Details

The papers comprise Preece's own notes, correspondence and printed material on various aspects of cable-laying and manufacture. Details are given of tests and experiments carried out on particular types of cables (e.g. /43, /46, /67) and of the condition of several cables already in use (e.g. /55, /65), Preece's notes on the Channel Islands cable, for example, giving details of cable faults and their duration 1858-1861 (/17). Also included is a specification for a patent granted to Preece in 1892 for improvements in submarine cables (/88) and correspondence with Western Electric Co. about the working of the patent in the United States of America (/89-/92). A manuscript description of 'Preece's submarine printing instrument' (/14) and some of his notes on marine borers including a letter from Thomas Henry Huxley of the Science Schools, South Kensington (/34) are also among the collection. In addition there are various pamphlets and printed papers, including documents relating to the agreements between the Postmaster General and the Submarine Telegraph Companies, 1878 (/39), a prospectus of the Light Cable Telegraph Co. Ltd, 1873 (/49) and the directors' report and minutes of the 10th annual general meeting of the Atlantic Telegraph Company (/4-/5). A number of newspaper cuttings relating to cables and the progress of submarine telegraphy (/70-/84) also form part of the collection.