nature has been used in clockwork and is well known
by the French terin " echappement à cheville." The pallets and pins. of our
escapement are not cut sloping or only very slightly so because it is not
intended that the wheel shall exert any sensible impulse to move the sliding
spindle e of the pallets endways either way. The small piece of soft
iron V which is to be attracted by occasional or temporary magnetism
as before mentioned is fixed fast on the backmost extremity of the sliding
spindle e so as to move backwards and forwards with that spindle c, (sec
Figures 2 and 4) and two small horizontal pins are fastened into the said
piece of iron V to project out forwards therefrom and pass through
suitable holes in the frame plate for the purpose of securing the piece
of iron V and also the pallets of the escapement from turning round
about as the spindle e might otherwise permit them to do. That spindle
is not intended to operate as an axis but as a horizontal slider. m Figures 3
and 4 is the reacting spring whereby the sliding spindle e together
with the piece of soft iron V and the pallets of the escapement are always
drawn forwards. The acting end of the spring m presses forwards
behind a small stud which stands up from the sliding spindle e out of the boss
by which the pallets are fixed to that spindle. The middle part of the spring
m is fastened loosely to the frame plate by one screw and the extreme tail

page_text: end of the spring is drawn towards the plate by a regulating screw by
.turning which the reacting force of the spring can be adjusted to suit what is
requisite for reaction. UU Figure 5 are the masses of soft iron in which
occasional or temporary magnetism is to be excited as before mentioned
whenever it is required. Two such masses U. U. are disposed side by side to
form a pair they are of cylindrical form and each one has a disk of brass or
copper when fastened, upon each of its ends so that with those disks it forms a
bobbin around which is coiled a great length of fine copper wire closely
covered with silk thread for insulation of one coil from another until the bobbin
is completely filled with such coils and two bobbins thus filled are put together
side by side and united at one end of each by a connecting cross piece w of
soft iron which is fastened to the end of each piece U by a countersunk screw
inserted into the end thereof. At the opposite end of each piece U a piece of
soft iron is fastened in like manner by a countersunk screw but the two
pieces have no connection one with the other. The coils of the wire about
each of the pieces of soft iron U must go round each piece in the same direction
of coiling and the ends of the wires coiled about each piece U being united
together the whole of the coils around both pieces U will operate like one con-
tinuous coiling in the same direction around the two prongs of a horseshoe of
soft iron such as was described in our said former Specification and which is
commonly called a voltaic magnet for the two pieces U U when firmly united
together by the connecting cross piece of iron w will act the same as the two
prongs of a horseshoe would do, but by being made in two pieces each having
the form of a bobbin the coiling of the wire can be better done and a greater
number of coils laid on than could be done around the two prongs of a horseshoe.
The mode of making voltaic magnets by coiling of covered wire around pieces
of soft iron being well known no further instructions can be required for
making them in the manner shewn in Figure 5. We prefer to use smaller sized
wire for the coils than is commonly used for voltaic magnets because a greater
number of convolutions of small wire can be wound around the iron U, within
the same bulk and consequent proximity to the iron than could be done with
such large wire as has been usually employed. A voltaic magnet constructed as
shewn in Figure 5 and as above described is placed in the apparatus as shewn
at W W in Figures 2, 3. and 4 with the two pieces u u or poles of the voltaic
magnet situated opposite to the aforesaid piece of soft iron V which is fastened
on the end of the horizontal sliding spindle e that also carries the pallets of
the escapement and the ends 21 21 of the coiled wire are to be connected
with one of the two long telegraphic wires so as to form a part of the metallic
continuity thereof in order that whenever an electric current is transmitted
along that telegraphic wire the said current cannot fail to be transmitted

page_text: along the spiral convolutions which the coiled wire makes around the two
masses of soft iron U U that transmission taking place in the same direction
around each of the two masses U U and thereupon they will instantly
become magnetic so that their two poles u will exert magnetic attraction to
draw the piece of soft iron V towards them and they will continue to do so as
long as such transmission along the said spiral convolutions is continued but the
instant that the said transmission ceases the magnetism and attraction will
cease also all which are the well known properties of a voltaic magnet.
The said magnet W. W. is fixed in place in the apparatus by screwing its
cross piece w of soft iron to a brass or copper support n standing up from a
flat tablet R which is applied on the top of the frame plates A A of
the clockwork in such manner as to. be capable of sliding horizontally
by action of a regulating screw whereof the head reaches to the outside
of the case and by turning that head r the distance of the poles
uu of the
voltaic magnet from the piece of soft iron V can be regulated and by that
means together with due regulation of the force of the reacting spring m by its
regulating screw before described the apparatus can be regulated to suit
the intensity wherewith the occasional or temporary magnetism is excited in
order that the attractive force of that magnetism operating at the two poles
or pieces of iron uu may not fail to draw the piece of soft iron V towards
them with an instantaneous motion in opposition to the strength of the
reacting spring m. And also that the said spring m may not fail to cause
the said piece V to return or retreat from the poles u with a like instan-
taneous motion as soon as ever the occasional magnetism ceases and every
such motion of the piece of iron V whether produced by attraction or by
reaction being attended with a corresponding motion of the sliding spindle e
and of the pallets of the escapement they will allow the escapement wheel 6
and the revolving dial d to turn round one half space of the pins in the
wheel and one division of the dial every time. And note the operator may
sometimes require to actuate the escapement so as to allow the wheel 6 and
moveable dial d to turn round without any excitement of occasional magnetism.
For this purpose a small sliding pin is fitted to slide endways through a hole
in the front of the case and has a knob P on the front end of it to be
touched when required by the finger. A spring p is fixed within the case
to press against the end of the sliding pin with a tendency to push the
knob P outwards. The lower end of the spring p stands opposite to the end
of the sliding spindle e but without touching that end unless the knob P and
sliding pin is pushed inwards for then it bends back the spring p so as to
carry back the end thereof against the front end of the sliding spindle e in

page_text: order to move the same endways in like manner as occasional magnetism
would do and then on releasing the button P the sliding rod e returns by
reaction of its spring' m wherefore by alternately pressing and releasing the
the button P the moving dial d can be caused to turn round at pleasure
which is sometimes requisite (in like manner as setting the hands of a clock
to time) in order to set the apparatus right at first starting so that it may
exhibit the same character as its corresponding apparatus at the distant place.
For whenever the two apparatuses at the near and at the distant place are
left standing still in the intervals between making telegraphic communications
by them the dials d of both should always exhibit the blank character indi-
cating that nothing is communicated or a cross + may be marked on that
part of the dial d to indicate the blank and whenever either apparatus does
not indicate or blank whilst it is so standing still in the interval between
the making of communications then the person in charge of that apparatus
will know that something is wrong and he must use the button P to set the
dial of his apparatus to shew + or blank and if both apparatuses are set in
that manner they will be properly prepared for use for they will begin aright
by exhibiting like characters on their respective dials and then provided that
every part is in good order when they are put in operation by means of
alternate excitement of temporary magnetism and cessation thereof as herein-
before explained the mechanism of each apparatus will be operated upon
simultaneously and precisely in the same manner the one as the other so that
the dials of both will be moved round alike and they will at all times
exhibit like characters whether they are moving on step by step or pausing
or standing still. It is an indispensable condition for the successful com-
munication of telegraphic intelligence that both should exhibit like cha-
racters and whenever from default of attractive force from the magnetism or
of reacting force by the spring m or of maintaining power B in the clockwork
or from partial derangement of any part either apparatus fails to move its dial
contemporaneously with that of the other apparatus so as by missing one or
more times to get behind the other in the characters which it is exhibiting
then there will be a confusion in the telegraphic communication but never-
theless the fault will be detected so soon as the person who is giving signals
comes to the close of a sentence or series of signals and brings the dial of his
apparatus to exhibit + or blank and there leaves it standing still during a
sufficient time to denote as previously agreed that he has come to such close
because the other dial although it also stands still will not indicate + or
blank and if after standing still the sufficient time that is observed to be
the case then the faulty dial must be set right by applying a finger to the

page_text: button P. first pressing and then removing it until the dial is brought round
to exhibit its cross or blank. And as to the mechanism which may be
cmployed as herein-before mentioned to facilitate and expedite the alternate
making, and breaking of the metallic circuit which is to be formed for the
transmission of an electric current through the two long conducting or tele-
graphic wires from pole to pole of the voltaic battery belonging to one of the
apparatuses and which said current will be also transmitted through all the
coils around the voltaic magnets W W of both apparatuses and by which
alternate making and breaking it is that the occasional or temporary mag-
netism of the voltaic magnets W W becomes alternately excited and discon-
tinued so that by. the attractive action thereof and then by the reaction
consequent upon its cessation the clockwork is actuated as above described
in both apparatuses alike in order to turn round the dials of both apparatuses
simultaneously and similarly so as to exhibit like characters by both dials.
The said mechanism for making and breaking the circuit may be constructed
in various ways but what we prefer is to use a moveable circle having
divisions answerable to and marked with like characters to those on the dials 'd
of the two apparátuses the action of the said. mechanism being such that the
operator by merely turning round that moveable, circle by his hand or finger
will cause the alternate making and breaking of the circuit to take place as
is requisite for actuating the clockwork so as to turn the dials round step by
step in the manner already explained. And the required alternation of making
and breaking will be duly performed by the mechanism now about to be
described without other. trouble to the operator than that of turning the said
moveable circle steadily round about with a tolerably slow motion and as he
does so the dial d of both the apparatuses are caused by the alternate making
and breaking of the circuit to turn about with a corresponding motion one
to the other and also to the motion that is given by the operator to the
moveable circle by his hand for as the several characters thereof pass in
succession opposite to a fixed index the dials d of both apparatuses will
exhibit the same character as that character on the moveable circle which
is for the moment opposite to or passing by that index and when the
operator ceases for a while to turn the moveable circle and leaves it standing
still with any one of its characters opposite to the said index then the dials of
both apparatuses will stand still also and will both exhibit that said character.
It will be known by the pause that the dials make in their. previous motion
that the character which they exhibit whilst they do so pause is to be noted
down by the person at the distant apparatus as a signal given to him but he
takes no notice of any of the characters which his dial exhibits transiently and
in a rapid succession as it moves slowly round but it is when it makes a

page_text: pause that he must observe and note down the character which it then exhibits
as a signal given to him and in like manner the person at the near
approaches who gives the signals whilst he is turning the moveable circle round
for that purpose takes no notice of those characters on the moveable circle
which pass in rapid succession by the index thereof as he turns it round but he
confines his attention.for the time to that particular character on the said move-
able circle which he then intends to use for giving a signal and he turns the
moveable circle steadily but slowly round until he brings that particular character
opposite to the index and there leaves it standing during a sufficient pause to
denote that the said character is given by him and is to be received by his cor-
respondent as a signal. And from the office which is to be performed by the
said moveable circle and its mechanism we call the same a communicator.
A communicator suitable to be used along with the apparatus represented in
Sheet 1 (and already partly described) is also represented in that Sheet
Figure 6 being a horizontal plan, and Figure 7 a side elevation. I is a round
wooden board serving as the base of the communicator the revolving circle
of which is mounted on the upper end of an upright pillar or axis J standing
up from the centre of the base I. K is the revolving circle which is fitted
by its centre on the upper end of the axis J so as to turn round thereon with
an easy motion but with a gentle friction in order that it may. retain any
position that may be given to it. The upper surface of the revolving circle. K
is divided the same as the revolving dial Figure d into twenty-four divisions
and each division is marked with one of the characters as shewn in Figure 6
so as to correspond exactly to the dial Figure d and opposite to every
character a metal. pin q is fixed into the rim of the circle K so as to radiate
out therefrom and the pins q'form twenty-four handles or figures pins for
turning the circle round by applying the end of a finger to the interval
between two of these pins q and moving that finger round in a circular orbit
it thereby carries the circle K round with. it. L is a pillar standing up from
the base I just beyond the circle described by the ends of the finger pins q for
the purpose of supporting two wire pins 8. s. which are fastened one above the
other into the upper end of the pillar L and project out horizontally therefrom
in a direction towards the centre of the circle K ; one fixed pin s being above
and the other below the moveable finger pins q which as they are carried
round in circular motion pass in succession between the two fixed pins & s
but without touching them. The use of those fixed pins 8. s. is to serve as the
fixed index to the divisions and characters around the revolving.circle K and
also to arrest the progress of the finger when it is moved round in a circular
orbit as above mentioned for when that finger comes in contact with the
said pins 8. s. and is stopped thereby the circle K will stand with that one

page_text: of its twenty-four characters at the index pins s. 8. which has been previously
selected by the finger (when it was applied to the finger pins g) as the
character that the finger was to bring round to the index s. It may be
considered that the revolving circle K on the communicator with its divisions
and characters is the counterpart to the revolving dials d of the clockwork
apparatuses and that the fixed index pins s in designating which of those
characters is exhibited correspond to the apertures in. the fixed dial plates c
Figures. 1 and 2 through which the characters of the moving dials dare
exhibited and with that understanding the arrangements for alternately
making and breaking the metallic current of the telegraphic wires may be
explained as follows. The edge or circumference of the revolving circle K
beneath the part from which the finger pins a project out is divided into twenty-
four and at every other division the edge is cut out to form twelve notches
being half as many as the number of divisions and finger pins q in the circle K:
Those notches are disposed at equal distances apart and are filled up with
pieces of wood which complete the circular form of the edge of the rim but
that circular edge is composed of a succession of wood and metal surface
alternately. A blade spring z which is fastened to the base I and stands up
therefrom applies its upper end to the said circular edge of the revolving
circle K so as to press against the same and by the elasticity of the spring =
its said end is certain to preserve an effective contact with that edge as the same
turns round but in so doing the contact of the spring z will be alternately on the
wood and on the metal and when it is on the metal the metallic circuit will be
established or made but when on the wood that circuit will be broken. The
spring is always kept in metallic communication with one of the poles of the
voltaic battery belonging to the. apparatus by means of a wire part of which is
concealed in a groove cut out in the under side of the wood base I but which
wire passes as shewn by dotted lines from the lower end or root of the
spring z to a screw button z¹ at the edge of the base I and that screw button
serves to connect with a wire 2 which extends from one pole of the battery
suppose for instance the zinc pole. Then the other or copper pole of the same
battery is always connected with the end of one of the two long conducting
or telegraphic wires which extend to the distant apparatus suppose for
instance with that one of the two which will in future be called 21. Another
similar blade spring 22° stands up from the base I and its upper end.applies
in continual metallic contact with an interior rim beneath the revolving
circle K. The metal of that circle is kept by means of the spring 22° in
continual metallic communication with the end of the other one of the two
23
long conducting or telegraphic wires which extends to the distant appa-

page_text: ratus and which will in future be called 22 for the lower or root end of the
spring 22 connects by a wire concealed in a groove beneath the base I as
shewn by dotted lines with the screw button 22ª and to that: the end of the
telegraphic wire 22 is connected. There is also a third spring 21 which
stands up from the base I and its upper end applies in continual contact with
the edge of a circular wooden rim / which is fastened to the under side of
the circle K and revolves therewith. The lower or root end of the spring 21
connects by a wire concealed in a groove beneath the base I as shewn by
dotted lines with a screw button 21d which is connected with the line of the
long telegraphic wire 21 near to that end thereof which is connected as
before mentioned with the copper pole of the battery so that the spring 21
becomes a short off branch from that end of the line of the wire 21. And
note for convenience of connection there is another screw button c ] which
connects by a wire with the copper pole of the battery and that button
always communicates by a wire concealed in a groove beneath the base I with
the next screw button 21d to which the end of the long telegraphic, wire 21
is connected wherefore the two screw buttons 21d and c 1 may be considered
as points upon the line of the long telegraphic wire 21 near to that end
thereof which is always in connection with the copper pole of the battery
and it is at one of those points (for instance 21d) that the connection with
the spring 21 branches off. The said branch and spring 21° produce no
effect whatever so long as the end of that spring is merely in contact with
the edge of its wooden circle but there is a piece of metal inlaid into the
circumference thereof at one place to which place the spring 21° applies
whenever the revolving circle K is turned round so that the blank character
(or) on the revolving circle K stands opposite to the fixed index pins &
and that said piece of metal in the wooden circle being always in metallic
connection with the metal of the circle K the said contact of the spring 21
with that piece of metal causes the end of the telegraphic wire 21 to become
connected with the end of the other long telegraphic wire 22 because
as already stated the metal of the circle K is kept in continual connection
with that wire 22 by the continual metallic contact of the spring 22
wherefore whenever the revolving circle K of the communicator is turned
round so as to bring its blank character (or +) opposite to its fixed
index pins then the ends of the two long telegraphic wires 21 and 22
will be connected together and then those two wires may be considered
as conjoined into one very long wire coming by the long course 21 from the
distant apparatus to the near apparatus and there making a bend and then
going back again by the long course 22 to the distant apparatus. And at

page_text: the same time the upper end of the spring applies to one of the pieces of
wood in the edge of the under rim of the revolving circle K so as to break
off all connection between the metal of that circle K and the zinc pole' of
the battery and consequently all connection between that said pole and
the telegraphic wire 22. Hence whenever the apparatus is left at rest in
the interval between'
en successive telegraphic communications it will have the
aforesaid connections of its parts and the position of the revolving circle K will
be at its blank character (or +) and that is the position from which every
fresh sentence of telegraphic communication that is to be made by the apparatus
must set out as its commencement and likewise as already stated the moving
dials d of both the near and the distant clockwork apparatuses must then
exhibit their blank character (or +) and if either of them does not do so
must be set right by aid of the knob P in manner already described...
Figures 1 and d 6 and 7. Sheet I. represent the parts in the said starting
position. These circumstances being understood the mode of giving 'signals by
the apparatus is as follows Suppose the word DAY is to be communicated the
character which is to be given as a first signal is to be selected upon the revolving
circle K whilst the same is standing still and the finger is then to be inserted
into the space behind that finger pin q which radiates out from the said
character (in this instance the letter D is to be selected) then by moving the
finger deliberately round in a circular orbit in the direction of the arrow Figure 7
the revolving circle K will be carried round and as it moves the revolving
dials d of both the clockwork apparatuses will move round step by step
coincidently with the motion of the circle K until the finger gets round to the
fixed pins 8 and there they will stop its further motion with the character
intended to be given for a signal (letter D in the present instance) opposite to
those pins s. and at the same instant both dials d will stop also when they are
both exhibiting a like character (letter D) and by the pause his' dial then
nakes the person at the distant apparatus will know that he is to note down
that character (letter D) as the first signal given to him. The finger being
withdrawn from the finger pins q is then removed to insert it afresh behind
the finger pin q which radiates out from that character which is to be used for
giving a second signal (in this instance letter A) and by the time that a
sufficient pause has been made for noting down the former signal then the
revolving circle K is again moved deliberately round by the finger until the
further motion of that finger is stopped by the fixed pins s and the circle K
will also. stop with the character in question (letter A) opposite to the pins s
and the revolving dials & will both have moved round with a corresponding
motion to that of the circle K and will stop when it stops and will then
D

page_text: exhibit a like character to that at which the circle K has stopped (viz. letter A)
which the person at the distant apparatus will note down and then in like
manner the third signal (letter Y) will be given after which if the intended
communication is completed for the present that fact is to be expressed by
turning the revolving circle K until it stops at its blank character (or +)
both dials will do the same and then all the parts will be at their starting
position as they were at the commencement. Or if the communication is not
finished but only a word of an intended sentence is completed, then the
character (-) is to be used as a signal: denoting the completion of a word
and that may be followed by commencing the next intended word. And note
will be evident that the extent to which the revolving circle K will require
to be turned round for making each signal will vary very much; for example
in the instance above mentioned of the word DAY the first letter D
required the circle K to be moved four divisions, then the second letter A
required a motion of twenty-one divisions and the third letter Y twenty
divisions after which it required a motion of three divisions more to
bring the parts to their starting position viz: the blank character (or +)
or if it was the (-) instead of the blank a motion of only two divisions instead
of three would have been requisite. To explain the operation of making and
breaking the circuit in detail it must be recollected that at the starting or
resting position when the revolving circle K and the dials & were all standing
at their blank character (or +) as appears in the Drawing that the spring
was then in contact with a piece of wood on the lower rim of the revolving
circle K and therefore the metallic circuit was broken because the zinc pole of
the battery was thereby disconnected from the long telegraphic wire 22 to which
that zinc pole belongs and although the other or copper pole of the battery
remained connected with the end of the other telegraphic wire 21 that one
connection alone would not produce any of the effect of a circuit and further-
more the end of the two telegraphic wires 21 and 22 were connected together
by the off branch from the end of the wire 21 at 21 d to the spring 21 c
because that spring was then in contact with the piece of metal of the wooden
circle which piece of metal is part of the metal of the revolving circle K
and that metal is always in connection by means of the spring 22 c with the
wire 22 so that it may be considered as the end thereof. Therefore at the
said starting or resting position no circuit being formed there is no trans-
mission of an electric current through the long telegraphic wires nor is any
magnetism excited in the voltaic magnets of either of the clockwork
mechanisms consequently the pieces of soft iron in each clockwork will be
withdrawn from the pieces of iron u. u. at the poles of the magnet by the

page_text: reaction of the spring m. These circumstances being understood it is easy
to trace what change takes place when the revolving circle K first begins to
move round; the piece of metal which was in contact with the spring 21 c passes
away therefrom leaving that spring in contact with the wood of the circle /
and thereby the previous connection between the near ends of the two
telegraphic wires 21, 22, (that was effected by means of the spring and off
branch 21 c) is broken' and the ends of the two telegraphic wires becomie
disconnected one from the other but still leaving the copper pole of the battery
in undivided connection with the end of the telegraphic wire 21 and as there
is only one piece of metal in the wooden circle / the ends of the two
telegraphic wires will continue disconnected all the time the revolving circle K
goes round until it regains its resting position. Also by the same first motion
of the revolving circle K the piece of wood in the lower rim thereof with
which the upper end of the spring z was in contact passes away from that
spring and a metal part of the said rim h comes round into contact therewith
by that contact with the metal of the revolving circle K the zinc pole of the
battery becomes connected with the end of the long telegraphic wire 22
(whereof as before mentioned the revolving circle K may be considered as
one end) the copper pole of the battery being in connection as already
mentioned with the end of the telegraphic wire 21, Also the distant ends of
the two telegraphic wires 21 and 22 being connected one with the other in
consequence of the communicator at that distant end being at its resting
position and effecting the connection of those ends in the same manner as
already described. Wherefore under those circumstances the metallic circuit
is formed and an electric current will be transmitted through all the length
of both the long telegraphic wires 21 and 22 and consequently through all the
convolutions or spiral coils W W which either of those wires makes around the
masses of soft iron U U or voltaic magnets in the clockwork apparatus as
well at the distant as at the near end of the long telegraphic wires and
instantaneously on the commencement of such transmission through the
said coils the occasional or temporary magnetism of the masses U U is
excited so that the pieces of iron uu at their poles attract the pieces
of soft iron V towards them overcoming the reacting spring m and causing
the escapement to let the wheel 6 move round half a pin and the dial d
one division so as to exhibit the next adjacent character to the blank
character (or +) viz the letter A which is the same character that
the revolving circle K then presents to its index pins 8. Then as the
revolving circle K moves onwards the metal in its rim / passes away from
contact with the spring and a piece of wood in that rim comes to that

page_text: spring whereby the connection that it made a moment before with the zinc
pole of the battery is disconnected and the circuit is broken and then the
transmission of the electric current ceases together with the occasional mag-
netism which that transmission had occasioned consequently the poles u u
of the voltaic magnet cease to attract the piece of soft iron V and then the
force of the reacting spring m draws the said piece V away from those
poles uu and causes the escapement to let the wheel 6 move round another
half pin and the dial d another division so as to exhibit the next adjacent
character to the former which being the letter A this will now be the
letter B and the revolving circle K also presents its letter B to its index
pins 8.
Then as the revolving circle K moves onwards the piece of wood in
its rim / passes away from its contact with the spring z and a metal part of
that rim comes into contact thereby making the circuit again and instantly
it transmits an electric current which produces a renewal of all the effects
above described including a further advance of the dials d and the exhibition
of their next character (viz. letter C) and as the revolving circle K con-
tinues to move onwards always in the same direction the metal of its
rim passes away from its contact with the spring z and is succeeded by a
piece of wood and then the circuit is broken again as before and that causes
the dials to exhibit their next character (viz. letter D). In that manner the
circuit is alternately made and broken by action of the revolving circle K.
with the certainty of being decidedly made and decidedly broken at every
alternation and if all the parts are kept in good working order there will be
no failure of action in the dials d to exhibit a different succeeding character
for every succeeding alternation although those alternations may be made to
succeed each other with extreme rapidity by turning the revolving circle K
briskly round and in order to avoid loss of time it will be desirable to turn
it as quickly as it is found by experience that the action of the alternate
making and breaking of the circuit and the consequent operation of the
voltaic magnets on the escapement and clockwork can be performed without
risk of failure to turn the dials correctly but how quickly that may be will
depend upon the perfection of the action of the clockwork apparatus and
voltaic magnets the conducting power and good insulation of the long con-
ducting or telegraphic wires and the perfect contact of all the parts which
are to form continuity of metal for the circuit. And although one of the appa-
ratuses at one end or terminus of the line of the long telegraphic wires has been
herein-before called the near apparatus and the apparatus at the other end
or terminus of that line the distant apparatus, nevertheless that distinction
was only used to facilitate the explanation and the description of the Drawing

page_text: Sheet I. which represents only one apparatus and that one was considered as
the near apparatus But in reality no such distinction can be fairly established
between the two terminal apparatuses because they are both precisely alike
and either one can be used to communicate signals to a person situated at the
other apparatus All that is requisite to be observed is that whenever the two
apparatuses are left standing still in the interval between telegraphic commu-
nications that the revolving circles K of their several communicators shall be
left standing at their blank character (or +) in which case all the ends that
is each of the ends of the two long telegraphic wires will be connected
together by the contact of each of the springs 21 c with the piece of metal
in the wooden circle of the communicator of each apparatus as already fully
described wherefore the ends of both the telegraphic wires will stand thus
connected at each terminal apparatus and then in that state the whole
apparatus is ready for operating to communicate telegraphic intelligence in
either direction between the two terminal apparatuses. For if the revolving
circle K of either one of the communicators is turned round it will operate
in every respect in the manner already explained to give signals at the other
apparatus. That apparatus at which signals are to be received being in-
variably kept with its communicator standing at its blank (or +) in order that
it may keep up the requisite connection between the ends of the two tele-
graphic wires at that apparatus and although it has been hitherto described
as if there were only two of the apparatuses such as represented in Sheet I. one
being situated at each of the distant places between which telegraphic com-
munications are to be carried on by aid of two long conducting or telegraphic
wires extending from one of those places to the other. Nevertheless it is to be.
understood that any number of such apparatuses may be disposed on the line
of the said telegraphic wires at intermediate places between the two termini or
extreme ends thereof and the coils of wire around the voltaic magnets,
in each such intermediate apparatus being connected with one of the two long
telegraphic wires so that the said coils constitute a part of the length or,
extension of the metallic continuity of that wire and so that the electric
current which is to be transmitted through such telegraphic wire cannot fail
to be transmitted through all the length of those coils around the voltaic
magnets then it is evident that the voltaic magnets and the clockwork
mechanism of every such intermediate apparatus will be caused to operate in
every respect in the same manner as the two distant apparatuses herein-before
described do at the same time operate and therefore so as to exhibit like
signals by their dials. Hence whatever signal is given from the person at
the near apparatus at one end of the long telegraphic wires to his cor-

page_text: respondent at the distant apparatus at the other end of the same wires (or
vice versâ in a contrary direction) the same signal will also be given at every
intermediate apparatus and may be observed by persons stationed at them
who will become spectators of all telegraphic communications that are going
on in either direction between the two termini and whenever such signals are
intended to be given especially to persons so stationed at any of the inter-
mediate apparatuses the series of such especial signals must be prefaced by
some preconcerted signal to signify that intention and also to signify from
which of the two terminal apparatuses the said signals are given. This
supposes that the said intermediate apparatuses are not provided with any
communicators or voltaic batteries whereby persons stationed at them can bo
enabled to operate upon other apparatuses at a distance so as to give signals
from the intermediate apparatus as well as receive signals thereby But a
voltaic battery and a communicator such as Figures 6 and 7 may be applied
to any intermediate apparatus. And in that case one of the long conducting
wires (for instance the wire 21) is brought to the communicator of the inter-
mediate apparatus and its metallic continuity may be there disconnected when
required so as to divide its total extension into two portions one portion
extending from the intermediate apparatus to the apparatus at one terminus
and the other portion extending from the intermediate apparatus to the
apparatus at the other terminus. The ends of the disconnected wires 21 are
connected with the screw buttons 21d 22d by which connection their metallic
continuity is again restored for as has been already explained when the
communicator is standing at its starting position the screw button 21d is
connected by means of its off-branch wire 21c with the blade spring 21c
which is then in contact with the piece of metal in the wood rim of the
revolving circle K with the metal of which circle the blade spring 22c is in
constant contact and that bladė spring 22c is united by its branch-off wire
with the screw button 22d to which the other disconnected end of the long
conducting wire 21 has already been united. The communicator of the inter-
mediate apparatus is thus placed in exactly the same position with respect to
its own apparatus and the two apparatuses at the two termini for giving and
receiving signals as the two terminal apparatuses were with each other.
The Diagram Figure 9 Sheet II. with the writing thereon is for the pur-
pose of explaining the general course of the long telegraphic wires 21 and 22
and their connections with the voltaic magnets W W of the two terminal
apparatuses together with the requisite branches which have been already
described for connecting the communicator K and voltaic battery of each
apparatus with the ends of the telegraphic wires 21 and 22. If the Diagram

page_text: Figure is considered without the dotted lines it will represent proper
arrangements for a simple system of two terminal apparatuses with their
telegraphic wires without. any sort of intermediate apparatus all the arrange-
ments of which simple system have been already fully described in detail!
But if the parts drawn in dotted lines are also included then the same
Diagram Figure 9 will represent the entire system of two terminal appa-
ratuses with a complete intermediate apparatus provided with its voltaic
battery and its communicator so as to be capable of giving signals as well as
its clockwork mechanism for receiving signals.
Figures 20. and 21. Sheet II. represent another form of the apparatus for the
attainment of the same objects as the apparatus represented in Figures I., II.,
III,IV.Sheet. I., viz. for the giving of signals by means of the alternate attrac-
tive force of a temporary magnet and the réaction of a spring, but in the present
apparatus: there is. no maintaining power for the purpose of revolving. the
hand or dial. for the indication of signals, but the movement of the dial or
hånd is caused solely by the alternation of the attractive force of temporary
magnetism' and the reaction of a spring which is caused to produce effects
similar to those produced by the apparatus already described in Figures I., II.,
III., IV., Sheet I. I. shall employ the same letters as are used in those
Figures to indicate similar parts in the present apparatus. A, is a plate
supporting the various portions of the mechanism. à is the axis steadied by
a light spring on this axis is fixed the escapement little and also a light
revolving dial or hand d, that diali may be divided and lettered as before
described and the escapement wheel b must have a corresponding number of
teeth. The pallets or clawker and driver are two very delicate springs
terminating in claws projecting from the sliding spindle e, with a piece of soft
iron V.projecting in the other direction towards the magnet W one
claw of the pallet presses gently on one side of the wheel b for the purpose of
catching the tooth in that wheel where the piece of soft iron V is attracted. by
the magnet and draws it by its forward motion the space of one half tooth in
the direction of the arrow. The other prong on the other side of the wheel b
is adapted for driving with its claw another tooth in the wheel 6 for another
half tooth,, as soon as the temporary magnetism has ceased to attract the
piece V. whereupon the spindle is pushed back by the small spring m. It is
obvious that when by employing the communicator and. its accessories Fig.
6. 7. Sheet I. an electric current shall be made to pass, by the wires 21a 2lb
thro' the coils around the magnet W the same will become magnetized and
will attract the piece of soft iron V and the wheel b will be advanced half a
tooth as already explained, whereby the hand on the dial on the axis of the

page_text: wheel will be made to advance; but on a cessation of the current by a
further movement of the communicator the spindle will be. forced back by the
spring m as the magnet will no longer attract the piece of soft iron V, and a
further advance of the, hand or dial will be the result, and in both
instances, a signal corresponding with that indicated by the communicator
.will be exhibited all which is so closely corresponding with the action
of the apparatus already so fully described as to need no further expla
nation. And whereas our aforesaid improvements have been herein-before
described as if the motion of, the dial or hand Fig. d Sheet I. always
depended upon the attractive power of temporary magnetism and the reaction
of a spring m but a magnetic needle placed within a multiplying coil may be
made to effect the same object. Figs. 22 and 23 Sheet II. represent such a
magnetic needle in its coil or multiplier. Fig. 22 being a front view and
Fig. 23 a plan. If the ends of the wire 21a 21b which form their coils
around the magnetic needle W are made to form part of an electric circuit,
and if an electric current be transmitted thro' those coils the magnetic needle
will be deflected into the position represented in the Drawing and the pallet g
fixed upon the axis a of the magnetic needle will force the escapement
wheel 6 half a tooth in the direction of the arrow, then if the electric current
were to be transmitted in a contrary direction thro' the said coils the
deflection of the needle would be reversed and the opposite arm of the
pallet would push the escapement wheel 6 forward through the space of
another half tooth and so on and the hand or dial & Fig. 23 on the axis a
would indicate a fresh signal with each such motion and at each successive
change of the deflection of the magnetic needle caused by the course of the
electric current through the coil W being reversed a fresh indication would
be given by the dial or hand in like manner as herein-before already explained.
And respecting the sounding of alarums..by the apparatus represented in
Sheet I. and herein-before described the same means are to be used for that
purpose as were described in our said former Specification in reference to
Figure R Sheet II. of the Drawings thereto annexed and as were claimed
at the conclusion of that Specification as the seventh particular of the improve-
ments secured to us by our former Letters Patent of the Twelfth of June
One thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven. But in applying that mode of
sounding alarums in conjunction with our present improvements now describing
the same voltaic magnet W W Figure 2, 3, 4 and 5 that we have already
described and its manner of action for giving signals is also rendered
available for sounding alarums. For this purpose the tablet R which sustains
:the magnet W W as before described is in fact a dovetailed groove into

page_text: 20
which a dovetailed slider N is fitted so as to move horizontally across the
direction of the length of the voltaic magnet W W and that magnet is fixed
to and supported by the slider N so as to be moved thereby; the supporting
cock n for the magnet being screwed to the slider N and a stem extends
horizontally from that slider through the wood case to the outside having a
head O on the end by which it can be moved from the outside when the head O
is pulled out as far as it will come out the slider N is thereby moved so as to
place the voltaic magnet W W in the position shewn in the Drawings and
herein-before. described with the poles uu of the magnet W W opposite to
the piece of soft iron V of the escapement. But when the head O is pushed
in as far as it will go then the slider N with the magnet W W will be
removed away from the said piece of soft iron V and will by the same
motion be brought opposite to another like piece of soft iron X which belongs
to the alarum. and which piece X is fastened on the extreme end of a
horizontal, sliding spindle a whereon. one detent or pallet is also fastened
and whenever the piece X is not attracted by magnetism that pallet intercepts
a pin in the fly wheel y of the alarum wheelwork in order to detain that
fly wheel from moving and consequently to prevent the alarum from
sounding. The sliding spindle is provided with a reacting spring / having
a regulating screw the same as the regulating screw k for the reacting
spring m to the slider e of the escapement already described. The wheel-
work for sounding the alarum is actuated by a main
cog wheel and pinion turns the serrated tooth wheel which by acting on
suitable pallets moves the hammer of the alarum backwards and forwards so
as to strike the bell H and sound the alarum. On the axis of the serrated
wheel is a cog wheel which by a pinion turns the fly wheel y round when-
ever the piece of soft iron ✗ is attracted by the excitement of occasional or
temporary magnetism in the voltaic magnet W W when it will draw the
spindle a endways so that the detent thereof will release the pin in the
fly wheel y and allow the alarum to sound and it will continue to do so
until the cessation of the said magnetism when the reacting spring / will move
the sliding spindle x endways so that its pallet will again intercept the pin
in the fly wheel and stop the alarum. . Every apparatus whether terminal or
intermediate being provided with such an alarum it is to be kept prepared for
sounding by always pushing in the head O as far as it will go and winding
up the springs S and B if requisite whenever telegraphic communications
have been concluded for the present and all the several apparatuses
being left in that state will be ready to sound their alarums and call
attention to them and all the alarums when so prepared will be sounded
spring S which by a

page_text: simultaneously if the communicator of any one apparatus is turned away from
its resting position that is at its blank character (or +) to the next adjacent
character letter A for instance or letter C or E or any others whereby
occasional or temporary magnetism will be excited in the several voltaic
magnets of the different apparatuses and every person having charge of an
apparatus-on hearing the alarum thereof beginning to sound must go to the
apparatus and after due pause and attention to the manner in which the
alarum is sounded he must then draw out the head O which will remove the
voltaic magnet away from the piece of soft iron X of the alarum and bring it
opposite the piece of soft iron V for the escapement and then the' apparatus
will be ready for use for giving signals in the manner already fully described.
And note as the manner of sounding the alarums admits of considerable
diversity by making pauses in the ringing and varying those pauses such
variations may by previous concert serve to convey prefatory information as
to the intention of the series of signals which are about to be begun or to denote
which of the intermediate apparatuses is to expect to receive signals' and from
which terminal apparatus they will be given. If the occasional magnetism is
only excited for a moment and then discontinued the fly wheel y may be
stopped' by its pin and detent when it has made only one turn and that
will produce a certain number of blows of the hammer and then after a
another like sounding may be made or if the magnetism is kept up a little
longer the fly wheel may be allowed to turn twice round before it is stopped or
thrice so as to vary the manner of sounding as well as by varying the pauses.
pause
And whereas another former Patent was granted to the said William
Fothergill Cooke by Her present Majesty bearing date at Westminster the
Eighteenth day of April One thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight for
Improvements in Giving Signals and Sounding Alarums at distant Places by
means of Electric Currents transmitted through metallic Circuits and whereof
the Specification stands enrolled in the Chapel of the Rolls and in that
Specification it was amongst other matters explained and was claimed at the
conclusion of that Specification under the head designated' part F in reference
to the sounding of alarums how the angular motion of a magnetic needle
that is produced by an electric current transmitted through coils sur
rounding a space wherein that needle is included' can be caused to dis
'engage the detaining detent or stop of any sufficiently clock or watch
work alarum so as to allow the wheelwork thereof to be put into motion by
the mechanical force and action of its own mechanism in order to sound' the
alarum by action of that mechanism. And although an alarum can be sounded
inthat: mánners by the application of a very slight force for the purpose of

page_text: removing the detent nevertheless as it is essential to that mode that the
imagnetic needle should exert the whole of the force requisite for that purpose
part of our present improvements now about to be described is fór sounding
an alarum by aid of the angular motion of such magnetic needle when the
deflecting force thereof is only sufficiently strong to cause a slight angular
motion of that needle even although the needle of itself should not have
sufficient force to produce any sensiblé mechanical action. This improvement
is effected by the addition of a hammer F (Figure 17.Sheet. IV.) which is
moveable about a horizontal axis as a centre of motion and which hammer is
lifted by means of pins in a wheel v which is turned regularly round by the
maintaining power of the clockwork to which it belongs with a continual
motion so that by the pins pressing in succession upon the tail or short end of
the hammer F its head will be caused to strike blows at regular intervals.
but a stop b is fixed in a suitable position to check the descent. of the hammer
and it: strikes its blows upon that stop b; except when the alarum belonging to
the said clockwork is to be sounded. The clockwork may be of any ordinary
construction urged by a maintaining power and regulated by a pendulum or
otherwise so as to keep constantly going and if it is adapted to give a speed
of two. revolutions of the wheel in a minute when there are. four pins in
that wheel the hammer F will strike eight times in every minute on the
stop 6. and immediately beneath the head of the hammer F the detent D of
the alarum part of the clock is situated by which detent D the wheelwork of
that alarum is detained and prevented from sounding but by striking on the
stop b the hammer F is prevented from descending far enough to come. in
contact with that detent D and therefore the blows of the hammer have no
effect thereon unless some piece of metal is interposed between the hammer F
and the detent D and then the blow of the hammer on the interposed body
would be communicated to the detent D so as to depress the same sufficiently to
release the wheelwork of the alarum and then the alarum will be sounded by
the action of its own mechanism. The said interposition of a piece of metal
between the hammer F and the detent D is effected by the upper end of the
magnetic needle G when the same is caused to perform an angular motion
about its centre by action of an electric current as aforesaid and however
slight the deflecting force of the needle may be if it is sufficient to produce so
much angular motion of the needle as to interpose its upper end between the
detent D, and the hammer F it will suffice for sounding the alarum because it
has only to transmit to the detent D the blow of the hammer which was before
inoperative thereon. The manner by which the requisite angular motion of a
magnetic needle is obtained by means of an electric current having been

page_text: fully explained in the said former Specifications need not be repeated. And i
is obvious that other machinery actuated by a maintaining power with forcible
motion and capable of regulating the speed of its own motion may be made
to perform the duty above ascribed to clockwork in alternately raising and
letting fall a hammer or otherwise striking so as to cause the discharge of a
detent in consequence of the interposition of the end of a magnetic needle or
else of any hard substance which may be moved or caused to be moved by an
electric current whether a magnetic needle or a piece of iron attracted by
temporary magnetic attraction so as to become interposed between the
body so moved by machinery and the detent of the alarum. And although
our aforesaid improvements have been herein-before described as if the
aforesaid occasional magnetism in the voltaic magnets W would always be
excited by an electric current excited by a voltaic battery yet it is not
essential that the electric current should be so excited for if an electric current
is caused by any means to pass through the coils round the magnet W
occasional magnetism will be excited in such magnet by such current and all
the effects herein-before described as arising from the aforesaid excitement of
occasional magnetism by means of an electric current excited by a voltaic
battery will follow in the same manner from an excitement of a like conti-
nuation of occasional magnetism by an electric current excited by other means.
By the further improvement now about to be described a magneto-electric
machine is substituted for a voltaic battery for the purpose above mentioned
and the same may under some circumstances be a more convenient agent as
requiring comparatively little or no care and attention.
Figure 18, 19 20 Sheet IV. is a magneto-electric machine which may be
of ordinary construction. W₁ is a temporary magnet of a similar description
to the magnet W herein-before described and the same is fixed upon an
axis a in suitable proximity to the permanent magnet W³. Such being the
position of the parts it will follow from the well known laws of magneto-
electricity that while the temporary magnet W₁ is at rest with either of its
poles opposite to either of the poles of the permanent magnet Ws no electric
current will be excited in the coils of wire round the temporary magnet W₁
by the proximity of that magnet to the permanent magnet W2 but let the
temporary magnet W₁ be moved by revolution of its axis so as to change its
said supposed position of parallelism to the permanent magnet W' into any
other position relatively to such magnet a momentary electric current will be
excited in the coils round the temporary magnet W₁ (supposing them to be a
complete metallic circuit) at the moment the change of position takes place
and the electric current so excited might be caused to excite momentary

page_text: occasional magnetism in the magnet W by which occasional magnetism so
excited all the same effects would be produced and all the same consequences
would follow as would have followed from the excitement of a like continuation
of occasional magnetism by an electric current excited by a voltaic battery.
Such being the case it is obvious that the descriptions herein-before contained
in reference to Figures 1. 2. 3. 4 Sheet I. relative to the use of electro-
magnetism for purposes of telegraphic communication so far as the same
may be applicable to the use of electro-magnetism of only momentary duration
are capable of being easily applied to the use of magneto-electricity for the
same purposes so that further descriptions in that respect are unnecessary!
The difference between the use of electro-magnetism as herein-before described
and that of magneto-electricity as now being described consists therefore in
the momentary duration of the latter as contrasted with the continuous action
of the former. The practical effect of this difference is that whereas by
electro-magnetism a distinct and available signal is obtained by each action
and one by each reaction of the escapement wheel on the other hand by
magneto-electricity an available signal is obtained by the reaction alone
because the action of the occasional magnetism upon the escapement wheel is
merely momentary and does not admit of the signal being prolonged for a
sufficient time to be intelligible. Consequently the revolving dial herein-before
described as giving 24 signals under the influence of electro-magnetism would
if submitted to the influence of magneto-electricity according to our present
improvement give only twelve signals. The above particulars being
understood it may easily be explained how magneto-electricity is made
available as a means of exciting occasional magnetism. The occasional
magnetism being as already described excited by a change of the position of
the temporary magnet W¹ relatively to the permanent magnet W it is obvious.
that in the particular instrument now under description such occasional
magnetism must be excited primarily by means of the motion of the axis a. by
which alone such relative position of the temporary magnet can be changed.
For the purpose of acting upon the axis in a convenient manner it is made to
terminate in a small cog wheel k working into a large cog wheel K. The
large cog wheel may be considered as performing an office nearly similar to
the communicator herein-before described for it is divided into twelve equal
parts by twelve pins projecting from one side of its rim each pin representing
one of the twelve signals which the apparatus is capable of giving and being
suitably marked accordingly. The cogs in the two wheels are so arranged
that a motion of the large wheel K through one of its twelve divisions (that is
to say so that any one of its pins being at first, opposite to any given point.

page_text: the wheel is moved till the next pin becomes opposite to the same point) the
axis of the temporary magnet will thereby be caused to perform half a revolu
tion so as by changing the relative position of the said temporary magnet and
consequently by exciting momentary occasional magnetism to give by reaction
one signal as herein-before mentioned and so also as to replace the temporary
magnet in a suitable position for a repetition of the process. But inasmuch
as the temporary magnet has performed only half and not an entire revolution
the position of its poles relatively to those of the permanent magnet has
become reversed consequently further mechanism is necessary for the purpose
of causing the next electric current which may be excited as aforesaid to flow
in the same direction as before and not in a contrary direction. This object
is attained by interposing a disc p between the magnet W¹ and the small cog
wheel . A simple form of the disc might be a solid disc of brass or copper
containing merely a narrow strip of wood or other non-conducting material
extending from side to side through its centre, so as to divide the whole disc
into two solid semicircular insulated pieces of metal. Or else the disc may be
(as shown in Figures 18. 19. 20) merely coated by plates of metal insulated
from each other by an interposed piece of wood. Whichever form may be
adopted the end of one of the coils is to be fastened to one of the pieces or
plates of metal and the end of the other coil to the other piece so that the
ends of the two coils may be insulated from each other and that the end of
each may terminate in a distinct metallic piece or plate forming part of the
said disc. The arrangement is such, that whenever the two poles of the
temporary magnet W₁ are placed in either direction opposite to the poles of
the permanent magnet W2 the two pieces or plates of metal of the disc p
and consequently the ends of the coils connected with them as aforesaid are
respectively in necessary connexion with the two springs z z (viz. one of
such pieces or plates of metal with one spring and the other with the other
spring) and the said springs with the buttons and wires belonging to and
connected with them form one continuity of metal so as to combine the said
coils and the continuations thereof into one metallic circuit capable of
transmitting an electric current upon a change of the position of the temporary
magnet Was aforesaid. But when by the means herein-before described
the axis a is caused to perform half a revolution as aforesaid the same half
revolution of the axis occasions also half a revolution of the disc p and the
arrangement.is such that although at the end of such half revolution of the
said disc the metallic pieces or plates thereof are still placed in such posi-
tions as to complete the continuity of the metallic circuit nevertheless there
is occasioned by such half revolution of the disc a reversal of the springs.**

page_text: with which the metallic pieces or plates were before in contact. Consequently
by the reversal of the springs the aforesaid reversal of the poles of 'the tem-
porary magnet W₁ is neutralized and the electric current is on every
excitement thereof as aforesaid transmitted in the same direction from the
springs into the wires communicating therewith. And it has been
already explained that the exhibition of the characters which denote signals
may be made by a moveable index or hand like the seconds' hand of a clock,
pointing to characters on a fixed dial, instead of a moveable dial das repre-
sented in the apparatus Sheet I. A moving hand may be preferred as being
lighter and more readily put in motion than a moving dial but when a hand
and fixed dial is used the communicator should be a counterpart thereof,
having its characters fixed in a circle with a moveable index to point out them;
instead of having its characters on a moveable circle with a fixed index to
point to them as is represented in Sheet I. and already described;
Sheet III. represents an apparatus for effecting the same purposes as that
already described but constructed with a moveable hand to point to characters
on a fixed dial and with a communicator suitable for that mode of 'indicating
the characters. And whereas it is proper for the person who is giving signals
by aid of the communicator to keep his eye upon the dial of his own apparatus
(whether it be a moving dial, or a moving hand) in order to observe and
keep watch whether the. signals which he intends to give are all truly
exhibited and that his communicator and his dial concur truly in exhibiting
the same characters. It will greatly facilitate such observing and watching of
the progress of the dial or hand if the circular motion of the communicator is
made concentric with and round about that of the dial or hand which may be
done by making the moveable circle of the communicator a circular ring,
fitted to move around the circumference of the dial which occupies the
interior of such ring. The apparatus represented in Sheet III. is constructed
in that manner. And whereas it has been herein-before described that the
resting position of the apparatus when no telegraphic communication is going
on is a period of inaction of the occasional or temporary magnetism of the
voltaic magnets it should be understood that the same is not a necessary
condition, for the apparatus may be constructed so as to remain at rest
during the excitement of the occasional magnetism which must in that case
be kept steadily maintained during all the time of the intervals between
making telegraphic communications by the apparatus. The apparatus repre-
sented in Sheet III. is constructed in that manner. And whereas according
to the description herein-before contained although the attractive force
attendant upon the excitement of occasional or temporary magnetism in the

page_text: voltaic magnets is caused to produce the action requisite for giving signal
nevertheless that action is always followed by reaction by the force of a
reacting weight or spring which is overcome by the attractive force o
the magnetism when the same is excited, but on the cessation of. the
magnetism, then that reacting force operates to give the next succeeding
signal. It should be understood that the same is not a necessary con
dition for the apparatus may be constructed to employ two voltaic magnets
for exerting attractive force alternately by exciting occasional magnetism
first in one voltaic magnet and then in the other in order that a piece
of soft iron situated between the two may be attracted and moved first one
way by one magnet for giving one signal and then the contrary way by the
other magnet for giving the next succeeding signal without any reacting
spring. The apparatus represented in Sheet III. is constructed to operate
in that manner. It requires for that purpose to have three long conducting
or telegraphic wires 21, 22 and 23 whereof one wire 21 extends by a direct
course from one pole of the battery at one terminal apparatus to the contrary
pole of the battery at the other terminal apparatus without forming any
coils around any of the voltaic magnets. The other two telegraphic wires 22
and 23 extend from the two voltaic magnets in one terminal apparatus
to the two voltaic magnets in the other terminal apparatus that is, one of
those two wires 22. makes coils around the right-handmost voltaic magnet of
each of the two terminal apparatuses and the other of those two 23 makes
coils around the left-handmost voltaic magnet of each of the two terminal
apparatuses. Both wires 22 and 23 are occasionally coupled together at
their two ends, and the coupled ends are connected with the poles of the
batterries at the two terminal apparatuses viz. to the contrary pole of each
of those batteries to that pole thereof to which one end of the wire 21 is
connected. The metallic circuit which is then formed includes all the three
long telegraphic wires 21, 22 and 23 and the electric current which is trans-
mitted in one direction through that circuit is divided between the two coupled
wires 22 and 23 and occasional or temporary magnetism is then excited in
all the voltaic magnets at the same time but this is not always the case for
at other times one or other of the two wires 22 or 23 is disconnected at one
or other of its ends (not both) from the batteries and then that wire ceases to
form part of the metallic circuit and the voltaic magnets around which that
wire forms coils (being one of the two magnets in each apparatus) will cease
to be excited, leaving the other of those two magnets excited. For instance if
the wire 23 is disconnected at one of its ends leaving the fellow wire 22,
çonnected at each of its ends with the two terminal batteries then the electric

page_text: current that is transmitted through the wire 22 will excite occasional magnetism
in the right-handmost voltaic magnet of each of the apparatuses whereby the
several pieces of soft iron in those apparatuses will all be attracted towards the
right hand but on the contrary if the wire 22 is disconnected at one of its ends
leaving the fellow wire .23 connected at each of its ends with the two terminal
batteries then the electric current that is transmitted through the wire 23 will
excite occasional magnetism in the left-handmost voltaic magnet of. each,
apparatus whereby the several pieces of soft iron in those apparatuses will
all be attracted towards the left hand. These conditions being premised
the construction of. the apparatus represented in Sheet III. may be thus
described. Figure 11 is a plan of one, terminal apparatus and Figure 12
the other terminal apparatus. Figure 13 being an intermediate apparatus
which in order to simplify the description may for the present be supposed
not to exist but that the two long telegraphic wires 22 and 23 extend from
Figure 11 to Figure 12, as is shewn by the mere double lines without..colour
which pass over Figure 13 without any connection with that Figure. The
two terminal apparatuses Figures 11 and 12 are exactly alike although those
two Figures are drawn rather different in order to explain interior or
exterior parts, and Figure 14 is a vertical section of. both or either
apparatus to shew the interior mechanism. The wooden box or, case of the
apparatus is shaped, somewhat like a small writing desk for when the case I
is placed on a table or horizontal plane the upper side of the case forms an
inclined plane or surface on which the revolving circular ring K of the
communicator appears surrounding the fixed dial c whereon the characters are
marked and to which the, moveable hand d points. A handle 7 is fixed.to the
revolving ring K and projects upwards and outwards therefrom in a convenient,
manner for applying the hand or a finger thereto in order to turn it round and
s is a small pointer which projects inwards from the handle in order to point
to divisions which are marked around the fixed rim J about which the ring K
revolves as its centre of motion and the same characters around the dial c to-
which the hand d applies and points in order to indicate the signals also serve
for directing by aid of, the pointer s where the handle q of the communicator K
shall be turned to, and stopped in order to communicate each signal and as,
the communicator K is turned steadily and deliberately round by its handle the
hand & will be turned round at the same rate by the action of the occasional
magnetism and the clockwork so as to keep the point of the hand d always
directed towards the pointers that is provided that the apparatus acts correctly.
but if it does not the fault cannot escape observation because the hand, d will..
not be directed towards, the pointers as it ought to be. The clockwork is

page_text: contained in the box beneath the dial. A A Figure 14 are the plates of the
frame of the clockwork B the spring barrel for the maintaining power which
acts by a cord or chain and fusee (which fusee does not appear in Figure 14
and with a train of three wheels and three pinions to turn the axis a of the
escapement wheel b, the end of which axis a passes through the dial plate c,
and has the hand d fixed upon the extreme end of it. The pallets or anchor of
the escapement is affixed to an axis e as their centre of motion beyond which
a lever arm projects out from the anchor see Figures 13 and 14 and the
piece of soft iron V is affixed to the extremity of that lever arm in a proper
position between the pole pieces of the two voltaic magnets W W W W
whereof one magnet is supported by a cross bar n fixed at one side of the two
clock plates à a and the other magnet to a like cross bar n at the other side.
Those magnets are (or may be) the same as represented at Figure 5 Sheet I.
and herein-before described. Each magnet consisting of two cylindrical pieces
of soft iron with a great number of coils of wire around it the two pieces so
coiled being united together at one end of each by a connecting piece of iron
, and two such magnets being used they are supported by screwing their
respective connected pieces w to the supporting cross bar n of the frame. The
pieces of iron uu which are fixed to the ends or poles of each of the magnets
W W W W are opposite the other leaving such space between them as is
suitable for the reception of the piece of soft iron V of the escapement and for
the extent of motion which that piece of iron requires to have in order that
the escapement may act properly to permit the teeth of the escapement
wheel b, to escape half a tooth a time in the usual manner of clock escape-
ments excepting that the teeth of the escapement wheel b and those parts
of the pallets which act therewith are cut with a much greater slope in
respect to each other than is usual in well made clocks in order that the
effort which the maintaining power of the spring B exerts to turn the escape-
ment wheel 6 round may operate to urge the pallets first one way and then
the other with so much force as will keep them effectually in motion from
right to left and back again from left to right alternately without any chance
of their resistance when left to themselves being ever able to stop the motion
of the wheel b. But when occasional magnetism is excited in both the voltaic
magnets between which the piece of soft iron V is included the attractive
force of that magnetism although operating upon that piece V. at opposite
sides thereof will nevertheless act so much more powerfully on that one side
of the piece V which is nearest the magnet on that side as to effectually
detain the said piece V from moving, notwithstanding the tendency of the
wheel 6 to. move the same. For as every magnet acts with a very great

page_text: increase of attractive force upon a piece of iron which is so very near to it as
almost to touch over and above the attractive force which the same magnet
can exert on the same piece of iron when it is removed to a small distance it
follows that when by action of the escapement the piece of iron V has been
moved as far as it can go towards either of the voltaic magnets for instance
the right-handmost (both being equally excited) it will then stand so very
near to the pieces of iron u u at the poles of that right-handmost magnet
that although it does not actually touch them nevertheless the attractive force
of those piecesu u will most completely overpower all the effort that the
escapement can exert to move the piece V back again or towards the left
hand and that notwithstanding that the other or left-handmost magnet is at
the time exerting its attractive force upon the piece of iron V to draw it.
towards the left hand because the said attractive force is so much lessened by
the distance at which it acts upon the piece V that although acting in concert
with the tendency of the escapement it will not be able to move the piece V
in opposition to the very much stronger force wherewith the other or right,
handmost magnet owing to its proximity holds the piece V towards the right
wherefore the piece V will be effectually detained and the escapement wheel 6
together with the hand d prevented from turning but will stand motionless
pointing to the same character on the dial c so long as the excitement of both
magnets is continued. And it is to be understood respecting the action of
the apparatus Sheet III. so long as the spring B of clockwork continues
wound up that in all cases when the hand is so kept standing motionless
pointing to the same character on the dial c it will be when both magnets are
excited with occasional or temporary magnetism at once as above described
although when the hand is so resting it will be sometimes with the piece of
iron V attracted or detained by attraction towards the right-hand voltaic
magnet and at other times towards the left-hand voltaic magnet. But when.
ever the said occasional magnetism of that voltaic magnet against or towards
what the piece of iron V is so held attracted and detained (suppose for instance
the right-handmost) ceases for a moment then the said piece V being no
longer attracted towards the right will obey the influence of the escapement
and allow the same to let one half tooth of the wheel 6 escape so as to turn
the hand round from one character to the next; for that said influence
causes the piece V to retreat to the left away from the said right-hand-
most voltaic magnet against which it was before held and detained, and
to approach very suddenly towards the opposite or left-handmost voltaic
magnet which does continue to be excited and whereof the attractive
force towards the left although slight acts in aid of the said influence of

page_text: the escapement, but the united tendency of the said attractive force to
the left together with the tendency of the escapement was not sufficient
to move the piece V towards the left away from the right-handmost
'voltaic magnet to which it was near until the magnetism thereof ceased. That
"cessation may be only momentary and the same right-handmost 'voltaic
"magnet may be excited afresh but it will not in consequence recall the piece
"of iron V back again towards it notwithstanding that the escapement now
"tends to move it back to the right because the left-handmost voltaic imagnet
now attracts the piece of iron V with the greatest forcé in consequence of the
nearness thereof and in detaining the piece V from moving will keep the
escapement wheel and the hand standing still until the temporary magnetism
of the left-handmost voltaic magnet is caused to cease for a moment and then
'the piece V being no longer attracted thereby will move away therefrom
towards the right and allow the escapement wheel 6 to turn another half tooth
and turn the hand round to another character and so on every time thie
'occasional magnetism of either voltaic magnet is caused to cease for a moment
the escapement wheel is allowed to inove round half a tooth. And the requisite
making and breaking of the circuit which will produce such momentary
cessations of the occasional magnetism of first one voltaic magnet and then the
other suitably for the above purpose and which it is the office of the
communicator to perform may be thus explained The revolving circular
ring K has teeth around its circumference which act in those a small pinion
on the axis whereof a small circle or wheel is fixed. The number of teeth on
the ring K exceeds those of the pinion as many times as there are teeth in the
escapement wheel 6 (in the present instance that is fifteen teeth the dial being
divided into double that 'number or thirty divisions and characters) hence the
small circle is caused to make one half turn for each character. It has a piece
of bone or wood fitted into a large notch in its circumference and the rest of
that circumference is metal which metal is always kept connected with the
pole of the battery by a wire ¹. Two springs 22 and 23 z apply with their
extremities in contact with opposite parts of the circumference of the circle /;
and those springs are always in connection with the ends of the two long tele-
graphic wires 22 and 23 which as before mentioned form coils around the
several voltaic magnets one wire around the right-hand most and the other wire
about the left-hand most of those magnets. As the circle , turns round one
or other, or else both of. the springs, 22 z, 23 z form contact with the metal of
that circumference and thereby they connect one or other or else both the
telegraphic wires 22 and 23 with the pole of the battery. The piece of bone in
the said circumference applies sometimes to one spring 22
and sometimes to

page_text: 'q
the other 23 z but never to both wherefore sometimes one telegraphic wire 22
and at other times the other telegraphic wire 23 becomes disconnected during
a moment from the battery. The course of the several wires is so evident from
the Drawing as to require no further explanation. Whenever either.apparatus
is left standing still, and no telegraphic communication is making by it, then
the handle' of that 'communicator K must be turned upwards to point by
its pointers to the blank character on the dial as is the case in Figure 13 and
then the circle stands with the metal part of its circumference in contact
with both the springs 22 z 23 z and consequently that end of both tele-
graphic wires 22 and 23' are connected with the pole of the battery at that
terminus. The other apparatus Figure 11 is represented in the act of giving
à signal the revolving circular ring K of its communicator being turned
round by its handle q until its pointer s is directed to the character, on the
dial which character may denote the conclusion of a word and that the com-
inencement of a 'succeeding word in the telegraphic communication is about to
be given. The band 'd points to the same character, and so does also the hand of
the other apparatus Figure 13 and indicates to the person stationed at that
apparatus that he is to note down that character as a signal given to him.
The circle in Figure 11 now presents the metal part of its circumference to
the two springs 22 z; 23 z and therefore that end of both telegraphic wires
are connected with the battery at that terminus and the opposite ends
Figure 13 of the same two wires 22, 23 being also connected with the
battery at that terminus; it follows that all the voltaic magnets (right hand
as well as left hand) will be excited, and as already explained both terminal
apparatuses. Figures 11 and 13 will detain their pieces of iron V and the
pallets of their escapements, from allowing their respective escapement wheels b
and hands d from moving. When a succeeding signal is to be given (suppose
character letter G for instance) then the handle 9 is to be moved steadily
round until that handle and its pointer s gets round to point to that said
letter G on the dial and as the circle of the 'communicator K moves round
the handled will accompany it with a corresponding motion and also the
other d Figure 11 will move at the same rate so as always. to point to the
same characters one 'hand as the other. This advancing motion of the two
hands step by step alike is produced by momentary cessations of the excite-
iment of magnetism in the several voltaic magnets alternately in the right-hand'
ones and in the left-hand ones as already fully explained that alternation'
being according as the piece of bone in the circumference of the revolving
circle is turned towards a left-hand spring 23 z or towards a right-hand

page_text: spring 22 for to whichever side and spring that bone is for the time turned,
it will cause a momentary discontinuance of the excitement of the voltaic
magnet on that same side; but that discontinuance is only momentary
because the handle q makes no stop in passing round from one character to
another which is to be indicated but is moved steadily round and as the
circle then revolves quickly its piece of bone runs. past the end of that spring
to which in turn it presents itself in an instant and whenever the bandle q
and revolving circle K of the communicator is brought to rest it will be with
its pointers exactly over a division on the fixed circle J. thereof and with the
pointer & opposite to a character on the dial in which case the piece of bone
will be either at the lower or else at the upper part of the circle / out of the
way of contact with either of the springs 22% or 23 z which will both be in
contact with the metal of the circle and consequently both telegraphic wires
22 and 23 will be connected with the batteries and all the voltaic magnets
will be excited. And note owing to the larger portion of the circumference
of the circle being metal and only a small portion thereof of bone it follows
that the contact of one spring with the metal will always take place, before
the other spring quits contact with the metal by which means the re-excite-
ment of the voltaic magnets on one side, will always precede the discontinuance
of the excitement of those on the other side in order to insure that it shall
never happen that neither are excited for if that were to happen the piece of
iron V would not be detained but would allow the escapement wheel to move
the pallets and piece of iron V backwards and forwards and turn round together
with the hand and at any time if the apparatus is going decidedly wrong
that fault will be shewn by the hand beginning to move round of itself. And
as to sounding alarums the clockwork for so doing is disposed in the same
plates A A with the other clockwork as is shewn in Figures 12 or 14, wherein
S is the main spring, for the maintaining power of the alarum, H its bell,
vits serrated wheel, which moves the hammer y for ringing that bell. O is the
head of a slider which pushed in catches the hammer, to stop it from ringing,
but when drawn out allows the hammer to act and sound the alarum. when-
ever the ordinary stop detent of the alarum is disengaged which is done by a pin
or by pins in one of the wheels of the clockwork, wherefore in order to sound
the alarum, after preparation has been made by drawing out the head O then
the. handle g of the communicator K being turned all round, to allow the
escapement wheel to turn round, that motion must bring one of the pins of
the wheel to the detent of the alarm, so as by releasing that detent to let
off the alarum for sounding. But whenever that sounding is not desired the

page_text: head O is pushed in. And note if at any time the hand d gets wrong, so as
not to correspond to the pointers, the communicator K can be set right by
turning it round, in the backwards direction until the pointers gets round
opposite to the hand d, which will not move backwards. And as to the inter-
mediate apparatus Figure 13 it is on the same construction as the two
terminal apparatuses. Figures 11 and 12 except in having two of the small
revolving circles and h 1, in place of one of such circle and there is a spring
22 y 23 y; to each of those circles. The telegraphic wires 22 and 23 take
the courses drawn and colored. in Sheet III. for connecting with the inter-
mediate apparatus, Figure 13. The spring 22 y connects by a short wire with
the left-hand end of the coils around the right-hand most voltaic magnet and the
other spring 23 y connects by a wire with the left hand of the coils around the
left-handmost voltaic magnet. The telegraphic wire 22 from the terminal
apparatus Figure 11 joins by the wire 22 n to the right-hand end of the coils
around the right-handmost voltaic magnet, and the other telegraphic wire 23.
from the other terminal apparatus Figure 11 is connected by a wire 23 n
with the metal of the revolving circle and the telegraphic wire 22 from that
other terminal apparatus Figure 12 connects by the branch 227 to. the
other revolving circle / I-also the telegraphic wire '23 from the ter->
minal apparatus, Figure 12 connects by a branch with the revolving
circle. when thus connected the intermediate apparatus Figure 13 is
adapted to give signals by turning the handle q of its communicator K
round or if that handle q is turned upwards as in Figure 18, and left
standing there, the apparatus will be prepared for receiving signals in the
same manner as either of the terminal apparatuses Figures 11 or 12.
would do, but no battery is necessarily required for the intermediate appa-
ratus Figure 13; the two batteries at the terminal apparatuses Figures 11-
and 12, serving for the whole system shewn in Sheet III.-or the same inter-
mediate apparatus Figure 13 may also be used as a portable apparatus to-
be connected with any part of the long line of the telegraphic wires 22, 23
where the means of connection have been provided which in the case of a
road, or a railway may be at the mile posts. 40 represents the top of such a
post; The wires 22 23 are conducted up into two holes therein where the
continuity of each of those wires when in ordinary use, is dependent upon the
contact of two pairs of springs 50, 51. 60. 61 which by closing together
complete the metallic continuity of each of the two telegraphic wires 22 and
23, but whenever the portable apparatus Figure 13 is to be applied to the
long telegraphic wires at such a mile post 40, its box or case is placed thereon.

page_text: in Figure 13 and two wooden wedges which project downward from that case
are inserted into the said holes in the top of that post 40 so as to enter
between the two pairs of springs 50 51, and 60, 61 in order to wedge in
between and separate the two springs of each pair one from the other, and.
thereby break the metallic continuity of each of the long telegraphic wires.
But the said wedge pieces have a pair of metal plates applied to each side of
each wedge, with wires 22 22 n 23 7. 23 n ascending up into the appa-
ratus from each metal plate, those plates having no metallic connection one
with the other, but being in contact with the springs 50, 51, and 60, 61 they
with their said ascending wires aforesaid connect the parts of the apparatus
with the long telegraphic wires in the same manner as already described
of Figure 12 when considered as an intermediate apparatus. Figure 6.
Sheet III. represents the escapement of the apparatus. contained in that
Sheet on a large scale to shew how the pallets and the teeth of the escape-
ment wheel should be sloped in order to qualify them for performing in the
manner already explained and Figure W shews how two pieces of soft iron
V V may be fixed to the pallets themselves in order to be attracted alter-
nately in contrary directions by voltaic magnets WW and W disposed
at opposite sides of those pallets. Figure H shews a different kind of
escapement which may be used in the apparatus contained in Sheet III. if
the same were to be constructed in a simple manner without any spring
barrel for maintaining power or train of wheelwork to turn the escapement
wheel round together with the hand but the force for that purpose must be
wholly derived from the attractive force of the occasional magnetism and the
pallets are formed as represented so that by being alternately moved one way
and then the other they will act on the teeth of the wheel b to turn it round.
The piece or pieces of soft iron which are to be operated upon by the said
attractive force may be applied. either as represented in Figure 12 or Figure W.
And for telegraphic communications between places, which are too distant for
an electric current to be transmitted all the way with sufficient vigour to
be certain in its operation a chain of such apparatuses as herein-before.
described must be established to communicate one to, another through the
whole distance in which case what has been called the distant, terminus of one.
apparatus will be situated close by the commencing terminus of the next appa-.
ratus and the signals there.received from one apparatus must be sent forwards
by, the next apparatus and so on, all, which requires no explanation because
it is well known in the usual system of telegraphic communication and forms
no part of our present. Invention... And the same may be said of the tele-

page_text: graphic language or system of signals and their significations. Those systems
which are well known and in use for other telegraphs may be used or they
may be modified but they form no part of our Invention.
Having now described our said improvements I the said Charles Wheat-
stone for myself and for the said William Fothergill Cooke do hereby declare
that the new Invention whereof the exclusive use is granted to us by the
said Letters Patent of the Twenty-first day of January One thousand eight
hundred and forty consist in the following particulars. And note whereas
the particulars of improvements which were claimed by me and William
Fothergill Cooke in the former Specification by virtue of our Patent of
the Twelfth day of June One thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven
were therein enumerated as "firstly" "secondly and so in due order up to
"ninthly" and also whereas the several particulars of improvements claimed
by the said William Fothergill Cooke in another Specification by virtue of
Letters Patent granted to him on the Eighteenth of April One thousand
eight hundred and thirty-eight were therein enumerated as Part A, Part B,
and so on in due order up to Part F. I shall in order to avoid confusion there-
with enumerate the several particulars of improvements which we Charles
Wheatstone and William Fothergill Cooke now claim in the Specification by
virtue of our said Letters Patent of the Twenty-first of January One thousand
eight hundred and forty under the heads or titles Part G Part H and so on
as follows and represented in Figures 1 to 5 Sheet I. and Figures 11, 12
and 13.
Part G is the improvement herein-before fully described of employing the
attractive force of occasional or temporary magnetism which is excited in soft
iron by means of electric currents transmitted through metallic circuits for
the purpose by alternately exciting and ceasing to excite such magnetism of
producing by intervention of suitable mechanism such as herein-before described
(but the construction of which mechanism may be greatly varied) any such
motion of a hand or other indicator for pointing to characters on a fixed dial
as will qualify that hand or indicator for exhibiting those characters in a
suitable manner for giving signals or of producing such motion of a dial with
characters thereon as will qualify that dial for exhibiting those characters in a
suitable manner for giving signals; or employing the said attractive force for
the purpose of governing directing and controlling by the intervention. of
suitable mechanism such as herein-before described (but the construction of
which mechanism may be greatly varied) the motion as aforesaid of such
hand or other indicator or of such dial when the force or power requisite for
producing that motion, is derived from or is assisted by, action of an inde-
n

page_text: pendent maintaining power so that the motion is only directed governed or
controlled by the said attractive force of occasional or temporary magnetism
and that whether the aforesaid electric currents are excited by means of voltaic
batteries or any kind of magneto-electric or other machine or apparatus
capable of producing such currents.
Part H is the improvement herein-before described of the mechanism which
we have called a communicator for alternately making and breaking any such
metallic circuit as is suitable for the transmission of electric currents in spiral
convolutions around masses of soft iron so as to excite occasional or temporary
or voltaic magnetism in such masses whenever the said circuit is made, and
cessation of that magnetism, whenever the said circuit is broken; in order
by such alternate making and breaking of the circuit in rapid succession
(without necessity for pause) as many times in succession as is required to
obtain alternate excitement and cessation of the said magnetism for the
purpose of producing (according to the preceding Part G of our improvements)
motion of a hand or a dial, or else of regulating such motion as is stated in
the said preceding Part G.
Part I is the improvement herein-before described and represented at
Figure Sheet IV. of the Drawings hereunto annexed for sounding alarums
in distant places by aid of machinery which is kept in continual motion by any
suitable maintaining power that motion being kept regulated as to speed by
any suitable kind of regulator and which machinery at regular intervals by
raising a hammer or other like means strikes with sufficient force for releasing
the detaining detent of the wheelwork to its alarum provided that the blow
was struck on that detent but which it is prevented by some suitable stop
from doing unless the end of a magnetic needle is interposed between such
detent and the hammer so as to transmit the blow thereof to the detent and
release the same in order to sound the alarum such interposition of the end
of that magnetic needle resulting from its angular motion caused by the
transmission of an electric current through multiplying coils of conducting
wire surrounding the space wherein such needle is contained or in lieu of a
magnetic needle to be moved with angular motion by an electric current for
the purpose of so interposing a solid body between the hammer and the detent
as aforesaid the requisite motion for so interposing may be derived from the
attractive force of occasional magnetism excited in a voltaic magnet by an
electric current and acting on a piece of iron connected in any suitable
manner with the solid body which is to be interposed by such occasional
magnetism.
Part J is the improvement herein-before described and represented in

page_text: Figure 22 Sheet II. whereby the angular motions which may be given by
electric currents to magnetic needles which are moveable in spaces surrounded
by multiplying coils of wire forming metallic circuits through which such
electric currents are transmitted is caused to give motion by the intervention
of suitable mechanism to a hand or dial for exhibiting characters in a suitable
manner for giving signals.
Part K is the improvement herein-before described and represented in
Figures 18, 19, and 20 Sheet IV., for employing the attractive force of occa-
sional or temporary magnetism which will be excited in soft iron by trans-
mission of electric currents through metallic circuits for the purpose by action
of such attractive force on suitable mechanism of sounding alarums when
such electric currents are produced by magneto-electric apparatus instead of
by voltaic batteries.
Part L is the improvement herein-before described and represented in
Figures 11, 12 and 13 Sheet III. whereby the revolving apparatus which
we call a communicator, as stated and claimed in Part H) is rendered con-
centric with the dial or hand whereby the characters are exhibited the
revolving motion of such concentric communicator being coincident with that
of the hand or dial when exhibiting characters.
Part M is the improvement herein-before described and represented in
Figures 11, 12 and 13 Sheet III. whereby one of the long telegraphic wires
being appropriated to the voltaic batteries by which electric currents are to be
produced and two other long telegraphic wires being provided to transmit the
current in one direction (but the current divided between those two) the same
battery is enabled to serve apparatuses at great distances asunder without
necessity for employing a battery at each apparatus and therefore a portable
apparatus may be applied to any part of the length of the telegraphic wires
as shewn by Figure 12 without the inconvenience of carrying a battery
therewith.
Part N is the improvement herein-before described and represented in.
Figures 11, 12 and 13 Sheet III. whereby the rest or cessation of motion in
the hands or dials by which characters are exhibited is derived from the
continued transmission of an electric current through the metallic circuit,
which extends throughout the whole system of apparatuses and also whereby
momentary cessations of such current through one or other of the two wires
both of which usually transmit the current in one direction (but the current
divided between those two) such momentary cessations are made to produce¨
by intervention of suitable mechanism motions of a hand or dial, and

page_text: hundred and forty.
CHARLES (L.S.) WHEATSTONE.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED that on the Twenty-first day of July in
the third year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria the said Charles
Wheatstone came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery and
acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid and all and every thing therein
contained and specified in form above written. And also the Instrument
aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the fifty-
fifth year of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Third.