IMPROVEMENTS IN EFFECTING TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Orange Wildman Whitehouse, of
Brighton, in the County of Sussex, Surgeon, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN EFFECTING TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Orange
Wildman Whitehouse at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th December 1853.
I, EDWARD ORANGE WILDMAN WHITEHOUSE, of Brighton, in the
County of Sussex, Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN EFFECTING TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICA-
TIONS" to be as follows:-
These improvements in effecting telegraphic communications consist
of a form of electric telegraph, which, by the use of more than one wire,
shall give increased speed and facility in the transmission of messages,
recording them by the agency of electro-chemical decomposition, and
in the use of materials or substances, chemical or otherwise, differing
from those hitherto used for that purpose, and the combining these in

page_text: such a way as to obtain the maximum of conduction (conducting power),
and of susceptibility to the action of the current (or susceptibility to
decomposition), without proneness to spontaneous decomposition, and to
yield the greatest distinctness and legibility in the marks when made.
This instrument differs from other telegraphs, especially in this
respect, namely, that the electric current is never "broken" or "inter-
rupted" during the working of this instrument, but that the "manipu-
lator" enables the operator, without "breaking contact," to direct the
current to one or more distant stations, there to do its work, or to drain
it off, as it were, and make it return by "short circuits" through its
own bed, in doing which it may either be made to record or not, at
pleasure.
The "manipulator," or transmitting part, contains such an arrange-
ment as shall enable the operator, by a single touch or pressure of the
finger upon one of the studs or keys, to indicate and record in its entirety
upon the instruments at the distant stations (as well as upon his own,
if he require it), any one of the letters, figures, or symbols that he
may wish. The details of the mechanism of the "manipulator" vary,
of course, with the form of letter which each instrument is required to
record; thus, that for Roman or other characters and numerals will
necessarily differ from that for symbols or stenographic writing, though
the mode of working in each will be the same, namely, that by a single
touch or pressure upon any stud, its appropriate letter, numeral, or
symbol shall be recorded entire. Two or more manipulators may be
attached to each instrument, enabling the operator to use either form
of communication interchangeably. The manipulator, though attached
to the instrument, need only be so "electrically" (namely, by wires),
but may be placed at any required distance from the rest of the
apparatus.
In the recording part, I employ such an arrangement of a metallic
plate, slab, or table, carrying the paper, and of the style or styles as shall,
by joint and simultaneous movements, enable the letters, symbols, or
manuals to follow each other upon the paper, and be placed in lines
arranged parallel to each other, and at convenient distances, and reading
always from left to right, as in ordinary writing.

page_text: The materials used for electro-chemical decomposition consist of,
first, neutral salts, especially the sulphates, nitrates, and chlorides of
those earths, alkalies, or metals, whose bases, when thrown down by
decomposition, are but sparingly soluble, and are not prone to re-enter
into combination. Secondly, infusions or decoctions, or other prepara-
tions of those vegetable astringents which react readily upon the
soluble salts of iron: I would mention especially nut galls, oak bark, &c.
Thirdly, the iron or steel of which the styles or tracers are made; or,
fourthly, the red prussiato of potass may be used in combination with
tho before-mentioned neutral salts.
The current employed may be either that from a battery usually
denominated "galvanic," "voltaic," or "hydro-electric," in any of their
well-known forms; or it may be that form of current usually
termed "magneto-electric," or "magnetic electric," and derived from
the movement of an armature or armatures in proximity of a magnet
in the usual way; or it may be obtained by what Faraday terms
"intersecting the lines of magnetic force," or ("cutting the magnetic
curves,") either by the movement of a coil or coils in immediate
proximity of a stationary magnet, or by the movement of a magnet
or magnets in proximity of a stationary coil or coils; or, lastly, by
the combined movement of both magnet and coil by means of an
apparatus, which, without the use of an armature, shall yield (in the
above described manner) a current either in "quantity" or "intensity"
sufficient for telegraphic purposes by "intersecting the lines of mag-
netic force."
It is proposed by these arrangements, in consequence of the extreme
rapidity of recording which may be attained, to follow the words of a
public speaker, and record them at any distance without the interven-
tion of a third person.
Another application of part of this system may be the automatic
recording of extemporaneous music, by a simple arrangement in con-
nection with a pianoforte or other similar instrument of music.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Orange Wildman Whitehouse in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th June 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
EDWARD ORANGE WILDMAN WHITEHOUSE, of Brighton, in the County
of Sussex, Surgeon, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said Edward Orange Wildman
Whitehouse, Her special license, that I, the said Edward Orange
Wildman Whitehouse, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Edward Orange Wildman Whitehouse, my
executors, administrators, or 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 Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN EFFECTING TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Edward Orange Wildman White-
house, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Edward Orange Wildman
Whitehouse, 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 had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to an improvement, arrangement, and con-

page_text: struction of electro-telegraphic apparatus, wherein, by the use of more
than one conducting wire, a superior degree of speed and facility of
action in the transmission of messages or communications are secured.
The transmitted particulars, as despatched by such apparatus, are
recorded by the agency of electro-chemical decomposition. In my
system of telegraphing I also use materials or substances, chemical and
otherwise, differing from those hitherto employed for such purpose, and
I combine these matters in such a manner as to obtain the maximum
of conduction, or conducting power, together with susceptibility to the
action of the electric current, or susceptibility to decomposition, without
involving liability to spontaneous décomposition, whilst the practical
result is a peculiar clearness and legibility in the recorded marks..
66
My instrument, in one of its forms, differs essentially from other
contrivances of a like class, in the fact that the electric current or
circuit is never "broken" or interrupted during the actual working; the
manipulator enabling the operator, without breaking contact, either
to direct the current to one or more distant stations for actual use, or
to drain it off and make it return by "short circuits" through its own
instrument, in doing which the electrical current may either be made
to record or not, at pleasure.
The "manipulator," or transmitting part of the instrument, contains
an arrangement such as to enable the operator, by a single touch or
pressure of the finger upon one of the studs or keys, to indicate and
record in its entirety upon the instruments at the distant stations, as
well as upon the one where the operator is, any one of the letters or
symbols required. The details of my "manipulator" vary, of course,
with the form of character which each instrument is required to record.:
Two or more manipulators may be attached to each instrument, so as to
enable the operator to use either form of communication interchangeably.
The manipulator may be placed at any required distance from the rest
of the apparatus, as, although it is attached to the instrument, it need:
ouly be so "electrically," that is, by wires.
For the purposes of recording the transmitted matter, I employ
snch an arrangement. of a metallic plate, slab, table, roller, or cur-
vilinear surface, carrying the paper, together with such an arrango-

page_text: ment of style or styles, as by joint and simultaneous movements shall
enable the letters or characters to follow each other upon the record
paper, and be placed in lines parallel to each other, and at con-
venient distances asunder, the reading being always from left to right
as in ordinary writing.
The materials which I use for electro-chemical decomposition are
neutral salts, especially the sulphates, nitrates, and chlorides of those
earths, alkalis, or metals, the bases of which, when thrown down by
decomposition, are but slightly soluble; also, in combination with any
of the herein-before described matters, the infusions, decoctions, and
other preparations of those vegetable astringents which react readily
upon the salts of iron, especially nut galls and oak bark; also the iron
or steel of which the stiles or traces are made.
The working current may be derived either from a battery, ordinarily
denominated "galvanic," "voltaic," or "hydro-electric," or, instead of
such current, I may use what is known as a "magneto-electric" current,
derived from the movement of an armature or armatures near a magnet,
in the usual way; or the power may be obtained from what Dr. Faraday
has termed "intersecting the lines of magnetic force, or cutting the
magnetic curves," either by the movement of a coil or coils of wire
near a stationary magnet, or by the motion of a magnet near a station-
ary coil; or by the continued movement of the two by the aid of an
apparatus which, without the use of an armature, shall yield a current
sufficient for telegraphic purposes, either in "quantity" or "intensity,"
by intersecting the lines of magnetic force.
By these improvements the words of a speaker may be accurately
followed and recorded at a distance, without the intervention of a third
person; and by another application of a portion of this system, extem-
poraneous or other music may be automatically recorded, by the use
of a simple arrangement in connexion with the musical instrument
producing the musical sounds.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood,
I shall now proceed to describe the several Figures on the Sheets
of Drawings hereunto attached. Fig. 1, on Sheet I. of my Drawings,
is an external end elevation of my compound manipulator; Fig. 2 is a

page_text: transverse section of the same, corresponding; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal
elevation; and Fig. 4 is a plan of the same, also in correspond-
ence; Fig. 5 is an external end elevation of the contrivance, show-
ing the end opposite to that delineated in Fig. 1, showing the six
line wire junctions; Fig 6 and 7 are full sized plans of two other
forms of manipulator tables or working stud frames; Fig* 8 and 9
are edgo views of the tables, Fig 7 and 8; Fig. 10 is a full sized
detail of one of the manipulativo studs, as used in the tables, Fig 6
and 7; Fig. 11 is a plan, corresponding to Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a side
view of the contact spring movement of the same; Fig. 13 repre-
sents a vertical section of one of my arrangements for producing the
conjoint movements of the paper and trackers, which will be herein-
after more fully described; Fig. 1, on Sheet 2 of my Drawings, is a
transverse section of another form of my receiving apparatus; Fig. 2 is
a plan, corresponding; Fig. 3 is an enlarged diagram of the largo
cylinder, with the needle or stile movement upon it; Fig. 4 is a
separate detail of the stile movement; Fig. 5 is an edge view, in cor-
respondence with Fig. 4; and Figs 6 and 7 represent sectional edge
views of two arrangements for directing a continuous current, either for
the
e purpose of retaining a home record, while the messago is trans-
mitted to a distant station, or of transmitting a message to two different
stations at the same time; Fig. 8 is a diagram of the alphabet, as
recorded by one form of the manipulator. In the special form of
manipulator, or transmitting instrument, as delineated in Fig 1, 2, 3, 4,
and 5, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, the apparatus consists of two end
pieces of cast iron, A, B, stayed and connected by four longitudinal rods
C; between these two end plates A, B, a series of wires D are tightly
stretched, being properly insulated by non-conducting buttons at each
end, whilst the requisite tensional strain is given by the screw links or
holders E, as well as by the short springs E', to which the wires are
connected at the end. On the upper pair of bars C, is a brass plate F,
bored out, at regular distances asunder, to receive the spindles of the
studs or buttons G, the lower ends of these spindles being also passed
through a second and lower fixed plate II, supported from the upper
plate F, by pillars I. Each of these spindles has a spiral spring J

page_text: encircling it, and contrived to bear it constantly upwards, so as to recover
well after any working pressure. Each spindle has also a set of trans-
verse pins. K fast in it, and arranged so as to be capable of commanding
the horizontal wires D: As each spindle is fitted with pins of different
arrangements or combinations, it follows that on the depression of any
one of the different spindles or studs, different combinations of the six
wires will be brought into action, as is clearly shewn in the transverse
section, Fig. 2. By this means, sixty-three different combinations may
be obtained, which are devoted to the Romanic and phonetic alphabets,
including double and treble letters... A battery wire L, is attached to
the metal work of the manipulator, which, in one mode of working,
establishes the short circuit herein-before mentioned, and drains off the
battery circuit which had been previously traversing the line wires
colored red in the Drawing. In another mode of using the same
manipulator, this battery wire, connected with the metal of the-frame
work, serves to convey the current to any of the line wires with which
the pressure of any one of the studs may bring it into contact.. The
manipulator represented in Figures 7 and 8, is one of a more simple
construction, inasmuch as each separate stud makes contact with but
one wire, the mode of effecting this being represented in the full size
details, Figures 10 and 11. The under side of a single compound stud
intended to make contact with five wires, is represented in Figure 12,
by which it will be obvious, on reference to the Drawings, that contact
may be made with as many of the points M, as may be placed beneath
the springs N. A small spring serves to raise the stud after its depres
sion. A grouping or combination of these. compound studs, Figure 12
forms the compound manipulator represented in Figures 6 and 9, such
manipulator being used, either separately, or in combination with the
simple manipulator. In the use of the simple manipulator, the
different letters are produced by the simultaneous depression of one o
more of the studs acting upon their respective wires, whereas, in
working the compound manipulator, cach separate stud is devoted to
the letter or sign engraved upon. it, the contacts having been pre
arranged, as described with reference to the detail, Figure 12.
"
For the purpose of recording the messuage during. its transmission

page_text: I employ the receiving instrument or recorder, represented in section
at Figure 13. This apparatus consists of two revolving drums or pulleys
P, carrying the endless band Q, as shewn in Figure 2, on Sheet 2 of
the Drawings. This band may be composed of gutta percha, leather,
or other suitable material, and carries the three sets of "trackers," one
of which is R, R, one of which is shewn in detail, in plan, at Figure 4, and
in corresponding edge view, as applied to the paper, at Figure 5. The
trackers themselves consist of needle points mounted upon and carried
by the springs S, carefully insulated from each other upon a block of
ivory T. These springs are continued through the ivory, and bent
backwards, as shewn at S', Figure 5, for the purpose of receiving the
current from the slips of brass S", insulated and arranged parallel to
each other, in the direction of the course of the trackers. These springs
may be considered as a termination of the line wires, with which they
are in electrical connection. The needle points are fitted into small
tubes or holders in the ends of the springs, and they may be replaced
or pushed down as they are worn in use. A sheet of the prepared
paper, properly damped, is placed upon the metallic table or slab U,
which is fitted with a rack V at each side; into these racks work two
pinions W, which are actuated by a worm wheel in connection with
an endless screw or other slow movement. By this means, the paper
is carried forwards or upwards slowly, whilst the trackers R are made
to traverse with a relatively rapid motion from left to right across
the
paper. By this arrangement, as one of the trackers is leaving the
paper, the next in rotation takes its place at the commencement of, the
next line, the lines being slightly inclined downwards from left to right,
through the action of the combined vertical and lateral movements of
the table and the trackers. Should a larger amount of prepared paper
be required, without interruption. than can be well supplied by- this
arrangement, I propose that a long drum or cylinder X, (Figures 1
and 2, on Sheet 1 of the Drawings,) say eight or ten inches in diameter,
by twenty-four or twenty-six inches in length, shall be so placed as to
draw continuously under the action of the trackers R, a slip or roll of
prepared paper Y, of the necessary width, and of any required length,
say from twelve to twenty or thirty yards, thus producing, without inter-

page_text: ruption, a constant drawing of the paper in such a manner as that the
trackers shall produce or record the letters upon it, line after line, as
I have herein-before described. An enlarged view of a
portion of the
drum X, with a tracker in action, is shewn at Figure 3, on the saine
Sheet of Drawings. Or, again, if it be desired or found more con-
venient, the dispatch may be received upon a long narrow slip of
prepared paper, of the usual form, drawn forward by
a drum of pro-
portionate size, the lower part of which shall be immersed or roll in
water or other fluid, contained in a small trough or cistern provided for
that purpose. This answers the double purpose of producing, firstly,
a sufficient adhesion between the paper and the drum to propel the
paper, without biting rollers, or any other arrangement for pulling or
drawing it; and, secondly, of rendering more perfect the electrical con-
tact with the drum, which is in metallic connection with the earth.
The arrangement of the trough of fluid for the drum applies equally to
the large drum herein-before described. In using the small drum and
narrow slip of paper, I make the set of trackers a fixture upon any
convenient part of the receiving apparatus, carefully insulated from
the metal work, but pressing upon the paper, and in connection with
small wires led from each of the line wires.
I shall now proceed to describe the apparatus represented at
Figure 6. A, is a stud fixed to a short vertical spindle resting upon
the end of the blade spring B, which is attached, by an insulated junc-
tion at C, to the plate D, and is in connection with the battery, as
shewn. A second spring E, rests at its free end upon the stop F,
whilst its opposite end is attached, by an insulated junction, to the blade
D. This spring is placed in connection either with the home recording
instrument or with a line wire leading to any distant station, say
Biriningham, for example, whilst the third spring G, is connected
with some other distant station, say Manchester. And when it is
required to change the current from the home recording instrument to
the distant station, or from Birmingham to Manchester, the stud A is
depressed and brought into the position shewn in the Drawings, that
is to say, the contact is established between the battery and the spring
G, which corresponds to the Manchester station, but on releasing the

page_text: stud A, the end of the spring B will rise and come in contact with
the spring E, corresponding to the home recording instrument, or to the
Birmingham station, before leaving the spring G. Thus the course of
the current is altered, yet remains unbroken throughout the change, as
the spring B, is made to come in contact with the spring E, before it
is sufficiently clevated to leave or break contact with the spring G, and
thus the interruption of the current is avoided. By this arrangement
two different stations may be corresponded with, and the same message
may be recorded in each simultaneously, or the record of a message
may be made at the home station simultaneously with the recording of
such message at a distant station, the home record shewing blanks or
white spaces where the distant station record contains black marks,
since the depression of the stud A, which causes a black mark to be
recorded at the distant station, by establishing the current thereto,
simultaneously diverts the current passing through the home recorder
and therefore a space is left on the paper, corresponding in length to the
inark in the record of the distant station. The apparatus shewn in
Fig. 7 is a mere modification of that shewn in Fig. 6, and it consists
of a stud A, fitted on to a vertical spindle, which carries a metal collar
B in contact with it. On each side of this collar, above and below, are
fitted two pieces of ivory C, C¹. When the stud is elevated, the spring
D, in connection with some distant station, bears against the lower
ivory C', and the spring E, in connection either with the homo record-
ing instrument or with another station, bears against the metallic collar
B. Now, by depressing the spindle, the circuit will be changed, and
instead of the current passing through the collar B, and the spring E,
it will pass through the collar B, and the spring D, which has been
previously thrown out of action by the contact with the lower ivory C¹,
and tho spring E, will then be brought to bear against the upper ivory
C. But, as I have before described, the current is never broken, since
one spring comes in contact with the collar B, before the other leaves
it; although only one stud of each kind is represented in the Drawings,
I propose to employ a number of studs, arranged in one frame, as shewn
in Figs. 7 and 8, on Sheet I. of my Drawings.
In using the simple manipulator, it is necessary that the fingers

page_text: should simultaneously touch as many of the studs as may be necessary
to make the required letter, say N 1, 3, 5-1, 2, 5-4, 5, and so on,
according to the combination of marks required for each letter; the
requisite combination for each letter entailing the constant attention of
the operator. But in the compound manipulator, Fig. 6 and 9, Shect
1, on the other hand, this combination is pre-arranged, and each letter
or symbol has a stud specially devoted to it, and engraved accordingly,
requiring only the most rapid touch to print the letter or symbol entire;
the mode of using the manipulator, represented in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4,
and 5, is similar to that which I have already described with reference
to the compound manipulator; each stud bringing into action a diffe-
rent combination of line wires.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is, or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not con-
fine or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I
have had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be
made therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features
of my said Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
1, the general arrangement and construction of mechanism, appa-
ratus, or means for the purpose of effecting telegraphic communications,
as herein-before described.
2nd, the system or mode of producing telegraphic letters, characters,
or signs by a single touch, simultaneously bringing into action one or
more wires, as well as the apparatus for effecting the same, as herein-
before described.
3, the application and use, for telegraphic purposes, of the materials
and combinations of materials herein-before described, as well as the
use of nut galls, oak bark, or any other vegetable astringent containing
tannin and gallic acid, in any other combination for telegraphic
purposes.
4th, the system or mode of retaining a home record simultaneously
with the sending of a message to a distant station, or the transmitting

page_text: to two distant stations at the same time by the absence of the current
of one instrument corresponding with it's presence at the other, and
the blanks upon one paper being equivalent to the marks upon the
other.
5th, the system or mode of arranging and operating telegraphic appa-
ratus, wherein the joint and simultaneous movement of the trackers
and the paper enables the letters or symbols to follow each other upon
the paper, and be placed in lines arranged parallel to each other, and
at convenient distances, reading always from left to right, as in ordinary
writing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Orange Wildman White-
house, have hereunto set my hand and seal, the Twelfth day
of June, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
E. O. WILDMAN WHITEHOUSE. (L.S.)