A NEW OR IMPROVED TIME INDEX TABLE FOR TRAMWAY CARS, OMNIBUSES, AND OTHER VEHICLES OR STEAM- BOATS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Marley, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED TIME INDEX
TABLE FOR TRAMWAY CARS, OMNIBUSES, AND OTHER VEHICLES OR STEAM-
BOATS"
Sealed the 31st May 1878, and dated the 3rd December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Marley at the Office
the Commissioners of Patents on the 3id December 1877.
FRANCIS MARLEY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain. "A
NEW OR IMPROVED TIME INDEX TABLE FOR TRAMWAY CARS, OMNIBUSES, AND OTHER
VEHICLES OR STEAMBOATS."
This Invention has for its object the construction and use of a new or improved
motive time table or tablet, which will show or indicate at a glance to the guard,
drive, and passengers of and in or on each tramway car, omnibus, or other public
vehicle, railway carriage, or steamboat, the exact time or hour and minute it should
leave its starting station, and arrive at or pass the successive main or important
places, crossings, or stations along the line or route cach journey throughout the
day, forward and back, to complete the full or double run from and back to the first
or original starting stations, which are numbered successively.
And the nature and novelty of the Invention under one modification and mode
of constructing the tablet and using it consist all as follows:-The tablet is new in
having two divided and corresponding figured index columns, with shifting and
setting index pointer to each; the one to indicate hours, and the other minutes, and,
accordingly, they are respectively headed with these words. The body case of the
tablet is, preferably, made portable in the form of a single or double flat board,
plate, or frame, with an eye at each end, or hinges for hanging or hinging it to tho
side of the vehicle, and reversing it when the indexes and names of the places are
on the opposite side of it for the back ward and forward journeys respectively of six
inches or so in width, and double that in length.

page_text: Both the columns of hours and minutes would, preferably, be erected vertically at
opposite sides of the tablet, the hour one being divided into twenty-four divisions or
spaces, and numbered as from 1 to 12 a.m., and 1 to 12 p.m., from top to bottom,
with the index pointer for the hours sliding in a groove parallel to the divided
index, with a row of holes or other equivalent in the tablet down the side of the
groove opposite the hours, into which holes a pin is inserted to set the pointer to
any hour at which the vehicle should start from the terminus, the numbers and
positions of the holes corresponding to the number of journeys to be made by the
vehicle during the day, and the hours at which it is to start, and numbered in
sequence 1, 2, 3, and so on from the first journey in the morning to the last journey
in the evening, the pin and pointer having only to be shifted, and set accordingly
at the commencement of each journey.
Referring to the minute column for indicating the exact minute each tramway
car, for instance, is to start each successive run during the day, and arrive at or
pass the intermediate stations; this is divided into spaces reprosenting minutes for
the first hour, and as many minutes of a second hour as it takes to complete the
whole journey, and numbered opposite each space accordingly from 1 to 60, and the
repeat as far as required
The sliding minute index works in a corresponding slide, and is made deep
enough to take in the whole number of minutes required for the journey, and formed
or fitted with as many index pointers as there are stations along the line, and their
positions set or graduated from the top or starting one to correspond to the
number of minutes the vehicle requires between the stations respectively on the
scale of minutes taken on the minute column. This scale is preferred to be not
less than one-tenth of an inch to the minute, or six inches to the hour, so that the
minutes may easily be observable or read, and which distance between the station
indices would be divided off horizontally on the slide or index, which is inade broad
enough to have the successive names of the stations legibly printed in the horizontal
spaces opposite the pointers; and the tablet on which this station minute index
slides would have holes for the insertion of a pin, as described in reference to the
hour column, numbered to correspond to each journey during the day, and have the
pin of this index inserted, to set the pointer of the top starting division of the tablet
opposite the exact minute of the hour the car is to start on each respectivo run
during the day, corresponding to that of the hour index previously set, all as herein-
before described, that is to say, for every journey in one direction this index has
described would be used, while for the return journey a corresponding index would
be used, of divided hour and minute columns with corresponding hour and station
name, and minute pointers formed and fitted on the other side, the same slides and
gooves suiting for both the names of the stations, and the gradations of their
pointers being inverted. Although the hours and minutes have been described as
indicated by the spaces in the columns, it will be obvious that these may be indicated
by the lines numbered to correspond, as on the dials of time pieces; and these divided
indexes may be printed on paper, and fixed on the tablet, and varnished or pro-
tected glass, or they might be printed or painted on the tablet itself; or when
made of metal they inay be japanned or enamelled.
And although the tablet has been described as vertical, and formed on front and
back, it might be formed and operated horizontally, and have both indexes in front
without requiring to be reversed; or it might have a hinged cover to fold over to
cover the one index, and expose the other at the end of each journey respectively,
whether both indexes are forined on the front of the tablet horizontally or vertically
side by side

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Francis Marley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd June
1878.
FRANCIS MARLEY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain. "A
NEW OR IMPROVED TIME INDEX TABLE FOR TRAMWAY CARS, OMNIBUSES, AND OTHER
VEHICLES OR STEAMBOATS."
My said Invention has for its object the construction and use of a new or improved
motive time table or tablet, which will show or indicate at a glance to the guard,
driver, and passengers of and in each tramway car, omnibus, or other public vehicle,
railway carriage, or steamboat, the exact time or hour and minute it should leave
its starting station, and arrive at or pass the successive main or important places,
crossings, or stations along the line or route for each forward and return journey
throughout the day to complete the full or double run from and back to the first
or original starting stations, the whole of the stations being indicated successively.
And in order that the nature, novelty, and mode of performing any said Invention
may be properly understood, I shall now proceed to describe the Figures on the ac-
companying Sheet of Drawings, which I have hereunto appended for that purpose.
Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings represents one modification of
my time index table or tablet A, showing the method of setting the pins and
pointers for the first forward journey of the car starting from the north end of the
line, for example; and Figure 2 represents the back or reverse side of the table or
tablet, showing the pins and pointers as set for the twelfth or last return journey of
the day, that is to say, in Figure 1 the pointers are set at 8.20 a.u. for the first
start in the morning, showing the minutes at which the car should arrive at each
successive station on the line, arriving at Paisley Road Station at 8.52 a.m.; while
Figure 2 shows the tablet as reversed for the last return journey, leaving Paisley
Road Station at 10.5 p.m., arriving at Kelvin Bridge Station at 10.37 p.m. The
minutes in both Figures aro represented by the spaces in the minute column, so
as not to require such exactitude of pointer as if it had to point to the lines.
Referring more fully to these Figures, my said Invention consists as follows:-
The tablet A is new in having two divided and correspondingly figured index
columns, with shifting and setting index pointer to each, the one to indicate hours,
and the other minutes, which columns are respectively headed with these words,
and figured in sequence accordingly. The body case A of the tablet is preferably
made portable, in the form of a single or double flat plate or frame of wood, motal,
or other material, with an eye or hinge at each end for hanging or hinging it to the
side of the vehicle, and reversing it when the indexes and names of the places are
on the opposite side of it for the backward and forward journeys respectively.
The plate or frame may be six inches or so in width, and double that in length.
Both the columns of hours and minutes are preferably ranged vertically at opposite
sides of the tablet, as shown in the Figures, and the hour column may be divided
into twenty-four divisions or spaces, and numbered as from 1 to 12 a m., and 1 to 12
p.m. from top to bottom; but for general use it is not necessary to have inore
divisions that nineteen, as from 6 a.m. to 12 p.in., as shown in the Drawings.
The index pointer B for the hours slides in grooves a parallel to the divided
index with a row of holes (or other equivalent) in the tablet down between the
grooves opposite the hour column, into which boles a pin p is inserted to set the
pointer B to any hour at which the vehicle should start from the terminus, the
numbers and positions of the holes corresponding to the number of journeys to be
nade by the vehicle during the day, and the hours at which it is to start, and
numbered in sequence 1, 2, 3, and so on from the first journey in the morning to
the last journey in the evening, the pin and pointer having only to be shifted and
set, accordingly, at the commencement of each journey; and, for days on which the

page_text: venicle has to start at irregular hours, another differently spaced row of holes may
be made at the side of the other row if desired.
Referring to the minute column for indicating the exact minute the tramway
car, for instance, is to start each successive journey during the day, and arrive at or
pass the intermediate stations, this column is divided into spaces representing
minutes for the first hour, and as many minutes of a second hour as it takes to
completo a whole journey, and numbered opposite each space accordingly from
1] to 60.
In the Drawing one hour and thirty-seven minutes are given, as this is the time
required for the double journey on the particular route indicated by the names of
the stations
The sliding minute index C works in corresponding slides or grooves a, and is
made deep enough to embrace the whole number of minutes required for the
journey, and formed or fitted with as many index pointers as there are stations
along the line, and their positions set or graduated from the top or starting one to
correspond to the number of minutes the vehicle requires to accomplish the distance
between the stations respectively on the scale of minutes taken on the minute
column, the position of the names of the stations and the pointers being exactly
reversed for the return journey. This scale is preferred to be not less than one-tenth
of an inch to the minute, or six inches to the hour, so that the minutes may easily
be observable or read, and which distance between the stations is spaced off hori-
zontally on the slide or index C, which is made broad enough to have the names of
the successive stations legibly painted or printed upon it opposite the pointers.
The part of the tablet on which this station minute index slides has a series of
holes for the insertion of a pin p, as described in reference to the hour column,
numbered to correspond to each journey during the day, and the pin of this index C
inserted to set the pointer b of the top or starting the division of the tablet A,
opposite the exact minute of the hour the car is to start on each respective run
during the day, corresponding to that of the hour index previously set, all as herein-
before described; that is to say, for every journey in the forward direction this
index, as described, is used, while for the return journey a corresponding index is
used of divided hour and minute columns, with corresponding hour and station
name and minute pointers formed or fitted on the other side of the tablet A, the
same slides and grooves suiting for both the names of the stations and the gradation
of their pointers being inverted.
Although the hours and minutes have been described, as indicated by the spaces
in the columns, it will be obvious that these may be indicated by the lines numbered
to correspond as on the dials of time pieces These divided indexes may be printed
on paper, and fixed on the tablet A, and varnished or protected by glass, or they
might be printed or painted on the tablet itself; or when made of metal they
may be japanued or enamelled; or either or both of the divided indexes, names
of stations, and pointers may be cast or moulded of metal.
And although the tablet A has been described as vertical, and formed on fiont
and back, it might be formed and operated horizontally, and have both indexes in
front without requiring to be reversed; or it might have a hinged cover to fold over
to cover the one index, and expose the other at the end of each journey respec-
tively, whether both indexes are formed on the front of the tablet horizontally or
vertically side by side.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I have to state that I do not confine myself to the precise details
herein described or delineated; but what I consider novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, the general construction and arrangement of tune index table or tablet
with two divided and correspondingly figured index columns with shifting pointers,
and mode and means of setting the same to the particular hour and minute
required for the commencement of each journey of the vehicle, all substantially as

page_text: herein described in reference to, and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any
mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Marley, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this First day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
JOHN BROWN,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
FRANCIS MARLEY. (L.S.)