A NEW OR IMPROVED TICKET HOLDER FOR RAILWAY WAGONS AND TRUCKS, AND OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Pearson and John Hutchinson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th June 1879.
GEORGE PEARSON, junior, of Staleybridge, Lancashire, and JOHN HUTCHINSON,
jun., of Barnsley, in the County of York. "A NEW OR IMPROVED TICKET
HOLDER FOR RAILWAY WAGONS AND TRUCKS, AND OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES."
This Invention relates to a new or improved ticket holder for railway wagons
and trucks, and other similar vehicles.
Hitherto is has been customary to affix the ticket to the side of the railway
wagon or truck by nailing the same thereto which frequently results in the loss of
the ticket.
Now our Invention consists of the following arrangement:-We first cast in iron
or any other suitable metal a pair of lugs having convenient slots therein, which lugs
when affixed to the side of the wagon or truck, as presently described, project out-
wards therefrom somewhat in the form of two ears. The outside of the base of each of
such lugs is cast in the form of a broad flange or base plate, with suitable apertures
therein to permit of the lugs being fastened to the side of the wagon, truck, or
other vehicle by screws or otherwise, while on the inside of each of such bases a
small shoulder is cast, the use whereof is presently mentioned.
We then cast in iron or any other suitable metal a small square frame of any
convenient dimensions to receive the tickets ordinarily used for railway wagons
and trucks. The bars or rails of such frame are cast flat, the bottom rail being
made stouter and heavier than the remaining rails, while the top rail is prolonged
at each side so as to form two small arms, which when inserted in the slots formed
in the lugs, serve to suspend such frame therein, and at the same time form a hinge
which allows of its being opened and closed as hereafter described.
The upper corners of such frame have square or other suitably shaped recesses
cast therein at the back to allow of such frame dropping down over the shoulders
or projections cast on the inside of each lug as before mentioned, and in order to
compensate for the weakness of the top corners of the frame caused by such recesses
being cast therein, we cast on the front of each such top corner a suitable boss or
knob, which thus imparts the requisite strength to the frame.
The slots in the lugs are formed larger at the top than at the bottom, and
somewhat in the shape of an ear, so that the two projecting arms work freely to
and fro in the larger cavities, and when dropped into the lower and smaller cavities
are securely locked therein.

page_text: The operation of our Invention is as follows:-Having screwed one of such luga
to the side of the wagon or truck, one of the projecting arms is placed therein, and
the other opposite arm is placed in the corresponding lug, which is then also
screwed on the wagon; the frame being thus suspended, two prongs, studs, or
screws are driven into that portion of the side of the wagon, truck, or other vehicle
which is enclosed by the frame, and in any convenient position. The frame is then
opened by pushing it upwards when the projecting arms lodge in the upper and
larger cavity of the slot formed in each ear or lug, thus allowing the bottom of the
frame to be readily lifted up. A ticket is then placed underneath and slipped
upwards until it comes in contact with the shoulder or projection cast on the inside of
each lug, and which thus totally obviates all risk of its falling out of the top of the
frame when the wagon or truck is "tipped," and in order to still more securely fix the
ticket in position the two prongs or studs are then passed through the centre or
lower portion thereof. The frame is then allowed to fall down, when owing to the
recesses formed in the back of each of the top corners, and to the additional weight
of the bottom rail from its being cast stoutor and heavier than the other rails; as
before mentioned, the projecting arms are drawn downwards into the lower and
narrower cavities of the slots in the ears or lugs, and are thus securely locked
therein, as owing to such lower cavities being so narrow it is impossible to lift up
the bottom of the frame until it is again first forced upwards, as already described,
at the same time that the two side rails of the frame securely hold down the sides
of the ticket.
In cases where as it often happens the side of the truck or wagon is very much
warped, we prefer to mount the ticket holder on a suitable back board, and to screw
such back board to the side of the wagon or truck, so as to ensure the ticket having
a true surface to rest on, and thus avoid all danger of its being displaced by any
sudden shock.