Results of Elections by Ballot, and for Preventing Fraud by Money Takers at Exhibitions, Theatres, and other Public Places.
Year: 1885

page_text: Results of Elections by Ballot, and for Preventing Fraud by
Money Takers at Exhibitions, Theatres, and other Public
Places.
16
I, JAMES WITHERS of 1 Culver Terrace, Sandown, Isle of Wight, Gentleman
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN COUNTERS
OR APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE RESULTS OF ELECTIONS BY BALLOT, AND
FOR PREVENTING FRAUD BY MONEY TAKERS, AT EXHIBITIONS, THEATRES AND OTHER
PUBLIC PLACES," to be as follows:-
"
My Invention relates to improvements in ordinary and well known "Counters'
or recording apparatus so as to adapt them for being worked by light forces and to
render them applicable to my improved method of quickly ascertaining the results
of elections by ballot and for preventing fraud by money takers at exhibitions
theatres and other public places for which a Patent is now being applied for by me
dated 31st March 1885 N° 4072.
My invention consists in the application to the spindles of the aforesaid or other
such like counters of a means of obtaining the action of the instrument by the
very slight force of a small disc or other weight to set in motion the parts of the
recording instrument, which is usually accomplished by steam, water, or other
power.
For this purpose I employ a small metal holder or receiver, with an adjustable
counterbalance to adapt it to the size and weight of the disc employed, and so as
to bring the receiver into its required position to receive the disc or weight and
carry on the reciprocating action of the recording instrument.
The advantages resulting from my improvements are the application of a minute
force necessary to accomplish the end in view whereby the counter or recording
instrument is made available for my method of quickly ascertaining the results of
contested elections and further by its use to prevent collusion and fraud between
money-takers and check-takers and to enable the proprietor or other authorised
person to know at any moment the money value of the audience present, and the
exact amount of the money received by the money-taker at each part of the house
or entrance to an exhibition or other place.
By the use of a second recording instrument with a distinguishing disc the
number of persons who have passed with free tickets or orders can also be
accurately obtained.

page_text: Places.
I JAMES WITHERS of 1 Culver Terrace Sandown Isle of Wight Gentleman
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:—
"
My invention relates to improvements in ordinary and well known "Counters"
or recording apparatus so as to adapt them for being worked by light forces and
to render them applicable to my improved method of quickly ascertaining the
results of elections by ballot for which a Patent is now being applied for by me
dated 31st March 1885 N° 4072 and for preventing fraud by money takers and
check takers at exhibitions theatres and other public places.
""
"
My invention consists in the application to the spindle of well known "counters
(which have been tested for accuracy for about twenty years, or other such like
counters") which have hitherto been set in motion and maintained by steam,
water or other power of a means of obtaining the action of the instrument by the
very slight force necessary to accomplish the ends in view whereby the counter or
recording instrument is made available for my method of quickly ascertaining the
results of contested elections and further by its use to prevent collusion and fraud
between money-takers and check-takers and to enable the proprietor or other
authorised person to know at any moment the money-value of the audience present
and the exact amount of the money received by the money taker at each part of
the house or entrance to an exhibition or other public place.
»
For this purpose I employ a small metal disc-receiver or holder a as shown in
the drawings hereto annexed (Figure 2) which I attach to the spindle of the
" counter
or recording instrument by the set screw c with an adjustable counter-
balance weight b to adapt it to act with the size and weight of the disc employed
consecutively numbered No 1 upwards or other weight and so to bring the disc-
receiver a into its required position to receive the succeeding disc or weight and
or recording
thus carry on the reciprocating action of the spindle B of the "counter
instrument whereby I can register. every vote as it is delivered at an election and
also register every person passing a money-taker at exhibitions, theatres or other
public places.
"
In order to prevent the fraudulent use at an election of mercury, shot, grit or
other materials openings h h (of suitable size to retain the disc) are formed in the
receiver a to allow such materials to fall through them and thus prevent such
materials from setting the counter in motion.
By the use of a second counter or recording instrument with a distinguishing
disc the number of persons who have passed with "free-tickets" or orders can
also be accurately obtained.

page_text: By means of this apparatus the check-taker can be dispensed with and the cost
attending his employment be saved.
»
The advantages resulting from my improvements are the application of a minute
force found suitable to accomplish the ends in view whereby the "counter" or
recording instrument is made available for my method of quickly ascertaining the
results of contested elections and for preventing collusion and fraud between money
takers and check-takers at exhibitions theatres and other public places saving
the cost of check takers and enabling proprietors to ascertain at any moment the
money-value of his audiance and to learn with precision the number of persons
present upon such occasion passing with "orders " ог free tickets" thereby
enabling the proprietor to regulate and control such admissions.
"
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. The improved arrangement adaptation and application of apparatus to
existing and long known "counters" by the employment and attachment thereto
of a "receiver" such as a for receiving metal discs whereby such discs or other
suitable weights can be substituted for voting papers at contested elections and
thus be quickly and accurately counted, thereby saving considerable time and labor
the apparatus being arranged to act substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described and represented in the drawings hereto annexed.
Second. The application of a very slight force such as the disc I employ in
substitution for steam, water or other motive power to actuate the counting
apparatus used for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
Third. The improved means and apparatus for the prevention of collusion and
fraud between money-takers and check-takers at exhibitions, theatres and other
public places and the saving of cost by dispensing with the services of check-takers
substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth.
Fourth. The improved means and apparatus for the prevention of fraud by the
retention of the disc or weight in its vertical position in the slot in which it is
placed so that a second or counterfeit disc cannot be inserted owing to the slot
being full substantially as described.
Fifth. The removal of certain portions of the disc receiver h so that the
fraudulent use of mercury shot or grit shall instantly pass through such openings
in the receiver and be powerless to set the counter in motion and thus prevent the
attempted fraud substantially as hereinbefore described.
دو
Sixth. The arrangement combination construction and application of apparatus
to counters or recording instruments so as to operate substantially in the
manner and for the purposes set forth namely:-For ascertaining the results of
elections by ballot as soon as the poll is closed and for preventing fraud by money-
takers and check-takers at exhibitions theatres and other public places substantially
as herein before fully described.