AN IMPROVED SIGNALLING CODE AND APPARATUS FOR RENDERING THE SAME INTELLIGIBLE.
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Gardner, of 40, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED SIGNALLING
CODE AND APPARATUS FOR RENDERING THE SAME INTELLIGIBLE.".
A. com-
munication from abroad by Elphinstone Roc, of Perth, in the Colony of
Western Australia, Inspector of Telegraphic Lines.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Gardner at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the Sth July 1881.
HENRY GARDNER, of 40, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent.
"AN IMPROVED SIGNALLING CODE AND APPARATUS FOR RENDERING THE SAME
INTELLIGABLE." A communication from abroad by Elphinstone Roe, of Perth, in
the Colony of Western Australia, Inspector of Telegraphic Lines.
This Invention relates to a system of semaphore signalling at night with a lamp
and colored glasses, and may be used at sea or on land, or as a scientific toy. The
main object is to arrange a code of color signals which in various combinations may
be formed into words and sentences for ship signalling, either from vessel to vessel
or from ship to shore, but may also be applied to signalling purposes upon land.
The Drawings deposited herewith fully set forth the Invention, and show in detail
the manner in which the Invention is carried into practice.
Figure 1 is an external view of the night signalling apparatus.
Figure 2 is an internal view of the lamp chamber.
Figure 3 is a view of the smoke receiving funnel and ventilating tube with
adjustable cap.
Figure 4 is a view of the. bullseye glasses by which the color signals are
displayed.
Figure is the signal code.
The apparatus is composed of metal, brass, bronze, or iron, and is constructed
substantially as shown in Figure 1 in a cylindrical form. Rather below the centre
of the cylinder is a slide B, B, semicircular in shape, fitted with three glasses, one

page_text: red bullseye, one blue bullseye, and a glass in the centre to display a white light
when required. This slide travels in grooves specially made to receive it, and is
opened by the key E and the spindle marked F, and travellers on each side
similar to that marked G. H is a stop key for lifting the shade A when it is
required to display the white light. This stop key is attached to the main key
and always travels with it. The lamp proposed to be used is a self smoke con-
suming hurricane lamp, which of course can be used in all weathers, but the mode
of lighting is immaterial to this Invention. Gas, lime, or electric light may be
employed for transmitting the signals. The lamp however is recommended for its
cheapness and facility in use.
The mode of working the Invention is as follows:-For the purposes of signalling
the telegraphic code in general operation is utilized with this difference, that
instead of the signals being given by dots and dashes as in telegraphy, they are
transmitted by red and blue lights or colors, one color red representing a dot, and
the other blue representing a dash. Suppose a vessel has arrived off a lighthouse
or telegraph station at night time, and wishes to communicate by means of this
Invention.
Having attracted the keeper's attention, he proceeds to signal "Report Hesperus
all well,
"
or Report small pox aboard," as shown in Figure 6. To transmit
the night signals the operator holding the key, turns the slide B, B, so as to
bring the red bullseye in front of the lamp reflector, and red is displayed,
then he reverses the slide to show blue, and again reverses the slide to show red.
These three signals form the letter "r" in the code, and after each letter a brief
pause is made, and in this way the word say, "report," is spelt out. Then he
returns the key to its normal position, pulls down the stop key which raises the
shade and displays the white light, as shown in Figure 4, indicating that the word
is complete. An expert will be able to send and receive messages with the same
facility as a telegraph operator, but where a person has not acquired this facility,
it will be only necessary for him to have an attendant to mark down on a slate or
on paper the color signals as displayed; thus, red, blue, red (dark, pause); red
(dark, pause); red, blue, blue, red (dark, pause); blue, blue, blue, (dark, pause)
+
P
t
R
°
e
red, blue, red (dark, pause); blue (dark, pause); white light, and so on. The
Invention is so simple that facility in working it may be easily acquired, and the
system of signals so adopted is clear and comprehensive.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Gardner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th January
1882.
HENRY GARDNER, of 40, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent.
"AN IMPROVED SIGNALLING CODE AND APPARATUS FOR RENDERING THE SAME
INTELLIGIBLE." A. communication from abroad by Elphinstone Roe, of Perth, in
the Colony of Western Australia, Inspector of Telegraphic Lines.
This Invention relates to a system of semaphore signalling at night with a lamp
and coloured glasses, and may be used at sea or on land, or as a scientific toy. The
main object is to arrange a code of color signals, which in various combinations
may be formed into words and sentences for ship signalling, either from vessel to
vessel, or from ship to shore, but may also be applied to signalling purposes upon
land. The Drawings deposited herewith fully set forth the Invention, and show in
detail the manner in which the Invention is carried into practice.
Figure 1 is an external view of the night signalling apparatus..
Figure 2 is an internal view of the lamp chamber.
Figure 3 is a view of the smoke receiving funnel and ventilating tube with
adjustable cap.
Figure 4 is a view of the bulls-eye glasses by which the color signals are
displayed.
Figure 5 is the signal code. The apparatus is composed of metal (brass, bronze,
or iron) case, and is constructed substantially as shown in Figure 1 in a cylindrical
form. Rather below the centre of the cylinder is a slide B, B, semi-circular in
shape, fitted with three glasses, one red bullseye, one with another colored bullseye,
and a glass in the centre to display a white light when required. This slide travels
in grooves specially made to receive it, and is opened by the key E and the spindle
marked F, and travellers on each side similar to that marked G. H is a stop key
for lifting the shade A when it is required to display the white light. This stop
key is attached to the main key, and always travels with it. The lamp proposed
to be used is a self smoke consuming hurricane lamp, which of course can be used in
all weathers, but the mode of lighting is immaterial to this Invention. Gas, lime,
or electric light may be employed for transmitting the signals. The lamp however
is recommended for its cheapness and facility in usc.
The mode of working the Invention is as follows:-For the purposes of
signalling, the telegraphic code in general operation is utilized with this difference,
that instead of the signals being given by dots and dashes, as in telegraphy, they
are transmitted by coloured lights or colors, one color red representing a dot,
and another representing a dash. Suppose a vessel has arrived off a lighthouse or
telegraph station at night time, and wishes to communicate with same. Having
attracted the keeper's attention, he proceeds to signal "Report Hesperus, all well,"
or "Report small pox aboard," as shown in Figure 6.
To transmit the signals the operator holding the key turns the slide B, B, so as
to bring the red bullseye in front of the lamp reflector, and red is displayed; then
he reverses the slide to show the other colour, and again reverses the slide to show
red. These three signals form the letter "r" in the code, and after each letter a
brief pause is made, and in this way the word say "report" is spelt out. Then he
returns the key to its normal position, pulls down the stop key which raises the
shade and displays the white light, as shown in Figure 4, indicating that the word
is complete. An expert will be able to send and receive messages with the same

page_text: facility as a telegraph operator, but where a person has not acquired this facility,
it will be only necessary for him to have an attendant to mark down on a slate or
R
C
on paper the color signals as displayed; thus, red, blue, red (dark, pause); red
P
0
(dark, pause); red, blue, blue, red (dark, pause); blue, blue, blue (dark, pause);
T
t
The
red, blue, red (dark, pause); blue (dark, pause); white light, and so on.
Invention is so simple that facility in working it may easily be acquired, and the
system of signals so adopted is clear and comprehensive.
The apparatus has preferably a lens I fitted on the frame J, and adjustable
thereon as indicated, to render the flash light very distinct when necessary. The
apparatus can be mounted upon a pivot pin to be turned to follow the path of a
passing vessel.
I do not bind myself to measurements or dimensions of the apparatus, or to the
particular colors mentioned, but reserve to myself the right to make the apparatus
of such size and to use such colors as may be most convenient either for a scientific
toy or for ordinary ship signalling, or for special purposes on land or sea requiring
the use of powerful lights, such as gas, lime light, or electric light.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
The apparatus and method of using same for signalling purposes in combination
with the signalling code, all as herein set forth, and substantially as shown in the
annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Gardner, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
HARUDD
ATAT
rwn
TATATI
(L.N.)