Telegraph Register

Clark, James J. · 1853

In 1853 James J. Clark received U. S. patent 10,128 for his “self-winding telegraph register.” Clark submitted this model to the Patent Office to demonstrate his invention, an electromagnet and set of cogs that would automatically wind the spring of a telegraph register. Most registers used wind-up springs or a weight-driven mechanism to pull the paper under the pen or embossing stylus. Like a mechanical clock, either type of mechanism would occasionally need to be rewound. Ultimately, Clark’s invention became unnecessary as more operators switched from printing registers to audible sounders as telegraph receivers.