Improvements in Apparatus for Timing Bird Races and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Timing Bird Races and the like.
I, THOMAS GARDNER, of 125 Knowsley Road, St. Helens in the County of
Lancaster, Glass Stainer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for timing bird races and the like, and its
object is to provide a machine which cannot be tampered with and which will avoid
the necessity of the bird owner having to run through the streets to the nearest
telegraph office upon his bird arriving home.
By my invention, each competitor is provided with a timing machine, which will
be hereinafter described, into which he will place the ring or number ticket of the
bird when it arrives home, a clock movement in the machine being thereby started or
stopped.
The invention consists essentially in placing a clock movement within a suitable
strong box or case having a transparent. front, and providing the box with a slot into
which the ring or number ticket of the bird may be inserted and with a slide whereby
the slot may be closed but not again opened by the competitor, which slide is so
arranged that it can be set to either stop or start the clock movement by means of
any suitable stopping or starting mechanism. Moreover the invention further
consists in a particular device for stopping or starting the clock movement, and also
in means for guarding against fraud.
The machine may be provided with any number of slots each with its own
slide and clock movement in order to time any number of birds, three being a most
convenient number.
For the purpose of description, I will now describe the invention with reference to
a machine for timing two birds.
I construct a strong case or box with a glass front and a hinged back, and place
two clocks within, each with their dials visible through the glass front of the case.
In the top of this case, I forin two slots numbered 1 and 2 at a suitable distance
apart, and forin in the case below each slot, a small box to receive the ring or number
ticket inserted through the slot.
On the top of the case, I mount two slides preferably abutting end to end, each
slide being provided with a stud projecting externally as a means of moving the slide,
and projecting internally into the case, where its inner end is attached to a plate
working against the inner face of the case top so as to prevent the slide being taken
off. The top of the box is cut away to allow sufficient play for the studs in order that
the slides may be moved to and fro to a given distance. These slides each carry on
their inner plates a broad flat spring or pawl device engaging in racks within the
case, whereby the slides can only be moved in one direction. In each slide near one
end I form a slot to correspond with the slots in the machine case and give such play
to the slides that the machine slots may be uncovered either by the slides being set
with their slots directly over the machine slots or with their ends pulled quite away
therefrom. A catch is pivoted in the inner face of the case top and adapted to be

page_text: turned down to engage the end of the inner plate of one slide so that when the slides
are set with their ends quite uncovering the machine slots, they cannot be pushed so
far when closing as to again open same by bringing the slide slots over the machine
slots. The second slide is stopped for the same purpose by its end abutting against
the end of the first slide. By turning the catch clear of the slide plate, the slides
may be set with their slots over the machine slots in which case a closing is effected
by still further pushing the slides along. The slides may thus be set to operate in
two ways, one of which I use when a going clock movement is to be stopped and the
other when a stopped movement is to be started.
On each inner slide plate, I arrange an arm adapted to engage suitable stopping or
starting mechanism on the clock movements.
For this stopping or starting mechanism, I prefer to adopt the following device,
which I have designed for this purpose. This device consists of a plate or arm faced
with indiarubber and adapted to engage the balance wheel of the movement
tangentially so as to stop the clock instantly and push the balance further round, thus
winding up the hair spring to some extent. By this means upon the rubber faced
arm being drawn back, the starting of the clock is assured by the recoil of the hair
spring. Instead of rubber, other frictional material may be used to effect a grip
between the stopping arm and the balance, provided an elastic pressure is produced
such as by use of springs with friction pieces. I prefer however to use indiarubber.
This stopping and starting arm I affix to each of the aforesaid arms of the slide
plates in such a position as to engage the balance wheels and stop the clocks when
the slides are closed or to normally hold the clocks in a stopped position and only start
them when the slides are closed, according as to how the slides have been set as
hereinbefore described.
The mode of operation is as follows:-
The machines are taken to the club to be regulated and set. If the clocks are to
remain stopped and only started on the arrival of the birds, the officer at the club
sets the slides with their slots over the machine slots so as to leave the latter open
and thereby stops the clock movements. The hinged back of the case is now closed
and sealed by the officer, and the machine is taken home by the competitor. When
the bird arrives home, the competitor inserts its ring or number ticket in the No. 1
slot of the machine and closes its slide, thus starting the clock. As other birds
follow, he does the same with No. 2 clock and so on. The racks prevent the slides
being opened by the competitor and the tickets cannot therefore be touched when
once inserted.
If the clocks are to go during the race and be stopped as the birds arrive, the
officer at the club sets the slides further back with their ends uncovering the machine
slots, and turns down the catch to prevent them being pushed too far over when
closed by the competitor. The operation is in other respects the same as before except
that the clocks are started and not stopped by the competitor closing the slides in
succession as the birds arrive.
In order to assist the officer in setting the slides, I provide a wedge shaped piece of
tin or other sheet metal which he can insert behind the pawls to raise them from
their racks and thus allow of the slides being moved backwards. This wedge is
formed with a flange along one edge to engage the end of the slide plate and thus be
pushed along with it until the slide has been set. The wedge is then withdrawn and
the pawl again allowed to engage the rack before the case is closed.
To assist the club officer in regulating the clocks, I place a larger graduated scale
under the regulator, and number the graduations, and place at some suitable point
within the machine case, opal tablets or the like. The officer having regulated all the
clocks in one machine will now mark on each tablet the figure of the scale to which
the regulator of the corresponding clock had been adjusted. It can thus be
always seen whether the regulator of any clock has been accidentally or otherwise
moved.
Within the machine ense (preferably on the inner face of its hinged back) I
pivotally attach a light finger and above same rigidly fix a small permanent magnet,

page_text: The object of this is to prevent fraud by a shaking of the machine, as it is well known
that the time of a clock movement can be accelerated or otherwise varied by shaking
it. The said finger will normally hang down and remain so with ordinary usage, but
if the machine be turned upside down, or unnecessarily shaken, the finger will
fly up to the magnet and be retained there, and thus show that the machine has been
tampered with.
In order to prevent the door or hinged back of the case being fraudulently opened,
I make the hinge pins longer than usual and turn their ends over towards the interior
of the machine so that the same cannot be punched out. I also provide teeth or
projections on the hinged edge of the door as in safes to enter sockets in the adjacent
wall of the case when the door is closed.
It will be readily understood that various modifications may be made in the
machine without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the slides
need not abut end to end but may be otherwise placed and be provided each with a
separate catch. The slides may also be made without the double setting
arrangement that is with a movement to only start a stopped clock, or with a
novement to only stop a going clock instead of being adapted to be set for either
purpose.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Timing Bird Races and the like.
I, THOMAS GARDNER of 125 Knowsley Road, St. Helens in the County of Lancaster,
Glass Stainer, 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 apparatus for timing bird races and the like, and its object
is to provide a machine which cannot be tampered with and which will avoid the
necessity of the bird owner having to run through the streets to the nearest telegraph
office upon his bird arriving home.
By my invention, each competitor is provided with a timing machine, which will
be hereinafter described, into which he will place the ring or number ticket of the
bird when it arrives home, a clock movement in the machine being thereby started
or stopped.
The invention consists essentially in placing a clock movement within a suitable
strong box or case having a transparent front, and providing the box with a slot into
which the ring or number ticket of the bird may be inserted and with a slide whereby
the slot may be closed but not again opened by the competitor, which slide is so
arranged that it can be set to either stop or start the clock movement by means of
any suitable stopping or starting mechanism. Moreover the invention further consists
in a particular device for stopping or starting the clock movement, and also in means
for guarding against fraud.
The machine may be provided with any number of slots each with its own slide
and clock movement in order to time any number' of birds, three being a most
convenient number:
For the purpose of description, I will now describe the invention with reference

page_text: drawings, in which,
iting one
Is shown in the accompanying
Figures 1 to 4 are plan views of the machine showing the slide in each of its four
positions respectively;
Figures 1 to 3 are rear elevations with part of the hinged back cut away;
Figure 4 is a rear elevation showing the back swung open;
Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section on the line x-y of Figure 3*;
Figure 6 is a plan showing a preferred method of sealing the hinged back when
closed.
I construct a strong case or box A with a glass front and a hinged back B and place
a clock C within with its dial visible through the glass front of the case.
In the top
of this case, I form a slot d and in the case below said slot arrange a small box a to
receive the ring or number ticket inserted through the slot d.
On the top of the case, I mount a slide D provided with a stud or screw b projecting
internally into the case, where its inner end is attached to a plate c working against
the inner face of the case top so as to prevent the slide D being taken off. The stud b
also projects externally as a means of moving the slide and is preferably soldered to
the slide to prevent it being taken off; or a separate stud or other thumb piece may
be provided on the slide. The top of the box is cut away to allow sufficient play for
the stud b in order that the slide D may be moved to and fro to a given distance.
The slide D is provided with means which allow of its being moved in only one
direction by the competitor. This may consist of a broad flat spring or pawl device
arranged on the inner plate e and engaging in a rack within the case, but I prefer
instead to provide the inner plate with a projection or pin e and the inner face of the
hinged back with umbrella-spring catches so that when the back B is opened
the catches are carried with it away froin the pin e and the slide is thus left free
to be moved back without the pawl or spring having to he ruiged as would be the case
if a rack were used. In the slide near one end I form a slot d to correspond with
the slot d in the machine case and give such play to the slide 1) that the machine
slot d may be uncovered either by the slide being set with its slot di directly over the
machine slot d, as shown in Figure 3, or with its end pulled quite away therefrom, as
shown in Figure 1. A catch or stop g is pivoted on the inner face of the case top and
adapted to be turned round to engage the edge of the inner plate e of the slide D, as
shown in Figure 2 so that when the slide is set with its end quite uncovering the
machine slot d, as shown in Figure 1, it cannot, when being pushed into the position
shown in Figure 2 to close the slot d, be pushed so far as to again open same by
bringing the slide slot d' over the said machine slot d. By turning the stop clear
of the slide plate c the slide may be set with its slot d' over the machine slot d, as
shown in Figure 3, in which case a closing of the slot is effected by still further
pushing the slide along into the position shown in Figure 4. The slide may thus be
set to operate in two ways, one of which I use when a going clock movement is to be
stopped and the other when a stopped movement is to be started.
On the inner slide plate c I arrange an arm H adapted to engage suitable stopping
or starting mechanism on the clock movements.
For this stopping or starting mechanism, I prefer to adopt the following device,
which I have designed for this purpose.
This device consists of a plate or arm h faced with a block of indiarubber h¹
(Figure 5) adapted to engage the balance wheel I of the movement tangentially so as
to stop the clock instantly and push the balance further round, thus winding up the
hair spring to some extent. By this means upon the rubber faced arm h being drawn
back, the starting of the clock is assured by the recoil of the hair spring. Instead of
rubber, other frictional material may be used to effect a grip between the stopping
arm h and the balance I, provided an elastic pressure is produced such as by use of
springs with friction pieces. I prefer however to use indiarubber.
This stopping and starting arin & I affix to, or form in one piece with, the aforesaid
arm H of the slide plate c in such a position as to engage the balance wheel I and
stop the clock when the slide D is closed (Figs. 2 and 24), or to normally hold the

page_text: clock in a stopped position and only start it when the slide D is closed (Figures 4
and 4A), according as to how the slide has been set as hereinbefore described.
The mode of operation is as follows:-
The machine is taken to the club to be regulated and set. If the clock is to remain
stopped and be only started on the arrival of the bird (Figures 3 and 4), the officer at
the club sets the slide D with its slot d over the machine slot d (Figures 3 and 3)
so as to leave the latter open and thereby stops the clock movement, the rubber
block bearing on the balance wheel I. In this position the pin e lies behind the
umbrella catch f2. The hinged back B of the case is now closed and sealed by the
officer, and the machine is taken home by the competitor. When the bird arrives
home, the competitor inserts the bird's ring or number-ticket through the slot dinto
the box a of the machine and closes the slide D into the position shown in Figures 4
and 4A, thus starting the clock. The slide cannot be opened by the competitor as the
pin e has now passed over the catch and the ticket cannot therefore be touched
when once inserted.
If the clock is to go during the race and be stopped when the bird arrives
(Figures 1 and 2) the officer at the club sets the slide D further back with its end
uncovering the machine slot d (Figures 1 & 1), and turns round the stop g to
prevent said slide being pushed too far over when closed by the competitor. The
operation is in other respects the same as before, except that the clocks are stopped,
and not started, by the competitor closing the slide when the bird arrives. In this
case the pine is engaged by the other catch . In order to guard against the clock
being stopped by not fully elesing the slide and then quickly opening the slide, I
make the umbrella catches each with two shoulders it so that when the slide is
almost closed the pin e is stopped against backward pull by the shoulder i in which
position the slide has not been moved sufficiently to stop the clock, whilst, when
pushed a little further to complete the action, the pin is carried in front of the other
shoulder and the clock is now stopped. I thus provide a double check against
trickery.
To assist the club officer in regulating the clocks, I place a larger graduated scale k
under the regulator, and number the graduations, Figure 1) and place at some
suitable point within the machine ease, opal tablets or the like. The officer having
regulated all the clocks in one machine will now mark on each tablet the figure of the.
scale to which the regulator of the corresponding clock land been adjusted. It can'
thus be always seen whether the regulator of any elock has been accidentally or
otherwise moved.
Within the machine case (preferably on the inner face of its binged back) I
pivotally attach a light finger m and above same rigidly fix a small permanent
magnet . The object of this is to prevent fraud by a shaking of the machine, as it
is well known that the time of a clock movement can be accelerated or otherwise
varied by shaking it. The said finger ma will normally hang down and remain so
with ordinary usage, but if the machine be turned upside down, or unnecessarily
shaken, the finger will fly up to the magnet and be retained there, and thus show
that the machine has been tampered with.
In order to prevent the door or hinged back of the case being fraudulently opened,
I make the hinge pins longer than usual and turn their ends over towards the interior
of the machine so that the same cannot be punched out. I also provide teeth or
projections o on the hinged edge of the door B as in safes to enter sockets p in the
adjacent wall of the case when the door is closed, and preferably line the case. with
tin, glass or other hard material.
The method which I prefer of sealing the door or hinged back B is shown in
Figure 6. This consists in providing lugs r on the door and case to meet face to face
when the door is closed, said lugs being perforated to allow of a lead stud with large
flat head being passed through both and secured by a disc being then placed on the.
other end and both parts of the seal united by a punch or pair of nips having its face
or jaws engraved with the seal of the club or other distinctive mark.
It will be readily understood that various modifications may be made in, the,

page_text: machine without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance the slides
may be made with a single instead of a double setting arrangement, that is with a
movement to only start a stopped clock, or with a movement to only stop a going
clock, instead of being adapted to be set for either purpose, in which case the slot d
in the slide will be found unnecessary as the machine slot d can be opened by the
end of the slide D uncovering it.
Several clocks may also be arranged within a single case, each with its own slide
and slot to admit of the one machine being used for the purpose of timing the arrival
of several birds, the slots being numbered and used successively as the different birds
arrive.
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 :-
1. An apparatus for timing bird races and the like comprising a clock mounted in a
suitable case; a box arranged beneath a slot in said case to receive the ring or
number ticket of the bird; a slide adapted to open or close said slot but incapable of
being opened by the competitor when closed; and means for stopping or starting
the clock by the movement of the slide substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
2. In apparatus for timing bird races and the like: the arrangement for stopping
or starting the clock, consisting of a plate or arm provided with an india-rubber block
or other elastic friction piece movable tangentially into or out of contact with the
balance wheel by the moveinent of the slide which opens and closes the slot
of the ticket box, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
3. In apparatus for timing bird races and the like: the combination with a slide
for opening and closing the slot of the ticket box and having means for stopping or
starting the clock, of a stop arranged in the case and adapted to be turned into or
out of engagement with a plate or projection on the slide for the purpose of
controlling the travel of the latter in order that the machine may be set to time a
race either by stopping or by starting the clock on the arrival of the bird as may be
required, substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. In apparatus for timing bird races and the like: the combination of a pin or
projection carried by the slide, and one or more spring catches with double shoulders
arranged on the door or hinged back of the case to engage said pin or projection
when the door is closed and prevent the slide being opened' when once shut, but
allowing it to be opened when the door is opened, substantially as described.
5. In apparatus for timing bird races and the like: providing the clock with an
enlarged and numbered graduated scale for indicating the position of the clock
regulator, and the interior of the case with a tablet or tablets for the purpose of
enabling the position of the regulator to be easily seen and marked down when the
the clock has been regulated, in order to afterwards enable it to be ascertained
whether the regulator has been accidentally or otherwise shifted substantially as
described.
6. In apparatus for timing bird races and the like: the arrangement for sealing the
door or hinged back, consisting of perforated lugs provided on the door and case to
meet face to face when the door is closed, and a lead stud adapted to be passed
through both lugs and be secured by a punch or pair of nips engraved with a
distinctive mark, substantially as described.
7. In apparatus for timing bird races and the like; the arrangement within the
case of a pivoted finger to hang vertically downward in a normal position of the clock,
and of a permanent magnet above said finger to attract and hold the same in an
upwardly turned position should the finger swing too much, such as through any
undue shaking of the machine, in order to indicate whether any fraudulent attempt
has been made to accelerate or otherwise affect the going of the clock by shaking,
substantially as described.
8. In apparatus for timing bird mces, and the like: the arrangement within a single
case of several distinct mechanisms of the kind described, each with a separate clock

page_text: and ticket box, to enable the arrival of several bir 's to be timed with one machine,
substantially as described.
9. In apparatus for timing bird races and the like: providing the case with a lining
of tin, glass or other hard material which cannot be cut or bored without leaving
signs of having been thus tampered with.
10. The general construction and combination of parts taken as a whole, forming
the improved apparatus for timing bird races and the like, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated.
ed this 6th day of July 1897.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, Patent Agents.