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Vail (ALFRED an American inventor)

ALFRED, an American inventor; born in Morristown, N. J., Sept. 25, 1807; was graduated at the University of the City of New York in 1836, and in 1837 became associated with Samuel F. B. Morse in his experiments for the purpose of perfecting a scheme of telegraphy. His mechanical knowledge applied to the experimental apparatus resulted in the first available Morse machine. He invented the combination of the horizontal-lever motion to actuate the style; devised the alphabet of dots, spaces and dashes which it necessitated; and in 1844 constructed the automatic lever and grooved roller which embossed on paper the characters which he originated. He was appointed assistant superintendent of the telegraph line constructed between Baltimore and Washington in 1843, and on the completion of the system, in 1844, was stationed at Baltimore, where he invented the finger key and received the first message from Washington. He died in Morristown, N.

J., Jan. 18, 1859.