IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEPHONIC ADDADAPT
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Ero Potter, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Merchant, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEPHONIC
ADDADAPT"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Ero.Potter at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st July 1881.
WILLIAM ERO POTTER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant.
" IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEPHONIC APPARATUS.”
Telephone circuits with a single wire for signalling or calling, and for speech or
sound, have heretofore been provided with switches for putting the signal or call
mechanism or the telephone transmitter into circuit as required. The switches
have been operated either by being moved by hand into position for call or speech,
or they have been arranged so as to complete the telephone circuit except when
forcibly held in position to open the call circuit. Switches operated in the manner
first above mentioned were liable to be left in the position last used, and were
often not replaced to call after the use of the telephone, such switches therefore
rapidly fell into disuse, and the system second above mentioned is the one now
generally in use. This latter system however has the serious disadvantage that in
order to leave the call open after use it is necessary to place the telephone in a
particular position, such as on a hook or in a holder connected with the switch.
It has the further disadvantage that the telephone must be removed and held in
the hand when used for speech, thereby preventing the use of both hands, and
making it difficult to take verbatim notes of the message.
Now the main objects of my Invention are to provide telephonic apparatus so
arranged and combined that the normal condition of such apparatus is on call,
that both hands are free when a message is being received, and that the parts are
moved from call to sound by an easy and natural motion when moving into position
to receive a message.
In carrying my Invention into practice the switch is of any usual or desired
construction, either pivoted or sliding, and it is automatically held in position to open

page_text: the call circuit by means of a spring or weight; a rod, wire, or equivalent agent
connects the switch with a pedal or other suitable appliance for giving motion
when acted upon by the foot or otherwise to the said rod or its equivalent, and
with it to the switch. The pedal or like appliance is secured to the floor or is fixed
in any other convenient position. More than one pedal or the like may be
connected to one switch.
In combination with apparatus arranged and operating as above described I
mount the telephone receiver on a jointed bracket or holder so arranged as to
permit of the said telephone receiver being readily adjusted to any required height
or position.

page_text: "
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Ero Potter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th December 1881.
.
WILLIAM ERO POTTER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEPHONIC APPARATUS."
:
Telephonic circuits with a single wire for signalling or calling, and for speech or
sound, have heretofore been provided with switches for putting the signal or call
mechanism or the telephonic transmitter into circuit as required. The switches
have been operated either by being moved by hand into position for call or speech,
or they have been arranged so as to complete the telephone circuit, except when
forcibly held in position to open the call circuit. Switches operated in the manner
first above mentioned were liable to be left in the position last used, and were often
not replaced to call after the use of the telephone, such switches therefore rapidly
fell into disuse, and the system second above mentioned is the one now generally
in use.
This latter system however has the serious disadvantage that in order to
leave the call open after use it is necessary to place the telephone in a particular
It has the
position, such as on a hook or in a holder connected with the switch.
further disadvantage that the telephone must be removed and held in the hand when
used for speech, thereby preventing the use of both hands, and making it difficult
to take verbatim notes of the message.
.
Now the main objects of my Invention are to provide telephonic apparatus 80
arranged and combined that the normal condition of such apparatus is on call, that
both hands are free when a message is being received, and that the parts are moved
from call to sound by an easy and natural motion when moving into position to
receive a message.
In carrying my Invention into practice the switch is of any usual or desired
construction, either pivoted or sliding, and it is automatically held in position to
open the call circuit by means of a spring or weight; a rod, wire, or equivalent
agent connects the switch with a pedal or other suitable appliance for giving motion
when acted upon by the foot or otherwise to the said rod or its equivalent, and
with it to the switch. The pedal or like appliance is secured to the floor or is fixed
in any other convenient position. More than one pedal or the like may be
connected to one switch.
In combination with apparatus arranged and operating as above described I
mount the telephone receiver on a jointed bracket or holder so arranged as to
permit of the said telephone receiver being readily adjusted to any required height
or position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
The perspective view herewith illustrates one of several methods of carrying my
Invention into practice. It will be obvious after perusal of the description of the
Drawings that the combination of parts under the first part of my Invention may
be variously disposed and arranged to produce the desired effect. a is a telephone
transmitter constructed in any usual or desired manner: b is the switch: c. call

page_text: attached to the lever or pedal so as to be raised by the pressure of the foot, such
arrangement however is not considered so advantageous. The lever or pedal is
placed in any convenient position, as near a desk. The telephone receiver dis
connected to the jointed holder i, so that it may be secured in any desired position
to facilitate hearing.
It will be observed that when using the apparatus above described the hands are
free, the telephone receiver is placed in any desired position, and the changing of
the circuit from call to speech is effected by the action of the foot or in any
convenient manner..
Having now described and illustrated the nature of the said Invention in
such manner that others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect, I
claim,-
First. Constructing telephone apparatus substantially as herein described for the
purpose setforth.
Second. The combination of the switch, rod, lever, or pedal, and spring or
equivalent devices, substantially as herein setforth for the purpose specified.
Third. In combination with telephone apparatus under the first part a telephone
receiver, arranged and operated substantially as herein setforth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Ero Potter, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
J. JOHNSON,
Patent Office,
4, Clayton Square,
L'pool.
Witness.
W. E. POTTER. (L.S.)