Newark Jan 1st 1872

E&U Stock a/c¹

D, NjWOE, DF (TAEM 12:809). Written by Joseph Murray, on paper torn from a ledger.

Newark N.J. Jany 2nd 1872

The above drawing is a sketch of my Locking device, The object of which is to place a number of my Universal Stock Printers on one circuit or circuits, and lock or unlock any one or any number from a Central Station upon that circuit.² I will copy here a caveat which I have previously prepared =³

“The object of this invention is to prevent any printing instrument among a number in the same circuit from Printing, all or any of them.

“The invention consists of an attachment to one of my Universal Stock Printers which work upon one or two wires according to the circuit devices used =⁴ The attachment is throwing the lock wheel by means of the shifting devices into a forked lock peice attached to the Printing Lever, which peice acts as a lock to the type wheel and also as a block or impedement to the bringing of the Printing Lever to the face of the type wheel and making an impression. The fraction wheel⁵ I have dispensed with, and use the shifting devices merely to lock and unlock the type wheels In these lock wheels there are a slight opening .C. through which the type wheel paLock arm passes at the moment of shifting. on every Machine composing a circuit The shifting devices are set in different positions so that one type wheel only of all the instruments can be shifted at a time, and unlike the ordinary mode shift all at the same time on all instruments, and also in This case I shift only when the type wheel lever is down and the magnet closed, and print when it is up Thus preventing any of the type wheels of the several machines from shifting while transmitting a message to a particular instrument, which would be the case were I not to use a closed circuit on the Escapement Lever to do the shifting I will mention here that after the lock wheel has been thrown into the fork, there is a slight dead motion between it and the fork which allows the Printing Lever to come up towards the face of the type wheel far enough to release the unison but not enough to effect an impression or move the paper any great distance. This fork performs two functions The first, preventing the type wheel from jarringPage 382 out or moving except in one position, and of preventing the Printing Lever from effecting an impression =

I have previously said that I dispense with the figure fraction Wheel, but this is not necessary as a second shifting devices may be attached to the ordinary Universal Stock which second shifting devices may be made to throw a disk in & out of a fork on the Printing Lever thus Locking or unlocking as is required, this second shifting device being operated when the type wheel circuit is closed whichle the ordinary shift devices is operated as commonly or formerly when the type wheel circuit is Open.

I do not wish to confine myself to any particular device for unlocking and locking, because they would be different accordining as they are attached to the various machines now in the market. I believe at this time of writing that I am the originator of the Idea of locking & unlocking a number of step by step Magnetic Printing Machines in one or more circuits from a central Station

I am aware that Hughes⁶ has an arrangement for unlocking & Locking his machines, but the machines used in the Stock reporting business, are on altogether different principles from the Hughes =

I will mention here that there are numerous ways of effect the Lock and unlocking, both electrically and mechanically One of the various modes is to have a severate magnet work a ratchet wheel, and this ratchet wheel having pins on it on upon its shaft may be thrown in the path of the Printing Lever and prevent it from Printing as long as it remains. This magnet should be polarized—or have double helix and be effected by closure of both ckts Another mode is to dispense with the shifting of the type Wheel and its shifting devices on the shaft, and place them rigid upon^a the base attaching two pins only to the shaft thus

as in my shifting pad instrument already Patented⁷

A Cut in and out device might be used. This would consist of a polarized magnet working an escapement, on the shaft of which an arm might project rubbing on a periphery of metalPage 383 having one insulating opening. Every instrument being provided with one of these, the insulated places being in different positions, and the magnet placed in the Printing ckt it might be made to revolve by intermitting a positive current and Cut out all the Printing magnets by reason of the arm remaining on the metallic ring and if it was desired to cut in any printing magnet the extra magnet would be rotated until the arm Came to an insulated opening when the short cut would be destroyed and the Ptg magnet would be in Ckt while all the other machines would be out Then by using a negative Current which would not effect the directive polarized magnet, the message Could be Sent on that instrument = It is not necessary to Cut out the type wheels as they do no harm in being rotated altogether

This particular mode of cutting in and out electrically Can be varied in innumerable ways and I therefore do not wish to Confine myself to that particular way

An Extra magnet not polarized might be used the type wheel Cutting that in and that Cutting in the Ptg Lever

[Witness:] Jos T Murrey^b

[Newark,] Jan 4 1872

Since Last writing I have made further improvements in the mechanical lock devices. As now constructed, I shift upon an opened circuit and at the Same positions on all the type wheels, and not on a closed circuit as heretofore described.² this makes it more practical and easier for the Transmitting Operator. The Unisons being all in different positions, it follows that if I wish to operate an instrument which says catches on the Letter ΒI turn around a number of times to ensure the stoppage of the Unison by the type Wheel and Stop the transmitterPage 384 pointer at Β and close the Printing Lever and release the type wheel then of course the type wheel & the transmitter correspond. then I turn them both around until I come to the shifting pegs then close the Ptg Lever unlock the wheel and then transmit my message = In case some one of the Printing Machines did not happen to lock or got out accidentally the type wheel would not correspond with the transmitter so the message would only be a jumble of unreadable letters, but be ok on the inst which the message is intended for. I could dispense altogether with shifting and locking of the Ptg Lever, as every inst would print a jumble of letters except the inst which it is intended to receive the message, but I prefer to lock the Ptg Lever, saving paper, and, as being more seemly & convenient. I will state here that over a year ago I suggested to Genl Lefferts Should he wish to work an number of Private telegraph Printing Instruments on one circuit between a firms office & factory Every pair of such instruments might have type wheels to Correspond but every other pair have type wheels similar but the Letters placed in different positions tSo that no firm on the same Line could read the message of another firm =

The above sketch represent a Printing instrument which has two type Wheels and Prints upon two strips of paper. This is done by one magnet working two printing Levers or a seperate magnet to each lever but both in the same circuit and locking one or the other by the shifting device and arms.³

Page 385Device for Printing with a number of Printing Levers from one type wheel. a Seperate wire runs to each Printing magnet and one wire for the type wheel. This type wheel is rotated by a break wheel. 4 transmitters are used in either is a device which ethe type wheel may be arrested at any desired point by depressing a key, independent of the others in the Same Circuit. The Speed is greatly increased with this device

Witness by^a Jos T Murrey^b

Newark, January 5, 1872²

Edison—Stillwell—Dec. 25th,³ by the Rev. W. S. Gallaway.⁴ Mr. Thomas A. Edison and Miss [Ma]ry Still-well.⁵

[Newark,] Jany 6th 1872.

This is a double Type wheel having each wheel split in 3 or more Segiments and the inner ends pivoted on a set sleeve on the shaft. When the Shifting device is thrown one way the segiments of one type regain a complete wheel ready for Printing while the segiments of the other are thrown off at an angle thereby making it smaller than the other wheel¹

Unison Device. Extra ex tooth wheel with a space where there is no teeth. when the Escapement lever is up and circuit open the prong on the Ptg Lever fits the teeth in extra wheel, & no effect is produced & the Ptg takes place as usual. but if we wish to rotate the type wheel to Unison should it be out we close the Escapmt Lever circuit & bring escapmt Lever down in so doing we bring the V teeth of second wheel in such a position that the prong on the Ptg Lever when that is brought up will shove the type wheel around half a Letter Lifting the Escapmt Lever out into half next tooth & when the printing Lever is let down the magnet working escapement which still continues closed brings escapement Lever down again and places teeth of second wheel again in a position to be thrown forward by the printing Lever, & so on until it comes to a place where there is no teeth then it is to unison. then open the Escapement Lever circuit & go ahead on an open circuit in the usual manner, until you wish to catch allPage 387 the instruments at Unison, then close circuit & work Printing Lever until type wheel stops =²

Arrangement for furnishing “breaks” for a whole line of Printing Instruments from a central Station, by means of my Engine break already described in my Universal Printer Patent and Caveat This engine is of the same make as described on page 7 of this book³ but in this case I dispense with breaking the main circuit by the points on the armature Lever of the Little arresting magnet—and I also make the armature Lever arrest the break wheel on the up stroke (ie) when the magnet is open, and not closed as employed in the usual manner. I also include this magnet in the main circuit, so that every th time the engine makes two one revolution two breaks are made and of course the arm of the arresting magnet vibrates with it but does not arrest the wheel. Now I provide the Type wheel shafts of the Several instruments with projecting arms which pass in the path of Keys now when a Key is depressed the arm revolving around by the action of the Escapement an & magnet which receives its breaks from the Engine break at the Central Station. this arm is made of two springs in contact when revolving and are connected to the main circuit in such a manner that when the arm is arrested by the key the two springs are seperated and the main circuit opened. at the moment that this occurs there is not circuit on the Line it being so adjusted that it will be at the interruption of the Current on the break whenel = Now there being no Current on the Line the armature Lever^a of the Little arresting magnet Stays up and Catches the break wheel and arrests it, not on an open circuit but just as it commences to close. this insure a full break when the key is raised, for when it is the Circuit is instantly closed the Little Lever is let down or drawn down and the break wheel revolves as before & so on. The SReceiving instrument can have a vibrabting point & Local battery Connected with the Printing Lever So as to receive any message which may be sent, but I do not use any spring on thePage 388 sending instrument, as I wish to dispense with a Local battery although it may be used =

I

In the instruments and Lock devices djust explained but one instrument Can be used at a time

But a shifting device might be added which would shift on a closed circuit on the Letter Ζ and a double unison made This shift might be made to shift and throw one unison out and the other one in the first unison for working a Single inst and the Last to work them all. The last being set on all insts alike the former at various places. Where it is necessary to work both the Letter wheel and Figure wheel I add an extra shifting device for Locking and unlocking=

I will state here that I Lock on the fraction dot open circuit and unlock on the fraction dot closed circuit = on my Lock Instrument =

Witnessed^b Samuel Edison^c

[Newark,] Jany 8 1872

I am requested by General Lefferts to invent a peculiar unison for what is known as the Callahan 3 wire instrument¹

A is a slide peice which moves very freely through the pad or one side of it and is prevented from turning by the wire D passing between two guide wires F secured to a pillar = Upon this slide is secured two peculiar shaped click B.C. Fig 2 shows one of them to better advantage F F′ are two stars wheels secured to the two different sleeves of the type wheels, and these wheels act the same as the unison device shown onPage 389 page 18² Some of the teeth of the star wheel being cut out at a given position = G G′ are pins secured to the WType wheel sleeves just back of the dots or Zero points = The purpose of these pin is to^a throw the slide and its clicks eiunder one star^a wheel or^a other. = Supposing both wheels to stand at zero Then the slide will be in a position where one click is directly underneath the star wheel of one type wheel and the other is thrown out one side.

Now supposing that the Letter wheel was in unison But the fraction wheel was not= Now when the operator starts to rotate the Letter wheel, the pin G will come on the bevel of the click C and throw the Bar A over and bring the click directly underneath the star wheel of the Figure type wheel, which is out of Unison. (Bad drawing, shows both under). Now the first Letter printed the printing Lever cuomes up The click B, coming into the star teeth throws the type wheel ahead one Letter and will continue to throw it ahead at every momvement of the printing Lever until it comes to where there is no teeth on the star wheel then the type wheel will be at zero. Now as long as you work on the Letter wheel The slide will remain over to the figure wheel side, but if not now the operator brings the Letter wheel to zero, or what or tries to, and it is 2 Letters behind, and commences the rotation of the figure wheel. the first forward movement of the figure wheel by the aid of the pin G’ throws the slide over and the click under the star wheel of the Letter wheel and that wheel will be brought to zero by the first two upward movements of the Printing Lever The whole thing is this B, & clicks is a “Corrector” when one type wheel goes around it throws [---]B & etc under the other for correcting it & vice versa

I do not wish to confine myself to a star wheel & V shaped click as I can use a ratchet wheel and ordinary click Neither do I wish to confine myself to a sliding bar with Clicks in the Printing Lever as the star or ratchet wheels may be made to slide by the action of the rotation of the type wheel and an arm or other devices secured outside or independent of it=

Another unison device each sleeve being provided with two little teeth slightly Bevel and a pin on the shaft. If onePage 390 wheel gets out of unison the other wheels tooth grabs the tooth on the other wheel brings it up to the pin and they are then parted if one wheel goes ahead

A B are flanges bent slightly at the unison point F G are Carriers for locking the rotating wheel with the wheel to be set = one end of each has a head with a slot in it whiich works in the flanges A.B. When a type wheel is rotated around this carrier is thrown forward but is brought out of the path of the oather carrier between the type wheels by having a portion of the flanges A B bent outward just at the unison point or last one or two Letters. It is not necessary to bend the carriers up to the periphiery of the type wheels as I have shown =

witnessed^b Samuel Edison^c

[Newark,] Jany 13 1872^a

Perforator for Telegraphs

A B C are Levers I use nine of them they are worked Loose on the shaft X which is its fulcrum These Levers arePage 391 made of ⅛ inch sheet steel and very broad so as to give them the required strength. one is placed inside of the other, and the whole are placed immediately under a bank of keys. In practice I obtain the selection of any barLever^b by making tits or teeth on the keys Thus

Or these teeth knobs or projections on the keys may be thus

or they may be dispensed with altogether on the keys and The teeth made on the bars or Levers or notches may be Cut in the Levers Thus

or this way

Page 392some trouble may be anticipated by the springing¹ of the Levers but this Can be obviated by Connecting a strengthning Lever as in Fig 3 from A to B Or The Levers Can be made in this manner

Each square swinging seperately or it Can be made in this form

This form of Lever is probably better than the ones heretofore described owing to the strength of the Levers

The paper feed device which I intend to use in this machine is peculiar The motive power being derived from a spring or weight or any outside power not derived from the pressure on the keys =

Theis Length of The paper feed is controlled by the Levers or by the keys.

End view

Page 393Paper Feed

About perforator Jany 13 1872

Witnessed Samuel Edison^c

[Newark,] Jany 13 1872 =

Universal Machine = Instead of using the two arms and Connecting springs upon the type wheel shaft and being in the path of the [-]keys The connecting points for closing The Little Magnet in the Pulsator may be dispensed with and straight arms only used—² When this is done I put a wheel having 30 fine^a points of Contact insulated between & Connected so as to revolve with the type wheel shaft. rubbing on this wheel is a spring connected to the pulsator Magnet so that by depressing a key the plain arms suddenly arrest the Type wheel and the contact spring, just comes on a contact point of the tooth wheel, and the pulsator wheel is arrested by the little magnet. The type wheel shaft being arrested just a little way from its limit the key being raised will allow it to reach its entire limit rotating the type W Shaft a little & severing the contact points. On account of the Speed with which this wheel is rotated, the spring though touching a point every letter does it so quick that it has no effect on the little magnet of the pulsator, but only when arrested for a small period of time— It is not necessary to use a wcontact wheel with 30 points and a rubbing Spring. A single spring securred to the shaft of the Escapement lever wmight be extended out some distance and made to Close against a point just as the Escapement lever was nearly home on an open circuit

Page 396Improved method of catching or arresting the little break on the Engine³ in my Universal Printer. heretofore I have arrested it first by a movement derived from the arresting of the pin on the type wheel shaft, and the movement of that shaft Secondly by closing a secondary circuit by arresting a point on the type wheel and closing a magnet the armature of this magnet arresting the break wheel. Thirdly The manner which which I describe on page 26,⁴ and Lastly the above. The arresting of the break wheel in this case is done by the direct action of the Escapement lever, the movement having nothing to do with the type wheel shaft that only being used as a means of stopping the Escapement lever at certain points by the action of the points on the shaft going in the path of the Keys and by the aid of the ratchet or Star wheel.

It will be seen by referring to the drawing that a lever is connected to the Escapement lever and that the End of this lever is in or out of the path of the Esea little pin on the break wheel according to the position of the Escapement lever = When the Engine is running at every half turn of the break wheel the magnet operating the Escapement lever is closed consequently the lever P. is thrown into the path of the pin on the break wheel and would arreste it, but the break is so arranged that just as the pin is in the act of being arrested the current of the Escpmt Lever Magnet is interrupted by the break and the Escapmt lever flies back by the action of the spiral spring and throws the arresting lever Ρ out just in time to prevent catching on the pin and the circuit is again immediately closed the lever is thrown in then jerked out every time the type wheel advances one letter, or if used on Double ckt open & close every consequently the break is not interupted byut if we close a key the pin on the type wheel shaft comes in Contact with it, the Escapement lever is arrested half way while and the lever P held in the path of the pin on the break wheel and the break wheel is arrested. now when the key is raised the [-]Escapmt lever is allowed to go its full incirsion the lever P is drawn out and the break wheel revolves as before I do not wish to confine myself to any particular lever, but claim arresting a break wheel by a movement from the Escapement lever or any device attached to the Escpmt Magnet and holding the lever in the path of the type Break wheel by arresting pin or pins on the type wheel shaft by key or other devices. I Could used a seperate magnet to arrest this break wheel and place it in the main circuit and put a break point on the Escapement lever and arrest half wayPage 397 Thereby opening this Extra Magnet and arresting the break wheel or put a wheel having 30 contact points on the type wheel shaft, and arrest the wheel by the keys & pins in such a position that the break main circuit would be open

Thus first

Secondly

I will mention here that the friction cloth and Spring used on the Engine shaft for friction to carry around the Little break wheel might be dispensed with, and a clutch or click used the clutch being thrown out by the action of the arresting Lever. This click or clutch would be provided with a stop so after the click had been thrown out a short distance it would come against a stop and the wheel would be arrested. one form I here show

Page 398

A is a smilled wheel secured to the revolving shaft C the click X the Bk^a wheel D the arresting lever S a Limiting pin =

When the lever is not in the path of the break wheel pin the click is drawn to the face of the Milled Wheel by a spiral or flat spring thereby Locking the break wheel to the revolving shaft. now if the lever D is depressed the point comes on the click this immediatly is thrown out and the Limiting pin S stops the click from going out further and the wheel is stopped.

another form

Attachment to the Universal Stock by which with the aid of a Local it can be worked on one wire, or can be worked without a Local

The points X are adjusted so that when the Escpmt lever has reached nearly the whole length of its play the contact point just touch. now when the Escapement is rotated rapidly the printing lever does not respond— In Fig ι the Escpmt stops on an open ckt in Fig 2 on a closed circuit

Witness Samuel Edison^b

[Newark,] Jany 13 1872

I^a wish it understood here that I can easily combine my Pulsator and arresting devices now used in my universal machine, to any form of Printing Telegraph (ie) attach it or to any mechanism operated by step and step motion or escapemt, Ratchet Motor, or release escpmt & weight or other power or I can combine it in the form of a transmitter only² in many different ways dispensing with the type wheel Ptg lever & printing devices.

I mention here, that I can gear up directly from the engine,³ and on the last gear wheel shaft^b put a pin or arm or detent revolving in the path of keys, and connect this arm with a V shaped wheel working an arresting lever connected so as to arrest the break wheel on the main Shaft of the Engine, thisPage 400 wheel being carried around by friction, Thus making a Transmitter. The Universal as it is now operated Can by insulating the arrester & platinizing the point on the break wheel be made to Close a secondary circuit thus enabling to work instruments which use two wires. The geared transmitter I Show thus =

Witnessed Samuel Edison^c

[Newark,] Jany 13 1872.

It is of course obvious that my Universal Could be Operated aupon an open & closed circuit (ie) by opening The Circuit advance the type wheel one letter and by Closing advance another letter, but I prefer to use both opening & closed to move a letter it being in my Opinion More practical =²

The pins on the shaft of the Universal type wheel spring a little and might be made in this way

Page 401

Instead of

I claim a dead motion³ or the use of a dead motion in a Star or wedge acting escapement for the purpose of giving the printing lever time to get away from The type wheel before it starts & not blurring the letter. I believing myself the first one who discoved or used this method, other parties, (Phelps⁴ and Grey & Barton⁵) using devices for throwing their printing levers tw to the type wheel & then quickly back ⁶ they not knowing they are wholly unnecessary providing there is a slight dead motion in their Escapement which there generally is

I claim the use of paper in a Prin single wheel Machine ⅝ of an inch or more wide, when such paper is used with my paper driving devices, or in other words I have found that ½ or less paper cannot be driven or worked practically in a printing Telegraph which is operated by inexperienced persons

I do not wish to confine myself to any particular form of Electric Engine in my universal, nor even to an Electric Engine as the break wheel May be driven with gearing or any other device operated by any force Or the revolving wheel Can be dispensed with and a Vibrating lever used, operated by a local and this self Vibrator opening & closing the Main Cirrcuit and the arrester used same as that for arresting break wheel heretofore described and this arrester made to stop The Vibrating Lever or to open its circuit by a Contact point = Or the breaks may be furnished by a clock movement or any other devices, and the arrester made to act electrically (ie) open & close^a the Main circuit so that when arrested in a certan position it will open the Main circuit & prevent any more breaks from being sent over the wire & when released allow the breaks to be sent = In fact a point connected to the Escapement Lever of any printing Telegh Can be made to Control the devices which furnishes breaks by arresting it in certain points of its motion as well as to control the printing lever—

Witness Samuel Edison^b

[Newark,] Decjan 15 1872

I do not wish to confine myself to any particular method of arresting the break on my Universal. I can be done this way.

X and Η are vibrating points work so quick dont allow current in arresting magnet Long enough to close lever but when key depressed and shaft arrested Escapement lever closes points X & Η allows Current to circulate through Μ long enough to bring armature down and arrested the break wheel.

Page 403

LK is the shaft awith point arrested by keys C A a break wheel with block points made of insulating substance. B a spring. The pointer on the shaft is placed in such a position that when arrested the point B will be on one of the insulated parts of the wheel A. The insulated points always passing under the spring B when the main circuit is broken by the break wheel consequently the breaking of The main circuit by the wheel A & spring B does not effect the regular pulsations. Now the magnet G being in the main circuit every ha it vibrates its armature & arrester the same as the escapement The arresting Lever going in & out between the pin on the break wheel twice every revolution or as many times as there is breaks on the wheel but does not arrest it. but if now a Key is depressed the beak wheel A is arrested and the circuit is broken and the arrester is thrown or rather is not drawn down and the break wheel is arrested on a closed circuit but the circuit remains broken at B & A if the key is raised the escapement advances slight distance which the key prevented and the circuit is closed the arresterd lever is drawn down and the instrument goes on until arrested by another key being depressed The wheel A & spring B might be dispensed with and it under¹ patent break substituted by putting it on the escapement and so connecting it that when the escapmt lever is drawn to the magnet the circuit will be closed but when it goes back it will be broken² I Can use any devices to do this several of these devices were described in a former caveat relating to Vibrating devices which at the time I intended to use on my Universal instead of the Engine.

Witnessed Jos T Murrey

[Newark,] Jany 15 1872

The object of this invention is to communicate different signals automatically from a number of machines on one circuit and to record & indicate such signals at a central point The signalling machines being placed in private houses etc all a number on one circuit connected to a Central station, and are to be used for instantly summoning the police or a messenger.²

The invention consists in a several combinations of Mechanism to effect the object automatically. the Combinations that can be made to perform this operation are so various, &^a unlike, and that to protect myself I shall describe a large number of ways in which the result may be obtained

K is a shaft S is a gear wheel T a pinion wheel with a fan R on it This fan being used to regulate the speed of the shaft K L is a loose gear wheel carried around by the milled wheel M & click n by the rack .0. This rack deriving its power from the weight .P. This weight being thrown up by thePage 405 finger Q is the handle by which this weight is lifted This handle movement is limited by two Limiting pins It is obvious that thif the weight is raised to its full heighth that the shaft K will remain Stationary while it is being raised owing to the position of the click n and when it is allowed to descend it will commence to rotate the shaft K with a certain speed governed by the fan R.

On the End of this shaft K is a double break wheel A with a reversable contact point C secured to the hard rubber stud B The point being limited by the pins d & .e. One of these wheels is provided with characters which will open & close the circuit in a manner to indicate “Police” at Central station & also the number of the house the other wheel will indicate “Messenger” after the same manner. When it is desired to Call police the contact point is thrown over on one wheel and the weight raised, in descending it rotates the shaft K once thus giving the signal Η is a key connected on the main Line G is a test magnet when you are about to give a signal the key is depressed and the main circuit allowed to circulate through the magnet G which if it remains closed for a small length of time shows that no siother signal is being sent³ when the Key is raised the magnet cut out and the weight raised and in descending the Signal is rec transmitted

I do not wish to confine myself to a fan for regulating The speed of the shaft .K. or the descent of the weight As it can be done by air thus:—

B the weight A. a very tight air cylinder with a piston within it the piston connecting to the rack & weight when the weight is raised sufficient extra power is applied to force the air out through the small hole .X. but when descending the power of the weight can only force it out slowly and consequently it falls slowly

The weight might be dispensed with an a spring Substituted thus

Page 406

The rack break wheel and its parts might be dispensed with and the same thing accomplished in this Way Thus:—^b

A is a cylinder with a rod D having a head B in this cylinder. Ε is a knob or handle & serves both the purpose of raising the Rod D and as a weight to force the air out of the cylinder as the piston head descends G is a contact spring rubbing on either side of the Signal Bar .F. as the case may be. this when it is desired to give the signal upon the circuit the Rod D is raised to its full heighth and the spring G rubbing on teither side of the signal Bar or Contact peice F makes & breaks the circuit as the rod slowly descends as it will owing to the force necessary to express expel the air quick being greater than the effect of the weight of the rod & the knob .E.

The Contact may be made in this manner

Page 407The downward movement of the piston rod moving the Contact wheel a short distant around, four or five signal being made on one revolutions, and one full signal being upon the segiment of the Circle moved—

The air cylinder may be made to regulate the speed of a shaft which may derive its power from any source. The object mainly being to dispense with as many gear wheels as possible or with them entirely. The manner of regulating is thus:—

The air cylinder might be dispensed with and a spring attached, or a ball might be attached to the end of the Vibrating lever .C. The form of the teeth which gives motion to this lever can be made in a ratchet form or star, or waivng former. The ratchet wheel and Vibrating arm might be dispensed with by making it in a governor in This form

F is the shaft. G H are two is^a small pulleys a is a cord worked by the lever D. B is a spiral from which the power is derived This spring is provided with a cord where it goes on the pully H, it being on top and wound in opposite to that on .G.

C is a weight which is used to regulate the rotation of the shaft .F. When in its normal position the lever D is at the point W, but when a signal is to be given by the rotation of the breakPage 408 wheel the lever is pulled over by the hand fr to Y and this act stores u winds up the spring but does no turn the shaft on account of a click which prevents it going backwards. The act of moving this lever by the hand stores up the power in the weight and when othe lever is Let free by the hands the shaft commences to turn slowly according to the distance of the weight

There is still another mode of governing the rotation of this shaft, without gears Thus

A is a drum upon which is a handle B this is secured to the shaft X Q is a small pulley on which the cord of the power spg G is secured N are the two break wheels carried around by friction on the shaf X by a spring washer & cloth at .E. C is a governing fan connected with the drum A by a cord

By turning the handle B from Z to .0. The spring is wound up and when the handle is free to m the shaft commences to turn but cannot go fast as the fan an large size of the wheel A prevents it

A single gear and flat spring might be used in the following Manner

Page 409This is another form in which a governor which can is not very necessary, or slight—

X is a screw C a traveller N the break peice when the drum in wound up the shaft or screw revolves very quickly and the traveller goes over to the eother end making the breaks on N when it gets over, it throws a little wire up anwhich throws it out of the thread and is drawn back home on this wire by a spiral spring—

Page 410a is a rod of insulating Material with the characters sunk in on each side B & C are the contact springs d is a spring which rubs on the side of Ε and through which the circuit is conducted from Ε to the square Χ. K is a handle pivoted on X and has two Limiting and has a Limiting pin to prevent it from falling = G is a pinion having a fan H secured to a slide F, and is thrown out of the rack Ε when the handle K is lifted in the act of raising X to the top of A from the bottom and is thrown back in the rack by the spring J when the handle is released then the block X gradually drops to the bottom with a speed governed by the size of the fans H H′ The contact spring B or C making a signal by coming in Contact with the side of a The side which shall act being governed by the electric switch L M N N being the button connected to aX and through with the Line and CL to one side of a & M to the other

Manner of working the Double break

Isometrical View

Page 411About Signaling Machine

Witnessed Samuel Edison^c

[Newark,] Jany 16 1872.

I claim two pens for receiving chemically which shall be connected together electrically, one pen I put about the one hundredth of an inch ahead of the other in the same line. The object of this is to reduce the resistence of the paper and make a double decomposition, as the resistence of the paper is reduced one half by having two points it follows that very near as much current will pass through each of the two^a points as one as twice as much current will be taken from the battery. now one pen passing over the paper will leave a mark of a certain intensity and another pen passing over the same mark will increase its intensity.

It is not necessary to have them one before the other for they may be placed side by side very close so that one pen shall make a very fine^b mark and the other will double its size so as to make it legiable.

Page 412Another Idea. In a iron solution (ie) prussiate of potash ¹ or other solution with which an iron pen is used to decompose and in which there is considerable acid, and excess of acid may be used so that when no current is passing the acid will attack the pen and produce a mark but when the current is passed through the pen & paper it will prevent the acid from attacking it or prevent the mark whatever it may be caused by. by this means the resistence of the paper may be materially reduced on account of the possibility of using an excess of acid =

To produce this effect it would be necessary to arrange the Transmitting & Receiving Machines in this Manner

I will now illustrate and describe several methods of arranging the electrical Connections and batterys for sending and Receiving=

In this Case The Local is used to decompose The Chemical paper and the Main battery X to neturalize its effect, by means of the perforated paper— R is the resistence Coil for adjusting The Local so that the battery X will exactly neutralize it

Page 413

In this Case the Current or rather circuit is not broken but the battery is cut in & out by The perforated paper & pen

This Can be used with a local

or with an induction coil the circuit not decomposing direct but acting in the sec primary coil induces sufficnt current in the secondary to decompose

or the induction coil may be used thus

straight =

Page 414

2 Resistence boxes adjusted so as to split the Current.

Local which decomposes and main Line battery which also decomposed R coil in Local circuit to prevent the Local from making too plain a mark The use of this Local is to electrolize the atom of chemical solution to a point where a slight increase would decompose it which is done by the Main

Poles opposite. Main Line decomposing Local neutralizing. Exceess of main over Local produces mark when it ceases Local cuts the mark short

fine wheel teeth wheel pen for receiving on chemical paper.

Page 415

Wheel recording device on chemical paper, with a brush to keep it clean

Witnessed Jos T Murrey^c

[Newark, January 16, 1872?]²

Here is quite a novel and simple parrangement for performing The arrangemen operation³

X is a cylinder B a plunger with a rack G on it working in small gear wheel K on main shaft I which has break wheels H same as described before.⁴ Q.is a spiral to pull the rack back when at rest the signals where be provided with devices for carrying only one way L is an arm to which the cylinder X is fastened this arm swings on the Main shaft M is a small cylinder in which the mercury runs when the cylinder is tipped up as shown. Now if we wish to rotate the signal” wheels & shaft we take hold of the handle Ε and let the two cylinders drop by gravity so they stand upright. the moment they do so the mercury from the small cylinder runs into Page 416 slowly into The Large cylinder, (the rapidity with which it runs being governed by a Taper screw .V.) and acting on the head of the rack plunger slowly raises it and rotates the shaft and break wheels one revolution Now by returning the cylinder to the position shown in the Drawing the mercury runs by ready for the next signal

I obtain another slow motion of the shaft carrying the break wheels by putting a fan on it and running this fan in a tube filled with Metallic Mercury.

X is the tube filled with Mercury

I shall now describe the means of indicating the signals sent and recording the same in the Central office

As all of the breaks wheels must necessarily stop on a closed circuit [-]to bring out the signals properly upon an ordinary Morse register a slight alteration is necessary.

The break wheel to give the signal 1 2 5 is made in this manner one break for 1 two breaks for 2 and five breaks for 5 and then the wheel stops on a closed circuit NThe signal to be plain should come from the Register in this form

This is done after the following manner

Page 417

The magnet X of the register has a double set of helices, through one of^b which la Local passes constantly and through the other the main Now when both are closed they neutralize each other, and no mark is made on the paper, but when the break wheel of any machine is started every time an opening ocurrs the main Line current ceases in one of the bobbins for an instant and the Local acting brings the Lever up and indents a dot. when two breaks follow quickly 2 dots & so on

The dots may be recorded in this manner by polarizing the magnet in such a manner that when the main line current circulats through it, it neutralizes the effect of the polarization for the time being but when interrupted for an instant the polarization of the magnet is sufficient to indent a mark upon the paper

I do not wish to confine myself to an particular Machine for recording in this manner As an Ink recording Machine could be used or Chemical paper etc.

It can also be printed out. I do this in following Manner.⁵

[New York,]² January 17, 1872^a

I, Thomas A. Edison of Newark, N.J. do hereby declare^b the following to be a full description of Impts. in District and Alarm Telegraphs as far as perfected.^c

The object of this invention is to communicate different signals, automatically, from a number of machines placed inPage 418 one circuit and to record the same at a central point, or station. the machines are to be placed in private houses, and are to be used for summoning the police, messenger, though applicable for other purposes.

The invention consists, in a peculiar combination of mechanical devices for transmitting the signal automatically, and a Recording machine for recording these signals at the central station.

The mechanical combinations which would perform this operation are so various that to protect Myself, and to further an enterprise now being carried on, with benefit to the public, I shall describe in this caveat, as many such combinations, which I believe to be my invention.

In Fig. A.^e G is the main shaft; S is the double signaling wheel or “break” having a click upon its side (.v.) Q is a ratchet wheel, secured to the shaft G, into which the carrying pawl v lays. this allows the shaft G to carry the break wheel forward but not backward. a second ratchet wheel secured to the break wheel is between Q and .S. into which the pawl R liesays, the use of which is to prevent the break wheel S from going backwards when the spring M is being wound up.

F is the contact spring pivoted on the platen B, one end resting on the break wheel S and the other end having a handle, whose object is to throw the contact spring from one side of the signaling wheel to the other, so that different signals may be made

P is a small pulley over which the cord O runs, M is the spring, which may be either spiral or flat or in fact any shape, and is used to store up the power derived from the hand in the act of moving the handle K from the dotted Lines to the upright position

Page 419T is the weight secured to an arm from K by the screw H, and is adjustable so as to allow of an increase or decrease in the speed with which the shaft G is driven.

Operation.

When a signal is to be given, the contact point F.E is thrown over to either one side or the other, according to the signal to be used. Then the handle K is moved by the hand from the dotted lines to its normal position. in thus moving it, sufficient power is stored up in the spring M to give the shaft G and break wheel one revolution which is sufficient to send the signal. It will be seen that the spring M must raise the weight T and arm and restore them to the places shown by the dotted Line and this makes the revolution of the shaft G quite slow =

The ratchet wheel on the break wheel and on the shaft might be dispensed with and the signal or break wheels secured to the shaft, and a pin put in the shaft, which would be arrested by another pin fastened to a lever, as in figure .2.

and when in the act of winding up the spring M, the cord would slip over the pulley .p. and not rotate the shaft, or the pulley itself maight be provided with a ratchet and pawl, which would carry the shaft forward but not backward

I do not wish to confine myself to any particular mode of governing the speed of the main shaft as I shall explain several ways in which that object can be obtained attained.

The mechanism in This machine Fig. B^f is similar to that described in f Figure A,^g with the exception of the governor, which consists of an air cylinder A within which is a plungerPage 420 B secured to the lever c by the rod D and set screw. The rod c is provided with two prongs placed in the path of the V shaped tooth wheel M secured to the main shaft. when the power is applied to rotate the main shaft lan up and down motion is communicated to the lever c and piston or plunger .B., and as this plunger head has considerable area it retard the revolution of the main shaft. The plunger if moved slowly expels the air quite easy and takes but little power to move it wbut when the attempt is made to work it up and down rapidly, the power required is greatly increased

The air principle might be applied directly Thus:— Fig. C.^d

D is the air cylinder, c the head B the plunger rod A the handle and weight F a fine tooth ratchet or milled wheel H an arm moving loose on the shaft .W. and connected to B by the a^b pin & slot G is a pawl laying on the ratchet wheel H is the break wheel, divided in four segiments each one containing the scomplete Signal. Now when the plunger Be is raised by the hand and the shaft W released by the arm U The weight A acting by gravity forces the plunger down slowly and the break wheel is rotated a quarater of its circumference which is sufficient to give the required signal.

I do not wish to confine myself to a weight as a spring, magnet or other power may be applied to force the piston down or up as the case may be.

Neither do I wish to confine myself to that form of break as it can Be made thus Fig. D.^d

A and B being cogged wheels and raising and lowering the rods c D and making and breaking the current on the points E.F. the signal being selected by the electrical switch G and points H and K and the wires.

Another form of break may be used. In Fig. E^e The wheel A Behaving an irregular groove corresponding to the signal to be sent and within this grove is a pin connected to an upright lever B C is a connecting point. when the wheel A is revolved a peculiar motion is given to the upright B, which closes and opens the circuit at the point C as many times as the groove in A is thrown out of Line.

Fig. F.^d is another form of break A is a pillar of insulating substance with the signaling character sunk in this substancePage 422 and all connected together with the Line. C is the contact Lever with springy point H. This lever is pivoted at .G. E is a cam wheel revolving with the shaft .F. D is a pin rubbing on the periphiery of .E. at every revolution of the wheel E and shaf F the rod c is carried down by the wheel and up by the spring B, the whole length of the pillar A in going up the spring H rubbing on the contact points of the pillar A transmitts the signal but in coming down is prevented from opening the circuit by the wheel n and spring m which closes the circuit when coming down but allows it to break going up by a peice of insulating substance forming part of the wheel.

The pillar might have two sets of teeth set in the same line but one set connect with a strip of metal, and the other the same way, and a switch could be used to select or determine which signal is to be used

A disk might be used which would swing on a pivot and a handle used to select the signal to be transmitted as in Fig. G.^g

There are several modes or devices by which the signals can be se[-]lected, one of which is to shift the break wheels, so as to bring one wheel or the other under the same point.

A Another way is to have both wheels loose on the main shaft and throw a clutch from the shaft to the wheel when a signal is to be sent and arresting it at zero and throwing the clutch in an the other wheel and so on.

Or One single wheel can be used, two disks interlocking each other band seperated by a disk of hard rubber. and one spring used, either disked could be switched in or out by a switch, or changer

The machine might have a paper carrying drum, instead of the break wheel, and perf the signal or in fact a great many signals previously prepared might be selected and run through the machine.

Page 423Or if only two signals were to be used the two strips of perforated paper could be pasted on a smooth wheel and the breaks made through the paiper..

I will now describe another novel device for obtaining the slow motion necessary without the use of a number of gear wheels.

In Fig H.^c X is a cylinder in which is a plunger D with rod B on the end of which is a rack working in the gear wheel G on the main shaft H. K are the double break wheels LM the contact spring The cylinder X swings on the main shaft H by the lever .N. A is a handle used for raising the two cylinders to the peg P. E is a resevoir of metallic mercury connected by a spout .F which also holds the two cylinders together. The resevoir is nearly filled with mercury and is higher up than the other cylinder. Now When the two cylinders are in athe^b position shown the mercury runs through the pipe F into the resevoir .E and entirely out of X and the spiral spring R draws the plunger D down nearly to the mouth of the spout .F. If now it is desired to give a signal the handle A is lifted off of the peg P and the two cylinders allowed to drop by gravity. the moment this takes place The mercury runs out through F into X under the chead D and the rack is raised slowly, and giving the main shaft H one revolution, its slowness being regulated by the size of the hole through the tube F. When the signal has been given the handle A is brought back to P by the hand and the mercury runs back into the resevoir, ready for another signal. I do not wish to confine myself to any particular devices for getting this slow motion from mercury, for this purpose, but claim the use of mercury falling by gravity from one resevoir Page 424 to another and acting on a head to give motion the flow of the mercury being regulated either by a cock in the tubes or by a greatly increased area of the piston head operated upon

Another plan to get a slow motion or rather a device for governing the speed of the main shaft is to connect several paddles or leaves of metal to the main shaft and Work them quite deeply in a small cylinder of mercury Thus. Fig. I.^d

A is a sealed glass tube containing the main shaft and fan .B. and filled nearly full with mercury. When the handle X is pulled down, and the spring wound up, the main shaft will revolve very slowly by reason of the immense resistence of the mercury—

I will mention here that in some cases it will be impracticable to open and close the main circuit to transmit a signal to the central office but the signal can be sent at the same time preserve the continuity of the line intact Thus. Fig. J.^d

Page 425

The first figure J^h shows the continuity perfect The Second figures K^h shows the continuity perfect but the current sufficiently weakened by passing through the Resistence Bobbin to produce an effect at the Central Station. consequently when the wheel A′ is rotated the strength of the current will be SIncreased & decreased as the teeth of the wheel A′ passes under the contact spring B′

I shall now describe the devices by which I intend to record the signals The first device is a common mMorse register, as the break wheels must always stop on a closed circuit the characters would be difficult to read if received in the ordinary manner Now to signal 125. the break wheel is constructed thus Fig. L^d

One opening for 1 two openings for two and five openings for 5. This would be received upon the register thus fig M.^d

Now this is quite perplexing to read and very liable to error.

Page 426When the following device is used the signal shows on the strip thus fig. N.^d

The magnet X of the register Fig. O.^f has a double core helix or bobbins, the Local C passing through A and the main Line through B. Now when both are closed they neutralize each other and no mark is made, but when a break occurrs in the wheel, the equilibrium is destroyed and the Local battery acting on the magnet draws the lever up and indents the paper, and when two breaks occur close to-gether two short dots are made and so on I do not confine myself to using a local, as the extra bobbin and local may be dispensed with and a permanent magnet substituted (ie) the magnet AX polarized in such a manner that when the main circuit is closed they will neutralize each other, and no effect be produced but when a break occurs in the main line, the permanent magnetism will be sufficient to indent the paper.

An ink recorder may be used in this manner or AChemical paper. I do not wish to confine myself to any particular method of marking, but claim the manner of recording the “breaks” instead of the closure as is usual.

A relay may be used with a local thus fig. P^d

The back point of the relay closing the local through the register.

Signed by me this 17th day of Jan. ad 1872ⁱ

[Newark,] Jany 17, 1872.

Escapement

Two Loose Type wheels clutches a B c d connected together by artwo arms running in slots planed in the shaft Type wheels are provided with two holes into either the clutch Can be thrown by the shifting devices H is an arm with a V cut in it underneath on the Ptg lever is an arm K which goes in this V in H² The same is on the other wheel F F′ is a retarding spring G etc is a pin from type wheel to hold it in position when it is unlocked or not carried around The Operation is simple. If one wheel is locked by shifting the other wheel will stand one letter from zero but the arm K on the printing lever thro acting in H cams the type wheel one notch to zero in the act of unlocking and the type wheel which is thus unlocked and cammed forward is prevent from wiggling ahead by the spring F & pin G, but when this wheel is again locked, the force of the Magnet is plenty to overcome the spring F and the type wheel is rotated.

Witnessed = Jos T Murrey^a

[Newark,] Jany i8 1872

A Chemical printing Telegraph.

This is a novel affair.

X is a bunch of flat platina wirers secured to insulating substance and Each wire insulated from its neighbor—and the Ends brought down on the platina faced drum B very close so close that but a thickness of a peice of tissue paper seperates any of them they make a solid mass about ⅛ of an inch square =

The chemically prepared paper passes between this brush square X and the drum RB. This drum is fed ahead after evey letter is made by the keys coming in connection with the rod H This throwing the battery D through the magnet M as will be seen by the wires.

Now beneath the bank of keys are twenty five rods or as many rods as there are platina points in the pen square .X. Each one of these bars being connected to a platina pen forming the brush The bottom part of the lever or keys having tits or teeth on and these teeth are so arranged that they will connect the battery D through a given number of rods necessary to form a letter to the points oin X and the current will pass down these selected points Through the chemically prepared paper to the drum thence to the battery D leaving a blue or other colored mark at each Point For instance the letter H would be thus .

Page 430The first row of points would all mark & leave (a) The second one dot of c the 3rd another dot of c the 4th another do & the fifth row all the marks

The End view of the square is thus

ain practice it is possible to place them much closer than this it will be easily seen that certain points Can be selected to given an letter figure & sign in any language Now by raising the key the battery is thrown off of the decompossing points and through Thrown through the magnet M which advances the Drum B ahead ready for the next letter.

I do not wish to confine myself to printing on a strip of paper, as the Brush X might be made to travel over a stwide strip of paper side ways & then back and at evey step decompose a letter or 40 more or less brushes migh be used and a commutator made to throw the electrical connection from one brush to another clear across the paper and after a line had been printed the paper could be advanced and the commutator made to throw the current back to the first brush & thence step by step to each brush until another line had been printed I could dispense with the magnet dto draw the paper and substitute any power manipulated with sutiable mechanism and controlled by the key or keys. The bars might be dispensed with and wires substituted or any arrangement by which any given key could select the required number of recording points to make its letter

I could dispense with the chemicals and record with ink in this way

n is a stop to pevent d too deep an impression X the ink band

A are the rods 25 more or less in number arranged like levers underneath the keys these eLevers have on their ends the in Printing wires are arranged together in a bunch making a salmost solid square each fine wire being connected to a lever and working seperately from all the rest

Page 431The End of all the wires attached^a to the levers would appear this way

The word ship being printed thus,

But somewhat closer and legiable. the keys over these levers could have teeth arranged to sellect the levers or the levers could be provided with teeth which I think the most convenient.

The paper would be fed by a movement derived from the Movement of the key or controlled by such movement The way I ink the Ends of in this machine I used an Ink band passing beneath between the marking points and the drum or rather paper which passes over the drum This Ink band is fed along by a movement derived from the key or may be driven fby magnetism etc.

This principle of forming letters and printing them on strips of paper or other substances by the depression of keys I believe to be original with myself

I have shown the principle features here the small devices are of no consequence being but ordinary movements well understood and easily Combined.

The endOrdinary perforating machine of my invention now in use could be provided with 25 Bars similiar to what is called punch bar but much thinner and ta cushion in placed of the punches & die used and the ends of these levers being provided with the printing points closely gathered and tits put one the Bars so that the depression of the key would carry forward the required number of pins bars to form that letter correspdg to the key ¹

[Witness:] Jos T Murrey^b          T A Edison     Inventor Edison

[Newark,] Jany 18 1872

A Printing Machine in which the Engine carries around the type wheel, and the escapement lever on releases

Page 432

A is the Engine set up on pillars C etc R is the shaft driven by the Engine Q is the governor. D¹ is the break wheel arrested in the manner before described by a connecting link fr F from the escapement lever G² This break wheel is arranged just the same as heretofore described³ D is the type wheel N the friction⁴ which carries this type wheel arrond [-]when the Engine shaft R is moving This type wheel is provided with a long sleeve W which passes on the shaft R down through the Base nearly to where R is pivoted it being prevented from going farther pby the pin V or any devices. (The friction might be placed here) now this sleeve has on the release toothed wheel M the vibration of the escapement G releasing the type wheel after the manner of a clock escapement.

This sleeve is provided with an arm K which passes over the path of keys and may be arrested by the depression of any key Now when a key is depressed the Vibrating lever G is held in such a posstion that the arrester F is thrown into the path of the pin on the break wheel and arrests it and the machine at the other end is arrested by the stoppage of the break wheel and the consequent stoppage of its vibrating lever and release of type wheel

The break wheel might be Connected directly on the type wheel in this Case and the lever F dispensed with, this simplyfying it, but it would have to have 30 breaks or as many as theyr are lchatrs in type W

Page 433The Escapement might be dispensed with also and a simple magnet with vibrating arm which Vibrates in the path of the pin on the break wheel. When the key was depressed on the transmitting instrument it would arrest the break wheel and type wheel on an Open circuit, consequently the vibrating arm at the distant station would be arrested and arrested the break wheel & type wheel of that Machine and when the key was raised the sending machine type w & Bk w^a would immedy start off and the breaks be sent over the wire & the Magnet & its arrestedr commence to vibrate. This arrestedr is not only used to arrest the break wheel but to prevent the re’cg^b type wheel from going faster than the sending⁵

Witnessed Jos T Murrey^c

[Newark,] Jany 20 1872^a

For Printing fractions, the type wheel be made thus

The strip would read

Or the type wheel could be arranged thus

The 8.4.2 being cut in the type wheel where the spaces should be ¹ and to print them stop on a closed circuit = ²

Page 434or it Could be made thus³

and the strip read thus

[Newark,] Jany 27 1872

Printing Machine.^a

Page 435Printing Machine.

The object of this invention is to print rapidly oin roman Letters upon a a continuous strip of paper.²

B is the type wheel P is the shaft running between centers, & Through the bed of the Engine. C is a the engine revolving Armature, χ y the engine break sp[rin]gs E the battery This armature C revolves with tremenduous rapidity and Carries the shaft P and type wheel B with it by friction, and when the shaft is arrested by the depression of the key A & arm L and the pin K the armature keeps right on revolving and when the key A is raised the shaft is free and the friction of C & C grabs the shaft P & Carries it forward

A represents the key of which there are 30 more or less. These keys are arranged around in a circle and have a Connection ring of which H. is a part and shows the operation This ring is connected with one end of the battery to the printing Magnet M & thence to keys So that when any key is depressed the bottom comes in Contact with the ring represented by H and the printing magnet and the Printing is effected. TOwing to the eImmense rapidity of the revolution of the type wheel it is sure to be arrested before the key closes on the ring and the Magnet charges.

I do not wish to confine myself to this particular form as it may be necessary to adapt some devices to ensure the arrest of the type wheel before the printing magnet is closed this may be done by putting on a break wheel aon the type wheel shaft and arresting it on a closed circuit, or the Circuit may be closed on the key A at L and the pin .K.

What I claim is rotating a type wheel and Shaft by Magnetism, and Catching it by the dKeys and Printing by Magnetism or by any other forces; and allowing the engine to go on after the type wheel has been arrested.

J is a ratchet wheel pawl which works in a ratchet wheel secured to the Shaft .P. The use of which is to prevent a rebound when the pin K is arrrested by the key arm L of thePage 436 key, the ratchet pawl^b after the pin strikes L falls in a tooth and holds it there while the letter is being printed.

I do not wish to confine myself to this mode of rec stopping the rebound, as the rebound may be taken up by a roughened wheel in place of the ratchet wheel on shaft .P. and a pawl with a roughened surface connected to the printing lever which when the lever comes forward to print the pawl would give a forward motion to the type wheel shaft P and bring it to the stop L and take up the rebound thus

[Witness:] Jos T Murrey^c

[Newark,] Jany 29 1872

I have this Printer arranged in this form now

H the shaft. P & G the device previously described to prevent the rebound BC a sleeve on which is secured the typePage 438 wheel B, star correcting wheel a held up by the collar .X. E a detent for correcting position of type wheel. The sleeves & its devices is connected and Carried around by the shaft .H by a slot in the sleeve & a pin in the shaft shown at .D. this slot is larger than the pin and allows some dead motion so that when the shaft is suddenly arrested by a key and it should rebound so that the pawl G did not happen to fall in the right tooth the type wheel being a little loose the detent eE would bring it right when the printing lever came forward

The speed on this printer might be increased by Cutting a double Alphabet on this wheel without increasing its size and double the speed could be obtained in printing without increasing the speed of the rotation of the shaft H but the letters would have to be a little smaller.

I may find it necessary to attach the interupting break wheel to the main shaft to interrupt the printing lever current so that it cannot come forward until the type wheel has stopped. I used this on my Printing Machine the patent of which has already be applied for =²

[Newark,] January 30, 1872.

I will now describe another printer worked chemically

Page 439

A description of this apparatus is not very necessary there are 30 keys Each key is provided with a comb and under of five contact points underneath the keys is a long peice of hard rubber and metal letters of the Alphabet sunk in it flush with the top. Each there is a recording combs also of five wires rests on chemically prepared paper rotated by a drum which is driven forward by the depression of the key Now the first wire in every key come are all connected together the second wire of every comb is also connected and so on now the first wires of all the combs being connected together they are then connected to the first wire of the recording comb the second to the second Now all the metal letters are connected together and attached to a battery and the drum is attached to the other end So that by depressing a key its comb passes over the metal letter and advanc makes contact sending necessary pulsations to the recording comb to produce that particular letter after the manner of the Bonneli Type Chemical Telegraph =¹

While the letter is being made the paper advances by the action of the key The letters might be placed on the key and the combs be made stationary =

Page 440The recording pen might be made to travel back and forward over a sheet of Manuscript paper and Make a MSS Copy Thus

BA is the main roll B Travelling pen the rest is easily understood =^a The usual devices can be used similar to that used on my Mechanical printing Machine.

This is a new movement on my perforator for throwing the punch bars forward

A goes forward by depressing the key until the round end of the cross bar goes over the top then the punch bar is thrown back by the action of its springs carrying the cross bar with it Now when the belbow A. comes back it throws the cross bar upward by reason of the incline on the elbow & passes under it there being enough dead motion in the brass bar to allow of this

The Cross bars have heretofore pBeen pivoted or had their fulcrum of a shoulder screw the thirty being secured on one long bar Now I propose to dispense with drilling & taping 30 holes and using thirty screws by casting slitght tits orPage 441 bosses on this bar & milling them up and putting the cross bars on them & preventing them from coming off by fastening a plate over the whole of them thus

A the brass peice D the boss or tit C the long bar the tit & it being Cast in one peice B is the plate which prevents these Cross peices from slipping off of the bosses

I propose to try the experiment of dispensing with a spring to each key in my perforator of which there are Thirty = by using a friction plate and have small pins on the keys and when the key rises suddenly it comes up sideways against this plate and puts a slight friction on it sufficient to hold it there until agains depressed

Now all the keys being held up this way I put a rod extending underneath the whole of these keys and connnect a couple of springs to it and when a key is depressed it carries this bar with it and when let rise the spring on the bar throws it up and the key with it.

On paper feed for the perforating Machine I propose to alter it by putting in a Swivel on the paper feed dog. Thus

B the stage N the swing lever connected to the rock shaft this Lever performs an arc of a circle n is a swil swivel into which the click [C] is pivoted X is a guide pin to keep the click straight

Device to get a constant spring motion of the rock shaft of my perforator. Thus

Page 442

A is the rock shaft B a spring C a cam or eccentric shaped wheel n is a pin to which is secured the cord connected to the spring B.

Now when the shaft is rocked the spring gets col closer to the fulcrum by reason of the eccentric wheel I go to bed!

[Witness:] Jos T Murrey^b

[Newark,] Jany 30 1872

On page 27 I describe a printing machine by which the type wheel returns to zero eveytime a letter is printed.¹ I will now describe aseveral way in which it can be done.

Page 443B a magnet^a a a cord^a d ungers² break^a When the type wheel has been rotated to proper position the printing lever come up effects the printing closes the circuit in the relay and the Relay lever goes forward tightens^b up the Cords and pulls the wheel & shaft back to zero Again!

a a rack^a B printing lever^a c escapmt lever^a d type wheel when printing lever goes up rack goes into teeth cut in shaft and throws it back to zero which is a limiting pin^a

G^b the printing lever^a b the type wheel^a a the shaft with teeth cut in it^a C an intermittent rack pulled downward by a weight and released by the printing lever moving the pallets D by aid of bar F and link E^a Thisese pallet release pins on side of .C. the action of this mechanism is easily seen.

Witnessed Jos T Murrey^c

[Newark,] Jany 30 18272

Device^a or attachment which I use on my universal machine for printing Correctly when the type wheel is stopped by a key a Little out of Line.

In my universal printing Machine, when sending the type wheel shaft is arrested by a key on the open circuit and a Little before the escapement lever throws the type wheel to its proper position for printing. I do this to obtain a slight movement of the lever B after a key is raised so as to release the break wheel C by the arm .D, but in doing so the type wheel providing no devices for prevention were used would be stopped half way between a letter and when the printing lever came up would print ½ of one letter & ½ of the other Besides and objection would arise which is that it would be necessary to move the type wheel forward a half a letter before the circuit of the printing lever would be opened Now this it couldnt do Consequently the whole machine would stay Locked of course the printing lever might be thrown forward and the momentum print the letter & fly back out of the road,¹ or a device could be used so that when the type wheel was arrested the printing circuit would close for an instant print the letter & cut itself out until the next letter.² I have used it o such an arrangement on a previous model of the Universal but consider them all objectionablePage 445 Now in this devices now being described the key arrests the shaft A ½ way home consequently the type wheel is not in a correct position to print. now to make it print correct I use a corrector G on a sleeve F on which is type wheel F³ and guide pin K and holder L the slot in the holder has dead motion enough to allow the type wheel & its sleeve a loss motion or play of more than a half a letter. H is the corrector detent, wedge acting & connected rigid to the printing lever. If now a key is depressed the shaft A is arrested ½ way home and the printing lever coloses the detent H acting in the wheel G the takes up all the dead motion of the type wheel on the shaft and throws it forward to the right position for printing. Now the shaft after the key is raised can go forward & open the circuit of the printing lever without moving the type wheel this allows the printing to fall back just in time to let the type wheel go forward In receiving nothing is arrested consequently the type wheel comes right every time or if not the corrector will correct

The correcting wheel and detent should be made thus

This shaped tooth allowing the detent to correct the wheel and then go ahead a little farther to allow the printing lever to print without moving the wheel.

I do not wish to confine myself to any particular devices for correcting the wheel but claim a dead motion of the type wheel upon the shaft so that a forward movement or backward movement can be given that type wheel by the action of the printing lever

Lock devices⁴

A is a disk. B the type wheel c d the shifting pins When you lock rotate shaft so as to bring the Shift fork under d close printing lever this throws the disk over on printing lever and prevents it from coming up to unlock advance to c & close ptg lever^b

[Witness:] Jos T Murrey^c

Page 446I mention here that on my universal the click on the printing lever which corrects the type wheel should be a little springy at least something should give. I have so fixed it already =

[Newark,] Jany 2 31 1872

New Device on Universal

I use the correcting device,² and closing the Local Ptg^a circuit both on the vibrating spring and on The arrester, But combine another point of closure for the Printing circuit when Transmitting Underneath all the keys is a plate This plate is insulated and so connected to the switch which I use that when Transmitting The Local of the printing circuit cannot be closed until the arrester comes in contact with the pin on the break wheel and a key is depressed & in connection with the Insulated plate before mentioned Now when the key is raised the circuit of the printing lever is broken before the arrester arm is allowed to release the wheel [-]so the printing lever gets away from the type wheel before it starts which is necessary as the Printing lever pressing against the Type wheel puts a large amount of friction in it which on the shaft and the power of the spring is not sufficient to pull the escapement lever home and rotate the type wheel without it is very strong consequently it sometimes sticks and the break wheel is not released by breaking and closing the Local Printing circuit in two places it allows the ptg lever to fly back before the type wheel starts Consequently there is no friction on the shaft when this takes place

There is one disadvantage to this and that is the great number of points of contact

I have dispensed with this and use it Mechanically thus

Page 447

G is the shaft which is rotated by the escapement C is the collar or sleeve on which is the type wheel a & corrector wheel b Now this sleeves is larger than the shaft and consequently will move sidewise slightly D is the printing [---]lever— E is a rigid arm having a round forked end around the sleeve and is just long enough to throw the whole sleeve dead motion or shake in the sleeve towards the printing lever.

Now when the printing lever is closed the whole pressure comes on the arm E and not on the shaft G consequently when the escapmt acts on the shaft G to rotate it there is no friction or pressure of the from the Ptg lever.

[Witness:] Jos T Murrey^b

[Newark,] Feby 1 1872

Relay

A is a permanent magnet acts on peice iron oH on armature E F is Line magnet K its armature Lever E pivoted at G plays between two points C.D. B is handle for adjusting permanent magnet closer to its armature.

The object of this invention is to dispense with a spring weight gravity etc and adjust with a peice of magnetic steel.¹

I get around the page patent² in this ways not opening the circuit³

Page 448

When the lever flies back the circuit is only lengthened (ie) its resistence increased

Another way

X is a tube the points being in water when the points are seperated the circut only passes through the water but is not broken =

I claim increasing & decreasing the resistence of a local^a circuit by the action of the relay of another circuit, or mechanically increasing & decreasing athe resistence of any circuit by resistence thrown in & out by a break or contact points to produce effects at a distance on that or other circuits ⁴

[Witness:] Jos T Murrey^b

[Newark,] Feby 1 1872

Hollow^a Cutting Punch Manner of getting rid of the chips thus

B is the punch^b X a raw hide platen on which the cutting punch B cuts^b a is a small hole through which a wire (small) runs^b sathis wire being stationary. When the punch moves down and cut a peice th from the paper this sticks in the punch which in coming up the wire punches or shoves it out. =

I have another device by which the punch or cutter when it comes on the paper presses hard and turns around^b thus cutting it out after the manner of a knife =

Mrs Mary Edison My wife Dearly Beloved Cannot invent worth a Damn!!

[Newark,] Feby 2 1872

Perforating Apparatus

This invention consists of a set of cutting wires or punches which press on the paper and turn around at the same time by the action of the Levers worked by the keys and a steady pressure kept up by a spring on the key bar thus

Page 450

D the key C the punch lever or key bar A the cutting punch which has a spiral groove cut in it like a twist drill into which groove a tit from the key bar C runs X is a spring When the key is depressed the key bar C is depressed the spring X hitting the top of the punch A brings A down on the platen of raw hide Q& on the paper and the downward motion of the bar C and the tit rotates the cutting punch A and cuts a round hole in the paper after the manner of a knife or rotary shear

I have only shown one punch lever and punch I use nine The spiral grove in the punch A might end near the top and a spring attached to the punch A to pull it down on the paper when the lever C is depressed but the tit on this bar would lift the punch up off of the paper when at its normal positio as the spring on the bar C would be much stronger than that on A.

Page 451Printing Machine X crown wch wheell with cam slots depress a key throws type wheel around in right place and lever hits ptg lvr prints.

Described to [--]Unger

[Newark,] Feby 6th 1872

another device

a the corrector b type wheel F carrier. C sleeve D long center screw ² on which sleeve & type w turn E pin keep sleeve in centr screw H shaft G escapement In this Case shaft H don’t carry aroun The type wheel is not on the shaft H but on its upper center screw it being carried around by a dog or carrier F secured to the shaft H provided with a slot and into which is a pin from the type wheel sleeve C—having sufficient dead motion to st allow of the type wheel being corrected. the worm or unison may be on the shaft or on the sleeve In Transmitting it is necessary to throw the unison out. This I can do by bringing the printing lever up a little toward the type wheel or by throwing the unison arm out directly— The Engine could be stopped always in a given postion by the action of the switch so as to ensure that it will start off when the current is put on which it dont always do now.

[Newark,] February 6th 1872.

I will mention here that it may not be necessary to arrest the break wheel at all in this printing telegraph The circuit might be opened by an action derived from the pin on the type wheel shaft and the keys a circuit opener being on these prongs or otherwise. So that when the keyprong come in Contact with a key it would opene the main circuit just at that moment and when the key was raised closed it the break wheel going constantly would at all times furnish breaks but can they would be nullified by opening the circuit =

Unison²,

one revolution of Escapement Shaft or rather of type wheel shaft X bring pin c in tooth of rack n lifts it one tooth next revolution on[e] more tooth & so on until the arm H throws arm K in path of L when shaft is arrested when printing lever comes up the arm G throws Rack & bar n down again & so on

Two type wheels, fraction & letter wheel letter wheel sets so that the letter will be opposite space on fraction wheel so that when it is printing from fraction wheel will not print its space coming over pad by rotating type whls round rightPage 453 position & closing ptg lver the T peice shifts the pin in the slot X and cams the fraction wheel ahead & right to print & same time throwing letter wheel behind so its space will come over pad

It Can be done on one wheel letter thaen a figure letter then figure & so one when 60 characters 30 teeth in escapement each twooth shares two letters So every other one being a letter letters only print now come round to right position & shift and came wheel slightly ahead then fractions & figures will be right to print & sletter not³

[Newark,] Feburary87th 1872

In my universal I have placed the Engine directly beneath the Printing Machine and underneath the base thereby Making the Machine Much More compact¹

The break wheel on my Universal has two closures or metallic teeth and between these teeth is filled with Ivory. It is not necessary to have anything there as a limiting pin Might be used on the arm carrying the Contact rollers. [-]Still I prefer to use Some substance between these contact teeth so that the roller will not knock their edges off and also to prevent noise. Now I have found in Experimenting that glass is the best thing that I can use as the spark does not interfere with it as much as rubber ivory, bone etc and what is still better agate or garnet could substituted

There is considerable oxide formed on this Contact point and I propose to use a brush rubbing Continuously up it to keep it clean also upon the Contact roller

I will mention that the break wheel or pulsator may be made of metal Entirely and no breaks in it and the Vibrating arm may have a Contact spring upon it and this would be held on and taken off as the wheel Vibrates

It is not necessary that the pulsator should be exactly as I now use it is may be made thus

Page 454

C is the arm arranged to the Escapement lever N is the wheel carrried around by friction X is a flange on it which has two wavey [-]teeth B is a lever which closes & opens the main circuit on the point Q the Vibration being had by the rotation of X and the two wavey teeth.

I have shown in former descriptions the type wheel is arrested by the key ½ way home² consequently there [-]must be some device to throw the type wheel in the right position to print.

I can get rid of this device thus

In this Case the type wheel, Escapement etc is precisely like those in ordinary printers, but an extra shaft on which is a star wheel this star wheel giving Motion to a Lever which arrests the pulsator. Now this second lever runs under the base and is stopped by the Keys. the type wheel shaft will always be right for printing when sending and receiving, but the extra lever which is carried around by the type wheel shaft will be arrested in a position to throw the arrester arm into the path of the pin on the pulsator.

This arrangement Can be done with one shaft, the extra shaft being replaced by a sleeve

Thus

Page 455

F is the Main shaft. D a wheel which gives motion to the arresting lever C A is a sleeves with theis wheel D on also with the key arms Q and R B is a slot having a pin in it and a spring fastened to the sleeve to pull it around against the pin Now when a key is closed one the escapement comes Rotates^a around tuill it stops home but just as it it going home the arm on the sleeve comes against a key and the sleeve is arrested and the pulsator is caught but the Escapmt lever pulls the tyspe wheel home the dead motion in the slot allowing this. the moment the key rises the spring pulls the sleeve up around instantly against the pin in the slot B before the type wheel shaft starts to move.

An Extra Magnet might be used to rotate the shaft which has arms on and the Escapmt lever have arm which arrests pulsator, and The Type wheel shaft be Entirely independent and be rotated by another Magnet & Escapment lever or a springy Connection might be attached from the Escapmt lever which rotates the type w shaft to the lever which rotates the key shaft and the Extra Magnet dispensed with.

Witnessed

[Newark,] Feby 10 1872

I have tried nearly all kinds of self acting breaks upon the Escapmt lever of the Universal so as to dispense with the Engine but a change of adjustment of that lever increases or decreasesPage 456 the speed whereas the Engine does not to any great extent. another defect in a self acting break is that it is a very hard matter to regulate the break

Escapement

X is a dog with a cam end B a face pin wheel. when it goes up it cams ahead by the inner row coming down by the outer row—

Another Escapement

another geneva stop¹

Page 457Travelling type wheel this wheel is rotated the same way as the ordinary printing Machine by an Escapment etc

The shaft is provided with a key seat which the sleeve and type wheel travel endwise B is a ratchet having a pulling by its side and this ratchet is rotated by a pawl from the printing lever There is a string leading from the type wheel to this pulley which turns the corner on a little pulley wheel the other End of the type wheel is attached a spring

Now thevery time the type wheel is printed from the upward movement of the ptg lever winds the string up the distance of one letter. when the type w reaches its full length it throws out the detention click and the spring pulls the type wheel back to its starting point and restores the detention click an attachment may be made with the detention click to feed the paper a line ahead when it is moved

I am going to get up a machine with 26 trains of diffrential gearing Each gear having a letter of the Alphabet and taking a hundred words and turn the gearing in such a manner that a few letters will be the result of these wHundred words and these letters Can be transmitted over Atlantic Cable and then another Machine in London Can be set at these Letters and rotated backwards until the 100 wds are indicated I can either indicate or print the result²

Escapment wedge acting square teeth.

This is an old invention of mine but I record it.

Page 458Paper feed for Printing Telegraphs.

When you bow the paper the click prevents it coming back but when the bower attached to the printing lever goes up it lifts the click off and the paper straightens out by its own action thus throwing itself right for the next letter. Tried in 1869.

[Newark,] Feby 12 1872

Type wheel with the letters placed as shown so as to get as small a diameter as possible, a twist draill might be used and the letters cut along the twist and be rotated so that for every movement of the ratchet a new letter would come into possition a pin following in the groove would give the endwise motion and the ratchet would give the rotary motion after the drill or shaft having types would reach its limit it would be thrown back instantly by lifting out the pin in the groove & using a spring

Page 459

Device for a two wire instrument. close current on one wire one magnet draws escapmt armature one way close on other wire other magnet draws the other way close both mag circuits and both magnets close bringing down printing lever.¹

polarized relay bad iron or residual magnetism used only no steel.

Device for using two type wheels having 15 character on one and 15 on the other and a 15 teeth in the escpmt and a shifter on the shaft so that in rotating it will shift on one & then the other

Page 460I claim slowing a printing lever by a piston attached to the printing lever run in a tube of mercury²

[Newark,] Feby 14 1872

any of the arrangements described in my description of an apparatus invented for Andrews described in another book¹ can be applied to the printing lever

60 characters on the wheel 60 teeth in the escapmt figure between each letter stop on open circuit to print letters and on closed circuit to print fractions and figures

My Wife Popsy Wopsy² Can’t Invent^a

Page 461

Polarized Relay tongue being polarized by a Local battery. Model constructed in 1869—In Genl Lefferts possession³

Escapement⁴

x x′ Little wheels

Escapement

Escapement motor Pin wheel.

Page 462

Crown wheel Escapement

Inside star wheel escapement

Double star wheel escapement

inside & outside star wheel Escapement

In February 1872 Edison executed a patent for his “Baby” telegraph, a compact printer with a single typewheel.¹ It is not clear whether Edison intended it for private lines, stock reporting, or some other purpose.² The design incorporated a polarized relay and used only one circuit wire. A single armature and magnet combination actuated both the typewheel and the printing mechanism.

The only evidence that this printer was ever used is an illustration of a printing telegraph found in a popular mechanical dictionary published in 1876-77.³ There are no notebook entries relating to its development, and only one possible manufacturing record remains. ⁴

[Newark, February 14, 1872?²]

M (8 cm × 10 cm × 12 cm), MiDbEI(H), Acc. 29.1980.1308.Page 465

[Newark,] Feby 16 1872.

M is the printing Magnet X is an extra magnet in same circuit. they both respond together but when the printing lever just touches the type W[heel] the relay points¹ close and cut it out and it flies back²

I use this device for slowly up mechanism and performing this operation

Thus

Page 466X is the main line relay front point³ vibrating works type wheel around now when Type wheel in right position open main line relay lever X flies back closes Relay Y which closes printing circuit in which is cut off relay Z⁴ and printing Magnet—M—both close and the moment letter is printed Relay Z cuts current out of printing magnet and lever flies back

On the break wheel is a plate which has two teeth bevelled⁵ X is an arm having 2 prongs one each of which is two little friction rollers and every revolution of the Break wheel and the rollers engaging with the bevelled pins an intermittent motion is given arm X which acting on the escapement wheel Rotates for every revolution of the break wheel the ratchet is advanced two teeth there being 2 breaks on break wheel and 2 bevelled pins. one prong is only necessay by using an spring in place of the other.

by depressing a key the ratchet wheel shaft is arrested this stops the arm X which arrests break wheel.

one of these prongs is insulated and connected to the printing wire and when the break wheel is suddenly arrested the roller comes in contact with the bit bevelled tooth and closes the printing circuit. I have a machine already made.

[Newark,] Feby 26th [1872]

Universal break wheel working shaft that has stops on for arresting by keys with gear wheels. I have previously shown & discribed it working with a ratchet wheel for the ratchet or intermittent & substitute gears a geneva stops wheel² might be used in place of the gears having 30 Stops on the shaft wheel & one on the break or more

This gear was previously suggested to Dean³ Feby .1. and thought before while writing description on page 29⁴

Newark, Mch 6/72

Murry & Co. Thos A Edison.^a

Mfrs Tel Instruments

111 NJ RR Ave.

#3700² Are just putting in their machiney, and will soon commence work. “E” is of the firm of E & Unger “M” has no means of his own. “E” is said to have some little means in R[eal]. E[state].³ & to own ½ interest in firm of “E & U” Are v[er]y little Kn[own] here, & we cannot get information wh[ich] seems to warrant any extended Cr[edit]. 2092

[Newark,] March 6th 1872

Carrier for break on the universal printer

Page 470

I claim Turning a type wheel by an engine (electric)^a and releasing it step by step by an Escapement and Magnet the pulsations being derived from Sam a break on the shaft of the Engine which rotates the type wheel=²

Unison³ for Callahans 3 wire Machine^b

Attachment to Universal Stock Printers,⁴ to prevent back lassh in Escapement wheel when they are run at High Speeds.

Page 471

Page 472Printing Telegraph Machine⁵ The Engine eshaft carrying the Type wheel and released by the escapmnt lever & MagntX

Newark, Mch 7/72

Edison and Unger.^a      Telegraph Fixtures.       4 Ward St. ¹

3700² Have been inbus some 12 Months or more. Manufacture the Gold & stock Brand Tel Instruments³ & claim to have a monopoly. “Unger” states that they have abt 22m$ ⁴ invested in Machinery & Stock,⁵ & that none of this is borrowed, & that “E” owns some little R[eal].E[state].⁶ “Edison” was formerly connected with the Am Tel Wks, Is an ingenious Mechanic & inventor. Formerly came from Ohio. It is intimated that Mr Harrington Pres of the Automatic Tel Co. 80 B’way N.Y. has claimed that “E” started his bus here in WardPage 473 St & got his Machiney with his (H’s) money.⁷ We can learn very little of this firm, beyond their own statement, and without further Knowledge of them cannot advise extended Credit. “Edison” is also of “Murry & Co” a new firm just starting.⁸ The Bank a/c⁹ is in the name of “Wm Unger,” and checks payable to the firm are first endorsed by the firm & then by “Wm Unger.” Their transactions indicate a large business. 2092

Edison began working on perforators for automatic telegraphy to fulfill his 1870 agreement with Daniel Craig. ¹ He designed the following perforator as an inexpensive alternative to thePage 474 large machines used in main offices, intending it for local offices or customers wishing to prepare their own messages.²

Edison’s first perforators had been large, rapid instruments with a separate key for each character. By February 1871 he was designing smaller perforators.³ Edison apparently completed a six-key perforator about 17 May 1871. ⁴ However, he did not execute a patent application for this perforator until 15 March 1872, which suggests that he reworked the apparatus in the interim. The patented machine contained one key for dots and a second key for dashes. The other keys were used to space the perforations and to operate the paper feed.

As in his earlier, large perforator, a single hole in the tape transmitted a dot. There was, however, an important change in the form of the holes that produced dashes. The large perforator punched out a dash using three holes of equal size, one above and between the other two. In his six-key perforator, Edison altered this design so that the single dot was larger and overlapped the two smaller holes. In this way, he sought to “insure a metallic contact of the brush or transmitting stylus between one of the smaller perforations and the other, thereby producing a dash-mark.”⁵

[Newark, March 15, 1872?¹]

M (16 cm dia. × 14 cm), MiDbEI(H), Acc. 29.1980.1606.

[Newark, March 1872?¹]

New Idea for Printing Telegraph machine²

A are 7 bars are moving 7 levers c up and down off of the recording Drum

These seven levers are thrown down upon the drum by the forward movement of the bars A This drum carries the paper between the paper and the c bars are is^a an ink band The A Bars are provided with 30 rows of tits down the side of which pass the side of 30 key Now on the side of these tits are The letters of the Alphabet in relief The key in passing down throws forward these bars acording to these relief parts of the letters on the tits at the same time the paper drum is being fed forward by the downward motion of the key

It will be seen that this is but a mechanical way of producing the result chemically as shown on page 22 & 23 this book³ communication being had with the recording pens mechanically instead of electrically.

further description unnecessary

Driving paper for a perforator

a b c some of the 9 punch levers used in the perforator X is a lever which has a rack click on the end Loose going up down rigid going up n a rack connected to a release Escapment lever which releases the paper drum driven by weight, step by step The last keylever in the punch leves being nearer the fulcrum of X than the first will shove X further now X is going down having a loose click does not VibratePage 477 rack n but in going up vibrates it releasing paper drum a notch every vibration The number of vibrations being governed by the length which X has gone down which is governed by the punch used which is nearest its fulcrum it may be used thus

Description unnecessary

The printing device described on page 27.⁴ nThe seven recording levers might be cutting punches and cut the letter out instead of recording them then this prepared strip could be used for transmitting in a machine already described by me in another book where is use this kind of paper⁵

Positive Paper feed movement for perforator

Different

Page 478Printing machine, different shape from that described on page 27.

[Newark, March 1872?¹]

paper feed, The punch bars determining The distance Twisting cutting punch

[Newark, March 1872?¹]

Electric Engine.²

This Engine is somewhat dissimilar to that of any other heretofore made although ressembling greatly in appearance others.

The outside ring is stationary & is provided with armatures, arranged in relation to the Magnets that when all the magnets are Charged every magnet will draw itself up to the armature. the drum carrying the Magnets will then revolve the distance between one of the armatures be charged and draw themselves up again

The break consists of two toothed wheels [-] Insulated from the shaft & each other and upon which are two springs also insulated from each other These at the end of these springs are four platina points two above & two below so that when [-]the teeth on the wheels raise both levers up they will come in contact with both platina points and these platina points being connected to the magnets, and the two springs being connected to the battery the circuit is thrown through all the magnets Not as it is usually done but [this?]^a way

Page 480These magnets and herein constitutes my improvement consists of very fine wire Say from No 20 to 36 or even finer When they are of finer wire each magnet is made thus

five or six Sections and each Connection or section So Connected [that?]^a the current splits and divides passing through by one wire throgh the several routes provided for it & emerging to one wire again. these magnets made in this manner are connected as shown on the top sketch or may be thus

It is a law of magnetism that the greater number of convolutions of wire around the Core the greater would be the effect, taking care about the resistence.³ heretofore parties experimenting with electric engines use very large wire and thus obtain a very low resis[tance],^a but have but few convolutions. I also obtain an extraordinary low resistence by providing a number of routes each having a large No of convolutions and agregately an enormous number, but they are so Connected that owing to^b the no of routes, combined the resistence is reduced from say 300 ohms (if the wire is connected as is ordinayly done) down to 2 ohms, for each magnet and by combining the magnets after this plan I reduce the total Resistence of the several magnets to 1 ohm for the whole and at the same time have an enormous number of Convolutions of wire.

I have discovered that if 100 feet of copper wire if a2^b spools hasv[e? ---]^a or one magnet has 6 [ohms?]^a Resistence and the current is passed through it it will lift say 2 lbs. if now we take a magnet with 24 ohms resistence each spool having 12 ohms & connect them thus

or thus

Page 481We reduce the resistence to 6 ohms but obtain twice the force or 4 lbs without any more consumption of material in the battery= ⁴

another theory I take advantage of in the construction of my engine which is that in all electric engines or in a now in use the current through the magnet must be broken before the magnet approaches the point where the most work is done for if this was not done the armature passing over would be retarded owing to the sluggishness which the current or magnet discharges I get around this by prov keeping my current on until up to the very center (ie) the armature is opposite the cores of the magnet then it will be observed by referridng to the break with its upper & lower springs that the current is reversed for an instant through these magnets & they instantly discharge this Current is not kept in long enough to effect a recharge of the opposite polarity

Another advantage I claim is having all the magnets pulling at one time and a large momentum or fly wheel to carry it over the spaces between where ther is not put pull

This splitting of the magnets as described cann be applied to Other purposes

I propose to apply it to printing telegraphs winding an ordinary Stock Printer 6 ohm 24 wire with No 30. wire^b 24 ohm and by connecting as heretofore shown reduce to 6 ohms

B. Vitrol Battery

I claim a board perforated with holes and sitting on legas an inch or so from bottom underneath which is Copper sheet.

I claim the saw dust on the perforated botard or material of any kind perforated and a funnel for feeding the underneath the perforated disk with Sulphate Copper=⁵

I claim running two type wheels by two electromotors, and keeping them in unison by a governor on Each engine, and printing by a single move

Page 482

[New York?,] April 29, 1872^a

Articles of Agreement made and entered into this Twenty-ninth day of April a.d. 1872 by and between Thomas Alva Edison of the City of Newark, State of New Jersey; and Marshall Lefferts of the City and State of New York, Witnesseth,

Whereas the said Edison has invented certain Improvements in Printing Telegraphs and the said Lefferts has agreed to act in connection with the inventions and patents on the same in Europe.

Therefore in consideration of the premises and of one dollar in hand paid each to the other the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged the following agreement is made and entered into between the said Edison and Lefferts for themselves and their legal representatives.

First. The said Edison hereby assigns, sells, transfers and asets over or agrees so to do, unto the said Marshall Lefferts one undivided half part of the right, title and interest of every character in and to any and all Letters Patent in Great Britain that he may hereafter obtain for improvements in printing telegraphs, together with the same right in any invention of or improvement upon printing telegraphs that he has heretofore made or may hereafter make for ten years and to this end agrees to make and execute, at the expense of the said Lefferts, any and all specifications that may from time to time be required for procuring or completing Letters Patent for such inventions and for assigning or more fully conveying the rights hereby assigned or intended so to be unto the said Lefferts.

Second. The said Lefferts hereby agrees to bear the expenses of patenting such inventions in Great Britain, and also in^b France, Belgium and such other countries as may be mutually agreed upon, but if said Lefferts unreasonably neglects or refuses to bear the expense of patenting any improvement in printing telegraphs invented by said Edison then this agreement shall not apply to the rights in that particular country or to that particular invention in that Country^c and the said Edison shall be relieved from this agreement to that extent only.

Third. The said Edison hereby appoints the said Lefferts his true and lawful attorney to attend to any and all business in connection with the patenting, introducing, selling, transferring, or negotiating the rights in connection with such printing telegraph inventions in any and all countries of Europe where the said Lefferts may pay the expense of patenting, and agrees to execute any further or more formal power of attorney for such purposes.

Fourth. The said Lefferts hereby agrees to exercise resonablePage 484 dilligence in connection with the business hereby contemplated and to well and truly account to the said Edison and pay over to him one half part of the profits that may result in Great Britain in connection with said inventions and Letters Patent, first however retaining his actual cash advances in connection with the same.

Fifth, The said Edison hereby transfers sells and sets over or agrees to assign and set over to the said Lefferts the entire right title and interest of every character in and to the said inventions and letters patent on Printing Telegraphs in France, Belgium and each and every other country on the Continent of Europe where the said Lefferts pays or causes to be paid the expenses of patenting, and agrees to execute any specifications, assignments, transfers, or other documents that may from time to time be required for carrying out the full intent and meaning hereof, or in accordance with the laws of the respective countries.

Sixth. The said Lefferts hereby agrees to exercise reasonable dilligence in endeavoring to introduce and make profit by the said inventions in the continent of Europe and to account to and pay over to the said Edison all the profits that may from time to time be realized from the rights on the continent of Europe, (first deducting his actual cash outlay) until he the said Edison shall have realized the total sum of ten thousand dollars, after which said Edison shall have no further claim in that particular.^d

In Witness whereof the parties to these presents have hereunto set their signatures and seals.

T A. Edison^e

Newark, May 21/72

Murry & Co. Thos A Edison.^a

Mfrs Tel Instruments

111 NJ RR Ave.

#3700¹ “M” states “that they are equal partners “E” furnishing the cash cap[ita]l 4m$² & he “M” off setting this byPage 485 his time and mechanical skill “E” is said to own a ho[use] & lot valued @ 5m$ mtgd for 15c$³ Is also of the firm of E and Unger. We have no means of confirming particularly above statement but judging from their machinery & stock think it must be in the main correct “M” also states that they are now about 2m$ in debt have little or no competition & ought to do a good & paying bus 2092^b

New York, JunMay 24/72

Dr General

I am quite sure I can get a substantial pledge from the Southern Co. of the $25,000 in cash and $100,000 of their stock or some other of greater value, with the single proviso that the Fast System proves to be all right between Charleston and Washington, or New York.¹ (They now write Morse, direct & without Repeaters, in bad weather between W. & C. & in good weather between N.Y. & C—so we shall have good wires for the test.)

I wish you could get Edison’s own interests confided to me, in such a way, first, that his interests and his efforts in everything pertaining to Automatic Telegraphy, will go with your interests, or not against ours, provided only that he shall be paid out of the first proceeds of anything from any telegraph Co. using any system of Automatic or Fast Telegraphy, whatever sum you or you and Pope² may agree to be fair to him, in view of what he may have produced of advantage to the fast system—and his inventions or devices being compared and estimated by similar (if any) inventions by other parties.

I also want you to give me full-control, to manage according to my best judgment, all your Automatic interests, inventions, patents and thoughts (so far as I can draw them out of you) upon the new system.

Pledging to you as I will and do, my best efforts to make the interests confided to me so valuable that I can pay you for the same at least $100,000 of the Stock of some respectable Telegraph Co. within the present year and at the earliest possible moment.

It is important for me & also for you to get Edison into suchPage 486 a position that he will work to promote our interests rather than the interests of our opponents, actual or possible, and I should esteem the situation very much safer if you could so manage him as to get his interests where you could fix themir account and keep him faithful to our side in any & every contingency.

I wish you could feel justified in accepting the whole Telegraph interest as collateral security against the claims of that vile dog Vail,³ and as I know they are all moonshine, you will not be hurt in the least.

You may easily imagine that Mrs. Craig feels as though if she surrendered her splendid property at Peekskill for less than half its real value, she ought to have something sure & not hypothecated to afford her some support⁴

Do, pray, try to have this trifling point (trifling to you, but seemingly big to Mrs. C.) conceded, and then I shall hope to make her and Jim⁵ reasonably well satisfied with the swap.

Harrington & Little, for some reason unknown to me, are decidedly snubbing Morris⁶ & the Southern Co., which is very good for us, and now is the time for me to make a trade with them. What might be the effect of Harrington’s getting down from his stilts and evincing a disposition to co-operate with the Southern Co., I do not know.

The sooner you can tell me the result of your expectreflections in regard to your interests in the Telegraph matter and the Mt Florence property the better I shall like it.

I thought you might like to see a statement of the Mt. Florence Property as enbraced in John’s⁷ scheme. I suppose your suggestion today applied to the Real Estate and Improvements, only, but, of course John must deliver according to the Bond—but you and I can arrange this, by letting John pay Mrs. Craig the actual (selling) value of the Personal property which inventories some twelve or fifteen thousand dollars, but, of course would not sell for that at a peremptory sale.

Of course Mrs. Craig will at my request, give to Smith⁸ or whoever may be entitled to receive the conveyance, a perfect title to the property for whatever sum the Scheme can afford to pay for it. The real expectation of Finch ⁹ was to pay Mrs. Craig $150,000, & share with me ½ of all his profits, but I had no written agreements with Finch or other parties, and have none now with John, but expect him to do whatever may be fair, but no more.

I feel sure he can carry the scheme through & pay $ 150,000 for the property & all expenses, & make $10,000 to $20,000Page 487 for himself, if he can have a credit at the right time—say 1st June—for $10,000 to fee the advertising people, & I will give him this credit as soon as I get able, if ever. Truly &c

Sometime in mid-March 1872 Edison abandoned his attempts to make the original universal private-line printer workable, and by early April he had arrived at a new design.¹ He quickly produced several models of this design for Gold and Stock, delivering thirty-three instruments during May and June,² but eight of those were defective. Shipments were curtailed in late June and did not resume until August. By the end of September, Gold and Stock had received nearly threePage 488 hundred,³ and at least two had been sent to Chile. Two others were displayed at the 1872 Cincinnati Industrial Exposition, where they apparently performed poorly in competition with other private-line printers.⁴

Like the first universal private-line printer, the new machine combined a printer and a transmitter. Unable to perfect the printing mechanism on the original design, Edison used the universal stock printer as the printing portion of his new instrument. The stock-printer design remained basically unchanged, except that the new universal private-line printer used only one transmission wire and one typewheel. Only the typewheel magnet was on the main circuit.⁵ The transmitter, on the other hand, retained only the motor and governor of the earlier private-line printer. By having the motor work a set of electrical contact points through a series of ratchets and gearwheels, Edison solved the problems of precision and accuracy that had plagued the first machine’s pulsator (breakwheel).⁶

Edison used his screw-thread unison on the universal private-line printer. He recommended that the machines’ typewheels be “allowed to run to unison before each communication so as to ensure their correct position.” ⁷ Edison solved the problem of printing-lever rebound—that is, getting the printing lever to bounce fast enough to avoid holding back the typewheel—by mounting the fulcrum loosely, relying on the lever’s upward momentum to make the impression and on gravity to pull it back out of the way of the typewheel’s rotation.⁸

[Newark, May 1872]

M (28 cm dia. × 15 cm), DSI-NMAH(E), Cat. 252,616. The long arm angled to the lower left would in operation have been one of two arms standing up with a roll of paper tape between them.

London^a [c. June 1, 1872]²

until they have reached the sum of £ 11= So you see, with no freight nor packing they beat you in price. Of course they promise better workmanship—and one of them did not hesitate to pronounce ours, as d——d bad= and I immediately turned my back on him= he feels that he offended me, and writes me every few days but I take no notice of him= I have told no one about his low offer, and so long as you can fill orders promptly, and they don’t get at the Officers of the Company³ —all will go bravely on= Don’t fail to send duplicate parts, especially springs—& that brass guard over the paper—Small Screws &c any scraps of parts around the shop—throw in the box—as they will come handy^b Andrews⁴ must have told you that the 12 Insts⁵ were in a very rusty condition and the straw with which they were packed was alive with New-Jersey Bed bugs—and if it was known that I had imported American Bed Bugs into Great Britain, I would be put in Newgate= ⁶ So look out how you compromise me—

By the way= Don’t deposit that $360 with Clews.⁷ Go to Duncan Sherman & Co⁸ & buy me a draft on Bk of England, and send it to me by mail= that is the best way to do it = I hope before this letter reaches you, I will order another lot, say 50—⁹ Andrews telegraphed me a few days since, that “50 Insts would go Wednesday” = I wonder if that was intended as a reply to my Message in which I asked him to “secure sixty Instruments” it came next Morning early— the letter was then on the way, with the order for sixty— Be sure and not forget the promise of “confidence” write me soon as you possibly can— Yours