IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO- MAGNETIC TELEGRAPHS AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING SIGNS OR INDICA. TIONS TO DISTANT PLACES BY MEANS OF ELECTRICITY, AND IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR ESTABLISHING ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DISTANT PLACES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Wheatstone, of Hammersmith, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-
MAGNETIC TELEGRAPHS AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING SIGNS OR INDICA.
TIONS TO DISTANT PLACES BY MEANS OF ELECTRICITY, AND IN THE MEANS OF
AND APPARATUS FOR ESTABLISHING ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
BETWEEN DISTANT PLACES."
Sealed the 15th March 1861, and dated the 10th October 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Wheatstone at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th October 1860.
1, CHARLES WHEATSTONE, of Hammersmith, in the County of Middle-
sex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC TELEGRAPHS AND APPARATUS
FOR TRANSMITTING SIGNS OR INDICATIONS TO DISTANT PLACES BY MEANS OF ELEC-
TRICITY, AND IN THE MEANS OF & APPARATUS FOR ESTABLISHING ELECTRIC
TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DISTANT PLACES," to be as follows:-
The first improvement consists of a modification of the communicator
described as the sixth improvement in the Specification of the Patent,
No. 1241 granted to me on the Second of June 1858.
In this modification the magneto-electric machine is dispensed with,
and an apparatus similar to that described as part of the fourth improve-
ment of the same Patent is connected with the axis which carries the

page_text: index for the purpose of alternating the direction of the currents pro-
ceeding from a voltaic battery placed in the circuit. The axis carrying
the index is caused to rotate, and the apparatus producing the inversion
of the currents is brought into play by a motion communicated to the
axis by means of appropriate gearing from a winch moved by the hand
or from any maintaining power. As in the case of the aforesaid fourth
improvement this arrangement is either adapted for working the step by
step telegraphs when the direct current of a voltaic battery is employed,
or is so modified as to permit the employment of induction currents
originated by a voltaic battery.
The second improvement consists in a new construction of the com-
municator to be employed in connection with a voltaic battery, when,
as in the preceding case, either the direct current or the secondary cur-
rent from the induced circuit is to act on the telegraphic instruments.
The object of this improvement is to determine the number of alter-
nately inverted currents requisite to cause the index of the telegraph
to point to the proper letter or sign by means of the pressure of finger
stops without having recourse to any maintaining power as a spring,
or weight, or motion of the hand for the purpose. The finger stops or
keys are circularly arranged round a central axis, carrying on its upper
end an index which, as the axis rotates, points to different characters on
a letter circle. A portion of this axis consists of an endless screw
which is acted upon to cause the rotation of the axis by any one of several
levers placed so as to press upon the thread of the screw in a direction
parallel to the axis; the ends of the levers more distant from the axis
are sufficiently broad to allow several finger keys separately to press
upon each of them. The lower part of each key is furnished with a pin;
these pins are radially arranged from each key towards the centre
The axis carrying the endless screw is also furnished with a pin or stop
placed below the plane of the pins attached to the keys. On pressing down
a key a lever presses on the screw, and causes the axis and consequently
the index to rotate until the stop on the axis comes against the depressed
pin of the key, and thus the motion is arrested when the index is oppo-
site to the letter corresponding to the depressed key. The lower part
of the axis is connected with an apparatus for alternately inverting the
current similar to that of the communicator already mentioned as the
first improvement. Instead of a screw the axis may carry a pinion with
ratchet leaves, which is caused to rotate by any one of several racks
in gear with the pinion; the extent of motion of these racks is determined
by the keys in a similar manner to that already described when the
screw is employed. When the key is released the rack recedes by
means of a spring to its original position.

page_text: The third improvement consists in a new construction of the mag-
neto-electric machine. Two soft iron cores with their coils are fixed
to each pole of a permanent magnet, so that the centres of their unfixed
ends are equi-distant from each other in the circumference of a circle.
An axis passing through the centre of this circle carries a soft iron arma-
ture, the breadth of which is a little greater than the distance between
two adjacent cores. The wires of the coils are so connected together
that the current produced simultaneously in each coil, two by the
approach and two by the recession of the armature to and from the soft
iron cores, all concur to produce a current in the same direction in the
communicating wire, and during one revolution of the armature four
shocks or instantaneous currents are successively produced at equal
intervals, each successive shock being in the opposite direction to the
preceding. Several magnets of this description may be combined to
form a compound magneto-electric machine. The magnets are placed
so that the axis carrying the armatures are vertical and arranged at
equal distances in a circle. Each of these axes are furnished with a
pinion, and all the pinions gear into a wheel fixed on an axis, which is
connected by means of multiplying wheels with the handle. The posi-
tion of the armatures may be so varied that the shocks produced by all
the magnets may be simultaneous or they may be successive; thus,
when the machine is composed of four magnets according to different
arrangements of the positions of the armatures, four, eight, or sixteen
currents may be obtained during one revolution of the central axis.
The fourth improvement consists in substituting for a voltaic battery
a magneto-electric machine, either simple or compound, (that is, either
consisting of one or of several magnets and armatures) kept in continual
motion by the action of a constant force for the purpose of ringing any
number of electro-magnetic bells any where placed in an establishment.
For this object one end of the magneto-electric coil is placed in con-
nexion with the earth; from any points of a conducting wire attached
to the other end of the coil wires proceed to the touches or connecting
apparatuses of all the bells; other wires also proceed from the touches
to a conducting wire immediately connected with the earth. When the
touch corresponding to any bell is acted upon its two wires are brought
into contact, the circuit is thereby completed through the branch con-
taining the bell, the magneto-electric current circulates and the bell rings.
It will be found in some cases more convenient to suppress the earth
communications, and to join the two main conducting wires at their
extremities; in this case the circuit when formed will be entirely metallic.
The fifth improvement is a magneto-electric apparatus for ringing
an electro-magnetic bell at a distance, so constructed that a single

page_text: motion of a lever or a single pull of a rope or wire causes several cur-
rents to be produced in succession, in order to act repeatedly on the
electro-magnet moving the clapper of a bell or the detent of the alarum
described as the eleventh improvement in the Specification of the Patent
No. 1241, granted to me on June the Second 1858.
The lever is connected with the rotating armature of the magneto-
electric machine by means of a chain or band, which causes it to make
several revolutions by a single motion of the lever, and a spring reverses
the motion immediately the armature ceases to act.
The sixth improvement consists in the employment of musical pipes,
or free tongues (such as employed in the concertina, harmonium, &
other similar instruments), acted upon by wind for the purpose of com-
municating intelligence by means of audible instead of visible signs.
I prefer to employ pipes or tongues producing very high sounds, since
they require a much less quantity of wind than lower sounds. The
passage between the reservoir of air and the pipe or tongue is closed
by a valve, which when acted upon by an electro-magnet opens and
allows the passage of the wind to the pipe or tongue. The reservoir of
air may be either a small gasometer, a water blow-pipe, an india-rubber
ball collapsing by its own elasticity, or a bag impermeable to air com-
pressed by a weight or spring; the air being in all these cases restored
when exhausted by blowing through a pipe furnished with a throttle
valve, or by other means; or a bellows of any description kept in action
by a maintaining power may be employed for this purpose. With this
apparatus long and short sounds may be made to follow each other in
the successions constituting the letters of Morse's telegraph. Two such
pipes or tongues producing different notes connected with the same or
separate reservoirs, the valve of one acted upon when the current pro-
ceeds in one direction, and the valve of the other when the current pro-
ceeds in the opposite direction constitutes a telephone, of which the
alphabet may correspond with that of the usual single needle telegraph.
The seventh improvement is a modification of that part of my auto-
matic printing telegraph which is called the transmitter, and is described
as the second improvement in the Specification of the Patent No. 1239,
granted. to me, and dated June Second, 1858. The object of this modi-
fication is to enable the transmitter, by means of the perforated slips of
paper therein described, to act upon the receiving instruments of a
Morse's telegraph in such manner as to impress on bands of paper
in any required order the successions of long and short marks in the
same line, which constitute the alphabet of that telegraph instead of
the double row of dots required in my system.
For this purpose a
slight change only in the mechanism is necessary. The contacts made

page_text: by the external wires of the rocking frame are so disposed that whether
one or the other be depressed the current is transmitted to the tele-
graphic wire in the same direction instead of in opposite directions, as is
the case in the former construction. The eccentric which effects the
elevation and depression of the wire acts differently upon them, so that
the duration of the contact of one wire lasts longer than that of the other.
When the slip of perforated paper is inserted in the groove of the rocking
frame of the transmitter, and the instrument is put in action, whenever
the end of one of the wires enters an aperture in its corresponding row
the current has a shorter duration; and whenever the end of the other wire
enters an aperture of the other row it has a longer duration; by the
appropriate arrangement of apertures in the slip of paper long and short
currents are thereby made to succeed each other in the proper order to
mark on the recording or receiving instrument the letters of what is
termed the Morse alphabet.
The eighth improvement is a telegraphic thermometer, which com-
municates to a distant place notice of the two limits of its indications.
Its construction is as follows:-A segment of a circle graduated so as to
include the two limits of temperature intended to be indicated is fixed
on an insulating board. Two arms move separately round a pin at the
centre of the circle; the longer ends of these arms serve as pointers to
be set at the required degrees of the graduated circle; the shorter ends
carry pins, in which adjusting screws are inserted. A compound
metallic bar consisting of long strips of iron and brass, or other two
dissimilar metals soldered together face to face, is fixed at one end to
the board, so that its edge is perpendicular thereto; the free end of
this bar is placed between the pins on the shorter ends of the arms,
and the distances of the latter are so adjusted by means of the screws,
that when the extremes of temperature to which the arms are set act
upon the compound bar, it shall come in contact with one of them; a
binding screw is in communication with the metallic arms of the circle,
and another with the fixed end of the compound bar. The terminals of
a voltaic circuit, including a voltaic battery and an electro-magnetic bell,
are attached to the two binding screws. So long as the unfixed end of
the compound bar is entirely free the circuit remains open, but when
the action of temperature brings it into contact with either pin the
circuit is completed, the voltaic battery is brought into activity, and the
bell rings. Instead of a straight bar, a compound bar formed into a
helix, as in Brequet's metallic thermometer, and carrying at its unfixed
end a pointer, may be substituted; pins, moveable for the purpose of
being set at determinate degrees, are placed on the graduated circle,

page_text: and the contact of the pointer with either of these pins determines the
completion of the circuit.
The ninth improvement consists of a new system of establishing lines
of telegraphic communication over the houses, or along the streets of
cities & towns; at present naked iron or steel wires are stretched
between posts at certain distances apart, supplied with straining appa-
ratus, and intermediate posts are placed for supporting while preserving
the insulation of the wires. The chief disadvantages of this system are,
first, the great danger of contacts between wires which cross each other
in various directions; secondly, the great expense when the number of
wires is considerable; and thirdly, the liability to loss of insulation in
wet weather. In the proposed system straining posts elevated at the
tops of public buildings or private houses are fixed at distances about a
mile apart, and their positions are so arranged that when they are
joined by straight lines a series of triangles as nearly approaching
equilateral as may be found convenient is mapped out. From these
straining posts in six different directions nearly equidistant from each
other, two steel or galvanized iron wires are stretched in the same hori-
zontal plane to all the posts about a mile distant from it, and their
tension is maintained by straining apparatus. A single strong wire will
suffice, but greater security will be ensured by employing two. Inter-
mediate supporting posts, but which require no insulating apparatus,
as these wires are not for the purpose of transmitting electricity, are
fixed at convenient distances. A rope consisting of a bundle of metallic
wires (say, from 20 to 60), each having a separate covering of india-
rubber, gutta percha, or other good insulating material, is suspended
from these two wires at short intervals along their entire lengths. The
ropes terminate at the straining posts, and the free ends of all the wires
contained therein are brought into a box, which forms part of or is
placed in connection with the post; by means of metallic connections
within the box the wires proceeding from one direction may be united
to those proceeding in any other direction, and thus the wires may be
combined in every possible manner, and the combinations changed as
required. From these connecting stations also the single wires proceed,
which complete the communication between the main lines and the
establishments to be placed in connection with them. It is not necessary
to cover the whole of a town with triangulations, as above described,
they may be extended only to those parts of the town where telegraphic
communication will be profitable, and they may also be intermitted
where other means of carrying the rope may be more convenient or
economical. In particular cases the following methods of suspending
the rope of wires will be found advantageous; secondly, iron posts of

page_text: considerable elevation are to be erected in the streets in positions
ordinarily occupied by lamp posts; these are for the purpose of straining
and supporting two steel or iron wires, as in the first method, and the
rope of wires is to be suspended from them in a similar manner. When
two or more streets intersect each other, and it is necessary that lines
should proceed through several or all of them, the ends of all the ropes
terminating at that post must pass down it, so that the wires contained
in them may be there connected in any ways that may be required;
thirdly, iron rods or wires are laid at convenient distances from each
other transversally across streets, so that the ends of each shall be fixed
on the tops or against the front walls of houses opposite each other.
Each of these rods or wires is furnished with a ring or eye fixed to some
part of its length where it passes over the street, and the rope containing
the insulated telegraphic wires passes through these rings or eyes; to
diminish the swag of the rope a tightening screw is adapted to each
suspending ring for the purpose of grasping it. When it is required to
form a connecting station the transverse rod or wire must be provided
with two or more rings or eyes to receive the ropes proceeding from
different directions; the ends of all the ropes must be led along the
rod, and thence into a room of an adjacent house; or they may be let
down covered by a protecting tube outside the house to a connecting
box placed against the wall. It will be more advantageous, for many
obvious reasons, to conduct the telegraph line when this method is adopted
through narrow streets than through the leading thoroughfares. The
common feature in all these methods is that of supporting ropes, each
containing a number of insulated wires in the air, along streets, or over
the roofs of houses, and so bringing the ends of the wires belonging to
a rope proceeding from one direction in juxtaposition with those pro-
ceeding from other directions, that they may be combined to form con-
tinuous lengths through a variety of different routes, so as to be capable
of forming uninterrupted communication in several ways from any one
point to another in the system.
The tenth improvement is a method of constructing the supports of
suspended telegraphic wires, which has the advantage of preventing in
a great measure the coinmunication of sound and vibratory motions
arising from the action of wind. This object is effected by interposing
a cylinder of vulcanized india-rubber between the support and the in-
sulating apparatus of the telegraphic wires. This method is equally
applicable to the suspending wires carrying the rope of conductors,
described in the preceding article, but in this case no insulations are
required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Wheatstone in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th April 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
WHEATSTONE, of Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Charles Wheatstone, Her special licence that I, the said Charles
Wheatstone, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Charles Wheatstone, 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 IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC TELEGRAPHS AND
APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING SIGNS OR INDICATIONS TO DISTANT PLACES BY MEANS
OF ELECTRICITY, AND IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR ESTABLISHING
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DISTANT PLACES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Charles Wheatstone, 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 Charles Wheatstone, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:
The first improvement consists of a modification of the communicator
described as the sixth improvement in the Specification of the Patent
No. 1241, granted to me on the Second day of June 1858. In this
modification the magneto-electric machine is dispensed with, and an
apparatus similar to that described as part of the fourth improvement
of the same Patent is connected with the axis, which carries the index
for the purpose of alternating the direction of the currents proceeding
from a voltaic battery placed in the circuit, the axis carrying the index
is caused to rotate and the apparatus producing the inversion of the

page_text: current is brought into play by a motion communicated to the axis by
means of appropriate gearing from a winch moved by the hand or from
any maintaining power. As in the case of the aforesaid fourth improve-
ment the arrangement is equally adapted for working the step by step
telegraph when the direct current of a voltaic battery is employed, or
when induction currents originated by a voltaic battery are made use of.
Figure 5 (Sheet 1) represents a plan and elevation of this modification
in the communicator. In place of the driving wheel on the axis for
moving the armature of the magnet, a current changing wheel a, as
described in the fourth improvement of my Patent No. 1241, dated
Second day of June 1858, is attached alternately, inverting the current
from a voltaic battery in the revolution of the axis b. By means of
appropriate gearing the axis carrying the index is caused to rotate, and
the apparatus producing the inversion of the currents necessary for the
step by step motion of the telegraphs brought into play. Another form
of apparatus for producing the inversion of the currents proceeding from
a voltaic battery placed in circuit, is shown at Figure 8, (Sheet 1). a and b
are two brass pillars supporting an insulated plate of ebonite, in which
are fixed six metal binding screws 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. A vertical axis
carries a small fly wheel c and pinion d, and at its upper end a circular
disc, at the circumference of which is attached two ebonite links e and f,
moving freely round their common axis; the other ends of these links
are attached respectively to two brass arms, which have the pins of the
binding screws 2 and 5 for their axes, and each carries a cross piece
terminating with springs, which during the motion of the instrument
press alternately against the binding screws 1 and 3, and 4 and 6. The
distances of the springs s and pins are so adjusted that each contact lasts
during about one-fourth of a revolution of the eccentric. The multiply-
ing wheel g is connected with the axis carrying the index, or, when the
apparatus with finger keys is dispensed with, is provided with a handle
or index h for the purpose of setting it in motion. When the wheel g
is turned the eccentric is caused to revolve rapidly, and in consequence
of the arrangements above described, the binding screws 2 and 5 re-
spectively in connection with the earth and line wire are brought
alternately in rapid succession in metallic contact, the former with the
binding screws 1 and 3, and the latter with 4 and 6, in connection with
the poles of a voltaic battery, by which means the inversion of the currents
is produced. This arrangement also permits the employment of induc-
tion currents originated by a voltaic battery, by arranging the terminal
wires of the primary and secondary coils of the induction apparatus and
those of the telegraphic circuit in the manner described in the fourth im-
provement of the Patent No. 1241, above referred to.

page_text: The second improvement consists in a new construction of the com-
municator to be employed in connection with a voltaic battery, when,
as in the preceding case, either the direct current or the secondary
current from the induced circuit is to act on the telegraphic instruments.
The object of this improvement is to determine the number of alternately
inverted currents requisite to cause the index of the telegraph to point
to the proper letter or sign by means of the pressure of finger stops,
without having recourse to any maintaining power, as a spring, or
weight, or motion of the hand for the purpose. The finger stops or keys
are circularly arranged round a central axis carrying on its upper
end an index, which as the axis rotates points to different characters
on a letter circle. A portion of this axis consists of an endless screw,
which is acted upon to cause the rotation of the axis by any one of
several levers placed so as to press upon the thread of the screw in a
direction parallel to the axis; the ends of the levers more distant from
the axis are sufficiently broad to allow several finger keys separately to
press upon each of them. The lower part of each key is furnished with
a pin; these pins are radially arranged from each key towards the centre,
the axis carrying the endless screw is also furnished with a pin or stop
placed below the plane of the pins attached to the keys. On pressing
down a key a lever presses on the screw and causes the axis, and con-
sequently the index, to rotate until the stop on the axis comes against
the depressed pin of the key, and thus the motion is arrested when the
index is opposite to the letter corresponding to the depressed key. The
lower part of the axis is connected with an apparatus for alternately
inverting the current, similar to that of the communicator already men-
tioned as the first improvement of the present Patent. Instead of a
screw the axis may carry a pinion with ratchet leaves, which is caused
to rotate by any one of several racks in gear with the pinion, the extent
of motion of these racks is determined by the keys in a similar manner
to that already described, when the screw is employed; when the key
is released the rack receeds by means of a spring to its original position.
The following is a more complete description of the latter mode of con-
struction. Figure 1 (Sheet 1) is a side view; Figure 2 is a plan; Figure 3,
an under side view; and Figure 4, a vertical section of an apparatus
constructed according to this improvement.
a is a plate pierced to receive the several stops or finger keys b; the
extremities of these stops pass through a second plate c attached to the
plate a by pillars d. An opening in the centre of both plates admits
of the passage of the central axis e carrying on its upper end an index f;
g, g, are stop plates working upon bearings h, h, and acted upon by the
depression of the finger keys b. The stop plates carry fixed levers or

page_text: arms i, i, to the extremities of which are attached the ratchet leaves k, k,
working into the pinion fixed upon the other extremity of the axis e.
The stop plates g, g, are sufficiently broad to allow several of the finger
keys or buttons b, b, separately to press upon each of them. The lower
part of each key is furnished with a pin m. These pins are radially
arranged from each key towards the centre; the axis carrying the index f
is also furnished with an arm or stop n placed below the plane of the
pins attached to the keys. On pressing down a key or button the stop
plate g is acted upon and carries forward the arm i, i, and ratchet k;
this pressing on to the pinion by means of a spring p causes the axis
and consequently the index to rotate until the stop n on the axis comes
against the pin m of the depressed key, and thus the motion is arrested
when the index is opposite to the letter corresponding to the depressed
key; when the finger key or button is released the ratchet recedes by
means of the spring r to its original position. Motion is communicated
to an apparatus s for alternately inverting the current, similar to that
of the communicator already mentioned as the first improvement, by
means of the toothed wheel and gearing t attached to the axis e. The
pin w upon the arm n is for the purpose of throwing the line to earth by
contact with the movement and connections x when the appropriate
button or finger stop is depressed.
The third improvement consists in a new construction of the magneto-
electric machine. Two soft iron or hard steel cores, with their coils,
are fixed to each pole of a permanent magnet, so that the centres of their
unfixed ends are equidistant from each other in the circumference of a
circle. An axis passing through the centre of this circle carries a soft
iron armature, the breadth of which is a little greater than the distance
between two adjacent cores. The wires of the coils are so connected
together that the currents produced simultaneously in each coil, two by
the approach and two by the recession of the armature to and from the
soft iron or hard steel cores, all concur to produce a current in the same
direction in the communicating wire, and during one revolution of the
armature four shocks or instantaneous currents are successively pro-
duced at equal intervals, each successive shock being in the opposite
direction to the preceeding. Several magnets of this description may be
combined to form a compound magneto-electric machine. The magnets
are placed so that the axis carrying the armatures are vertical, and
arranged at equal distances in a circle; each of these axis is furnished
with a pinion, and all the pinions gear into a wheel fixed on an axis,
which is connected by means of multiplying wheels with the handle.
The position of the armatures may be so varied that the shocks produced
by all the magnets may be simultaneous, or they may be successive;

page_text: thus, when the machine is composed of four magnets, according to
different arrangements of the positions of the armatures, four, eight, or
sixteen currents may be obtained during one revolution of the central
axis.
Figure 6 is a plan, and Figure 7 an elevation (Sheet 1) of a magneto-
electric machine constructed according to this improvement. a, a, and
b, b, are two soft iron or hard steel cores fixed to each pole of a per-
manent magnet, so that the centres of their unfixed ends are equidistant
from each other in the circumference of a circle. c, c, and d, d, are the
coils surrounding these soft iron or hard steel cores; e is an axis passing
through the centre of this circle, and carrying the soft iron armature f,
the breadth of which is a little greater than the distance between two
adjacent cores. The wires of the coils c, c, and d, d, are so connected
together that the currents produced simultaneously in each coil, two
by the approach and two by the recession of the armature to and from
the soft iron or hard steel cores a, a, and b, b, all concur to produce a
current in the same direction in the communicating wire, and during
one revolution of the armature f four shocks or instantaneous currents
are successively produced at equal intervals, each successive shock being
in the opposite direction to the preceeding, but the principle adopted
in the preceeding improvement may be also introduced in this arrange-
ment.
Figure 1 is a plan, and Figure 2 an elevation (Sheet 2) of a magneto-
electric machine in which several magnets are combined to form a com-
pound apparatus. The magnets a, b, c, are placed so that the axes d, e, f,
carrying the armatures g, are vertical, and arranged at equal distances
in a circle. In the Drawing each pole of the magnet is shown with only
one soft iron or hard steel core attached, instead of two, as above de-
scribed. Each of these axes is furnished with a pinion h, and all the
pinions gear into a wheel k fixed on an axis, which is connected by
means of multiplying wheels with the handle. The position of the
armatures g may be so varied that the shocks produced by all the
magnets may be simultaneous, or they may be successive; thus, when
the machine is composed of four magnets, according to different arrange-
ments of the positions of the armatures, four, eight, or sixteen currents
may be obtained during one revolution of the central axis.
The fourth improvement consists in substituting for a voltaic battery a
magneto-electric machine, either simple or compound (that is, either
consisting of one or of several magnets and armatures), kept in continual
motion by the action of a constant force, for the purpose or ringing any
number of electro-magnetic bells anywhere placed in an establishment.
For this object one end of the magneto-electric coil is placed in connec

page_text: tion with the earth, from any points of a conducting wire attached to
the other end of the coil wires proceed to the touches or connecting
apparatuses of all the bells; other wires also proceed from the touches to
a conducting wire immediately connected with the earth. When the
touch corresponding to any bell is acted upon, its two wires are brought
into contact; the circuit is thereby completed through the branch con-
taining the bell, the magneto-electric current circulates, and the bell
rings. It will be found in some cases more convenient to suppress the
earth communications, and to join the two main conducting wires at
their extremities; in this case the circuit when formed will be entirely
metallic.
Figure 3 (Sheet 2) shews the general arrangement of a magneto-
electric machine and connections according to this improvement for the
purpose of ringing any number of electro-magnetic bells anywhere placed
in an establishment. a, a, are the electro-magnetic bells; b, b, the
touches corresponding to the several bells, and connected with them by
the metallic circuits c, c; d, d, are the keys for acting upon the touches,
and in connection with the earth at e. The electro-magnetic bells are
placed in circuit with the magneto-electric machine by the wire f; the
other end of the coil wires is connected with the earth at g. When the
key d of any touch corresponding to any bell is acted upon its two wires
are brought into contact, the circuit is thereby completed through the
branch containing the bell, the magneto-electric current circulates, and
the bell rings. When it is found more convenient to suppress the earth
communication, the two main conducting wires e and g may be joined
at their extremities; in this case the circuit, when formed, will be
entirely metallic. Any magneto-electric machine may be employed for
this purpose.
In the apparatus represented by the Drawing, Figure 3, the six horse-
shoe magnets, with their coils, are fixed, while the central axis carrying
the armatures revolves, the poles of all the magnets are arranged in a
circle round this axis; the disposition of the Figure does not allow the
other branches of the magnets with their coils to be seen. The soft iron
armatures on the axis are of sufficient length to cover the two poles of
each magnet. This Figure is introduced for the purpose of showing
another arrangement of a compound magneto-electric machine with coils
and soft iron cores attached to the poles of fixed magnets differing from
that described in the fourth improvement.
The fifth improvement is a magneto-electric apparatus for ringing an
electro-magnetic bell at a distance, so constructed that a single motion
of a lever, or a single pull of a rope or wire, causes several currents to
be produced in succession, in order to act repeatedly on the electro-

page_text: magnet moving the clapper of a bell, or the detent of the alarum de-
scribed as the eleventh improvement in the Specification of the Patent
No. 1241, granted to me on June the 2nd, 1858. The lever is connected
with the rotating armature of the magneto-electric machine, by means
of a chain or band, which causes it to make several revolutions by a single
motion of the lever, and a spring reverses the motion immediately the
armature ceases to act.
Figure 4 (Sheet 2) is an elevation, and Figure 5 a plan of a magneto-
electric apparatus constructed according to this improvement.
a is the axle carrying the armature b; c is the magnet; d is a spring
attached to the axle a for reversing the motion immediately the armature
ceases to act; e is a chain or band round the axle a, one end of the chain
being attached to the arm f in connection with the handle or pull g.
Upon depressing the handle, the arm f extends the chain or band from
off the axle a, and causes the armature b to rotate over the poles of the
magnets; the spring d reversing the motion immediately the lever g is
relieved.
Figure 6 shows an arrangement whereby any one of several bells can
be thrown into circuit with the magneto-electric apparatus at pleasure.
The sixth improvement consists in the employment of musical pipes
or free tongues (such as employed in the concertina, harmonium, and
other such musical instruments) acted upon by wind, for the purpose of
communicating intelligence by means of audible instead of visible signs.
I prefer to employ pipes or tongues producing very high sounds, since
they require a much less quantity of wind than lower sounds. The
passage between the reservoir of air, and the pipe or tongue is closed by
a valve, which when acted upon by an electro-magnet, opens and allows
the passage of the wind to the pipe or tongue. The reservoir of air may
be either a small gasometer, a water blow-pipe, an india-rubber ball,
collapsing by its own elasticity, or a bag impermeable to air, compressed
by a weight or spring; the air being in all these cases restored, when
exhausted, by blowing through a pipe furnished with a throttle valve, or
by other means; or, a bellows of any description kept in action by a
maintaining power may be employed for this purpose. With this appa-
ratus long and short sounds may be made to follow each other in the suc-
cession constituting the letters of Morse's telegraph. Two such pipes or
tongues producing different notes, connected with the same or separate
reservoirs; the valve of one acted upon when the current proceeds in
one direction, and the valve of the other when the current proceeds in
the opposite direction, constitutes a telephone, of which the alphabet
may correspond with that of the usual single needle telegraph..

page_text: Figure 7 (Sheet 2) represents an apparatus constructed according to
this improvement.
a represents the four poles of two small electro-magnets with a mag-
netic armature or needle working upon the centre f; b is the musical
pipe or free tongue connected with the air chest c; a flexible tube or
channel d from the air chest completes the communication with the gas-
ometer, or air reservoir, the emission of the gas or air through the pipe
or tongue being regulated at the proper intervals by the action of the
arm e and pallet movement g, attached to the centre of motion of the
magnetic armature or needle of the electro-magnetic arrangement. The
necessary succession of currents to act upon the electro-magnetic arrange-
ment may be obtained either by means of an ordinary Morse key placed
anywhere in circuit with a voltaic battery or from a magneto-electric
machine, the currents of which are developed by the pressure of a lever
or key causing the movement of an armature from a magnet. Instead
of compressed air I prefer the employment of common gas for that
purpose, when such is to be obtained, a simple communication with the
meter being all that is required to produce a clear and sonorous quality of
sound. In such case a provision must be made to allow of the proper
escape of the gas by combustion or other means, which may be effected in
a variety of obvious ways.
The seventh improvement is a modification of that part of my automatic
printing telegraph, which is called the transmitter, and is described as
the second improvement in the Specification of the Patent No. 1239,
granted to me and dated June 2nd, 1858. The object of this modifica-
tion is to enable the transmitter, by means of the perforated slips of
paper therein described, to act upon the receiving instrument of a
Morse's telegraph, in such manner to impress on bands. of paper in any
required order the successions of long and short marks in the same line
which constitute the alphabet of that telegraph, instead of the double
row of dots required in my system. For this purpose a slight change
only in the mechanism already described is necessary. The contacts
made by the external wires of the rocking frame are so disposed that
whether one or the other be depressed the current is transmitted to the
telegraphic wire in the same direction, instead of in opposite directions,
as in the case of the former construction. The eccentric which effects the
elevation and depression of the wires acts differently upon them, so that
the duration of the contact of one wire lasts longer than that of the other.
When the slip of perforated paper is inserted in the groove of the rocking
frame of the transmitter, and the instrument is put in action, whenever
the end of one of the wires enters an aperture in its corresponding row
the current has a shorter duration, and whenever the end of the other

page_text: wire enters an aperture of the other row, it has a longer duration. By
the appropriate arrangement of apertures in the slip of paper, long and
short currents are thereby made to succeed each other in the proper
order to mark on the recording or receiving instrument the letters of
what is termed the Morse alphabet.
Figures 8 and 9 (Sheet 2) are a side view and elevation of a portion of
a transmitter constructed according to this improvement.
a is the
eccentric axis carried in the frame of the transmitter, and caused to
revolve by suitable machinery; l, m, and n are the three needles passing
through holes in the top of the rocking frame, and terminating at their
lower extremities in hooks which pass round the eccentric axis a. The
hooks of these needles are kept up in contact with the axis by the spiral
springs o, p, and 9 respectively. The two outside needles are furnished
with pins and s, which serve for the passage of the electric currents or
shocks, as will be hereafter explained; they are in metallic communica-
tion with the line wire through the frame of the apparatus. b is a piece
of metal insulated from the frame of the transmitter by the ivory bosses
c and d. This piece of metal is in metallic communication with one pole
of the battery or other apparatus producing the electric currents or
shocks by means of the pin e and wire f. The pin e carries the spring g.
Two metal arms and i, working upon centres, are attached to the in-
sulated piece b, and acted upon by the springs j and k in contrary
directions, the arm being pressed upwards against the stop pin t and
the arm in a downward direction, so as to bring one end in contact
with h. The arm h has a slight lateral slot movement on its centre. u is
an insulating piece of ivory working loose on a centre attached to the
metal piece b. This piece of ivory is furnished with a pin v, in metallic
communication with the earth through the coil spring w, the ivory
piece u being pressed against the pin x attached to the arm h. It will be
seen that each time that the crank axis a revolves, it takes down with
it all the three needles l, m, and n, and that when the crank moves to
its highest position the needles rise with it (unless some impediment be
interposed, the needles and n being drawn up by the springs o and g,
and the needle m by the spring p; and in addition to the rising and
falling motion of the needles the crank causes them to have a rocking
upon the pivoted frame y. When the apparatus is in action, the slip of
paper, punctured as described in the first claim of my Patent, No. 1239,
granted to me, and dated June 2nd, 1858, is placed between the guides,
that each time the needles and n are allowed to rise, one of them enters
a perforation in the slip of paper, and passes the current by metallic
contact between the line and the apparatus producing the electric
currents or shocks, the duration of the current being regulated in the

page_text: following manner:-When the needle n enters a perforation in the paper
it rises by force of the spring q with the revolution of the crank axis a,
making a momentary contact at its greatest elevation for the passage
of the current between the spring g and the pin s, thereby causing a
dot to be registered at the distant recording apparatus. Immediately
after the passing of the current the line is discharged to earth by the
temporary contact of the pin within the completion of the revolution
of the crank axle a. When the needle &, for producing the long current
or dash in the Morse alphabet, enters a perforation in the slip of paper,
the revolution of the crank axis a causes the pin r to enter a notch at
the extremity of the arm h, the contact being maintained by the pressure
of the spring on the slotted bearing until, in the revolution of the crank
axis a, the pressure of the descending arm causes the other arm i to
rise, and at the half revolution to catch the pin r upon its release from h,
prolonging the duration of the contact and passage of the current.
During the contact with the arm the pin a has in its motion depressed
the earth connection v, which is therefore in position upon the release
of r from i, to make the momentary discharge of the line into earth, thus
according as one or other of the needles and n is allowed to rise by
the perforations in the strip of paper, so will the battery or other source
of electric power be brought into the circuit, so as to communicate in
the same direction shocks or currents of long or short duration in the
proper order to mark on the recording or receiving instrument the letters
of what is termed the Morse alphabet.
The eighth improvement is a telegraphic thermometer, which com-
municates to a distant place notice of the two limits of its indications.
Its construction is as follows:-A segment of a circle graduated so as to
include the two limits of temperature intended to be indicated is fixed on
an insulating board. Two arms move separately round a pin at the
centre of the circle, the longer ends of these arms serve as pointers to
be set at the required degrees of the graduated circle, the shorter ends
carry pins in which adjusting screws are inserted. A compound metallic
bar consisting of long strips of iron and brass, or other two dissimilar
metals soldered together face to face is fixed at one end to the board, so
that its edge is perpendicular thereto, the free end of this bar is placed
between the pins on the shorter ends of the arms, and the distances
of the latter are so adjusted by means of screws, that when the extremes
of temperature to which the arms are set act upon the compound bar
it shall come in contact with one of them. A binding screw is in com-
munication with the metallic arms of the circle, and another with the
fixed end of the compound bar. The terminals of a voltaic circuit, in-
cluding a voltaic battery and an electro-magnetic bell, are attached to

page_text: the two binding screws. So long as the unfixed end of the compound
bar is entirely free the circuit remains open, but when the action of tem-
perature brings it into contact with either pin, the circuit is completed,
the voltaic battery is brought into activity, and the bell rings. Instead
of a straight bar, a compound bar formed into a helix, as in Breguet's
metallic thermometer, and carrying at its unfixed end a pointer may
be substituted, pins moveable for the purpose of being set at deter-
minate degrees are placed on the graduated circle, and the contact of
the pointer with either of these pins determinates the completion of the
circuit.
Figure 10 (Sheet 2) is an apparatus constructed according to this
improvement. a is a segment of a circle graduated so as to include the
two limits of temperature intended to be indicated; b is an insulating
board to which it is affixed. Two arms c and d move separately round
a pine at the centre of the circle, the longer ends of these arms serve as
pointers to be set at the required degrees of the graduated circle, the
shorter ends carry pins f, f, in which adjusting screws are inserted. A
compound metallic bar g consisting of long strips of iron and brass or
other two dissimilar metals soldered together face to face is fixed at one
end to the board, so that its edge is perpendicular thereto, the free end
of this bar is placed between the pins on the shorter ends of the arms,
and the distances of the latter are so adjusted by means of the screws,
that when the extremes of temperature to which the arms c and d are
set, act upon the compound bar, it shall come in contact with one of them.
A binding screw h is in communication with the metallic arms of the
circle, and another binding screw i with the fixed end of the compound
bar. The terminals of a voltaic circuit, including a voltaic battery and
an electro-magnetic bell, are attached to the two binding screws. So
long as the unfixed end of the compound bar is entirely free, the circuit
remains open, but when the action of temperature brings it into con-
tact with either pin the circuit is completed, the voltaic battery is brought
into activity and the bell rings. Instead of a straight bar, a compound
bar formed into a helix, as in Breguet's metallic thermometer, and
carrying at its unfixed end a pointer, may be substituted, pins moveable
for the purpose or being set at determinate degrees are placed on the
graduated circle, and the contact of the pointer with either of these
pins determines the completion of the circuit.
The ninth improvement consists of a new system of establishing lines of
telegraphic communication over the houses or along the streets of cities,
towns, and other places. At present naked iron or steel wires are
stretched between posts at certain distances apart supplied with strain-
ing apparatus, and intermediate posts are placed for supporting while

page_text: preserving the insulation of the wires. The chief disadvantages of this
system are, first, the great expense when the number of wires is con-
siderable; second, the great danger of contacts between wires which
cross each other in various directions; and, third, the liability to loss of
insulation in wet weather. In the proposed system straining posts cle-
vated at the tops of public buildings or private houses are fixed at dis-
tances about a mile apart, and their positions are so arranged that when
they are joined by straight lines, a series of triangles as nearly approach-
ing equilateral as may be found convenient, is mapped out. From these
straining posts in six different directions nearly equidistant from each
other, two steel or galvanized iron wires are stretched in the same hori-
zontal plane to all the posts about a mile distant from it, and their ten-
sion is maintained by straining apparatus. A single strong wire will
suffice, but greater security will be ensured by employing two. Inter-
mediate supporting posts, but which require no insulating apparatus,
as these wires are not for the purpose of transmitting electricity, are
fixed at convenient distances. A rope consisting of a bundle of metallic
wires (say from twenty to sixty) each having a separate covering of
india-rubber, gutta percha, or other good insulating material is sus-
pended from these two wires at short intervals along their entire lengths.
The ropes terminate at the straining posts, and the free ends of all the
wires contained therein are brought into a box, which forms part of
or is placed in connection with the posts; by means of metallic connec-
tions within the box the wires proceeding from one direction may be
united to those proceeding in any other, and thus the wires may be
combined in every possible manner, and the combinations changed as
required. From these connecting stations also the single wires proceed,
which complete the communication between the main lines and the
establishments to be placed in connection with them. It is not neces-
sary to cover the whole of a town with triangulations, as above described,
they may be extended only to those parts of the town where telegraphic
communication will be profitable, and they may also be intermitted
where other means of carrying the rope may be more convenient or
economical. Figure 14 (Sheet 3) represents a portion of a city or town
triangulated in the manner described. a, a, are the drawpost stations
situated at the intersections of the various lines; b, b, the lines of insulated
wires united at the posts a, a. The dotted lines represent districts of
the town to which the sytem of triangulation may be extended. In
particular cases the following methods of suspending the rope of wires
will be found advantageous:-First, iron posts of considerable elevation
are to be erected in the streets in positions ordinarily occupied by lamp
posts. These are for the purpose of straining and supporting two steel

page_text: or iron wires, as in the first method, and the rope of wires is to be sus-
pended from them in a similar manner. When two or more streets
intersect each other, and it is necessary that lines should proceed
through several or all of them, the ends of all the ropes terminating at
that post must pass down it, so that the wires contained in them may
be there connected in any way that may be required. Figure 13 (Sheet
3). is an elevation of the wire rope supported according to this method.
a, a, are the posts of considerable elevation erected at convenient dis-
tances in the streets; b is the insulated wire rope passing between them.
Second, iron rods or wires are laid at convenient distances from each
other transversely across streets, so that the ends of each shall be fixed
on the top or against the front wall of houses opposite each other. Each
of these rods or wires is furnished with a ring or eye fixed to some part
of its length, where it passes over the street, and the rope containing
the insulated telegraphic wires passes through these rings or eyes. To
diminish the swag of the rope a tightening screw is adapted to each sus-
pending ring for the purpose of grasping it. When it is required to
form a connecting station, the transverse rod or wire must be provided
with two or more rings or eyes to receive the ropes proceeding from dif-
ferent directions. The ends of all the ropes must be led along the rod,
and thence into a room of an adjacent house; or they may be led down
covered by a protecting tube outside the house to a connecting box
placed against the wall. It will be more advantageous for many obvious
reasons to conduct the telegraphic line, when this method is adopted,
through narrow streets than through the leading thoroughfares. The
common feature in all these methods is that of supporting ropes each
containing a number of insulated wires in the air along streets or over
the roofs of houses, and so bringing the ends of the wires belonging to
a rope proceeding from one direction in juxtaposition with those pro-
ceeding from other directions that they may be combined to form con-
tinuous lengths through a variety of different routes, so as to be capable
of forming an uninterrupted communication in several ways from any
one point to another in the system.
Sheet 3, Figures 1 and 2, represent an elevation of two methods of
establishing lines of telegraphic communication. According to this
improvement, a, Figure 1, is one of the straining posts elevated at the
top of public buildings or private houses, and fixed at distances about a
mile apart, and their positions are so arranged that when they are joined
by straight lines a series of triangles as nearly approaching equilateral
as may be found convenient is mapped out. From these straining posts
in six different directions, nearly equidistant from each other, two steel
or galvanized iron wires c are stretched in the same horizontal plane

page_text: to all the posts about a mile distant from it, and their tension is main-
tained by straining apparatus b; a single strong wire will suffice, but
greater security will be ensured by employing two. Intermediate sup-
porting posts d (but which require no insulating apparatus, as these wires
are not for the purpose of transmitting electricity) are fixed at con-
venient distances. A rope e consisting of a bundle of metallic wires
(say from twenty to sixty) shown in longitudinal section at Figures 4, and
transverse section at Figure 6, each having a separate covering of india-
rubber, gutta percha, or other good insulating material is suspended
from these two wires at short intervals along their entire lengths by
apparatus f, Figure 7.
D
Figure 2 represents another mode of suspending the rope containing
the insulated conducting wires from post to post, by means of a central
straining wire g shown in section at Figures 3 and 5, and .in elevation
at Figure 2. In this case the external straining wires c and apparatus
f are dispensed with, the ropes terminate at the straining posts, and
the free ends of all the wires contained therein are brought into a box h,
Figure 1, which forms part of or is placed in connection with the post.
Figure 8 is an interior elevation of a box of this description, and Figure
9 a transverse section. e the ropes of metallic conductors entering the
box, and by means of the insulated metallic connections n within the
box the wires proceeding from one direction may be united to those pro-
ceeding in any other, and thus the wires may be combined in every pos-
sible manner, and the combinations changed as required.
Figures 10 and 11 is a plan and elevation of another form of insulat-
ing apparatus for connecting the ends of the wires together when divided
at intervals along the main line for testing and other purposes; the ends
of the wires being severally carried through insulating tubes numbered
respectively to correspond with those upon the metallic connections n
within the box h. One set of the tubes in these connecting discs are
coloured to distinguish the coming in wires from the exit wires. From
these connecting stations also the single wires m proceed, which com-
plete the communication between the main lines and the establish-
ments to be placed in connection with them.
Figure 12 is a plan of the straining apparatus of one of the posts a
according to this improvement. It is not necessary in all cases that six
ropes, with their respective suspending wires, should proceed from each
straining post, a less or greater number may be fixed thereto according
to the requirements of the neighbourhood.
The tenth improvement is a method of constructing the supports of
suspended telegraphic wires, which has the advantage of preventing in a
great measure the communication of sound and vibratory motions arising

page_text: from the action of wind; this object is effected by interposing a cylinder
of vulcanized india-rubber between the support and the insulating appa-
ratus of the telegraphic wires. This method is equally applicable to
the suspending wires carrying the rope of conductors described in the
preceeding article, but in this case no insulations are required.
Figure 9, Sheet 1, is an elevation of the supports of suspended tele-
graphic wires according to this improvement. a is a portion of the post;
b, b, are the telegraphic wires; c, c, are rings of vulcanized india-rubber
placed between the post and the wire; d is a metal washer exterior to
the vulcanized india-rubber, round which the telegraphic wire bis
secured; e is a tube of ebonite or other insulating material for the pro-
tection of the wire at the point of contact with the post.
The eleventh improvement consists of a method of augmenting the
shocks of a magneto-electro machine, forming part of the communicator
of an electro-magnetic telegraph. This is effected by causing by means
of suitable apparatus a short circuit, including the magneto-electric coil
to be complete the instant after the shock is thrown open into the tele-
graphic circuit without breaking the continuity of the latter.
Figure 2 (Sheet 2) is a plan, and Figure 1 an elevation of an appa-
ratus constructed according to this improvement. s is an insulated
piece of metal attached to the axle of the pinion h carrying the armature
g. The two metal springs m and n are respectively attached to the earth
and line wires; the spring m rubbing against the metallic cross piece s,
and the spring n being so adjusted by means of the screw t as to make
a momentary contact with s during its rotation. It will, therefore, be
seen, that the moment of contact can be so arranged as to occur the
instant after the armature g has broken contact with the poles of the
magnet, throwing the shock open into the telegraphic circuit, the short
circuit between and being completed without breaking their
continuity.
Having thus described the nature of my said Inventions, and the
manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that I do
not confine myself to the exact details described, as the mechanical
details may be much varied without departing from my Invention;
what I claim is,―
First. The modification of the communicator with finger keys,
described as the sixth improvement of my Patent, dated June 2nd
1858, No. 1241, in which an apparatus for alternately inverting the cur-
rents of a voltaic battery is substituted for a magneto-electric machine,
as there represented; and I make this claim, whether the direct cur-
rents of the voltaic battery, or the induction currents generated in a
secondary coil are communicated to the telegraphic circuit. And I also

page_text: claim the method of constructing an apparatus for alternately inverting
the currents of a voltaic battery in which pressing contacts are substi-
tuted for the rubbing contacts previously employed; which apparatus
may form part of a communicator with finger keys, or of one with a
revolving handle or letter circle.
Second. The method or methods of constructing a communicator for
the purpose of working a step-by-step alphabetic telegraph, in which
the proper number of currents from a voltaic battery necessary to make
any letter appear in the telegraphic receiving instrument is determined
solely by the pressure of a corresponding key. And I claim this method
whether the current has to be alternately inverted or simply interrupted,
or whether primary or induction currents are employed.
Third. The method of constructing a magneto-electric machine
described as the third improvement, in which a soft iron armature
revolves before a horse-shoe or other magnet with bifurcated poles,
made either of iron or steel, and round which poles insulated wire is.
wound. When a soft iron armature revolves before the two poles of a
horse-shoe magnet with stationary coils, four currents are generated
in the coils during one revolution, which currents are alternately in
opposite directions, but are unequal in intensity, and do not succeed
each other at equal intervals. By the construction described in the
aforesaid third improvement the alternate currents are caused to succeed
each other with equal intensity, and at regular intervals, the effecting
of which important improvement I especially claim. This construction
of a magneto-electric machine is. equally applicable to the communi-
cator of a step-by-step alphabetic telegraph, or to the transmitter of an
automatic printing telegraph.
Fourth. The employment of a magneto-electric machine, whether
simple or compound, the armature or armatures of which are kept in
continual motion by any maintaining power, for the purpose of being
substituted for a voltaic battery in connection with a system of electro-
magetic bells in an establishment. I also claim the arrangement of
several magnets with fixed coils surrounding the poles thereof, whether
of soft iron or hard steel, into a compound magneto-electric machine, as
shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, Sheet 2, and described under the third and
fourth improvements. All previous compound magneto-electric
machines except one described in the eighth improvement of my Patent
dated June 2nd 1858, No. 1241, have been constructed with moving
instead of stationary coils.
Fifth. The method of constructing a magneto-electric machine in
which several successive shocks or currents are produced by means of
a single motion of a lever, whether the motion be communicated from

page_text: the lever to the armature by means of a chain or band, or wheels geared
into each other.
Sixth. The employment of musical pipes or free tongues acted upon
by wind in the construction of telephones, in which the alternation of
long and short sounds are grouped in a similar manner to the long and
short line in the alphabet of a Morse's telegraph; or in which two
sounds are made to succeed in the order of the alternate motions which
constitute the alphabet of a single needle telegraph.
Seventh. The modifying of the transmitter of my automatic printing
telegraph, (described as the second improvement of my Patent dated
June 2nd 1858, No. 1239,) so as to enable it to act upon the receiver
of a Morse's telegraph, in order to impress or print the long and short
lines, the various groupings of which constitute an alphabet.
Eighth. The method of constructing a metallic telegraphic thermo-
meter, by means of which two limits of temperature are indicated.
Ninth. For suspending a rope containing several insulated wires
from a wire or wires stretched between supports placed at suitable dis-
tances, in order to support the rope containing the wires without sub-
jecting the wires therein to any stretching force. Also for placing in
the centre of a rope containing a number of insulated wires a wire com-
posed of one or more strands of iron, steel, or other suitable metal, for
the purpose of being stretched between supports placed at suitable dis-
tances. Also for suspending the rope containing the insulated wires
over streets in the direction of their length, from transverse rods or
wires fixed to houses opposite each other. Also for the regular or irregular
triangular arrangement of the telegraphic ropes, by which several ropes
abut on each straining post, and extend from one straining post to
another without the necessity of crossing each other. Also for bring-
ing to the same stretching post a number of ropes containing insulated
wires, in such manner that the ends of these wires are, by an appro-
priate apparatus, combined in a variety of ways to divert the electric
current from one channel to another.
Also for placing at the supporting posts, intermediate between the
straining posts, an apparatus, by means of which the wires may be con-
nected or disconnected at pleasure, so that they may continue uninter-
rupted from one straining post to another, or branch off to any special
station.
Tenth. For a method of constructing the supports of suspended tele-
graphic wires, which has the advantage of preventing in a great measure
the communication of sound and vibratory motions arising from the
action of wind.
Eleventh. For a method of augmenting the shocks of a magneto-

page_text: electro machine forming part of the communicator of an electro-mag-
netic telegraph, by means of suitable apparatus causing a short circuit,
including the magneto-electric coil, to be completed the instant after
the shock is thrown open into the telegraphic circuit without breaking
the continuity of the latter, which may be used either with or without
the introduction of a condenser between the circuit wires.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Wheatstone, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this the Ninth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
CHARLES WHEATSTONE. (L.S.)
Witness,
NATHANIEL J. HOLMES.