IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING TELEGRAPHS
Year: 1871

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LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING TELEGRAPHS." A
communication from abroad by George Baker Field and Elisha
Whittelsey Andrews, both of the City and State of New York,"
United States of America.
Sealed the 5th September 1871, and dated the 24th May 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 24th May 1871.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING TELEGRAPHS,"
a communication, to be as follows:-
In these improvements two tone or oherenter whools upon the same

page_text: and brings into action the one that is required for printing, and
simultaneously throws the other type wheel out of action.
The two type wheels are of the same diameter contiguous to each
other upon a shaft that is revolved by a ratchet and pawl movement
from an electro-magnet, such devices being heretofore known and
denominated a step-by-step movement.
The devices employed for impressing the paper are also well known,
and consist of a lever operated by a magnet and separate line wire or
by reversing the current; and the means for drawing along the strip
of paper upon which the impression is made are also similar to those
in use.
The special features of these improvements are as follows:-
'
1st. The paper passes between an impression pad and a thin shield, in
which an opening is provided sufficient for the impression from one type
wheel, the shield interposing to prevent an impression from the other
type wheel.
2nd. The parts are arranged to be shifted at blank places in the type
wheels, so that when the said wheels are turned to such blank place the
wheels can be slipped upon the shaft to bring one type wheel over
the shield so as not to print, and the other over the opening in such
shields to be in position for printing, or else the reverse of this move-
ment is given, the shield and impression pad being moved and the type
wheels remaining stationary.
3rd. The shifting movement is derived primarily from the printing
lever, and acts through a T-shaped lever that is connected with either
the type wheels or the pad, and shield stops are provided, one in advance
of the other, so that when the type wheel is turned to one point and the
impression lever moved, the said T lever comes in contact with one of
the stops to give the shifting movement, and when the type wheel is
turned around further the other stop acts to shift the parts the other
way.
4th. A notched disc is employed in connection with an arm that is
shifted by the aforesaid movement. This arm being on either one side
of the disc or the other, prevents the parts becoming accidentally dis-
placed, as the change can only be made when the said arm is at the
notch of the disc.

page_text: 5th. The type wheels are automatically arrested in order to bring
the receiving instrument into unison with the sending instrument, or
to bring a number of receiving instruments in one main circuit into
unison with each other and with the transmitting instrument. The
improved device made use of for this purpose is a stop set to swing
upon a stud, and one part of the stop is in a screw upon the type wheel
shaft, and hence the continued rotation of the said shaft, say, three
times, brings the other part of the stop near the type wheel, and in a
position to take a pin projecting from the type wheel and arrest its
further movement, but the pulsations of electricity can still pass through
the type wheel magnet, and act to bring up any other of the receiving
instruments that may be out of unison. Upon charging the magnet
that moves the impression lever this stop will be lifted out of the screw-
thread, and by a spring returned to the point of beginning. This unison
stop will not be brought into complete action except intentionally, as
the stop will be returned to a normal position every time an impression
is made, and the type wheels will not require to be revolved more than
twice to bring the desired character into position for printing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 15th November 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,
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

page_text: Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
“IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING TELEGRAPHS," a "communication to me from
abroad by George Baker Field and Elisha Whittelsey Andrews, both of
the City and State of New York, United States of America, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, 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 William Robert Lake, 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, reference being made to the Drawing here-
unto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say) :—
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the telegraphic mechanism with the bed in
section; Fig. 2 is a plan of the type wheels and unison mechanism ;
Fig. 3 is a plan of the shifting pad; Fig. 4 is an elevation of said
shifting pad and the devices for actuating the same; Fig. 5 is an
elevation of the type wheels and mechanism for sliding them upon their
shaft; Fig. 6 is a plan of the shield and impression pad; and Fig. 7
shows the disk that retains the type wheel from moving except at the
shifting point.
In this improvement two type or character wheels upon the same
shaft are made use of, and the operator at the sending station selects
and brings into action the one that is required for printing, and
simultaneously throws the other type wheel out of action.
The two type wheels a, b, are of the same diameter, and contiguous
to each other upon a shaft c that is revolved by a ratchet and pawl
movement d from an electro-magnet e, such devices being heretofore
known and denominated a step-by-step movement.
The devices employed for impressing the paper are also well known,
and consist of a lever operated by a magnet g and separate line wire,
or by reversing the current; and the means for drawing along the strip
of paper upon which the impression is made are also similar to those in

page_text: paper.
The especial features of this improvement are as follows:-
First. The paper passes between an impression pad i and a thin
shield o, in which an opening is provided sufficient for the impression
from one type wheel, the shield interposing to prevent an impression
from the other type wheel.
Second. The parts are arranged to be shifted at blank places in the
type wheels, so that when said wheels are turned to such blank place
the wheels can be slipped upon the shaft to bring one type wheel over
the shield o so as not to print, and the other over the opening in such
shield to be in position for printing, or else the reverse of this movement
is given by the shield being moved, and the type wheels remaining
stationary. When the type wheels are shifted they are mounted upon
a sleeve upon the shaft c, and slide freely, but are caused to revolve
with the shaft by a feather, or the pin and guide wires m.
Third. The shifting movement is derived primarily from the printing
lever f, and acts through a T shaped lever n that is connected with
either the type wheels or the pad and shield. Stops 5 and 6 are pro-
vided, one in advance of the other, so that when the type wheel is turned
to one point and the impression lever moved the said T lever comes in
contact with one of the stops to give the shifting movement, and when
the type wheel is turned around further the other stop acts to shift the
parts the other way. In this manner either the type wheel can be
shifted or the shield moved. If the type wheel is shifted the stops 5
and 6 are on the impression lever, and the T lever on an arm from the
type wheel shaft, as in Fig. 5. If the shield is to be shifted the stops 5
and 6 are on the type wheel shaft, and the T lever is pivoted upon the
impression lever, as in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4.
Fourth. A notched disk q is employed in connection with an arm or
This slide has a
slide that is shifted by the aforesaid movement.
cam block, which being on either one side of the disk or the other
prevents the parts becoming accidentally displaced, as the change can
When the
only be made when said arm is at the notch of the disk.
type wheel is made to shift, as in Fig. 5, this disk q is a fixture in the
form of a ring, and the slider and block are connected with such
type wheels.
When the shield moves, as in Figs. 1, 2, 3, & 4, this

page_text: disk is upon the type wheel shaft c, and revolves with the same, the
slider and block r¹ being connected with the shield o.
Fifth. The type wheels are automatically arrested in order to bring
the receiving instrument into unison with the sending instrument, or to
bring a number of receiving instruments in one main circuit into unison
with each other and with the transmitting instrument. The improved
device made use of for this purpose is a stop set to swing upon a
stud 8, and one part of the stop is in a screw-thread 10 upon the type
wheel shaft c, and hence the continued rotation of said shaft, say, three
times, brings the other part (14) of the stop near the type wheel b,
and in a position to take a pin 11 projecting from the type wheel and
arrest its further movement, but the pulsations of electricity can still
pass through the type wheel magnet, and act to bring up any other of
the receiving instruments that may be out of unison. Upon charging
the magnet that moves the impression lever f this stop will be lifted
out of the screw-thread by the lever t, and by a spring 12 returned to
the point of beginning. This stop 7³ may be connected to the impres-
sion lever f, or be lifted by a pin upon said lever, or a levert and
armature v at the side of the core of the impression magnet g may be
employed to lift such stop, and in this
such that a feeble current will lift the
powerful to move the impression lever.
brought into complete action except intentionally, as the stop ³ will be
returned to a normal position every time an impression is made, and
the type wheels will not require to be revolved more than twice to
bring the desired character into position for printing.
case the adjustments may be
stop 2, but not be sufficiently
This unison stop will not be
What is claimed and to be secured by Letters Patent is,-
First. A shield with an opening between the paper and the type
wheels for allowing an impression from only one of the type wheels,
substantially as set forth.
Second. Two type wheels contiguous to each other, and shifting
mechanism applied to either the shield or type wheels to determine
which of the type wheels shall be employed in making the impression,
substantially as set forth.
3
Third. The T shaped lever n and stops 5 and 6, in combination with 3
the two type wheels and the impression pad and shield, substantially
as set forth.

page_text: Fourth. The notched disk or ring 9 in combination with the slide r
and block, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The unison stop
and screw 10 in combination with the
type wheel b or a, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The armature acted upon by the printing lever magnet g
in combination with the unison stop and type wheel, substantially as
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.
Witness,
CHAS. J. GOOCH,
8, Southampton Buildings.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)