Improvements in or relating to Means or Apparatus for Indicating and Recording the Time of Departure or Arrival of Pigeons, and for similar purposes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 25th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 25th July, 1896-Accepted, 19th Sept., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Means or Apparatus for Indicating
and Recording the Time of Departure or Arrival of Pigeons, and
for similar purposes.
We, FRANCIS BARKER, and CHARLES BARKER, of 9 Leeds Road, Ilkley, in the
County of York, Drapers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in means or apparatus for indicating and
recording the time of departure or arrival of pigeons and other trained birds, say
for instance in flying matches, or for carrying purposes, and the like, but it may
also if desired be used for other indicating and recording purposes, such as, say, for
other matches, or races, or games.
The object of this invention is to arrange for the time of departure or arrival
being recorded on a movable or travelling strip or "tape" by the dial and hands of
the time indicating mechanism, that is to say, the figures, division lines, or other
marks on the dial or face of the clock or other time indicating mechanism, and the
hands rotating thereon or around, are converted into type for printing on the said
strip or "tape" the actual time of departure or arrival of, say for instance, a homing
or other pigeon used for flying or carrying purposes.
According to this invention a box or suitable casing made of any suitable shape
and material, such as wood, is provided with a hinged lid or cover which may be
secured by any convenient means such as for example by a lock, and sealing device
to prevent access to its interior being obtained by any person or persons except
those duly authorized. The lid is perforated or provided with any desired number
(preferably, but not necessarily so, three) of openings, slits, or holes, of any
required size and shape for purposes to be hereafter described.
Within the box or asing is mounted on a slide, one end of which is made to
pass through the box or casing to its outside-a clock or other time indicating
mechanism which is hereafter termed and included in the term "clock."
The face or dial of the clock is preferably, though not necessarily so, arranged in
a horizontal position.
The figures and division lines of the dial, or the dial itself, and the hands of the
clock, may be formed of any suitable material, say for example of metal or india-
rubber, or metal armed with a facing of india rubber to form a type or stamp for
printing purposes.
Within the casing are also mounted two frames of suitable construction and
capable of being operated independently. Each frame is armed on its upper surface
with a knob or handle which passes respectively through one of the herein before
mentioned perforations in the lid of the casing. The under surface of each frame
is also provided with a pad of any suitable material such as felt, woven fabric, or
the like.. One of these pads is used for inking the face of the dial and the other for
printing purposes. The said two frames are mounted upon any suitable arrange-
ment of springs. One of the frames is also provided on its underside with a pair
of rollers suitably attached thereto, for receiving a roll of transparent or other

page_text: paper or its equivalent, of any suitable width and length, to form a strip or "tape."
One or both of the rollers is or are provided with ratchet or other notched wheels
and pawls or brakes or it or their equivalents, for preventing them from rotating
except when operated by a key, or haudle, or lever, from the outside of the casing,
or by the time indicating mechanism. The ends of the strip or "tape" may be
secured to the rollers by any suitable means such as gumming or pasting them
thereto, or by clips, or their equivalents. The strip or "tape" passes over the end
and face of its supporting frame, and then through an aperture in the frame to its
underside to permit of it being passed between the pad on the frame, and the
printing surface of the clock face or dial, before reaching and being secured to the
second roller. The third opening or perforation in the lid of the casing is provided
immediately over the frame where the travelling strip or "tape" passes over the
upper surface of its supporting frame to permit of any number or other matter-
with which, say for example, the pigeon has been marked in any ordinary or suitable
manner being written, or stamped on the strip or tape previous to being passed
over the dial of the clock for recording purposes.
The clock is drawn under the frame carrying the inking pad which is depressed
onto its face for inking the type which also forms the dial or face of the clock.
Suitable stop or stops may be provided for preventing the slide being drawn too far,
and a fastening or fastenings is or are provided for securing it in position during
the recording operation which is performed by depressing the slide-carrying the
printing pad and the strip or "tape" onto the face of the clock which prints an
impression of its figures, and division lines, as well as the position of its hands on to
the strip or "tape" thereby recording the exact time of the depression on the said
"tape" or strip.
A handle or handles may also be provided for carrying purposes.
One or more sets of clocks, slides, printing and inking frames may be mounted in
a single casing or box, and by being securely enclosed therein cannot be tampered
with.
Dated this 23rd day of June 1896
FRANCIS BARKER.
CHARLES BARKER.
Improvements in or relating to Means or Apparatus for Indicating
and Recording the Time of Departure or Arrival of Pigeons, and
for similar purposes.
We, FRANCIS BARKER, and CHARLES BARKER, of 9 Leeds Road, Ilkley, in
the County of York, Drapers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in means or apparatus for indicating
and recording the time of departure or arrival of pigeons and other trained birds,
say for instance in flying matches or for carrying purposes, and the like, but it
may also if desired be used for other indicating and recording purposes, such as,
say, for other matches, or races, or games.
The invention is hereafter described and illustrated as being applicable to
pigeon flying, but we wish it to be distinctly understood that the apparatus may
be used, as named above, for other indicating and recording purposes than pigeon
flying.
Hitherto it has been customary in pigeon flying to mark either the feathers or
wings of the bird with a number, or to place on or around one of its feet a piece

page_text: of thin india-rubber tubing carefully folded to conceal on its inside a secret number,
and bearing on its outside an open number and such other marks as will identify
bird. A copy of the secret number is retained in a sealed envelope until the bird
has reached its destination. On the departure of the bird the outside and open
number as well as the time of departure is recorded, and when the bird reaches its
destination, the india-rubber band is removed from the bird's foot when the time
of arrival and the secret number on the india-rubber band (which is then first
obtained) are telegraphed to the recording office or starting point.
It will readily be seen that the above system is open to several apparent defects,
one of which, and by no means the least important, is that reliance has to be
entirely placed upon the postal officials recording the correct time of handing in
the telegrams, and also the variance of time of the different office clocks, as well
as the disadvantage of running allowances.
The object of this invention is to arrange for the time of departure or arrival
being recorded on a moveable or travelling strip or "tape" by the dial or dials and
hands of the time indicating mechanism, that is to say, the figures, division lines,
or other marks on the dial or dials or face of the clock or other time indicating
mechanism, and the hands rotating thereon or around, are converted into type or
stamps for printing on the said strip or "tape" the actual time of departure or
arrival of, say for instance, a homing or other pigeon used for flying or carrying
purposes.
In the drawings hereunto annexed :-
Fig. is a longitudinal section, Fig. 2 an end elevation, Fig. 3 a plan looking at
the top of an indicating and recording apparatus constructed according to this
invention.
Figs. 4 and 5 (the latter enlarged) are plans looking at the top with the lid and
printing and inking frames removed.
Fig. 6 a transverse section on line xx Fig. 3.
Fig. 7 a transverse section on line y y Fig. 3.
Fig. 8 a plan looking on the underside of the printing frame.
Fig. 9 a plan of the strip or "tape" upon which the records are stamped or
printed.
Like parts in all the views are marked with similar letters of reference.
A is a box or casing, hereafter termed a casing, made of any suitable shape
(rectangular in the drawings) and material, such as wood, and it is provided with
a hinged or jointed lid or cover B, hereafter termed a lid. The lid B may be
securely fastened in position by any convenient means, such as for example, by
a lock C, and a sealing device D jointed at one end to the outside of the casing A
and passed over the key hole and secured at the other end by sealing wax at E, in
which is made or formed an impression of the club cr other seal. Access to the
interior of the easing by any unauthorized person or persons is thereby prevented.
The lid B is perforated or provided with any desired number, preferably,
but not necessarily so, three,-of openings, slits, or holes, F, G, H, hereafter
termed openings, of any required size and shape for purposes to be hereafter
described.
Within the casing A is mounted on a slide I, and fixed between the projecting
pieces i', a clock or other time indicating mechanism, hereafter termed and included
in the term "clock" J, having one or more faces or dials constructed as hereafter
described: The slide I is arranged to work between suitable guides. One end
of the slide is made to pass through the casing to its outside, as shown at Figs. 1
to 4.
The face or dial K of the clock is preferably though not necessarily so, arranged
in a horizontal position. In the drawings two dials K K are shown at Fig. 4, and
three dials K K K are shown at Fig. 5. The dial K is for indicating hours and
minutes, dial K' for indicating the seconds, and the third dial K' for indicating the
days of the week. The dial K² may also have, say, four or more division lines for
each day for indicating at what portion of the day the impression was taken, when.

page_text: a twelve hours dial is used. But, when preferred the number of dials may be
increased or diminished, and their position altered, that is to say the dials K K
may both be placed above or below or at the side of dial K; or separate dials for
indicating the seconds, minutes, hours, and days may be employed and arranged
in any suitable or convenient position or positions. The marking, lettering,
numbering, and the like of the dials may also be varied as circumstances or
occasion require."
The figures (Roman lettering or numerals) and divisiod lines of the dials K
and K', and dial K, or the whole of the dial itself, and the hands L L' L' L'
of the clock, may be formed of any suitable material, say for example of
metal or india-rubber, or metal armed with a facing of india-rubber to form a
type or stamp for printing purposes. In the drawings the figures, say for
example I to XII as at K Fig. 4, or 1 to 24 as at K Fig. 5, or 10 to 60 as
at Ki Figs. 4 and 5, and the division lines of all the dials K K' K' are
represented as being formed of india-rubber mounted and secured by cement or
other suitable means upon a suitable metal disc. The hands L L L L are, as
shown in the drawings, made of metal, respectively armed with facings of
india-rubber for printing purposes. The said hands are preferably, but not
necessarily so mounted upon spindles provided with square ends, and operated by
clock mechanism of ordinary construction and in the usual manner.
The hour hand L and minute hand L' are arranged, as shown, to clear each
other.
Within the casing A are also mounted two frames M and N of suitable
construction and capable of being operated independently.
The frames M and N are kept in position by the projections a a fixed to the
inside of the casing A and which act as guides. The frame M is for inking
purposes and the frame N for printing purposes. Each frame is armed on its
upper surface with a knob or handle marked m and n. The knobs m and n are
arranged to pass respectively through the hereinbefore mentioned openings F
and G in the lid B of the casing. To the under surface of frame M is fixed
a pad O and to the under surface of frame Na pad P of any suitable material
such as felt, woven fabric, or the like. The pad O is saturated with aniline ink
and used for inking the face of the dials K'K' K' and hands L LL L³, and
the other pad P is used for printing purposes. The said two frames M N are
mounted respectively upon any suitable arrangement of springs Q. In the
drawings these springs are in the form of a piece of flat steel bent into a circle
with its ends secured to the inside of the casing A. But any other form of springs,
such as for example helical springs may be used. The under surface of the ends
of each of the frames M N are shown to rest upon the upper portions of the
springs Q. When the frames are in their normal positions the springs keep
them clear of the dials. The frame N is also provided on its underside with a
pair of rollers R, S, (with or without flanges) suitably attached thereto by
brackets which form bearings T. The rollers R, S, are for receiving a roll of
transparent or other paper U or its equivalent, of any suitable width and length,
to form a strip or "tape," which may or may not have lines or other printed matter
provided on its surface. From experiments we have made, we find that if the
strip or "tape" is made about three and a half inches in width, satisfactory
results will be obtained. One or both of the rollers R or S is or are provided
with ratchet or other notched whecis V, and pawls W, or brakes X, or it or their
equivalents, for preventing them rotating except when intermittently operated by
hand by means of a key, or handle, or lever all of which are hereinafter termed
and included in the term key Y which is passed from the outside through a
perforation or slot in the casing and engages with the end of one of the rollers.
Or the rollers R S may be intermittently operated by the time indicating
mechanism. The ends a of the strip or "tape are secured to the rollers R, S, by
any suitable meats such as gumming or pasting them thereto; or by clips 2 of any
suitable construction or it or their equivalents. In the drawings the roller R is the
وو

page_text: only one armed with a ratchet wheel V, with which engages a spring pawl W,
whilst a spring brake X is provided and works on one of the flanges or surface of
the roller S for retarding its rotation. The strip or "tape" U passes from roller S
over the end n' and face n² of its supporting frame N, and then through an
aperture n in the frame to its underside to permit of it being passed between the
pad P on the frame N, and the printing surface of the clock face or dial K K' K²
before reaching and being secured to the second roller R by means of a piece of
gummed paper, or clip Z. The third opening H in the lid B of the casing A. is
provided immediately over the frame at the point n² where the travelling strip or
"tape" U passes over the upper surface n² of its supporting frame, to permit of
any number or other matter (with which, say for example, the pigeon has been
marked in any ordinary or suitable manner) being written, or stamped on the strip
or "tape" previous to being passed over the dials K K K of the clock J for
recording purposes.
Suitable stop or stops (fixed to the slide) may be provided for preventing the
slide I being drawn too far, and a fastening or fastenings 1 fixed to the outside of
casing A is or are provided for securing it in position during the recording
operation.*
A handle or handles 2 inay also be provided for carrying purposes.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The hands L L L L of the clock J are first set or regulated to the correct
time of the day. The end of the strip or "tape" U having been passed over end n',
surface n², and aperture n³ of frame N is then made fast to the roller R. The
frames M and N having been placed in the casing A, the lid is locked in position
and sealed at E.
'
The slide I, upon which the clock J is mounted, is now drawn outwards under
the frame M carrying the inking pad O which is,-by the handle m passing through
opening F in the lid B,-depressed onto the face or dials K K K for inking the
type which forms the time indicating portions of the dial or face of the clock.
After the dials K K K have been inked, the slide 1 is returned to its normal
position, under the printing pad P, and secured in position by the fastening 1.
When the pigeon is liberated or arrives, the name of the owner of the pigeon is
first written through opening H upon the strip or "tape" U and afterwards, either,
the outer number on liberation, or inner number on arrival, as the case may be, on
the india rubber ring that is placed upon the bird's foot. The strip or "tape
is by means of a key Y, (or its equivalent) being passed from the outside through
a perforation or slot in the casing A and made to engage with the end of the rolls-
then caused to travel the required distance until the written matter is about over
the centre of dial K.
U
As soon as the pigeon is liberated or arrives, the outer or inner number is written
down upon the strip or "tape" U through opening H, and the strip or "tape" U
is then made to travel the required distance by means of key Y. The handle n
(which passes through opening G and projects above the lid B) is then depressed,
by which the springs Q are compressed, and the frame N is caused to descend onto
the dials K K K². Simultaneously therewith the printing pad P is made to press
the strip or "tape" U onto the face of the clock which, owing to the dials K K¹ K*
forming the type, prints a complete impression of their figures, and division lines,
as well as the position of its hands L, L, L, L³, as shown at Fig. 9, on to the
strip or "tape" U, thereby recording the exact time-that is, day, hour, minute,
and second, of the depression on to the said "tape" or strip, and consequently
the exact time of liberation or arrival of the pigeon.
As soon as pressure is withdrawn from the handle n (or m) the springs Q return
the frame N (or M) to its normal position clear of the dials K K' K².
'
For example, say, a pigeon having a secret number, say 2976, arrived at its
destination on say a Monday at the sixth hour, tenth minute and fifth second, the
secret number would appear on the face of the strip or "tape" U and the record.

page_text: of the day, hour, minute, and second is printed on the back of the strip or "tape" U
which owing to the latter being transparent, the complete record will appear as
shown in the printed. impressions of the dials of Fig. 9, which are similar to
copies of impressions actually taken by apparatus constructed according to this
invention.
When the whole of one owner's pigeons have reached their destination and the
day and times of their arrival duly recorded, the sealed and locked casing is
forwarded to the club secretary, or other duly authorized person to be opened,
examined, and registered on the general list.
If desired, it may be arranged that any impression of the dials taken on the
strip or "tape," that is without the number on the bird's foot, is not considered
valid and therefore will not be considered by the person opening the casing.
By the above described means, tampering with the records is prevented, the
correct day and time of departure or arrival accurately recorded by a printed
impression taken of and from the face of the clock which shows the exact positions
of the hands thereof at the time the impression is taken, and the expense and delay
in sending telegrams is obviated.
It will be readily understood that if required facsimiles of the dials K. K¹ K² may
be printed upon the strip or "tape" U prior to the said strip or tape being mounted
or wound upon the rollers R and S. When this is done provision need only be
made for taking an impression from the hands LL LL of the clock J. Also
that when a twelve hours dial K is used and say the pigeon flying match can be
completed within that period, then the third dial K may be, if so desired,
dispensed with.
An inking roller may also be used in place of the inking pad and made to be
passed over the face of the dials, but we prefer using an inking pad as described
and shown.
The intermittent traverse of the strip or "tape" U may be regulated by any
other equivalent mechanism than those described such as by lever or levers and
pawls.
One or more sets of clocks J, slides I, inking and printing frames M and N may
be mounted in a single casing A.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that we are
aware that clock mechanism of ordinary construction with a travelling tape and
registering pins have been used for recording purposes, we therefore do not claim
the use of such mechanisin broadly, but what we claim is :-
1. The apparatus substantially as herein described for indicating and recording
the departure or arrival, say of pigeons and the like in which the actual record of
such departure or arrival is impressed by the dial or dials and hands of time keeping,
mechanism upon
an intermittent travelling strip or "tape," said apparatus
consisting essentially of (1) a casing provided with a hinged and perforated lid
capable of being securely fastened by means of a lock and seal; (2) time keeping
mechanism as described, such as a clock mounted upon a slide within the said
casing, such clock being provided with a dial or dials and hands as described for
printing as well as time indicating purposes; (3) the slides M and N (armed with
projecting knobs) mounted upon springs within the casing and provided respectively
with a pad or pads for inking and printing purposes, one of said frames being
provided with rollers for receiving a roll of transparent or other paper or material,
forming the intermittent traversing strip or "tape," upon which an impression of
the dials and hands of the time keeping mechanism is taken-all combined and
arranged in the manner and for the purposes herein before described and
illustrated.
2. In apparatus such as herein described, the time keeping mechanism, such as a
clock, having a dial or dials and hands as described arranged to form a stamp or

page_text: type for printing an impression thereof for recording purposes, as well as indicating
the time, arranged and combined substantially as and for the purposes herein
described and set forth.
Dated this Twenty-third day of July 1896.
FRANCIS BARKER.
CHARLES BARKER.