IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING DRAWINGS, CHARACTERS, AND WRITING BY ELECTRICITY, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO ORDINARY TELE- GRAPHY
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur William Lovell Reddie, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR
TRANSMITTING DRAWINGS, CHARACTERS, AND WRITING BY ELECTRICITY,
PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO ORDINARY TELE-
GRAPHY." A communication from abroad by Jacques André, of Paris, in the
Republic of France.
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur William Lovell
Reddie at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th December
1880.
ARTHUR WILLIAM LOVELL REDDIE, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OR
AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING DRAWINGS, CHARACTERS AND WRITING BY
ELECTRICITY, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO ORDINARY
TELEGRAPHY." [A communication from abroad by Jacques André, of Paris, in the
Republic of France.]
This Invention relates to an improved system of electro-autographic trans-
mission, and to apparatus to be used therein, which is susceptible of numerous
practical applications, among which I may place in the first rank the electric
telegraph, but which is equally applicable to all circumstances in which it is
necessary to reproduce instantly from points near at hand or far distant, on paper
or textile materials, written sentences, signs, characters, drawings, musical notations,
or tracings of whatever sort.
These reproductions can be made of the same dimensions as the original, or they
may be reduced or enlarged at pleasure.
The main feature of my Invention consists of a band of mixed tissue or web of

page_text: any convenient length or breadth, formed by the grouping of a variable number of
metallic conducting wires or threads, which are insulated electrically the one from
the other by means of a weft of textile material, the warp threads being formed by
the metallic conducting wires themselves.
The electrical insulation of this conductor is rendered complete by any suitable
covering or coating, according to the nature of the circumstances in which the
system is to be used.
The number, size, and spacing of the threads of the conducting web may be
varied to suit the results it is desired to obtain, and the dimensions of the surface
which bears the design to be reproduced.
In applying such a conducting web to the electric telegraph over great distances
the section of the wires or threads of the conducting web should be sufficiently
large. It is therefore important to reduce the width of the conducting web, and
with this view it is arranged in the form of folds or layers, which are superposed
the one on the other in variable numbers, so as to give to the conductor a prismatic
section. These cables of conducting web may be placed in position and insulated
in any convenient manner.
At each intermediate station on a line thus constructed the ends of the conductors
are bound together or connected in a way to be explained subsequently with rubbing
surfaces or brushes constructed of a similar tissue or web, but formed of finer wires,
each of which corresponds to one of the wires in the main conducting web.
Finer wires are employed in the brushes for the purpose of setting nearer
together the hatching or marks produced on the receiving surface, as will be seen
further on.
To give consistency and strength to the tissue or web forming these rubbing
surfaces or brushes, they may be covered with mastic varnish or other insulating
substance, such as wax.
The ends of the wires of the conducting web are not fastened directly to the
wires of the brushes of transmission, but they are connected together by means of
a suitable commutator. As an example I will mention a sort of comb of insulating
material having a number of openings or spaces equal to the number of wires in
the conducting web.
Each division of the comb receives the two corresponding threads of the two
branches of the conducting web, which terminates at the station in question, so
that it is enough to approximate and place in contact the threads of the two
"direct commu-
portions of the line to establish what is called in telegraphy
nication."
To facilitate this movement the ends of the wires of the two sections of the
conducting web cable which abut against this comb may be severally held and
supported between clamping pieces, and operated by means of a lever or hand wheel
on the table of the apparatus, or in any other convenient manner.
On approximating these clamping pieces electrical contact is established between
the corresponding wires. On the other hand, by separating them the ends of each
of the threads are placed in contact with a series of metallic hooks fitted to the back
of the comb, or in any other convenient position, and to which are attached severally
the wires of the web which constitutes the brush of transmission.
The ends of each brush are held between two insulating plates of glass or other
non conducting material, the points of the wires being allowed to protrude for such
a distance as will permit of their having sufficient spring or play. The plates of
glass are carried on a spring support, which allows of their inclination being readily
adjusted by a thumb screw, and also their pressure on the surface of contact with
the cylinder over which the pattern to be copied is caused to pass.
Thus it is possible, by reason of the variation of conductibility and non con-
ductibility of the several points of any surface, to reproduce instantly typographical
characters, tracings of all kinds, outlines or cuttings in paper, and musical
notations.

page_text: The tracings to be reproduced can be made either by etching by means of a
needle upon a metallic plate previously covered with a layer of insulating material,
or by tracing the drawings or signs on a metallic plate by means of a pen filled
with insulating or non conducting ink, the ground of the plate being then oxidised
by any suitable re-agent, so that it is only necessary to dissolve the stopping out
or non conducting ink for the metal to be laid bare and deprived of rust wherever
the pattern or tracing has been made.
The reproduction of a tracing is effected by making it pass under one end of the
brush at the transmitting station at the same time that a receiving surface formed
of slips of paper, or of a continuous band of paper or woven stuff, is caused to pass
under the correspondingly formed brush at the receiving station.
The receiving paper or fabric is covered with some substance which is decomposed
or chemically changed by the electric current, so that by the action of electricity the
original design will be exactly reproduced.
The continuous band suitably prepared passes over a metal cylinder (ordinarily
of iron) rotated by clock work at any regulated speed by means, for example, of a
flyer or fan formed of a disc mounted on a vertical axle, which may be adjustably
inclined by means of a screw and link arm fixed to the disc. The air consequently
exercises a variable pressure on its surface, and the clockwork is accordingly regu-
lated. Two counter weights give stability to the flyer or fan.
In this arrangement of apparatus one of the poles of the battery is in communi-
cation with the earth, while the other connects by a wire with the receiving
cylinder, communication with the line being established by means of the brushes,
and thence by either one or other of the sections of the conducting cable, according
as the despatches are received from one side or the other.
The tracing being always made by the positive pole, it is obvious that tracings
may be received at will either upon or underneath the receiving band by inverting
the poles. In the first case the points of the brush trace directly; in the second
case the tracing is effected by the metal of the cylinder itself over which the
receiving band passes. The current passing thence from the metal to the points
of the brushes is sufficiently diffused (according to the thickness of the receiving
band) for the hatchings or marks to blend into a continuous tracing.
The cylinder should be kept dry and clean, and with this view it bears against
two wipers of cotton wick slightly greased carried on adjustable spring supports.
Moreover, the cylinder has a trough beneath it containing the materials necessary
for continuously giving off hydrogen.
The starting and stopping of the transmitting and receiving apparatus may be
effected simultaneously by hand, or automatically by means of an electro magnet
operated by the current of the line, or by a special wire of the conducting
web.
The moistening of the receiving band may be effected by previous soaking, or
during the reception by means of a special moistener, the action of which may be
regulated.
It will be understood that the conducting web (the construction of which is
above explained) may be applied not only to my system of telegraphy, but also
ordinary telegraphy, the several wires of the metallic cable replacing advantageously
the wires actually employed, provided that currents are only sent at one time in
one direction.
It can be equally employed to make the brushes of dynamo electric and magneto
electric machines, these brushes in that case acting directly, and their several wires
leading straight to the several lamps or other apparatus which receive the currents
of the machines. Two or more brushes of varying size may be fixed to the hooks
above mentioned, so as to obtain reproductions of an original tracing either larger,
smaller, or equal in size.
It is also obvious that, if it be desired to obtain a reproduction reversed, or
symmetrical, it will suffice to reverse the position of the brush; also by folding the

page_text: brush at the transmitting end, and unfolding it at the receiving end, two sym-
metrical reproductions of the original will result, and a complete design may be
obtained from half of an original design.
By this mode of transmission the movements of a key board of whatever sort,
whether dumb or not, may be transmitted and recorded. In this case each key
will have a corresponding wire leading to the conducting web, which wires will
serve to indicate by the position and length of the marks at the receiving end, the
position of the touch and its duration.
It may also be used to reproduce drawings or other documents, either of greater
or less size than the originals.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Arthur William Lovell Reddie in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 15th June 1881.
ARTHUR WILLIAM LOVELL REDDIE, of 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR
TRANSMITTING DRAWINGS, CHARACTERS, AND WRITING BY ELECTRICITY, PARTS OF
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO ORDINARY TELEGRAPHY." A commu-
nication from abroad by Jacques André, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
This Invention relates to an improved system of electro-autographic transmission
and to apparatus to be used therein, which is susceptible of numerous practical
applications, among which the electric telegraph may be placed in the first rank,
but which is equally applicable to all circumstances in which it is necessary to
reproduce instantly from points near at hand or far distant, on paper or textile
materials, written sentences, signs, characters, drawings, musical notations, or
tracings of whatever sort. These reproductions can be made of the same dimensions
as the original, or they may be reduced or enlarged at pleasure.
This Invention consists essentially in the use of a band of composite tissue or
web of any convenient length or breadth, formed by the grouping of a variable
number of metallic conducting wires or threads, which are insulated electrically the
one from the other by means of a weft of textile material, the warp threads being
formed by the metallic conducting wires themselves, as will be understood on
reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying Drawing.
The electrical insulation of this conductor is rendered complete by any suitable
covering or coating according to the nature of the circumstances in which the
system is to be used.
The number, size, and spacing of the threads of the conducting web may be
varied to suit the results it is desired to obtain, and the dimensions of the surface
which bears the design to be reproduced.
In applying such a conducting web to the electric telegraph over great distances,
the gauge of the wires or threads of the conducting web should be sufficiently large.
It is therefore important to reduce the width of the conducting web, and with this
view it is arranged in the form of folds or layers, which are superposed the one on
the other in variable numbers, see Figures 2 and 3. These cables of conducting
tissue may be placed in position and insulated in any convenient manner.
At each intermediate station on a line thus constructed, the ends of the conductors
are bound together or connected in the way hereafter explained with rubbing
surfaces or brushes constructed of a similar tissue or web, but formed of wires of
finer gauge, each of which corresponds to one of the wires in the main conducting
web.
These finer wires are employed in the brushes for the purpose of setting nearer
together the hatching or marks produced on the receiving surface, as will be seen
further on.
To give consistency and strength to the tissue or web forming these rubbing
surfaces or brushes, they may be covered with mastic varnish or other insulating
substance, such as wax.
The ends of the wires of the main conducting web are not fastened directly to
the wires of the brushes of transmission, but are put in connection by means of a
suitable commutator. As an example, a sort of comb or bridge-piece of insulating
material having a number of openings or spaces equal to the number of wires in
the conducting web may be employed.
Each division of the comb receives the two corresponding threads of the two
sections of the conducting web which terminate at the station in question, so that

page_text: it is enough to approximate and place in contact the threads of the two portions of
the line, to establish what is called in telegraphy "direct communication."
The construction of the comb or bridge piece by which the sections of the web
may be put in communication with each other, or with transmitting and receiving
instruments at the branch stations will be seen on reference to Figures 4, 5, and 6
of the Drawings.
The comb or bridge piece D is composed of two bars d of non-conducting
material rounded on their outer surfaces, and preferably tapering towards their rear
surfaces, the said bars d being rigidly connected by spacing pieces d' also formed of
nonconducting substance.
The ends of the wires of the two sections A and B of the conducting web which
abut against this comb are preferably held and supported between clamping
pieces e, f, g, h, and operated by means of a lever, or hand wheel on the table a of
the apparatus, or in any other convenient manner, as will be readily understood.
Fig. 7 is a sectional side elevation of so much of the apparatus as will serve to
explain the relation and operation of the several parts. From this it will be seen
that on approximating the clamping pieces e, f, g, h, electrical contact is established
between the corresponding wires; on the other hand, by separating them a sufficient
distance, the ends of each of the threads are placed in contact with a series of
metallic hooks i, i, fitted to the back of the comb D, or in any other convenient
position, and to which are attached severally the wires k, k, of the web which
constitutes the brush of transmission or reception, as the case may be.
The other end of each piece of web serving as a brush is held between two
insulating plates 1, 1, of glass or other nonconducting material, the points of the
wires being allowed to protrude for such a distance as will permit of their having
sufficient spring or play. The plates of glass 1, l, are carried on a spring support m
which allows of their inclination being readily adjusted by a thumb screw m¹, and
also their pressure on the surface of contact with the cylinder n. Thus it is possible
by reason of the variation of conductibility and non-conductibility of the several
points of any surface to reproduce instantly typographical characters, tracings of all
kinds, outlines or perforations in paper, and musical notations. The tracings to be
reproduced can be made either by etching by means of a needle upon a metallic
plate previously covered with a layer of insulating material, or by tracing the
drawings or signs on a metallic plate by means of a pen filled with insulating or
nonconducting ink, the ground of the plate being then oxidized by any suitable
reagent, so that it is only necessary to dissolve the stopping-out or non-conducting
ink for the metal to be laid bare, and deprived of rust wherever the pattern or
tracing has been made.
The reproduction of a tracing is effected by making it pass under one end of
a brush, such as K at the transmitting station, at the same time that a receiving
surface formed of slips of paper, or of a continuous band o of paper or woven stuff*
is caused to pass under the correspondingly formed brush at the receiving station.
The receiving paper or fabric o is covered with some substance which is decom-
posed or chemically changed by the electric current, so that by the action of
electricity the original design will be exactly reproduced.
The continuous band o suitably prepared passes over a metal cylinder n
(ordinarily of iron) rotated by clockwork at the required speed. The speed of
rotation may be regulated by means, for example, of a flyer or fan formed of a
disc p mounted on a vertical axle q which may be adjustably inclined by means of
a screws and link r fixed to the flyer or fan. The air consequently exercises a
variable pressure on its surface, and the clockwork is accordingly regulated. Two
counterweights t give stability to the flyer or fan.
It will thus be seen that if the disc p be rotated horizontally, it will present an
edge only to the air, but if it be caused to assume a position approaching verticality,
it will present a considerable surface to the air, which will cause its velocity of
rotation to be diminished.
In this arrangement of apparatus one of the poles of the battery is in communi-

page_text: cation with the earth, while the other connects by a wire u with the receiving
cylinder n, communication with the line being established by means of the brushes,
and thence by either one or other of the sections of the conducting cable, according
as the dispatches are received from one side or the other.
The tracing being always made by the positive pole, it is obvious that tracings
may be received at will, either upon or underneath the receiving band by inverting
the poles. In the first case the points of the wires k of the brush K trace directly;
in the second case the tracing is effected by the metal surface of the cylinder n,
over which the receiving band o passes. The current passing thence from the metal
to the points of the wires k of the brushes is sufficiently diffused (according to the
thickness of the receiving band) for the hatchings or marks to blend into a
continuous tracing, and this second arrangement is preferable.
The cylinder n should be kept dry and clean, and with this view it bears against
two wipers of cotton-wick, slightly greased, carried on adjustable spring supports.
Moreover the cylinder has a trough w beneath it containing the materials necessary
for continuously giving off bydrogen.
The starting and stopping of the transmitting and receiving apparatus may be
effected simultaneously by hand or automatically by means of an electro-magnet
operated by the current of the line, or by a special wire of the conducting web, as
will be readily perceived.
The moistening of the receiving band may be effected by previous soaking or
during the reception by means of a special moistener, the action of which may be
regulated.
It will be understood that the conducting web (the construction of which is
above explained) may be applied not only to my system of telegraphy, but also to
ordinary telegraphy, the several wires of the metallic cable replacing advantageously
the wires actually employed, provided that currents are only sent at one time in
one direction.
It can be equally employed to make the brushes of dynamo-electric and magneto-
electric machines, these brushes in that case acting directly, and their several wires
leading straight to the several lamps or other apparatus which receive the currents
of the machine. Two or more brushes of varying size may be fixed to the hooks
above mentioned, so as to obtain reproductions of an original tracing, either larger,
smaller, or equal in size.
It is also obvious that if it be desired to obtain a reproduction reversed in
position it will suffice to reverse the position of the brush; also by folding the
brush at the transmitting end, and unfolding it at the receiving end, two
symmetrical reproductions of the original will result, and a complete design may be
obtained from half of an original design.
By this mode of transmission the movements of a key board of whatever sort,
whether dumb or not, may be transmitted and recorded. In this case each key
will have a corresponding wire leading to the conducting web, which wires will
serve to convey currents, indicating by the position and length of the marks at the
receiving end the respective keys touched, and the time during which they are
pressed down.
It may also be used to reproduce drawings or other documents, either of greater
or less size than the originals.
Having now set forth the nature of the said Invention of "Improvements in the
Mode of aud Apparatus for Transmitting Drawings, Characters, and Writing by
Electricity, Parts of which Improvements are Applicable to Ordinary Telegraphy,"
as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and having explained in
what manner the same is to be carried into effect, I wish it to be understood that
under the above in part recited Letters Patent, I claim,-
First. The use of a composite conducting web, constructed and arranged
substantially as herein shewn and described, for transmitting currents of electricity
for the production of drawings, characters, writing, and telegraphic signs.
Second. The use in combination with a composite conducting web, such as that

page_text: above described, of brushes or collecting surfaces for transmitting and receiving the
electric currents, such brushes being constructed and arranged substantially as set
forth.
Third. The means substantially as herein shewn and described for connecting
together the sections of a composite web, such as that above described, or for
connecting such sections with the transmitting and receiving apparatus at branch
stations, as, may be desired.
Fourth. The apparatus herein shewn and described for reproducing on paper or
its equivalent the counterpart of the characters or other signs submitted for
transmission, the speed of travel of the paper or its equivalent being regulated by
a novel construction of adjustable disc or flyer.
Fifth. The means above described for reproducing drawings and characters on
an enlarged or reduced scale, or for reversing their position.
Sixth. The application to key-board instruments of the conducting web herein
described, for the purpose above set forth.
Seventh. The employment of a composite tissue or web, constructed substantially
as herein shewn and described for collecting and transmitting the currents from
electrical generators.
In witness, whereof I, the said Arthur William Lovell Reddie, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Fifteenth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
ARTHUR W. L. REDDIE. (L.S.)