Improvements in Apparatus for Indicating Fluctuating Prices, Values, or other Quantities.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 29th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 11th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL DI MULTIVATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Indicating Fluctuating Prices,
Values, or other Quantities.
I, WILLIAM HEGGIE of 2 Balmoral Crescent, Crosshill, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, Warehouseman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows that is to say :—
My said invention has for its object to provide improved apparatus for indicating
or showing fluctuating or changing quantities in a convenient and comprehensive
manner, and so as to present a large amount of information in an easily discernible
manner.
My improved apparatus is advantageously applicable for showing changes in
prices or values in markets of various kinds, for marking fluctuations in shares,
stocks, and securities and alterations in the prices of metals, chemicals, produce,
and other goods.
space or
on
In carrying out my invention according to one modification, I employ a board
or tablet of a rectangular or any other convenient form, of cardboard, or other
suitable material, and by preference having a convex surface and on such board
I allot narrow spaces crossing horizontally, vertically, or in any other convenient
direction, to the several stocks or other things in respect of which changes in
value are to be indicated, distinguishing the several spaces by appropriate names
placed at one or both ends together with other information if desired. On each
a strip occupying each space there are marked by printing or
otherwise numerals representing prices appropriate to the several stocks or things.
In one mode of using the apparatus the sets of price numerals are placed so
that the prices on a particular date occupy middle positions denoted by a line
crossing the strips or spaces. Along the several strips or spaces fibrous threads
or wires are arranged with their ends fixed to the board in any convenient way;
and on these threads or wires are placed beads, marks, or small clips which can
be set at or over numerals corresponding to prices at a later date than that
The beads or marks will thus
corresponding to the prices at the middle line.
show at a glance whether particular values are rising or falling.
Instead of threads or wires and beads, any other convenient marking arrange-
ment may be used, such for example as holes to receive pegs, or slots or grooves
or folds in the surface material of the board to receive sliding markers or clips.
There may be two or more beads or marks applicable to each space or strip to
allow of two or more successive changes of value being indicated. Each marker
or clip may be provided with a pointed screw or other point which can be made
to mark the board to show the last previous place at which the marker was set.
The markers may be upon screwed wires and be adjusted in position by turning
such wires. The strips having the price numerals on them may be adjustable
so as to simply require rearrangement when it is wished to start afresh from a
new date.
The apparatus may be appropriately described as a price indicator, shareometer,
or commercial barometer.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of July 1891.
EDMUND HUNT,
Per pro D. Ferguson,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Indicating Fluctuating Prices,
Values, or other Quantities.
1, WILLIAM HEGGIE, of 2, Balmoral Crescent, Crosshill, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, Warehouseman, 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, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to provide improved apparatus for indicating
or showing fluctuating or changing quantities in a convenient and comprehensive
manner, and so as to present a large amount of information in an easily discernible
manner.
My improved apparatus is advantageously applicable for showing changes in
prices or values in markets of various kinds, for marking fluctuations in shares,
stocks, and securities, and alterations in the prices of metals, chemicals, produce,
and other goods.
My improved apparatus may be modified in detail in various ways but on an
accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings I show in face view one modification
as an example from which my invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood.
In carrying out my invention according to the modification shown in the
drawings I employ a board or tablet, A, of a rectangular form, of wood or it might
be cardboard or other suitable material. This board, A is made with its main
part, A 1, raised or projecting somewhat from the border parts and the lateral edges
of this raised part are rounded to facilitate the stretching on it of a strip or sheet
of paper, B, and other parts hereinafter mentioned. On this sheet, B, I allot a
number of narrow horizontal spaces distinguished by the names of various stocks,
(printed or marked at the left hand edge of the shect, B,) in respect of which
changes in value are to be indicated. On each horizontal space there are marked
by printing or otherwise, numerals representing prices appropriate to the several
stocks or things. The horizontal spaces in which the numerals are placed are
divided by vertical lines so that there are spaces between the numerals these spaces
representing fractional intermediate values. In using the apparatus the sets of
price numerals are placed so that the prices on a particular date occupy middle
positions denoted by two thick vertical lines crossing the horizontal spaces; this
date being also, where desired, printed or marked at the top of the sheet of
paper, B, as shown in the drawings. Along the several horizontal spaces fibrous
threads, C, (or it might be wires) are arranged each with one end fixed in holes, D,
at the left-hand edge of the board, A, the other end being inserted in a similar
hole, D1, at the right-hand edge of the board and secured by a small peg. To
indicate one, two, or more successive changes of value at a later date or dates than
that corresponding to the prices at the middle line a corresponding number of
beads, by preference of different colors, (or it might be marks or clips) are placed
on the threads, C, which beads can be set at or over numerals corresponding to
prices at the various dates. In the drawings two beads, E, E 1, or E, E 2, are
shown on each thread, C, all the beads, E 1, on the left-hand side show that the
values fell from the prices quoted on the given date, whilst heads, E, show that
the values have risen at a still later date. All the beads, E 2, on the right-hand
side show that the shares rose from the price quoted on the given date and the
beads, E, show the prices at a still later date. The beads thus show at a glance
whether particular values are rising or falling.
Where it is desired to use a large number of beads to indicate numerous
successive changes of prices or in other cases it is preferable to use two threads (C)
for cach horizontal space, one thread extending across the foot of each space as
shown and the other across the top, (or being otherwise arranged) the beads being

page_text: distributed in any desired manner on the threads.
Instead of threads, C, or wires,
and beads, E, any other convenient marking arrangement may be used, such for
example as holes to receive pegs, or slots or grooves or folds in the surface
material of the board, A, or sheet of paper, B, to receive sliding markers or clips.
Each marker or clip may be provided with a pointed screw or other point which
can be made to mark the board to show the last previous place at which the
marker was set. The markers may be upon screwed wires and be adjusted in
position by turning such wires. The strips or sheets of paper having the price
numerals on them may be adjustable so as to simply require rearrangement when it
is wished to start afresh from a new date; and the spaces containing the price
numerals instead of crossing the board or strips of paper horizontally may extend
vertically or in any other convenient direction the names of the stocks or other
things being suitably arranged at the ends of these spaces.
In the example shown in the drawings there are eight horizontal spaces shown,
but it is evident that this number may be increased according to the size of the
board used.
The apparatus may be appropriately described as a price indicator, shareometer,
or commercial barometer.
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 :-
The improved apparatus for indicating fluctuating prices, values or other
quantities made substantially in any form hereinbefore described.
Dated this Twenty-eighth day of Anril 1892
EDMUND HUNT,
Per pro David Ferguson,
Applicant's Agent.
EDMUND HUNT,
Per pro David Ferguson,
Applicant's Agent.