Iм- PROVEMENTS IN MEANS OF EFFECTING COMMUNICATIONS BY MEANS OF A CODE OR CODES OF SIGNALS BETWEEN DIFFerent Points EITHER at SEA OR on Land, OR BETWEEN VESSELS AT SEA AND POINTS ON LAND
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Stewart Smyth, of No. 12, Upper Berkeley
Street, Portman Square, in the County of Middlesex, Captain
in Her Majesty's 63rd Regiment, for the Invention of “Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN MEANS OF EFFECTING COMMUNICATIONS BY MEANS OF A CODE
OR CODES OF SIGNALS BETWEEN DIFFerent Points EITHER at SEA OR on Land,
OR BETWEEN VESSELS AT SEA AND POINTS ON LAND."
Sealed the 9th June 1871, and dated the 13th December 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Stewart Smyth
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 13th December 1870.
I, JAMES STEWART SMYTH, of No. 12, Upper Berkeley Street, Portman
5 Square, in the County of Middlesex, Captain in Her Majesty's 63rd
Regiment, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Iμ-
PROVEMENTS IN MEANS OF EFFECTING COMMUNICATIONS BY MEANS OF A CODE OB

page_text: CODES OF SIGNALS BETWEEN DIFFERENT POINTS EITHER AT SEA OR ON LAND, OB
BETWEEN VESSELS AT SEA AND POINTS ON LAND," to be as follows:-
My improvements in means of effecting communications by means
of a code or codes of signals between different points either at sea or
on land or between vessels at sea and points on land, relate particularly
to means of effecting communications between different points during
times of darkness or in foggy weather.
In carrying out my Invention I by preference employ a pair of
whistles similar to what are known as "steam whistles," which are
by means a pair of connecting pipes placed in communication with
a main steam pipe, which communicates with a steam pipe from a
boiler or with a reservoir or other means of holding compressed air.
The whistles are arranged to give widely different tones one from
another in order that they may be distinguished, and their connecting
pipes are provided with taps or valves to regulate the passage of the
steam or compressed air.
In connection with the apparatus above described I arrange a
table or surface, by preference of metal, which is divided by means
of horizontal and vertical divisions into a series of compartments or
spaces, in each of which a letter or sign is painted, stamped, or otherwise
indicated, and which represent the code or codes of signals necessary
for communication. Each series of vertical and horizontal columns
are numbered, and a whistle of a given tone is arranged to represent
the horizontal columns, and a whistle of another tone the vertical
columns, so that in the event of a given letter or sign being required
to be indicated a given number of sounds from the whistle indicating
the horizontal columns, and a given number of sounds from the
whistle indicating the vertical columns will be given, thereby indicating
the particular letter or sign required.
In order however that the means I employ may be fully understood,
I have annexed a diagram of a table or plate with the alphabet arranged
thereon, and I will suppose that a whistle of a particular tone, which
I will call a, represents the horizontal columns X, X, and a whistle of
another tone which I will call b, represents the vertical columns Y, Y,
In order to indicate the word "Out" it will be necessary, 1st, to give
three sounds with the whistle a, representing columns X, and two
with the whistle b, representing columns Y, and consequently indicating

page_text: the letter O. The letter O being situated on the table in the 3rd column
X and the 2nd column Y.
Secondly, four with the whistle a, representing divisions X, and two
with whistle b, representing divisions Y, and consequently indicating the
letter U.
Thirdly, four sounds from whistle a, representing divisions X, and
one sound from whistle b, representing divisions Y, and indicating the
letter T.
Various modifications of divisions or arrangements of signs may
be employed, but the one I have shown will be found to indicate
the principle by which I propose to carry my Invention into effect.
The termination of each word may be indicated by intervals of long
duration in proportion to the duration of time between the other
signals or parts of signals, or by a combination of signals. Various
paragraphs or sentences may be indicated by similar signs.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Stewart Smyth in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 13th June 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
STEWART SMYTH, of No. 12, Upper Berkeley Street, Portman Square,
in the County of Middlesex, Captain in Her Majesty's 63rd Regiment,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the
thirty-fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said James Stewart Smyth, Her
special licence that I, the said James Stewart Smyth, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Stewart Smyth, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man an Invention for " IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MEANS OF EFFECTING COMMUNICATIONS BY MEANS OF A CODE OR CODES

page_text: OF SIGNALS BETWEEN DIFFERENT POINTS EITHER AT SEA OB ON LAND, OR BETWEEN
VESSELS AT SEA AND POINTS ON LAND, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said. James Stewart Smyth, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Stewart Smyth, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, that is to say :-
My improvements in means of effecting communications by means of
a code or codes of signals between different points either at sea or on
land, or between vessels at sea, and points on land relate particularly to
means of effecting communications between such different points during
times of darkness or in foggy weather.
In carrying out my Invention I by preference employ a pair of
whistles similar to what are known as “steam whistles," which are by
means of a pair of connecting pipes placed in communication with a
main steam pipe which communicates with a steam pipe from a boiler or
with a reservoir or other means of holding compressed air. The whistles
are arranged to give widely different tones one from another in order
that they may be distinguished, and their connecting pipes are pro-
vided with taps or valves to regulate the passage of the steam or
compressed air.
In connection with the apparatus above described I arrange a table
or surface, by preference of metal, which is divided by means of hori-
zontal and vertical divisions into a series of compartments or spaces, in
each of which a letter or sign, or letters and signs are painted, stamped,
or otherwise indicated, and which represent the code or codes of signals
necessary for communication. Each series of vertical and horizontal
columns are numbered, and a whistle of a given tone is arranged to
represent the horizontal columns, and a whistle of another tone
the vertical columns, so that in the event of a given letter or
sign being required to be indicated a given number of sounds from

page_text: the whistle indicating the horizontal columns, and a given number of
sounds from the whistle indicating the vertical columns will be given,
thereby indicating the particular letter or sign required.
But that the nature of my Invention, and means which I have found to
answer in carrying the same into effect, may be fully understood, I will
proceed by the aid of the accompanying Drawings to describe the same
more in detail.
Figure 1 shows
sectional end view of apparatus arranged according to my Invention.
a, represents the table or plate which is divided by means of the
horizontal lines a¹, and vertical lines a³, into compartments or spaces, in
each of which a letter of the alphabet, one of the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, 9, or 0, and a sign are painted, stamped, or otherwise indicated,
and which represents the code or codes of signals necessary for communi-
cating from place to place.
Each series of vertical and horizontal columns are numbered, and the
whistle A of a given tone is arranged to represent the horizontal columns
formed by the line a¹, and the whistle B of a widely different tone
represents the vertical columns formed by the vertical lines a³, so that in
the event of a given sign or letter being required to be indicated a given
number of sounds from the whistle A. indicating the horizontal columns,
and a given number of sounds from the whistle B indicating the
vertical columns will be given, thereby indicating the particular letter or
sign required.
it
The whistles A and B are supplied with steam or air by means of a
pair of connecting pipes 6 and c, placed in communication with a branch
pipe d, which communicates with a main pipe e from a boiler, or may
communicate with a reservoir containing compressed air in the event of
steam not being used; f.f, are taps or valves which are provided with
handles f¹, f, for regulating the supply of steam or air to the whistles A
and B; is the framing of the apparatus which, together with the pipes.
or tubes b and c, are by preference formed of cast iron. The framing g
as shewn is so formed as to receive and support the table a which is by
preference formed of brass:

page_text: It will thus be seen that this apparatus is applicable to the codes of
signals now in use.
The vertical and horizontal dashes under the various letters and
figures serve to indicate to the operator more readily the number of
sounds to be given to indicate the various letters or figures required.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and means by
which the same may be carried into effect, I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details shewn and described,
as the same may be varied without departing from the peculiar
character of my Invention, but what I do claim is, the arrangement or
combination of means or apparatus for effecting communications by
means of a code or codes of signals between different points either at
sea or on land, or between vessels at sea and points on land substantially
as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Stewart Smyth, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of June, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.