IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH APPARATUS AND IN CIRCUITS EMPLOYED IN TELEGRAPHING
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Little, of Rutherfurd Park, in the State
of New Jersey, United States of America, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH APPARATUS AND IN CIRCUITS
EMPLOYED IN TELEGRAPHING."
Sealed the 21th September 1872, and dated the 22nd April 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Little at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd April 1872.
I, GEORGE LITTLE, of Rutherfurd Park, in the State of New Jersey,
United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH APPARATUS AND IN
CIRCUITS EMPLOYED IN TELEGRAPHING," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in telegraphic appliances
especially available with automatic telegraphs where perforated paper is
employed to transmit the message by pulsations through the perforations,
but some of the devices may be used with other systems of telegraphing.

page_text: 2nd. To the instruments employed in receiving.
3rd. To the arrangements of the electric circuits for bringing into
action the receiving and transinitting instruments.
4th. To the preparation of the paper by perforating it.
The perforated paper is moved along by a roller and delivered by a
thin blade running in a groove to prevent the paper adhering. This
roller is propelled by an electro-motor consisting of armatures on a
revolving shaft, stationary electro-magnets, and circuit breakers.
My improvement in this particular relates to an arrangement for
insulating the shaft and applying a yielding pressure and friction from
a screw to regulate the speed of the motor. The instrument is
changable so that small rollers on spring arms may be used in trans-
mitting the pulsations, or when a stylus takes the place of the roller and
a strip of chemical paper is used the instrument can be used for receiving.
The special features of my Invention in this particular relate to mounting
the stylus, pen, or roller on an oscillating armature that is swung by
the action of electro-magnets, and these magnets and armature are
adjustable relatively to the paper and roller.
In order to indicate by inspection that the line is in working order a
novel galvanometer is used with a needle hung in a glass tubo filled
with alcohol, near which is a helix to adjust its action in vibrating the
needle. It is necessary to regulate the force of the electric currents;
for this I use an adjustable rheostat similar to that in my English
Patent No. 2286 of 1871, but for compactness I sometimes make it
in two parts connected together and having two adjusters, and tho
electro-magnet or magnets are put inside the rhcostat. In cases where
the rheostat requires to be very compact tho same is made with a scrics
of small coils inserted in the bed and connected with conductors over
which the adjuster slides to make the connection through one or more
of those coils. To vibrate or oscillate an armature without the use of
a retractile spring I employ two electric circuits, one a constant and
the other a main line circuit, tho' constant is always connected to ono
electro-magnet, the main line pulsations go through the other electro-
in gnet. When the main line magnet is strong enough to draw one

page_text: .
end of the armature towards itself against the action of the constant
magnet this mode of connection is employed, but if the main line
current is weak it is passed through the constant electro-magnet, but
the current is in the opposite direction to render the action neutral,
and hence the main line pulsation acts in its own magnet on the
armature without resistance from the constant circuit magnet. The
relative forces of these currents are adjusted by rheostats, and in cases
where the pulsations of the main line are to act upon .a sounder" as
a call or for receiving by sound the electro-magnets are either made with
two spools on each core connected to the constant and main line
circuits so as to attract or repel a permanent magnet armature, or else
the armature vibrates as before mentioned, and is made of thin sheet
metal bent up as a tube to produce sound by its sudden movement.
The residual or induced magnetism in the electro-magnets is discharged,
freed, or neutralized rapidly by a metallic connection from one pole to
the other that can be moved so as to vary the rapidity of its action.
The circuit for the receiving instrument on land lines is operated by
the movement of the armature. When a local circuit is used the battery
connections pass to the receiving instrument and also through this
armature, the current going by the latter as being most direct, but when
the circuit is broken by the movement of the armature the current is
obliged to go through the receiving instrument to a distant station.
The electric circuit connections are sometimes arranged so that the
line in a normal condition is charged, the telegraphic indication being
produced by closing a short circuit at the transmitting station, thereby
depriving the line of electricity. This is used either alone or in con-
nection with a constant rheostat and a moving armature at the distant
station to operate the receiving instrument either by moving an ink
pen by an armature or by a stylus and chemical paper. With sub-
marine cables the transmitting instrument is arranged to draw from
a condenser at the distant station when the connection is completed
through the perforated paper, and thereby operate the receiving instru-
ment, and when the circuit is broken by the intervening paper the
cable is charged for supplying the distant condenser. The constant
circuits are adjusted by the rheostats to act in proportion to the cable
current, and being intensified or neutralized in the electro-magnet coils
the most delicate current is made operative in an electro-magnet for the
purposes of receiving or transmitting. When the transmitting roller is

page_text: made of a series of pins, as in aforesaid Patent, I employ the same
in feeding the paper, and make the pins with heads inside the roller
pressing against a rubber spring.
The small rollers with platina edges employed in either transmitting
or receiving are in one or two rows, and where the perforated paper t
runs in a trough the connection is made with rounded projections
below.
The line of telegraph characters on chemical paper may be received
on a sheet instead of a strip, the said line running alternately from side
to side, and being curved at the alternate endings of one line where it ]
unites with the next.
To prepare the paper by perforating it a series of punches arranged
side by sido is employed, and a range of keys over them and a sliding
bar vibrated by magnetism or a cam or crank. When a key is depressed
it makes a connection from the vibrator to such of the punches as are:
to be operated to perforate the paper with the character corresponding
to the key struck. The perforations may be dots and dashes in one line
or row or in two lines, the dashes being made by contact through three
perforations arranged triangularly.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Little in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 17th October 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
LITTLE, of Rutherfurd Park, in the State of New Jersey, United States
of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said George Little, Her special licence that I,
the said George Little, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said George Little, 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,

page_text: 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 ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH
APPARATUS, AND IN CIRCUITS EMPLOYED IN TELEGRAPHING," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said George Little, my executors or admi-
nistrators, 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 George Little, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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 Drawings here-
unto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say) :-
This Invention relates to improvements in telegraphic appliances
especially available with automatic telegraphs where perforated paper
is employed to transmit the message by pulsations through the per-
forations, but some of the devices may be used with other systems of
telegraphing.

page_text: The motor employed consists of a vertical shaft a with three armatures
a', a', a', and these are between the electro-magnets b, b', which magnets
are charged alternately by the action of the circuit closing rollers 1, 1,
seen in the detached plan Fig. 4, the rollers bearing upon a ring made
of alternate conducting and non-conducting material so as to direct the
electric current from a local battery alternately through the magnets
b,, and attract the armatures in succession and rotate the shaft a and
parts connected therewith. A balance wheel is upon the shaft a, and
the speed is regulated by the pressure of the revolving sleeve and plate 2
upon a disk of felt or similar material. The screw 3 is employed to act
upon the cross pin of this sleeve and press the plate upon its disk with
the desired force to regulate the speed. The spring around the screw 3
serves to prevent the same turning casily in consequence of the friction
produced. The shaft a is insulated at the bottom and central bearings
and the screw 3 is also insulated so that the clectric currents passing
through the circuit breakers to the motor magnets shall not reach the
transmitting or receiving portions of the instrument. The motor is
driven by a separate local battery and connections to the binding screws
4, 4, Fig. 1. When the motor is to be stopped the switch c, Fig. 1, is
moved to break the circuit of the motor magnets. The connections
are represented by dotted lines. From the shaft a motion is com-
municated to the drum c¹ by the gear wheels c³ that are made with
teeth set at an inclination to the radial line, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, so
as to prevent looseness and noise in running. One of these gear wheels
should be insulated from its shaft by an intervening sleeve of non-
conducting material. The drum c³ has a narrow groove in the center of
its periphery, sec Figs. 2, 3, and 5, in which is a thin blade v connected
to the delivery trough c³, so that this blade raises the paper off from the
drum and ensures its delivery; this is especially available in receiving
instruments with damp paper. This drum c¹ may be made of two
separate and insulated parts, and two lines of perforations in the paper
are employed in transmitting; the drums in this case will be in electric
contact with the respective circuits through metallic tongues touching
their sides or otherwise. The pressure roller c' is upon an arm and is
held into contact with the drum c¹ or away from the same by a spring;
there is a handle to move the roller. The paper passes in through the
trough d, Figs. 1 and 2, and this has a movable side positioned by the
screws 6 to suit the varying widths of paper. A yielding detaining
brush d' is employed to smooth the paper and produce a slight tension

page_text: upon the same; it swings on the center 7 and is held when thrown back
by the spring catch 8. The paper as it is drawn along by the drum c
makes and breaks the line circuits by the alternating openings in the
paper, and the thickness of the paper also gives a motion that is used in
opening and closing the circuits, so that if the contact is not perfectly
made with the drum through the perforation of the paper it will be
made by the motion that results from the absence of the paper at the
perforation. For this purpose the small rollers e are upon the short
arms of the levers e¹ that have fulcrums 9, and there are circuit closing
screws at 10. The arm e² carrying these levers e' may be insulated, and
the connections from the binding screws 11 to the circuit screws 10 are
shown in Fig. 1. One pole of the battery is connected with the drum c¹
and the other with the ground. The line wire or wires connect with
the binders 11, in which case the circuit will be through the drum c³,
rollers e, levers c³, and circuit screws 10, when one of the rollers drop
into a perforation in the paper and the circuit is broken upon the reverse
movement. If the screws 10 are insulated and the standard e con-
nected to the battery, the drum c³ need not be connected with the battery,
the levers e¹ making and breaking the circuit at the screws 10 from the
motion due to the thickness of the paper and its absence at the perfora-
tions, or the battery may be connected to both drum and standard, so
that the circuit will be closed and broken at the perforated paper and
also between the lever c and screw 10, the pulsations uniting and
passing over the line wire.
If reverse currents are employed in transmitting messages the circuits
are to be arranged as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. The two
batteries e³ and e' are connected so that the negative of one is towards
the instrument and the positive of the other, and adjustable rhcostats
are placed at R in the circuit and a double or differential galvinometer
at G and the wires connect with the binders 10. The earth and line
connections may be as usual either from the batteries e³ and e' or from
the roller c¹. The rheostats are adjusted when the switch e³ is closed
so as to make the respective currents of equal force as indicated by the
galvinometer G, hence when the switch e³ is open and the instrument
at work, positive pulsations will be sent by one line of perforations and
negative pulsations by the other line of perforations, and these will be
alternated according to the position of the perforations in the paper,
and these pulsations are to be of a character adapted to operate tho
receiving instrument at the distant station.

page_text: The paper employed in this instance is made with two rows of per-
forations, preferably square holes shown below Fig. 2, and by the use
of this paper with the mechanism shown the paper does not require
the central row of perforations heretofore usually employed. The
cams eª or blocking picces may be turned by the button head to press
back the levers e and raise the rollers e for allowing the strip of per-
forated paper to be introduced or withdrawn.
The motor and roller c' are adapted to either receiving or transmitting
instruments. In Fig. 6 a portion of the instrument is shown in the form
adapted to receiving a message; Fig. 7 is a section, and Fig. 8 is a plan
of the pen; and Fig. 9 is a plan of the magnets that swing the pen.
The drum c', its motor, and the slide or trough for the paper in passing
to and delivery from the drum are similar to the devices before described.
The pen i may be used upon paper in place of the ordinary stylus, in
which instance the line wire will come to the insulated binding screw 15,
thence by the insulated armature and wire to the pen i to mark the
pulsation by decomposition in the chemical paper, but this is not required
where ink is used in the pen, and when ink is used the pen is to be
vibrated to bring the point into contact with the paper and make the
mark or the reverse. This pen or stylus may also be vibrated when
chemical paper is used. The pen handle is hollow to form a fountain,
the supply opening from the fountain is above the pen and the ink is
drawn into the fountain by exhaustion.
The ink I prefer and use is made of glycerine, glycol, or any of its
preparations, in which analine color is introduced in a dry state and
dissolved by heating the material, preferably in a sand bath. Water or
other dilutent may be added. This ink will not dry in the pen point
neither will there be any sediment or deposit of coloring matter to
obstruct any
of the parts. I make use of electro-magnets to swing the
pen, such magnets and f having cores contiguous to the hollow
armaturef, and this armature may be permanently polarized by mag-
netism and hence be attracted or repelled according to the polarity of
the cores of the magnets f¹,ƒ, as will be more full explained hereafter
when describing tac circuit connections. The armature might take the
place of the needle in a galvinometer coil so as to be swung thereby and
dispense with clectro-magnets. These magnets f¹, f, are mounted in
a frame 17 that can be swung on the screw 18 by means of the rack
and pinion 19, so as to adjust the parts and bring the pen point into

page_text: proper position relatively to the paper and drum c¹. If the message is
received by sound, the armature being of thin sheet metal will give a
clear clicking or ringing sound as the armature is vibrated by the pul-
sations passing from the transmitting instrument through the receiving
magnet. The armature may be in a tubular form or split longitudinally
as shown in Fig. 10.
The
The instrument shown by plan Fig. 10, and clevation Fig. 11 is
especially designed for receiving by sound, but it may be used with a
pen or stylus to vibrate the same; and the electric connections shown
in Fig. 10 and next explained also serves to illustrate the electric con-
pections that may be used with the magnets f¹, f, Figs. 6 & 9, and
also the adjustments of the force of the currents by rheostats.
electro-magnets f¹, f³, are connected in the main line and in a local
constant circuit as shown in Fig. 10, and rheostats R, R', are employed
in these circuits to regulate the force of the respective currents. The
power of the local constant circuit is operative in the magnet ƒ³ to
draw one end of the armature f towards the core of f¹. When a
pulsation passes over the main line it goes through both magnets ƒ¹‚ƒ³,
when the switch g is in the position shown in Fig. 10, but the main
current is the reverse of the local constant, so that in the electro-
magnet f¹ the currents neutralize each other, and the main line current
only energizing the electro-magnet f³ draws down that end of the
armature f. If the switch g is changed the main line current will
pass through that as the shortest route and not act in the magnet f';
this is the case when the main line current energizing the clectro-
magnet f is sufficient to overcome the constant attraction of the
electro-magnet f. The rheostat R regulates the force of the electric
current in the magnet f', and the rheostat R' regulates the force of the
main linc current in the magnet ƒ³ when the switch is changed.
The connections will be apparent upon reference to Fig. 10, and the
following description of one of the rheostats. The heads g', g², have
between them a coil or helix of fine wire h, and between the heads is
a bar h', upon which is an adjuster that is in metallic contact with
the bar, and also rests by a spring upon the surface of the helix h.
5 The battery or line wires are connected to the respective heads, and
also the wires leading to the clectro-magnet in which the force of the
current is to be regulated. The bar is insulated at one end, and by
moving the adjuster there will be more or less of the helix / brought

page_text: into the circuit, and more or less resistance presented to the main circuit
to cause a division of the same and the diversion of more or less of
cach electric pulsation through the magnet to be energized, hence its
power will thereby be regulated.
that
A modification of this rhcostat is shown in the plan Fig. 12, and
section Fig. 13, in which the heads y', g², bar h³, and adjuster h³, are
similar to those before described, but the resistance is by the separate
helices h, that are connected alternately to the insulated segments h³,
so that the current will pass through all the helices, one after anotber,
before it can escape through the adjuster to the head g², or else by
positioning the adjuster h³ the current will only have to pass from the
head through one or more of the helices h, and thence by the
segment h³, adjuster h³, and rod to the head g³, thereby the resistance
interposed in the electric circuit by the rheostat can be adjusted as
required. In vibrating the armature ƒ for moving the pen or stylus,
or for connecting electric circuits, as hereafter set forth, or for receiving
by sound, a permanent magnet I may be employed as seen in Fig. 14,
in place of the constant electro-magnet f¹, Fig. 10. In this case the
electro-magnet f* is connected with the main line as before, and the
power of the permanent magnet adjusted by the keeper bar
is of iron and for convenience is placed upon one side of the brass
or copper disk ♬ that is upon a center and can be revolved, thereby
bringing the iron keeper A more or less into contact with the sides of
the poles of the permanent horse-shoe magnet 1, and lessening the action
of such permanent magnet upon the armature when the keeper bar l', {
is fully in contact with both poles, or the reverse when such keeper bar
is turned aside from contact with the said poles. There may be
two of these keeper bars, one on each side of the magnet, connected
together, and springs are used to press the keepers to the sides of the
magnet. It is preferable to employ a small picce of tinned sheet iron
at the end of each pole of the magnet to prevent adhesion of the
armature f, and the ends of these should nearly touch cach other, as
shown in Fig. 14. The core of the electro-magnet f* is connected with
the bar that receives the fulcrum of the rocking armature f, hence the
bar becomes magnetized by induced magnetism. If a metallic con-
nection is made between the core of the magnet f and the bar P,
the force of the electro-magnet upon the armature will be lessened, I
therefore provide a sliding bar 20 that may have a screw projecting at
the end to enter a hole in the bar P, so that by sliding this bar into

page_text: contact with and screwing it more or less into the same the power of
the electro-magnet f* can be regulated according to the intensity of the
electric current and the rapidity of action required in the magnet.
Fig. 15 is a sectional view of the rheostats and magnets and a diagram
of the circuit connections. In this tho magnets and ƒ are for
compactness inserted within the coils of the rheostats, and the cores of
the magnets are alternately energized to swing the armature in the
manner shown in Fig. 6; such armature, however, is not represented in
Fig. 15, but it has its fulcrum upon the center bar or pole P. The
connection 20 is adjustable as aforesaid, and may be drawn out or
pushed in to lessen or increase its action in dispersing or lessening the
attractive force of the core of the magnet ƒ³. The rheostat R in this
case is shown as in two parts for compactness, the connections being
made only to the heads g' & 9. The circuits and connections shown
in this Figure will be explained hereafter, but I remark that the
vibration of the armature may be employed in moving a pen or stylus
or for giving sound, but in this Fig. 15 the connections are represented
so that the vibration of the armature is made to open and close a circuit
by contact with an insulated point or screw 22.
Fig. 16 shows a modification of the transmitting apparatus that may
be employed with the perforated paper. In this the small roller c' acts
both as a contact roller to move the paper as the drum c'is revolved,
and also to transmit the pulsations. There are numerous pins projecting
through holes in the periphery of the roller c', and these pins have
heads at their inner ends resting upon an elastic ring, so that the pins
close the circuit through the perforated paper but yield to the paper
itself. The arm carrying this roller c* is to be insulated so that the
circuit may be connected with the drum c¹ and with the roller c'.
In Fig. 17 the circuit closing roller e is upon a spring arm in the
trough d, and the circuit is closed through the perforated paper by the
contact of the roller with a rounding projection over which the per-
forated paper is freely drawn. These rollers e should be as small as
consistent with strength, they should have a platina edge fastened upon
a short pipe that forms the bearing.
Fig. 18 is a plan partially in section, and Fig. 19 is a section vertically
of the transmitting and receiving mechanism in a cheap compact form
adapted to branch offices and local stations. In this the drum c' is
double and is revolved by a belt 27 that passes to a pulley and fly wheel

page_text: driven by hand or a treadle. The drum c¹ is mounted in a frame having
troughs d on one side to guide the paper and with standards for the
lever arms m, n, that carry the contact rollers and can be raised and
held up by the spring 30 as shown, or depressed and rest upon the paper.
Both levers are provided with detaining brushes d', and one has a trans-
mitting roller e to act with the perforations in the paper in sending the
message, and the other has a stylus i to mark on the chemical paper in
receiving the message. It is to be understood that the lever m with the
transmitting roller is pressed down for use while the lever n¨ and stylus
is raised and out of action, and the reverse, and the connections of the
clectric circuits are made with either binding screw 32 from the line or
battery, and the other connection with the insulated shaft of the roller c³,
or with a spring bearing upon the metal portion of that drum that is in
When the paper is perforated in two lines, as shown below Fig. 18,
there will be two rollers e, the dash being made by pulsations through
two or more perforations uniting, but if the dots and dashes are in one
line only one roller e is needed.
use.
17
In cases where it is desired to receive the message on a sheet instead
of a strip of chemically prepared paper I make use of a tablet shown in
plan Fig. 20, and sectionally Fig. 21. The chemical paper is upon a
metal plate o³, to which one of the conducting wires is attached at 35,
the other wire of the circuit is connected by a flexible conductor o to the
stylus i that is held by the operator and moved across and across upon
the sheet of chemical paper, the marks being made when the pulsations
of electricity are passing through the paper, and to guide the stylus i
and hold the paper it is preferable to use a plate o% of non-conducting
material through which is a slot running back and forth and connect-
ing at alternate opposite ends, as seen in Fig. 20. By this means the
telegraphic characters can be made upon sheets and read by following
the lines back and forth.
The galvinometer employed in this system of telegraphing is by
preference constructed as seen in plan Fig. 22, and elevation Fig. 23.
A glass tuber containing alcohol or other liquid has within it a needle
suspended by a fine thread, and the tube is hermetically sealed and
supported by a disk upon insulated arms 7³, 7-, to which the line or
circuit wires are connected. A galvinometer coil of wire is made to
slide back or forth upon the arms ³, ³, so as to be positioned to indicate
by the deflection of the needle in the polarity or force of the current;

page_text: and this instrument can be adjusted very delicately, so that the needle
will indicate the pulsations or show when the line is in working order,
and the galvinometer coil be short so as not to interpose much resist-
ance. The plate 37 that carries the arms 7ª, 73, has a central bearing
and three adjusting screws so as to properly position the apparatus
vertically, and by preference the instrument is upon a V-shaped block
or base so that it can be attached in a vertical angle of a window, wall;
or door frame, or the instrument may be mounted upon a ball-and-socket
joint with a clamping screw.
A rheostat may be made of a rubber tube p, shown in Fig. 24, with
binding screws 40 at the respective ends for the telegraph wires, and
containing glycerine, alcohol, or other liquid, and the tube is not quitó
full to allow for expansion under atmospheric influences, and there is a
coil or helix p¹ extending inwards from each end to ensure contact with
the liquid regardless of the position of the tube. The length of cach
tube will be according to the resistance required, and these rheostats are
especially adapted to clearing the line by small permanent Icaks at
different points.
The circuits and connections are made according to the location and
object to be accomplished. I have shown in Figs. 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29
diagrams illustrative of the manner in which connections are made with
some of the instruments before described, and in these diagrams only
sufficient of the particular instrument is shown to illustrate the con-
nections of the circuits. Other connections will also be apparent tọ
experienced persons.
In Fig. 25 the battery B is connected to the main line so that the pen or
stylus i at the distant station will make a continuous mark, except when
the battery connection is short circuited or shunted through the key e³,
so that the current does not reach the distant station. Perforated
paper and the roller c³ may be employed for closing the circuit at e³ in
place of the finger key, and it will be apparent that the dots and dashes
at the receiving station are indicated by blanks or interruptions in the
line upon the paper. If it is desired to make the characters by dark
marks the receiving instrument may be arranged as in Fig. 26; the
5 main line circuit being constantly closed through the magnets ƒ¹‚ƒ³,
acts in fto draw the swinging armature to the core off" and into
contact with the point 22, because the magnetism in fis neutralized

page_text: by the constant reverse circuit from the battery L, but as soon as the
main line circuit is lessened the constant circuit acting in
separates
the armature and point 22. A secondary battery s is connected with
the point 22 and the armaturef by a wire, so that the electricity will
pass through fand 22 and not reach the stylus i, there being greater
resistance in the circuit through the stylus than in this secondary shunt
circuit; but when fand 22 are separated the current is obliged to pass
through i and acts upon the chemical paper, producing a signal by a
dark mark. If the connections were reversed the signal would be by
breaks in an otherwise continuous mark in the chemical paper.
At an intermediate station the constant main line circuit passing
through a sounder Q or other instrument, as seen in Fig. 26, will not
give any, signal, but so soon as a short circuit or shunt from either side
.of the main line is closed to the earth by one of the finger keys k or
similar device and a portion of the current thereby diverted, the electric
tension of the other portions of the line will be lessened, and a signal
given at the distant station in consequence of that clectric tension being.
lessened. In Fig. 27 the pulsations from the battery B pass by the
roller e, perforated paper, drum c', and line, to the distant station and
receiving instrument, thence to the earth E, as seen by dotted lines, or
a portion of each pulsation passes on to the next instrument in the line.
At the receiving station the rheostat R causes the proper portion of the
current to pass through the magnet f, and the remainder passes either
to the earth or on to the next station. The electric pulsation in the
magnet f³ attracts the armature and brings the pen into contact with
the paper, and according to the position of the switches of the rheostat
so a portion of the main current will pass through the magnet f¹ in
the opposite direction to the constant current from the battery Land
neutralize the same, or else the current in the clectro-magnet f³ must
be sufficiently powerful to attract the armature f, overcoming the force
of the electro-magnet f¹.
In using this instrument with submarine or ocean cables, the connec-
tions will be arranged substantially as shown in Fig. 28. The receiving.
instrument at one end is operated by the pulsation or electric wave
moving towards the transmitting instrument, and when the wave or 3
electric pulsation moves towards the receiving instrument that instru-
ment becomes inoperative, and the condenser is surcharged to produce
the next signal upon moving toward the transmitter.

page_text: The connections are shown as arranged for transmitting from New
York and receiving at London, there being a roller e in the transmitting
instrument and a pen i in the receiving instrument. The spring from
the armaturef, on which the roller e is mounted, allows of the armaturo
swinging without lifting the roller. The armature fas it vibrates closes
alternately the circuits through the insulated binding screws 22 and 51,
and in the connections there are switches of any desired character to
direct the current, as next described.
The condenser w' at New York is out of action, and the condenser 10³
at London is in the circuit. The battery 52 at New York is in action,
the battery 62 at London is out of action, the circuit at 64 being open.
When the circuit between e and c¹ is closed by contact through the
perforated paper the current passes from the battery 67 through R,
f, 40, c, c', and back to 67, the force of the current being adjusted
with accuracy by the slider of the rheostat diverting the proper propor-
tion of the current over the aforesaid route and returning the remainder
to the battery. The force of this current is sufficient to bring into
contact with 22, and close the circuit at this point, so that the electric
wave, pulsation, or leakage comes from the cable through 54, 53, ƒ, 22,
to earth. When the paper intervenes the circuit from 67 is broken, and
the battery 68 that is acting constantly in f¹ draws the armature f,
closing the circuit from battery 52 through 51, f, 53, 54, to tho
cable, sending the pulsation away from the transmitting instrument to
replenish the condenser 20³.
In this way the electric wave is made to flow over the cable towards
the transmitter when the circuit from 67 is closed through the per-
foration in the paper, and away from the same when the said circuit is
broken by the intervening paper.
I have shown the constant circuit from 68 acting in f¹, but the
circuit from 67 might also pass through f', but in the opposite direction,
to neutralize the magnetism in f' instead of the magnetism in f* being
sufficiently powerful to overcome that in f¹.
At the receiving station marked London the pulsation or wave from 10ª
passes by 66, 65, 72, through ƒ,, 40, 73, 63, to cable when moving
toward the transmitting station, and the reverse when the battery 52 is
charging the condenser u³, hence when the mark is to be made by the
pen being brought down upon the paper correspondingly with the
pulsation through the perforated paper, the current moving from 72

page_text: through,, 40, intensifies the action of the battery 77 in f* by
moving in the same direction and neutralizes that in f¹, hence the core
off will attract f, and when the electric wave moves over the cable
through 40, f', f', the reverse effect is produced, the magnetism in ƒ'
being neutralized and intensified in f^; the pen is then lifted.
It will be now understood that the rheostats are to be adjusted to
furnish only the required strength of current, and the action of the
magnets ff, on the armature fis balanced; but when a cable current
is also passed through the magnets one is made more powerful, and
the other is correspondingly weakened, and the reverse when the ]
current is of opposite polarity; hence, with a very feeble cable current
the most reliable movements are given to the armature ƒ and the pen
or stylus applied thereto.
I remark that these arrangements of circuits may be used to give
motion to any other recording or indicating instrument or to a circuit 1
breaker. to bring into action a relay or repeater; and although this
arrangement is set forth as applied with submarine cables the same
might be used on land.
Chemical paper and a stylus might be employed in place of the pen
and ink fountain.
In this case the connections may be arranged as in Fig. 29, in which
the main line current neutralizes the current from 68 in f' and magnetizes
the core off, bringing the iron or steel stylus i down upon the chemical
paper upon c and completing the circuit from 67 through f, 40,
stylus i, c', to 67, and pressing the stylus firmly upon the paper. When
the main line circuit is broken the magnet fraises the stylus, the
force of the current being regulated by the rheostats R so as to be less
in Fig. 2 than that in the magnet ƒª. .
In the electric connections shown in Fig. 15, the binding screws
70, 71, are connected to the heads g' and 9ª, and also to the helix of the 3
electro-magnet, so that by positioning the adjusters of the rheostats
more or less of the current from 70 will be obliged to pass through the
helix, and the remainder pass from 70 to g³, thence by the rheostat
coil (h), adjuster (½³), rod (½³), head and bar c, adjuster (h³), coil (/),
bar (h), and head g, back to 71. The main line and earth wires 3
connect to the screws 81, 82, and to the helix f, and to the switch
plates 74 and 76,-so that according to the position of the switch 76 tho
"

page_text: current will come from 82 through helix f, thence to 75, 76, and
to the earth connection 81, or if the switch is changed the current
will pass from 82 through f", thence to 71 through helix
opposite direction to the current from 70), thence by 70, 9',
76 to 81.
(in the
74, and
When the main line current acts in the helix fin the opposite
direction to that of the constant current from 70 the latter will be
lessened or neutralized, and if it does not act in f¹ the force of the
main line current in "must be enough to overcome the force of the
electro-magnet ƒ¹.
The battery s is connected with the binders that in turn are connected
with the pole and the insulated pin 22 in the pole of f¹. The binders
aro also connected with the telegraph receiving instrument i, c', that is
of any desired character.
When the circuit is closed through the armature resting upon the
pin 22 in the normal position there will not be any record made at
the receiving instrument, the current passing through P, armature and
pin 22, because they afford less resistance; but when the contact of
the armature with 22 is severed by the pulsation in the magnet f* the
battery operates in the receiving instrument as described in connection
with Fig. 26.
The chemical paper for receiving the mark by the electric action is
prepared in one of the following modes:-I have discovered that the
best effects are produced by mixing together about one hundred and
ninety-two parts, by weight, of water with forty-eight parts of iodide of
potassium and four parts of starch. I compound the same in the
following manner:-Iodide of potassium is mixed in sufficient water
to dissolve it thoroughly, and starch is carefully mixed in cold water and
then boiled in sufficient water to make a very thin mixture, that is either
strained carefully through a sieve or piece of muslin to detain any
small lumps or particles of glutinous matter, or else these are allowed
The materials are then mixed
to subside and the liquid decanted.
together and the liquid is ready for the paper to be immersed therein.
Care should be taken that the water is pure and also that the paper is
5 free from all foreign substances, such as chloride of lime, &c., because
The paper
this or other foreign matter is liable to discolor the paper.
saturated with the solution prepared in substantially the manner before
described will receive a mark from a very feeble electric current, and
B

page_text: there will be no risk of discoloration, sticking, or injury to the paper
while in use. In order to prevent the waste of the chemical substances
after the paper has been used I extract the same by boiling the strips
in water and then squeezing the paper pulp to express the liquid and
then recover the iodide of potassium by evaporation or otherwise, so as
to save the expense of the same and thus economize the automatic
telegraph system.
In another preparation I make use of twelve parts by weight of pure
water, four parts of a saturated solution of chloride of calcium (from
the crystalized delequescent salt), two parts of a saturated solution of
ferrocyanide of potassium. To a mixture of the above I add sufficient
chromic acid to produce a dark sherry color, and also about one-fiftieth
of one part of chloride of sodium. After this solution is mixed and
allowed to remain it will become clear and is adapted to use in moisten-
ing paper for chemical telegraph, it is very sensitive under the electric
current from an iron or steel stylus and the mark is permanent.
Paper has been punched by ranges of punches and the selection made
by levers of the particular punch or punches required for the telegraphic
character to be perforated.
My particular improvements are shown in plan Fig. 30, and by an
enlarged section Fig. 31 of the actuating slide. There are several keys t
shown, but the instrument is to be enlarged to contain any desired
number of keys according to the characters required. Each key is
raised by a spring, can be depressed by the finger, and receive a lateral
movement from a magnet to actuate the punch bars. The punches t
are of usual character, and there are actuating plates connected with
them and passing across below the range of finger keys. There are
projections upon the actuating plates adjacent to the finger keys, these
projections are not on all the plates or contiguous to all the keys, but
only upon such plates as require to be moved when the particular finger
key is depressed so as to select the punches. In order to move the
finger key laterally that is depressed I employ the sliding bar u, electro-
magnet u', battery ³, and connections to the rail upon which the keys
are jointed and to the slide bar u. Adjacent to cach finger key is a
projection 3, and the side of the finger key is of non-conducting
material, thereby the circuit through the magnet a¹ will not be closed
until the key comes in contact with the bar u, then the magnet π' is
energized and said magnet gives end motion to the bar and laterally

page_text: switch for directing the main line current either through one electro-
magnet or through both of the electro-magnets, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. Two transmitting rollers or disks e arranged upon separate
spring arms or levers so as to act in connection with a strip of paper
having perforations in two lines, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. An electro-magnet introduced within a rheostat, substantially
as set forth.
Eighth. A rheostat made in two parts united at one end and provided
with two adjusters, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5
Ninth. An armature made of thin sheet metal and vibrated, substan- 10
tially as set forth, to form a receiving sound instrument.
Tenth. A metallic connection between one pole and the other at the
operative end of an electro-magnet to more rapidly disperse or neutralize
the residual or induced magnetism, substantially as set forth.
Eleventh. A metallic connection between the two operative poles of 18
a magnet made adjustable, substantially as set forth, for regulating
the action of such connection in neutralizing the residual or induced
magnetism.
Twelfth. The connections arranged substantially as shown in Fig. 15.
for the main line and constant circuits between the rheostats, the 20
electro-magnets, and the switch in combination with the vibrating
armature, substantially as specified.
Thirteenth. The battery S and the receiving instrument, Figs. 15
and 26, connected to the binding screws of the instrument in combina-
tion with the vibrating armature and connections to said binding screws, 2
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourteenth. The circuit closing roller made of one or more ranges
of headed pins inserted through the sholl of said roller and pressed
outwardly by a spring ring or rings, substantially as set forth.
Fifteenth. A telegraphic communication received upon chemical 3
paper in lines running back and forth or zig-zag, and connected at
alternato onds, substantially as set forth.
Sixteenth. The galvinometer indicating needle in combination with
an adjustable helix that can be moved nearer to or farther from the
needle, substantially as set forth.
Seventeenth. A needle suspended in liquid within a glass tube in
combination with the helix and slides, ³, upon which the helix is
movable, as and for the purposes set forth.
3

page_text: Eighteenth. The base for the galvinometer made with the central
bearing and adjusting screws in combination with the movable helix rª,
slides,, and indicating needle, substantially as set forth.
Nineteenth. A needle suspended by thread in liquid within a glass
tube and contiguous to a helix for the purposes set forth.
Twentieth. The glass tube made adjustable vertically and secured by
clamps and containing a suspended indicating needle in combination
with a helix, substantially as set forth.
Twenty-first. The solutions prepared of the materials and in about the
proportions specified for saturating paper for chemical telegraphs, as and
for the purposes set forth.
Twenty-second. The mode herein specified of recovering and utilizing
the chemical substances employed in telegraphic paper, as set forth.
Twenty-third. A. fountain and pen constructed substantially as set
forth and vibrated upon centres by means of electric pulsations to mark
telegraphic characters upon paper, as set forth.
Twenty-fourth. The automatic telegraph apparatus and circuits, sub-
stantially as set forth, in combination with a condenser, and operating
by rise and fall of tension, substantially as set forth.
.
Twenty-fifth. The automatic telegraph apparatus in which a con-
denser or coil is applied with the helix in the main line for the purposes
set forth.
Twenty-sixth. The mechanism shown in Fig. 30 for employing the
power of an electro-magnet in punching the paper, substantially as set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Little, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of September, A.D.
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
30 Witnesses,
GEORGE LITTLE. (L.S.)
CHA. H. SMITH, 121, Nassau St., New York,
GEO. T. PINCKNEY, „
31
"