IMPROVEMENTS IN INDICATORS FOR PUBLIC STREETS AND ROADS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Samuel Marriott, of 30, Maiden Lane, Strand, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN INDICATORS
FOR PUBLIC STREETS AND ROADS"
Sealed the 21st November 1876, and dated the 28th August 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Samuel Marriott at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th August 1876.
RICHARD SAMUEL MARRIOTT, of 30, Maiden Lane, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN INDICATORS FOR PUBLIC STREETS AND ROADS."
The object of the Invention is to construct an indicator for public streets and
10ads which shall give all requisite information regarding the particular street or
road in which the indicator is affixed. For this purpose a frame is secured against
the wall of any one or other of the buildings at the end of a street or road, the
form of the fiame depending on the space which can be obtained on the particular
building. The upper part of the space within the frame is filled in with a slab or
plate having an enamel surface. At the top of this plate appears the name of the
street or road in letters permanently marked upon the enamel by firing, and below
it is a map also permanently marked upon the enamel and showing the street or
road and the several streets branching from it Below this is a central space
devoted to advertisement, and at the bottom on another enamel surface appears a
list of the several public buildings and offices in the street, and other information
regarding it.
The advertisements to be secured in the central space are on tablets which are
held at their ends in grooves in the frame. I prefer that the space should be
divided by a vertical division or divisions so as to allow of their being two or more
horizontal rows of tablets. Parts of these divisions are moveable to allow of any of
the tablets being put in or taken out at pleasure.
An indicator constructed in the above manner will be highly ornamental, and
will give all information respecting the street in which it is placed, so that any one
requiring information respecting the street and parish in which it is situated will
at once be able to obtain it. By the manner in which it is constructed it will
practically be indestructible, whilst at the same time the tablets in the central
space can readily be changed from time to time as desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard Samuel Marriott in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th
February 1877.
RICHARD SAMUEL MARRIOTT, of 30, Maiden Lane, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN INDICATORS FOR PUBLIC STREETS AND ROADS."
The principal object and feature of this Invention is to construct a "map indi-
cator" for public roads and streets, which shall give all requisite information
regarding the particular road or street in which the indicator is placed; it will
therefore be known as "the imperial road and street map indicator." It is intended
that this Invention besides other things shall be a public improvement, so that
foreigners, countrymen, and strangers will at once be able not only to know the
exact place they are in, but to know the names and see the exact position of all
the streets in the immediate district, so that in the course of time the whole of London
and principal towns in the United Kingdom will be divided and mapped out for
the convenience of the public at large; the usefulness of this Invention can be
estimated, when it is remembered that in one year alone, viz., 1876, 27 streets were
re-named, 53 were re-numbered, and 72 names of new streets introduced; it is there-
fore intended for this purpose that a frame of either wood or metal is secured
against the wall of any one or other of the buildings at the end of a road or street,
the form and size of the frame depending on the space which can be obtained on
the particular building. The upper part of the space within the frame is filled
with a slab or plate having an enamel surface; at the top of this plate appears the
words "the imperial or royal road and street map indicator," or any other name
that may be applicable, with the address of the offices, et cetera, in letters per-
manently marked upon the enamel by firing; below this will appear a complete
map of the district also permanently marked upon the enamel, and showing the
principal road or street of the locality, and the several roads and streets branching
from it, with the names of each written upon the map where they come; the
district churches and chapels and other places of worship of the various denomi-
nations and public offices will be also marked upon the map. The roads and streets
will be plainly shown by being white, while the various blocks of buildings will be
coloured; the lettering so as to be very plain will be in black, but these particulars
may be varied. Below this is a central space which will be devoted to advertise-
ments, and at the bottom on another enamel surface appears a list of the several
public buildings and offices in the street, the leading hotels, banks, railway stations,
and booking offices; the hours of divine service at each church and chapel, with the
names of their incumbents and officiating ministers and vestry and other clerks,
and other information regarding it.
The advertisements to be secured in the central space will be on enamel or other
tablets which are held at their ends in grooves in the frame, I prefer that the space
should be divided by a vertical division or divisions so as to allow of their being
two or more horizontal rows of tablets. Parts of these divisions are moveable to
allow of any of the tablets being put in or taken out at pleasure.
"A map-indicator" constructed in the above manner will be highly ornamental,
and will give all information at a glance respecting the exact position of the various
roads and streets in the neighbourhood, so that any one requiring information
respecting the parish in which it is situated will at once without difficulty be able
to obtain it; this will be an especial boon in the suburban districts; by the
manner in which it is constructed it will practically be indestructible.
The introduction of the advertisements is made a secondary consideration, and
only introduced so that in the event of the Inventor not selling his rights to the
government or the various parishes, it can still be worked by him with the income
from the advertisements, but it is hoped the government or local boards will take
it up upon public grounds.
"The map indicator" will also be used as a "route indicator" to be fixed inside

page_text: or outside or both in omnibuses and tramway cars. It can be made a fixture or
moveable so that it can be inspected by any of the passengers, and can be made of
enamel upon iron or slate, or it can be printed upon thick card. The route indi-
cator will give the line of route of each particular omnibus or tram car, beginning
with the place it starts from, and ending with the finish of the journey; by this
means the thousands of people who travel and are unacquainted with the line of route
they wish to go will instantly be able to ascertain the names and situations of the
whole of the roads and streets they not only pass through, but all other roads and
streets that diverge from the principal route; the list of fares can also be indicated
on the route card.
In order that the Invention may be fully understood, I have shewn in the
Drawings annexed an example both of a map indicator and also of a route indicator,
such as above described.
Figure 1 shows the map indicator; the example given is a portion of Oxford
Street.
Figure 2 shows the route indicator, the example given is the route from Regent
Street to Westminster Bridge.
Having thus described my Invention, and the manner of performing the same, I
would have it understood that I claim,-
First. The map indicator for street and roads, substantially as described.
Second. The route indicator for omnibuses and tramway cars, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Samuel Marriott, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven
RICHARD SAM™”. MARRIOTT. (LS)