THE AMERICAN PRINTING TELEGRAPH.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 780, 5 October 1853, Page 4

THE AMERICAN PRINTING TELEGRAPH.

(From the “ Hume News.”) er J great interest has been recently excited amongst the scientific men connected with telegraph matters, by the exhibition at the East imlia House of a telegraph imported from America, and destined for the use of the Company s lines about to be erected in India, This instrument was invented some four or five years by an American mechanic, named Royal House, yet it had never made its way into England, until ordered for the Hon, Company’s use, by the present superintendent of the Indian tele-

graph. It is, in truth, an admirable piece of mechanism, most solid in structure, simple in action, and working with rapidity which justly entitles it to the name of “ lightning telegraph,” given to it by our transatlantic brethren. It were impossible for us, without the aid of elaborate drawings, to convey any accurate idea of the American telegraph. The scientific public of Calcutta will soon have an of inspecting it themselves ; but in the mean time we believe that a notice of some few particulars may be received with interest.

In the first place the American instrument differs from every other electric telegraph which we have hitherto seen, in its extreme solidity. It does not contain a particle of what may be called watch-work ; the dentated wheels, the escapement and other parts are of steel or cast-iron, and of such strength that it would require no ordinary degree of force to break or displace them by voluntary efforts. In the next place the mechanical portion is not concealed within a box or case, «ns generally occurs, but rests before the signaller on a large strong metal plate, so that the play of the instrument can be seen at a glance, and any accident or irregularity instantly detected. The printing portion of the machine is, as we have said, most wonderfully simple. It consists of an ink-band, a type-wheel and an eccentric lever, all of which have a tendency to move in concert, but cannot do so until their motor powers are brought into play under the influence of the electric current. In proportion as the current is allowed to pass through the instrument, or is cut off from it—or, to speak technically, as the circuit is broken or closed—the type-wheel turns round, and a single touch of a key (bearing a letter) exactly similar to the key of a piano, arrests the type-wheel at the letter we desire to print, sets free the eccentric, and prints the letter. The escapement is worked by compressed air, and the action of this letter again is regulated by a very powerful axial magnet, suspended on a steel wire. The wire replaces the spiral spring which, in many other instruments, draws hack the piece of iron attracted by the electro-magnet; but it is infinitely superior in its action, in working with such rapidity and the same time certainty, that several thousand vibrations can be made within the minute. Each vibration allows one letter in

the type-wheel to pass; and as it carries only 26 types, the rapidity is inconceiveable. A practised operator can print from 250 to 300 letters in the minute, that is to say, eight or ten times more words than a good printer could compose with types. Messrs. Clarke of the Electric Telegraph Company, Mr. Wollaston, the talented engineer of the Submarine Company, and many other distinguished men, have witnessed the action of this wonderful instrument and spoken in the highest terms of its efficiency. The directors of the European Company have, we understand, announced their intention of ordering several sets from America, and many of the best judges who watched its performance at the India House expressed a conviction that it was the instrument

best suited for telegraphic communication in India.

Upon this point we cannot, of course, venture to give any opinion; but we may remark that an instrument which records its own work and thus substitutes permanent for fugitive signs—which may be worked by the first comer, and thus render one independent of professional signalllers—which prints 300 letters a minute, and thus docs the work of more than half a dozen compositors must eventually command attention both here and abroad, even though jealousy and intrigue have hitherto prevented its introduction into this country.