IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR STAMPING OR IMPRESSING RAILWAY OR OTHER TICKETS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Lancefield, of the Engineers' Department,
Great Northern Railway, King's Cross, London, Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR STAMPING
OR IMPRESSING RAILWAY OR OTHER TICKETS."
Sealed the 18th May 1866, and dated the 22nd November 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Lancefield at,
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd. November 1865.
I, ALFRED LANCEFIELD, of the Engineers' Department, Great Northern
Railway; King's Cross, London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
STAMPING OR IMPRESSING RAILWAY OR OTHER TICKETS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to'a peculiar construction and arrangement of
machinery or apparatus for stamping or impressing the number and date
on railway and other tickets in lieu of merely printing the same thereon,
whereby the impressions obtained are indelibly fixed on the ticket, whilst
the machine itself is of a much simpler and cheaper' construction than
those hitherto used for printing such tickets:
According to one mode of carrying out this Invention it is proposed to
employ two rolling surfaces oscillating on axes of their own, and having
their peripheries or surfaces in contact with each other. The rolling

page_text: surfaces may either be concentric or slightly eccentric, in the latter case a
gradually increasing nipping action on the ticket which is introduced
between them will be obtained. One of these rolling surfaces is made
hollow so as to contain a type box, which can be readily removed therefrom
at pleasure with a view to changing the number and date. This type box
is held in its place by a dovetailed slide, and is provided with a hinged
door for the insertion and removal of the type. The type employed may
be similar in general appearance to ordinary type, but should be made of
steel, and the impressing surface should be sufficiently sharp to partly cut
or indent the impression into the ticket. A stop or guage on the opposite
rolling surface serves to regulate the distance to which the ticket is inserted.
The two rolling surfaces are kept in proper position as regards each other
by a guide piece secured to one of them, and projecting over and in contact
with the other, and they are always maintained in a position ready for use
by a spring, which tends to push them forward and thereby keep them open
in readiness to receive the end of a ticket. An india-rubber or other
elastic buffer may be placed in front of one or both the rolling surfaces, to
prevent concussion against the casing of the machine when the ticket is
withdrawn. A curved guard plate or protector is fitted above the part
where the ticket is inserted to guide the ticket and prevent the fingers of
the operator from being damaged by being caught in the machine. To
facilitate the taking of the machine apart for repairs, cleaning, or adjustment
the top of the casing is hinged so as to open and expose the rolling surface
containing the type, and the trunnions or centres of both rolling surfaces
are screwed in their places so that they may be easily withdrawn and the
rolling surfaces removed. The whole is provided with lugs or flanges for
screwing it to a table.
According to another modification, in lieu of nipping the ticket between
two rolling surfaces, it is nipped between a slide and a fixed surface. The
slide which contains the indenting or impressing type is fitted within an
oscillating piece suspended from centres at its upper end. The upper end
of the slide is inclined, and is caused to travel along an eccentric portion of
the axis of the oscillating piece, or along a stationary incline or wedge
provided for that purpose, so that on pushing inwards the oscillating piece
when inserting the ticket, the slide, by the action of the inclined end against
the axis or stationary incline or wedge, will be forced downwards and
cause the type to indent the ticket. The oscillating piece is brought back
again to its former position by a spring acting on the back thereof.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Lancefield in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 22nd May 1866.
:
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
LANCEFIELD, of the Engineers' Department, Great Northern Railway,
King's Cross, London, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Alfred Lancefield, Her special license that I, the said
Alfred Lancefield, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Alfred Lancefield, my executors, administrators,.
or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR STAMPING OR IMPRESSING RAILWAY OR OTHER TICKETS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Lancefield, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Lancefield, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement
of machinery or apparatus for stamping or impressing the number and
date on railway and other tickets in lieu of merely printing the same
thereon, whereby the impressions obtained are indelibly fixed on the ticket,
whilst the machine itself is of a much simpler and cheaper construction
than those hitherto used for printing such tickets.
According to one mode of carrying out my Invention I propose to employ
two rolling surfaces oscillating on axes of their own, and having their peripher

page_text: ries in contact with each other. These rolling surfaces may or may not be
slightly eccentric, in the former case a gradually increasing nipping action
on the ticket which is introduced between them will be obtained. One of
tliese rolling surfaces is made hollow so as to contain a type box, which
can be readily removed therefrom at pleasure with a view to changing
the number and date. This type box is held in its place by a dovetailed
slide, and is provided with a hinged door for the insertion and removal of
the type. The type employed may be similar in general appearance to
ordinary type, but should be made of steel, and the impressing or
indenting surface should be sufficiently sharp to partly cut or indent
the impression into the ticket.
A stop or guage on the opposite rolling
surface serves to regulate the distance to which the ticket is inserted.
The two rolling surfaces are kept in proper position as regards each other
by a guide piece secured to one of them, and projecting over and in
contact with the other, and they are always maintained in a position ready
for use by a spring, which tends to push them forward and thereby keeps
them open in readiness to receive the end of the ticket. An india-rubber
or other elastic buffer may be placed in front of one or both the rolling
surfaces, to prevent concussion against the casing of the machine when
the ticket is withdrawn. A curved guard plate or protector is fitted above
the part where the ticket is inserted, in order to guide the ticket and
prevent the fingers of the operator from being damaged by being caught
in the machine. To facilitate the taking of the machine apart for repairs,
'cleaning, or adjustment the top of the case is hinged so as to open and
expose the rolling surface containing the type, and the trunnions or centres
of both rolling surfaces are screwed in their places so that they may be
easily withdrawn and the rolling surfaces removed. The whole is provided
with lugs or flanges for securing it to a table.
According to another modification, in lieu of nipping the ticket between
two rolling surfaces, it is nipped between a slide and a fixed surface.
The slide which contains the indenting or impressing type is fitted within
an oscillating piece suspended from centres at its upper end. The upper
end of the slide is inclined, and is caused to travel along an eccentric
portion of the axis of the oscillating piece, or along a stationary incline or
wedge provided for that purpose, so that on pushing inwards the oscillating
piece when inserting the ticket, the slide, by the action of its inclined end
against the axis or stationary incline or wedge, will be forced downwards,
and cause the type to indent the ticket. The oscillating piece is brought
back again to its former position by a spring acting on the back thereof.

page_text: And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheets of Drawings, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 of my Drawings represents a sectional elevation of the
first-mentioned modifications of my improved ticket stamper, wherein two
rolling surfaces are employed. A represents the outer casing of the
apparatus, which contains the stamping or indenting appliances, and is
provided with lugs or flanges B, B, for the purpose of fixing the machine
to a table or counter. In the interior of this casing there are fitted two
oscillating parts C and D, the contiguous curved surfaces of which roll in
contact with each other when the two parts are pushed forward or back
ward. The parts C and D oscillate respectively upon stud centres E and
F (shown by dotted circles), which are screwed into and through the sides
of the outer casing A, and enter corresponding recesses in the opposite
side of the parts C and D, so that by unscrewing their centre pins the
parts may be readily removed for cleaning or repairs, the top G of the
casing being made to open on the hinge H for that purpose. The upper
rolling surface C has a chamber or recess made therein, for the reception
of a type box I, and this box is retained in its place by a dovetailed slide
K inserted in the top of the piece C.. a is a lid or cover opening upon
a hinge 6 in the type box, in order to allow of the introduction and
removal of the type c. A projecting rib d inside the type box fits into
corresponding notches made in the type, so as to insure their being
properly placed within the box, and presenting an even impressing or
indenting surface. When the type has been thus set up so as to give the
number of the ticket and the date of issue, the cover a of the type box is
closed and the box itself is inserted in the upper rolling piece C, and
secured therein as shown in Figure 1, the indenting portion of the type
being allowed to protrude sufficiently beyond the face of the rolling
surface to indent or perforate the ticket e. A representation of the type
(which should be of steel or other sufficiently hard metal) is given at
Figure 9, Sheet 2, with an example of the impression or indentation pro-
duced on the ticket.
The surface of the lower oscillating or rolling piece
D is faced with brass to serve as the indenting bed for the reception of
the ticket, and a raised step or projection is formed thereon, which acts
as a stop or guage, against which the end of the ticket is to be thrust wlien
inserting it into the machine. The upper and lower rolling surfaces, are
kept in their proper relative positions by the piece L, attached to the back of

page_text: the upper rolling piece C, and projecting over and in contact with the back
of the piece D as shown, a blade or other spring M serving to push forward
the two parts C and D, and keep them in a proper position for the introduc-
tion of a ticket. N is an india-rubber or other buffer, which may be situate
opposite either or both the parts C and D, for the purpose of preventing
ány jár by their concussion against the front of the casing. A guard or
shield g is fitted to the upper part of the mouth of the apparatus, in order
to protect the thumb from injury by being nipped between the rolling
surfaces. In numbering and dating a ticket by this machine it is simply
necessary to bring the end of the ticket against the stop f, and then to
push forward the rolling surfaces C, D, by the pressure of the finger
against the finger plate h, when the sharp face of the type will be brought
in forcible contact with the ticket and will indent the number and date
thereon in an indelible manner. On removing the pressure the spring M
will return the parts C and D to their original position again, when the
ticket may be withdrawn.
Figure 2 (Sheet 1) represents a sectional elevation of another arrange-
ment of apparatus wherein the type is brought in contact with the ticket
by a sliding in lieu of a rolling action, as in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a
detail of the front part of the apparatus detached. A is a fixed upright
or standard cast on a hollow base or stand B, which is provided with a
drawer O (shewn in dotted lines) for containing the type and other
appliances connected with the machine. C is a metal slide working in a
groove or channel in the oscillating piece D, which vibrates upon the pin
or fulcrum. E in the top of the standard A. This piece D, with its slide
C, is shown in inside or back elevation at Figure 3. On the upper end of
the slide C there is fitted an antifriction roller P, which bears against
an incline Q formed on the front of the standard A, the upper portion of
the slide being bent or curved back in order to bring the roller under this
incline, as shewn clearly in Figure 2. M, M, are two helical springs
inserted into an aperture i in the slide C, and bearing at their upper ends
against the top of the aperture, whilst their lower ends are seated upon
the fixed piece k screwed to the oscillating piece D. These springs tend
to keep the slide elevated when it is not in action, so as to be in a position
for the reception of a ticket as herein-after explained. The slide C is
kept in its place by a plate fattached by screws to the back of the piece
D, which plate is removed in Figure 3 in order to show the arrangenient
of springs more clearly. In lieu of employing a separate type box, as in
Figure 1, the type c is fitted into a recess formed for that purpose in the

page_text: slide itself, a projecting rib d entering corresponding notches in the type
preventing them from accidentally falling out. The top part a of the.
feeding mouth forms the door of the type chamber, and is made to turn.
upon the hinge 6 so as to open the type chamber or recess for the;
insertion and removal of the type; when closed this lid is secured by a
button or other fastening or catch 1, and thus forms the top of the mouth-
piece through which the end of the ticket e is introduced. In using this,
machine the end of the ticket is pushed up to the plate f, which acts as a
stop, and the pressure of the finger against the plate h then causes the:
oscillating piece D to move inwards on its centre of vibration E. This.
has the effect of causing the roller P to run down the fixed incline Q, and
thereby depresses the slide C and forces the indenting type down upon
the ticket. The springs M, by elevating the slide, tend also to return
the piece D to its original position again when the pressure is removed. ::
Figure 1 on Sheet 2 of my Drawings represents two sectional elevations.
of a type box wherein provision is made for adjusting the vertical position
of the type if desired. For this purpose an adjustable plate m may be,
fitted inside the box so as to form the abutment or bearing surface for the
ends of the type. This plate is raised or lowered as required by the
screw n passing through the fixed cross bar o; when adjusted the plate
m is fixed by the screws p, p, which take the thrust, when the pressure, is
applied in the act of indenting the ticket..
(
.
Figure 4 on Sheet 2 of my Drawings represents a side elevation of a modi-,
fication of the first-described arrangement; Figure 5 is a corresponding.
front elevation of the same, and Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9 are details herein-
after described. A is the fixed upright or standard of the machine cast.
on the base plate B; C and D are two oscillating pieces centred respec-
tively at E and F, and pressed forward in the position shewn in the
Drawing, so as to be open to receive the ticket e by the blade or other
spring M. A tongue or projection L, formed on the upper piece C, bears
against the back of the lower piece D, and thereby keeps the two parts C
and D in their relative positions. The type c (Figure 9) is contained in a
recess in the part C, shown clearly in the sectional detail, Figure 6, a rib d
fitting into notches in the type preventing the latter from dropping out.
a is a lid or cover hinged at b for securing the type in place, and / is a
catch for keeping the lid closed. In the detail, Figure 8, the lid a is repre-
sented as being open to show the interior of the type chamber. N is a
stop hinged to the stand for the purpose of forming an abutment for the
part D when pressed outwards by the spring. This stop is turned over
t

page_text: when it is required to remove or repair the part D, and may be faced with
india-rubber to prevent jarring when the machine is at work. h is the
finger plate and O a type drawer. The ticket when inserted is brought
against the stopf, and the pressure of the finger against the plate h causes
the oscillating pieces C and D to move inwards after the manner of a
toggle joint, the result being the nipping of the end of the ticket between
the type and the surface of the piece D.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to
be novel-and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First, the general construction and arrangement of machinery or appa-
ratus for indenting, impressing, or perforating railway and other tickets in
lieu of printing the same, substantially as herein-before described.
Second, the application and use of two rolling or oscillating surfaces, in
one of which is fitted impressing, indenting, or perforating type, substan-
tially as and for the purpose herein-before described.
Third, the combination of a fixed incline and a moveable slide carrying
impressing, perforating, or indenting type, substantially as and for the
purpose herein-before described.
Fourth, the application and use to and in the marking of railway and
other tickets of type having cutting, indenting, or perforating faces,
substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Lancefield, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, the Twenty-first day of May,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
ALFRED LANCEFIELD. (L.S.)