570 



NA TURE 



[Octoiu;r 5, 1905 



tape by the punch 30, which is operated by the punching 

 magnet. If the circuits of these two magnets are followed 

 out it will be seen that both are controlled by the vibrating 

 reed 34 in such a way that they operate alternately accord- 

 ing as the reed is against contact 32 or 33. It will further 

 be seen that the punching magnet is also controlled bv the 

 punching relay 27, the circuit being open in the position 

 shown, and closed when the reed 41 is against contact 44, 

 I.e. when punching current is coming through the main 

 line and punching relay. It will be noticed at once that 

 the distributor cannot work properly unless the tongue 41 

 of the punching relay is in synchronism with the reed 34. 

 To obtain this synchonism is the object of the governing 

 relay 28, which is operated by the line current. The 



Fig. 5. — Murray Printer wUh Typi 



tongue of this relay vibrates between the contacts 42 

 and 43 ; when it is in contact with either the circuit of 

 the vibrator magnet is closed, but during its passage 

 from one to the other this circuit is opened. If this 

 occurs whilst the contact 40 is open it can obviously have 

 no effect on the oscillations of the reed, but if it occurs 

 whilst this contact is closed it has the effect of diminish- 



intermittcnt current impulses to the spacing magnet due 

 to the closing of contact 32. Line 3 shows the main 

 line signals which, as pointed out in explaining the method 

 in which the transmitter acts, are continuous and net 

 intermittent. Line 4 shows the interruptions in the circuit 

 of the vibrator magnet caused by the vibration of the 

 reed of the governing relay which occurs at the beginning; 

 and end of every signal in line 3. In line 5 are the actual, 

 current pulses in the vibrator magnet due to the closing, 

 of contact 40. These are shown in step at the beginning, 

 but gradually falling out of step, whereby, as will be 

 seen, they are diminished by the interruptions shown in. 

 line 4, and are thus automatically brought back into step. 

 The only remaining operation is to use the tape 45 

 (Fig. 3) to work either a type-WTiter or 

 ,,^^^^^^^^ a type-setting machine. The Murray 

 ^^^^^HHj printer with the type-writer removed is 



J^^HHH shown in Fig. 5, and diagrammaticall\ 

 l^^^^^Bk '" ^>.^- 3' '' ^~'" "<^t l^E necessary In 



I describe it in detail ; the principle i-- 



that of the ordinary lock and key. Tin 

 tape is fed forward letter by letter by 

 means of the star-wheel 46 ; the re- 

 ciprocating shuttle 47 carries a die 

 block, which allows the five rods 4.'> 

 to pass through the perforations in the 

 I ape when these are present, .\ccord- 

 ing as one or more of these rods passes 

 through the tape, a particular set of 

 slots in the combs, 49, attached to the 

 rods is brought into line, the corre- 

 sponding lever 50 is pulled into the 

 channel thus formed, and the corre- 

 spoiiding type-writer key is depressed. 



The complete set of Murray appar- 

 atus is shown in Fig. 6. On the 

 extreme right is the perforator, next to 

 it on the left the automatic trans- 

 mitter, then on the same table the distributor in front and 

 the relays behind. The translator and type-writer are on 

 the small table at the left. We have only been able to give 

 a brief description of the most important features of this 

 very ingenious system ; there are numerous points of 

 detail which space does not permit us to describe. Thl^ 

 system has been on trial for some time both in this 



ing the duration of the current in the vibrator magnet. 

 The reed 34 vibrates against two springs 36 and 37, so 

 that its time of vibration is capable of great control bv 

 the magnitude of the current in the vibrating magnet. 

 By setting it so that its natural speed is a" little too 

 high, it is possible by means of the controlling action of 

 the governing relay for perfect synchronism to be obtained. 

 The action will perhaps be more readily understood bv 

 the diagram, Fig. 4. This shows a 'piece of the trans- 

 mitting^ tape at the top punched with the signals for the 

 word " Paris." In line i are shown the current im- 

 pulses to the punching magnet due to the simultaneous 

 closing of contacts 33 and 44. In line 2 are the regular 

 NO. 1875, VOL. 72] 



of Murray .\ppa 



country and abroad, and has met with considerable success ; 

 it is now in use on several English lines. There can 

 be no question after the perusal of Mr. Murray's paper 

 that it possesses many advantages over its forerunners 

 which should enable it to survive. It is stated that the 

 automatic part of the apparatus can be run perfectly up 

 to 200 words (1200 letters) a minute, but that no type- 

 writer will stand the strain of being run at this speed, a 

 maximum of 120 words being all that is allowable. It is, 

 however, obviously possible to run the automatic part at 

 top speed if necessary, and use two type-writers at the 

 receiving end in the same way as at the transmitting end. 

 Maurice Solomo.n. 



