IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING AND RECORDING TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Henry, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING AND RECORDING TELEGRAPHIC
COMMUNICATIONS."-A communication from abroad by Sarah Martha
Buckwell of Luino in the Kingdom of Italy.
Sealed the 8th December 1865, and dated the 16th June 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Henry at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th
June 1865.
I, MICHAEL HENRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING AND RECORDING TELE-
GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS," communicated to me from abroad by Sarah Martha
Buckwell, of Luino, in the Kingdom of Italy, to be as follows:-
This Invention has first for its object the communication of intelligence
by representing upon or by means of moveable plain or coloured diaphragms
or other surfaces, characters, signs, or signals similar to those used in electro-
telegraphy for representing letters or other characters, and especiallycharacters
representing time currents, as usually adopted, an alphabet or code of signals
being composed by various combinations of dots and lines. These may be
produced by representing them on moveable surfaces, or by moveable
appliances producing forms or shapes resembling them.

page_text: In order that the Invention may be understood, I proceed to describe one
manner in which it may be carried into effect.
thus
In a skeleton framework a set of blinds, curtains, shutters, or panels is
mounted and worked by cords, so that such blinds, shutters, curtains, or
panels may be opened, closed, or moved out or in to any required extent, and
they are retained in any required position by forks or other stops until dis-
engaged therefrom by the cords. Each blind, curtain, panel, or shutter slides
along an opening in the frame, and when moved along for its whole length
it would represent or stand for a
and when moved
half or partially along such opening thus ☐ it would represent a square
dot, and stand for ; by combining these lines and dots the required
characters or signals are produced; for example supposing A is to be formed
the sign for which in the ordinary code is. - one shutter would be drawn
half out, and the next wholly out, and so on for other signs. These may be
used for secret communications by preconcerted arrangements in which the
ordinary equivalent signs are transposed, for example, making the A sign
serve for B, B sign for C, and so on. For printing or recording messages
the cords may be made to turn a cylinder a certain distance, each cord when
moved to work a shutter or panel imprints or marks on a strip of paper or
like material a point or line to represent a required sign. When the cords
are all released the cylinder will move forward, and the strip of paper will be
ready for the next letter. When a word is finished one of the cords is
released from an eye, through which they pass into levers at top to double the
blank space, and so on. The signals may be communicated by sound, the
points being represented, for example, by a single or a short sound, and the
lines by a double or prolonged sound, the cords working a hammer which
strikes a gong, bell, or other sounding apparatus.
Another part of the Invention consists in the following improved manner
ofoperating electric telegraphic printing or recording instruments:-Messages
may be transmitted by setting them up in type of a fount corresponding with
the signs or characters of a telegraphic code, the type being used to actuate
the signalling lever or lever key or transmitting arm of the type transmitted,
or characters used in ordinary typography may be employed for printing with,
so that a copy of the message transmitted may be printed in both telegraphic
and ordinary characters, and obtained and retained by the sender. The type
may be set up in a line or composing stick, or it may be arranged spirally
round a cylinder, and caused to traverse the current breaker, so as to work it,
and transmit currents through the wire of such duration and at such intervals
as correspond with the message transmitted. The characters indicated by the

page_text: receiving instrument are so formed and spaced as to produce a counterpart
in respect of proportion of the type employed. The type may be arranged
to print a facsimile of the despatch, or any desired characters may be used.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Michael Henry in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 16th December 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MICHAEL
HENRY, of 68, Fleet Street, formerly of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date; the Sixteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Michael Henry, Her special licence that I, the said Michael Henry,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Michael
Henry, 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, 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 THE METHOD
OF AND APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING AND RECORDING TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS,"
communicated to me from abroad by Sarah Martha Buckwell, of Luino, in
the Kingdom of Italy, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Michael Henry, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 Michael Henry, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, as communicated to me, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say:-
This Invention has first for object the communication of intelligence by

page_text: representing upon or by means of moveable plain or coloured diaphragms
or other surfaces, characters, signs, or signals similar to those used in
electro-telegraphy for representing letters or other characters, and especially
characters representing time currents, as usually adopted, in which an
alphabet or code of signals is composed by various combinations of dots
and lines. These may be produced by representing them on moveable
surfaces, or by moveable surfaces or appliances producing forms or shapes
resembling or representing dots and lines.
In order that the Invention may be understood I proceed to describe
how it may be carried into effect.
In a skeleton framework a set of blinds, curtains, shutters or panels are
mounted and worked by cords, so that each blind, shutter, curtain, or panel
may be opened, closed, or moved out or in to any required extent, and they
are retained in any required position by forks or other stops until disengaged
therefrom by the cords. Each blind, curtain, panel, or shutter slides along
an opening in the frame, and when moved along for its whole length it would
represent or stand for a line, and when moved half or partially along such
opening it would represent or stand for a dot. By combining these lines and
dots the required characters or signals are produced; for example, supposing
A is to be formed, the sign for which in the ordinary telegraphic code is.―
one shutter would have to be drawn half out, and the next wholly out, and so
on for other signs. These may be used for secret communications by
preconcerted arrangements, in which the ordinary equivalent signs are
transposed; for example, making the A sign serve for B, B sign for C, and
80 OD. For printing or recording messages the cords may be made to turn
a cylinder for a certain distance, so that each cord when moved to work a
shutter or panel shall imprint or mark on a strip of paper or like material
a dot or line to represent a required letter, character, or sign. When the
cords are all released the cylinder will move forward a certain interval,
When a word is finished
and the strip will be ready for the next letter.
one of the cords is released from an eye, through which they pass into
The signals may be
levers at top to double the blank space, and so on.
communicated from the apparatus at night or in dark weather by sound
the dots being represented, for example, by a single or a short sound, and
the lines by a double or prolonged sound, the cords working a hamme
which strikes a gong, bell, or other sounding apparatus.
Another part of the Invention consists in the following improved apparatus
or manner of operating electric telegraphic printing or recording instru
ments:--In these improvements messages are transmitted by setting them up

page_text: in type of a fount corresponding with the signs or characters of telegraphic
codes, the type being used to actuate a signalling lever, lever key, or trans-
mitting arm; or the characters used in ordinary typography may be employed
for printing, so that a copy of the message may be printed in both tele-
graphic and ordinary characters, and retained by the sender. The type may
be set up in a line or composing stick, or it may be arranged spirally round
a cylinder, and caused to traverse the current breaker, so as to work it and
transmit currents through the wire of such duration and at such intervals as
shall correspond with the message transmitted. The characters indicated
by the receiving instrument are so formed and spaced as to produce a
counterpart (in respect of proportion) of the type employed. The type may
be arranged to print a facsimile of the dispatch, or any desired characters
may be used. Thus the Invention comprises, first, an improved mode of
communicating intelligence, and, secondly, an improved mode of working
telegraphic recording and printing apparatus.
The manner of carrying the Invention into effect will be readily under-
stood by reference to the accompanying Drawings.
In the improvement first herein-before described, in which the alphabet
usually adopted in telegraphy is employed, and which is especially applic-
able for signalling between electric telegraphic stations, the characters are
produced by moveable surfaces fitted in a skeleton framework.
In the Diagram, Figure 1, A represents a skeleton frame fitted with plain
or colored shutters or panels, capable of being drawn out from the centre of
the frame towards the ends to the required extent, so as to present square or
oblong figures which represent dots and lines, and thereby form the various
characters made up of dots and lines in the telegraphic code. These shutters
are worked by ropes or cords actuated by handles, and retained by belaying
forks, or they may be worked by wires or rods, as in Diagram Figure 2.
They are pulled half down to represent a dot, and wholly down to represent a
line. For example, the letter A in the telegraphic code is generally re-
presented.
-- Thus to produce A, the left-hand rope is pulled to a belaying
fork at the middle of the frame, so as to draw the bottom panel outward
from the centre sufficiently to form a square, which represents a dot, and the
second rope is pulled to a belaying fork at the bottom of the frame, thereby
drawing the shutter fully out to the sides or ends of the frame, and forming
an oblong, which represents a line; the other letters and numbers are pro-
duced in like manner, as represented in Figure 2. Four lines, or any other
combination may be used for such words as "repeat," "question," "attention,"
&c. Communication may be rendered secret by varying the signs representing

page_text: the letters of the alphabet; for example, representing B by the conventional
sign used in the telegraphic code by A, C by the sign for B, and so on; or A
by C, B by D, and so on, alternating or varying them in any regular, irregular,
or desired manner, (and working the panels, shutters, or surfaces accordingly
to form them,) according to any preconcerted code. When the messages are
to be printed the cords when at top cause a cylinder to revolve to any required
extent, and any desired cord being placed in a fork at the centre of the frame.
causes a dot to be imprinted, marked, or punctured on a strip of paper. And
when a cord is drawn out and placed in a fork at the bottom of the frame it
causes a line to be marked, printed, or punctured, so as to represent the
signals of the telegraphic code,as exemplified in the Diagrams. For example,
to produce A (-) a rope is drawn to the middle, and a second rope to the
bottom of the frame, the ropes are then released to the top, causing the
cylinder to move the paper strip forward to make a space or interval for
commencing the next letter, and when a word is completed one of the four
cords is drawn free of the eye and passed through the lever at the top of the
frame to double the space or interval. Two such pulls would treble it, say,
to indicate the end of a sentence or beginning with a capital letter. In fogs
or dark weather artificial light may be reflected or otherwise used to illuminate
the characters; but should they then not be readily discernible the apparatus
may be caused to work instruments producing sounds, a dot being represented
by a single, short, or soft sound, and the lines by a long, loud, or double
sound. Various combinations may be agreed upon to indicate "question,"
"repeat,"
danger," or any desired word; for example, four loud sounds
for "danger," letters and numbers being communicated, for example, as on
Figure 2. The cords having been placed in the proper forks, are arranged
to cause a hammer to strike a gong, bell, or sounding appliance, say, one
stroke for a dot, and two for a line, T A UV X1.1-..11-Y. J. O. may
be used for the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,0; or the signals worked by
the apparatus may discharge or throw up coloured or other rockets; for
example, green or white may indicate a dot, red may indicate a line; or the
rockets may be thrown higher for a dot than for a line.
16
I now proceed to describe the improvement in operating telegraphic
apparatus. In certain ordinary modes the accuracy is mainly dependant on
maintaining a relation between the length and rate of currents and the time
spaces on the operator's plan, whereas according to this improvement com-
munications to be transmitted are set up in type of a fount corresponding
with signs or letters suited to or used in telegraphy, and the type is employed
for actuating the signalling lever or sending instrument; such type also

page_text: prints typographic letters and numbers, so that a true copy of the message as
set up in type may be printed in telegraphic and also in common typographic
characters, and obtained and retained by the sender. The type may be set up
in a line, or in a composing stick, or wound spirally round a cylinder, and in
either case is caused to traverse so as to work a current breaker and send
currents through the line of wire of such duration and at such regular
intervals as shall ensure an accurate record of the message set up in type.
The letters or signs recorded by the instrument will be so formed and space d
as to be a counterpart in all respects (as regards proportion) of the type
employed, thereby preventing liability to error in recording telegrams. This
improvement is particularly applicable for transmitting reports to various
localities in succession, or on separate wires at the same time. The type when
desirable may print a facsimile of the communication transmitted, as in
Figure 3, in common typographic characters. Alike record is made by the
signal communicators when required in telegraphic characters,as in Figure 5.
Figure 4 illustrates a mode of obtaining a communication written with
facility in telegraphic characters, in which the down strokes represent the
dots and lines. By transposing letters, numbers, or type various combinations
may be made for purposes of secrecy.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I do not confine myself
to the exact details herein-before described, as the same may be varied
provided that the peculiar nature of the Invention as herein set forth be
etained; and I declare that I claim, the improved methods of and arrange-
ments (of apparatus) for effecting and recording telegraphic communications
s herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Henry, have hereunto set my
haud and seal, this Fifteenth day of December, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-five
Witness,
S. E. A. NEWSOME.
M. HENRY. (L.S.)