IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF TRANSMITTING SECRET CORRESPONDENCE BY TELEGRAPHS OR OTHER PUBLIC MEDIUMS, ALSO IN THE APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Donald 'Nicoll at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 21st June 1881.
DONALD NICOLL, of 3, Palsgrave Place, in the City of Westminster, a Justice of
the Peace for Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF TRANSMITTING
SECRET CORRESPONDENCE BY TELEGRAPHS OR OTHER PUBLIC MEDIUMS, ALSO IN
THE APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the apparatus for and
method of transmitting secret correspondence by public mediums, and more
especially by the electric telegraph. I propose to take a suitable number of plates
or sheets of metal, wood, paper, or of other suitable materials, size, or substance,
and I cut or punch out spaces in certain parts of the said plates or sheets, so as
nearly to correspond with spaces printed on the usual forms now required to be
used in transmitting telegraphic messages. I carefully contrive that each plate or
sheet shall have spaces punched or cut out so as to vary with the position of spaces
as they appear in other plates or sheets, helping to form a complete set or apparatus
to be used in my improved method of transmitting correspondence. For general
use four, six, or eight plates or sheets (to form a complete apparatus) are preferred
by me, but I can use any suitable number, the greater the quantity the more difficult
does it become to unravel the meaning of the messages without possessing a key
to or duplicate copies of the apparatus. Each sheet or plate is numbered from one
consecutively, and should be so used in operating or making out a message or
reply, thus the first plate or sheet will, for example, present at irregular positions
or parts a given number of punched or cut out spaces; these will disclose an equal
number of spaces printed on the usual forms issued to the public; on these latter
(when placed beneath a plate or sheet) the message is commenced to be written
either in words or parts of words, and if in the latter case, the letter X at the end
of the last syllable may more clearly show the termination of the word; other
plates or sheets are taken in their numbered order, though their spaces (prepared in
the manner aforesaid) may disclose spaces for writing on which precede those used
by the first or subsequent plates or sheets helping to form the complete apparatus.
It is most convenient but not imperative that the spaces cut or punched out of the
several plates or sheets should in point of number correspond (when forming a
D

page_text: complete set or apparatus) with the like number of spaces printed on the public
forms in use.
When a message written thereon through the spaces of the several
plates or sheets hereinbefore described (either in entire words or parts of
words), the message necessarily becomes on the public form unintelligible,
though it may be easily copied by the actual transmittor or public functionary,
and none but the possessor of the apparatus in its completo form or of a duplicate
copy thereof can discover the purport of the message; and the method for
interpreting same being to place the first plate or sheet or duplicate copy thereof
over the apparently confused mass of words and parts of words forming the
transmitted message, when (in their proper order and sense) they will re-appear,
all other words or parts of words which cause confusion on the public form being
concealed, and the succeeding plates or sheets will (if used consecutively) in the
like manner also make clear the intended message or reply thereto; and the
complete apparatus and duplicates thereof can be changed daily or hourly, as it is
possible for any one of ordinary intelligence to alter or vary each punched
or cut out space on each plate or sheet, forming in the aggregate, as here-
inbefore described, a complete set or apparatus needful to provide the improved
method claimed by me as my Invention for improvements in transmitting secret
or general correspondence, or such as may be desired to be of a private and
confidential nature.