CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE INSULATION AND MANUFACTURE OF ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH WIRES AND CABLES
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Hancock, of West Street, Smithfield, in the
City of London, Gutta Percha Manufacturer, for the Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE INSULATION AND MANUFACTURE OF ELECTRIC
TELEGRAPH WIRES AND CABLES."
Sealed the 27th May 1859, and dated the 29th November 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Hancock at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th November 1858.
I, CHARLES HANCOCK, of West Street, Smithfield, in the City of London,
Gutta Percha Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE INSULATION AND MANUFACTURE OF
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH WIRES AND CABLES," to be as follows:-
These improvements consist in the manufacture of electric telegraph wires
and cables by insulating and protecting the same with india-rubber or com-
pounds of india-rubber in the manner herein-after described; and where I
make use of the term india-rubber in this Provisional Specification, I
desire it to be understood that I mean either india-rubber or a compound of
india-rubber.
Firstly, I take two strips of sheet india-rubber of the required width and
thickness, and having coated the inner surfaces of them with solution of
india-rubber, I lay between them longitudinally the copper or other conducting

page_text: wire or wires, and then press the solutioned surfaces closely together either
by the use of grooved rollers or otherwise, in order thoroughly to enclose
or insulate the conducting wire or wires within the india-rubber. Or,
instead of two strips, I use a single strip of a greater and of sufficient
width to enclose the conducting wire or wires, and having solutioned the same
I press and close the same together longitudinally upon and around the
conducting wire or wires in the manner herein-before described. When
necessary, I apply upon and over the first coating a second, third, or fourth
coating, according to either of the modes herein described, taking care in
either case to cover, or as it is technically termed "break the joint" or joints
of the previous coating.
Secondly, I enclose or insulate telegraph wire by laying upon it, either
spirally or longitudinally, one or more strips, strands, or coverings of cloth,
calico, or other suitable fabric rendered waterproof and airproof by the means
usually adopted by india-rubber manufacturers for that purpose; I prefer to
use, at least for one of the coverings, a woollen fabric, and when I use a
calico, I prefer one that has been "tanned," in order to give it greater
durability.
;
When spiral strips are used, I find it better to wind the strips of each
successive coating in a contrary direction to the strips of the previous coating,
in order more effectually to cover or "break" the joint, and also to give
greater strength and security to the whole, and I prefer to double the strip to
one-half of its original width, so that it may have one of its edges rounded
thus
and.in laying the strip or strips upon the wire, I take care
that the two "raw edges" should be perfectly covered up by the succeeding
spiral layer or lap; by so doing the fabric itself is thoroughly enclosed and
protected, and an exterior surface of india-rubber alone is exposed, all danger
of any moisture being absorbed by the raw edges of the fabric is thereby
entirely prevented. Instead of winding the strips spirally around the wire, I
sometimes apply them longitudinal, strip over strip, taking care each time to.
cover or "break" the joint, and pressing and closing the successive strips
together in the manner herein-before described.
Thirdly, I take one or more insulated wire or wires (whether insulated
according to this Invention or otherwise), and further and more effectually
insulate the same by covering and manufacturing it or them into a cord or
cable according to either of the plans berein-before described. It is desirable
that in the last or outer covering a stouter and stronger fabric and a thicker
coating of india-rubber should be used.
The insulated wire or cable may be afterwards protected, if necessary, by.

page_text: any of the means ordinarily employed for that purpose. In any case where
thought desirable sulphured india-rubber may be used, and the same afterwards
vulcanized.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Hancock in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th May 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
HANCOCK, of West Street, Smithfield, in the City of London, Gutta Percha
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Charles Hancock, Her special licence that I, the
said Charles Hancock, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Charles Hancock, 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE INSULATION AND MANUFACTURE
OF ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH WIRES AND CABLES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Charles Hancock, my executors or administrators,
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 nionths next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Hancock, do hereby declaro -
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
These improvements consist in the manufacture of electric telegraph, wires
and cables by insulating and protecting the same with india-rubber or com-
pounds of india-rubber in the manner herein-after described; and when I make

page_text: use of the term india-rubber in. this Specification, I desire it to be understood
that I mean either india-rubber or a compound of india-rubber.
I take two strips of sheet india-rubber of the required width and thickness,
and having coated the inner surfaces of them with solution of india-rubber,
I lay between them longitudinally the copper or other conducting wire or
wires, and then press the solutioned surfaces closely together either by the use
of grooved rollers or otherwise, in order thoroughly to enclose or insulate the
conducting wire or wires within the india-rubber. Or, instead of two strips,
I use a single strip of a greater and of a sufficient width to enclose the
conducting wire or wires, and having solutioned the same, I press and close
the same together longitudinally upon and around the conducting wire or
wires in the manner herein-before described. When necessary I apply upon
and over the first coating a second, third, or fourth coating, according to
either of the modes herein described, taking care in either case to cover, or
as it is technically termed "break the joint" or joints of the previous coating.
Secondly, I enclose or insulate telegraph wire by laying upon it, either
spirally or longitudinally, one or more strips, strands, or coverings of cloth,
calico, or other suitable fabric rendered waterproof and airproof by the means
usually adopted by india-rubber manufacturers for that purpose. I prefer to
use, at least for one of the coverings, a woollen fabric, and when I use a
calico, I prefer one that has been "tanned," in order to give it greater
durability.
When spiral strips are used, I find it better to wind the strips of each
successive coating in a contrary direction to the strips of the previous coating,
in order more effectually to cover or "break" the joint, and also to give
greater strength and security to the whole. And I prefer to double the strip
to one-half of its original width, so that it may have one of its edges rounded
thus
; and in laying the strip or strips upon the wire, I take care
that the two "raw edges" should be perfectly covered up by the succeeding
spiral layer or lap; by so doing the fabric itself is thoroughly enclosed and
protected, and an exterior surface of india-rubber alone is exposed; all danger
of any moisture being absorbed by the raw edges of the fabric is thereby
entirely prevented. Instead of winding the strips spirally around the wire, I
sometimes apply them longitudinally, strip over strip, taking care each time to
cover or "break" the joint, and pressing and closing the successive strips
together in the manner herein-before described.
Thirdly, I take one or more insulated wire or wires (whether insulated
according to this Invention or otherwise), and further and more effectually
insulate the same by covering and manufacturing it or them into a cord or

page_text: cable according to either of the plans herein-before described. It is desirable
that in the last or outer covering a stouter and stronger fabric and a thicker
coating of india-rubber should be used.
The insulated wire or cable may be afterwards protected, if necessary, by
any of the means ordinarily employed for that purpose. In any case where
thought desirable sulphured india-rubber may be used, and the same afterwards
vulcanized.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Hancock, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
S. E. A. NEWSOME,
Office for Patents,
84, Fleet Street.
CHARLES HANCOCK. (L.S.)