IMPROVEMENTS IN THE • APPARATUS FOR TAKING VOTES AT PARLIAMENTARY AND MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Davis, of Gainford, in the County of
Durham, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
•
APPARATUS FOR TAKING VOTES AT PARLIAMENTARY AND MUNICIPAL
ELECTIONS."
Sealed the 26th July 1872, and dated the 1st February 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Davis at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st February 1872.
I, WILLIAM DAVIS, of Gainford, in the County of Durham, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE APPARATUS FOR TAKING VOTES AT PARLIAMENTARY AND MUNICIPAL
ELECTIONS," to be as follows:-
I construct a box or case of wood, or other suitable material, of any
required size. This I divide into two or more compartments, into each
of which a drawer is inserted. During an election these drawers are to
be locked and also sealed if thought necessary. In the upper end or

page_text: top plate of the box I cut a slot directly over each drawer below and
communicating therewith. Underneath these slots, which are all of
an equal dimension, I insert a sliding plate for the purpose of preventing
the circular plates or counters intended to be used by the voters from
being placed lower in the slots than to about their diameter, or falling
into the drawers below till the elector is out of the voting compartment,
and the sliding plate withdrawn by the person appointed to that duty.
The circular plates or counters I make of metal, or other suitable
material, of a size accurately to fit the slots, uniform in weight, and
representing an understood proportion of a pound, so that by placing
them in a scale the number of votes given to any candidate may be
instantly ascertained without the trouble of counting. Over each slot
I place a separate lid or cover, so that when these slots exceed in number
that of the candidates seeking election some of them may be shut off.
At the back of each slot I place a distinguishing number, both in
figures and units, the latter being in raised characters as a guide to the
blind and uneducated; each of the several candidates being represented
by one or other of those numbers. To the top of the box I affix a
general lid or cover to enclose the slots, and which is to be shut down
and locked as soon as the last vote is recorded.
•
'
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Davis in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 31st July 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
DAVIS, of Gainford, in the County of Durham, Gentleman, send 2
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc- a
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Davis, Her special
licence that I, the said William Davis, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Davis, my executors,

page_text: Thirdly. Using voting tickets of equal and specific weight, so that the
number of votes may be quickly ascertained by placing them in a
balance.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Davis, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.