IMPROVEMENTS IN BALANCE LEVERS AND APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING, AND MODIFICATIONS THEREOF FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETECTING BASE COIN
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Mara Fell, of 74, King William Street,
in the City of London, and Francis Squire, of the same Place, Civil
Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BALANCE LEVERS AND
APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING, AND MODIFICATIONS THEREOF FOR THE PURPOSE OF
DETECTING BASE COIN."
Sealed the 18th September 1855, and dated the 20th March 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Mara Fell and
Francis Squire at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 20th March 1855. ...
We, THOMAS MARA FELL, of 74, King William Street, in the City of
London, and FRANCIS SQUIRE, of the same Place, Civil Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BALANCE
LEVERS AND APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING, AND MODIFICATIONS THEREOF FOR THE
PURPOSE OF DETECTING BASE COIN," to be as follows:-
Firstly, in improving the lever system of weighing, by substituting a lever
constructed to facilitate an accurate ajustment of distances thereon, to corre-
spond to certain weights, by means of arranging the fulcrum in such manner
as to throw the entire effect behind the same, thus allowing the said arrange-

page_text: ment of distances to be always the same, without regard to the material,
size, or thickness of metal, that at present effect the mathematical correctness
thereof, and the necessity of having to mark for weight each lever at
different distances, so as to correspond to the same weight. The weighted'
short end of the lever may be as in ordinary use, but we prefer, as more
convenient, a screw with weight thereon, so as to alter the effect on the long
lever when required; the other usual portions of lever weighing apparatus
remain the same.
Secondly, our Invention consists in applying in a modified form the
improvements exemplified in the plan of lever above described, for the pur-
pose of detecting or distinguishing counterfeit from genuine coin. For this
purpose we mount or fix our improved lever in the required position, having
provisions thereon placed for receiving and denoting the distances due to the
respective weights of each genuine coin. Our lever being weighted to suit
these distances and accurately ajusted, no coin of less specific gravity than
the one intended, wether genuine or counterfeit, will effect, weigh, or force
down the lever at the distance denoted; therefor, by these means all base or
spurious coin will be detected by reason of their lighter specific gravity. In
order to render this modification of our Invention further useful, the ordinary
means of guaging coin may be applied in any convenient position or manner.
And, lastly, our Invention consist in an apparatus for ascertaining the weight
and number of coin, especially gold pieces, for the use of bankers and others,
by arranging and combining the means of guaging and weighing any given
number required, the object sought being to facilitate the means of paying or
receiving large quantities of coin.
What we particularly claim as our Invention is, the improved balance
lever and its adaptation for the various uses of weighing; and the apparatus
for guaging and weighing a number of coin at one opperation, in the manner
substantially the same as above given..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Mara Fell and Francis Squire in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 20th September 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
MARA FELL, of 74, King William Street, in the City of London, and FRANCIS
SQUIRE, of the same Place, send greeting.
3

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the.
said Thomas Mara Fell and Francis Squires, Her special licence that we,
the said Thomas Mara Fell and Francis Squire, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said Thomas Mara Fell and Francis
Squire, or our executors, administrators, and 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, usė, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BALANCE LEVERS
AND APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING, AND MODIFICATIONS THEREOF FOR THE PURPOSE
OF DETECTING BASE COIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said Thomas Mara Fell and Francis Squire, or one of us, 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 Thomas Mara Fell, do hereby declare
the nature of our said 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 :-
Our Invention has for its object certain improvements in the construction' of
weighing lever apparatus, whereby a more accurate adjustment of parts and
distances, corresponding to given weights, is obtained irrespective of thickness,
size, or material.
In order to fully ascertain and describe the nature of part of our said
improvements, and as illustrative of the principle of construction and effect,
we refer to Diagram A. Suppose two parallel lines drawn through a circle
at an angle of six degrees (a, b,) being each equidistant from the centre, and
having a space between equal one-half its diameter, it is obvious that all
lines drawn with a radia from the axis (d) passing from a to the horizontal
line (c) will fall with an almost equal increase of distance, as discovered by the
dotted lines. By this increase of lever, mathematically and geometrically
calculated from the above data, a proportionate amount of self-adjusting force
is provided, as compensation for the weight required to overcome the inertia
of matter, which, in large beams. is considerable; and by arranging the

page_text: centre of short fulcrum on the me o, the least possible deviation of distance m
this case a desideratum) is effected.
Figure 1 elevation, Fig. 2 side clevation, and Fig. 3 enlarged axis section
of our improved lever, the mathematical lines being dotted in position. a,
centre of hard steel; b, axis passing through or cast with the large circular
disc (c), the length of which must always exceed one-eight of the entire length
of the lever. c, a circular disc of iron; d, arm of lever or steelyard, having
the upper surface according to the line (a) in the Diagram; and e, short arm,
with centre of axis in the line (6); e¹, connecting centre; f, scale balance or
frame; g, an adjusting screw or regulator; h, suspension eye.
Levers constructed on this plan for ordinary weighing machines will have
the distances due to certain weights marked as hitherto; and, with the
arrangements as herein-after given, will, when properly adjusted, distinguish
very small weights with great accuracy.
Figures 4 and 5, sectional front and side elevations of our improved lever
applied to the ordinary weighing apparatus, principally for factory use (scale
one inch to a foot). a, steelyard; b, the disc and axis; c, scale or suspension
balance; d, adjusting screw or regulator; e, connecting rod; f, a lifting wheel
with chain; f, lifting lever, in the position dotted when not in use; f, axle
of ditto; g, moveable iron cover, hinged at g', and fastened at g" by means of a
lock or ketch; h, iron arm or frame, supporting i, i, studs, so placed as to
maintain the motion of lever from the angle before given to the horizontal
line;, pillar in section. The ordinary ground arrangements are precisely as
at present used.
Secondly, our Invention consist in applying the essential improvements, with
modifications of the plan of lever above described, for the purpose of dis-
tinguishing or detecting base coin.
Figure 6, elevation; Fig. 7, side elevation; Fig. 8, plan of guide plate ;
and Fig. 9, sovereign coin lever (full size). In this apparatus, as in all
applications requiring a fixed balance weight, the order of lever is reversed,
whereby the several weight indications due by distance is obtained on the long
lever or steelyard. a, one of our levers, having circular indentations on the
upper surface cut to receive the coin; 6, the axis and disc; c, balance screwed
into plate (d); e, stand or supports; and f, counterweight or fixed balance,
hinged at (g). The opperation is as follous :-Having ascertained the weight
of a genuine crown piece, the counterweight (f) is then made to allow the
said coin, by means of the regulating screw (f), to bear down the lever at
the first circular indentation; base or spurious coin, being of much lighter
material, will have no effect at this distance, and consequently be known by its

page_text: less specific gravity. The second indentation, marked 2nd, correspond to the
weight of half-crown piece; the third (3rd), to a florin; and fourth (4th), to
the shilling; that is, having determined the distance and weight due to the
heaviest coin, the position or distance from the axis (6) is proportioned to
the weight of each seperate genuine coin.
screw,
It is obvious that one lever so arranged may be made to weigh any number,
or the coin of a kingdom or state. But for the purpose of rendering this
apparatus more practically useful, we introduce a second (Fig. 9), of precisely
similar construction, but having circular indentations arranged to receive or
suit the remaining coin of Great Britain; (for explanation of parts, see-
Figure 6.) This lever being weighted and adjusted so that the position
marked (1st) may correspond to a sovereign; the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th
respectively will indicate for the half sovereign, sixpense, fourpence, and
threepenny pieces. No coin of less weight than the one intended, wether
genuine or counterfeit, will effect or force down the lever at any of these
indentations. The guide plate (d), to which the levers are fastened by a
is constructed with a number of small square recesses (d'), or, if pre-
fered, in the manner shewn by the dotted lines, for the purpose of supporting
the coin while testing its correctness; but we do not, however, confine ourselves
to this arrangement, as any other means for holding the coin in an upright
position, being at right angles with the lever, will equally answer the purpose.
Figure 10 front elevation, Fig. 11 side elevation, and Fig. 12 index
dial of our apparatus (full size) for weighing and registering a number of
coin, principally for the use of bankers and others paying or receiving large
quantities of coin. a, long arm of lever, screwed or fastened to the disc (6);
C, axis or centre; d, short arm, with adjusting screw and counterweight; e,
frame or box; f, supporting and guide plate; g, projecting or striking bar,
attached or forming part of the disc (b); h, rachet lever; i, rachett support;
k, distance bar; l, dial index, forming an axel, and rachett wheel surrounding
its circumference; m, index hand or pointer fixed in the position shewn. The
lever being weighted and adjusted to the genuine coin, the opperation is as
follous-A coin of full weight being introduced at the guide (p), will
immediately cause the lever to assume the position indicated by the dotted
lines (in Fig. 10); the coin, no longer held by the guide plate, will fall under
the apparatus, allowing the lever to ascend with increasing force, and by means
of the projecting or striking bar, raise or propel the rachet lever (h) to the
bar (k); and connection being made in the manner shewn by means of the
spring (r), the dial is forced round to the extent of one tooth. In order to
prevent the return of the dial, a second spring (¹) is introduced, which has.

page_text: likewise the effect of preventing more than one tooth passing at each stroke;
and by the rachet lever being weighted with a projection of metal, and
merely resting upon or surrounding the dial axis, the apparatus is always
brought into its former position.
It is easily understood that by mathematically dividing the dial according to
its circumference at the index point, so as to correspond to the distance
obtained by each tooth of the rachet wheel, and numbering these spaces
1, 2, 3, &c., that every coin passing through the guide plate will be immediately
registered. In the annexed Drawings, Figures 10, 11, & 12, the divisions
amount to 50; but in the event of any less number being required, the dial
may either be turned round to 0, by means of the handle (s) fastened to the
axis; or, by computation, may be allowed to pass round continously.
*It is obvious that these our said improvements may be modified and applied
in various ways. What we particularly claim as our Invention is, the improved
balance lever, and the apparatus for weighing and registering coin, in the
manner substantially as herein given.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Mara Fell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this the Twentieth day of September, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-five.
THO, MARA (L.S.) FELL.