A NEW MODE AND MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING AND CHECKING THE NUMBER OF PAYMENTS MADE BY PASSENGERS PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Neil Macphail, of the City of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Stationer and Engraver, for
the Invention of "A NEW MODE AND MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR
REGISTERING AND CHECKING THE NUMBER OF PAYMENTS MADE BY PASSENGERS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Neil Macphail at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th September 1873.
I, NEIL MACPHAIL, of the City of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Stationer and Engraver, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "A NEW MODE AND MEANS OF AND APPARATUS
FOR REGISTERING AND CHECKING THE NUMBER OF PAYMENTS MADE BY PASSENGERS
IN TRAMWAY AND OTHER PUBLIC CARRIAGES OR OMNIBUSES," to be as follows,
that is to say :-

page_text: the passengers in each carriage or omnibus for the purpose of registering
and checking uniform payments or fares received from the passengers,
singly, and at the moment of their receipt by the guard or conductor
while he is passing the passengers in succession for the purpose, and
then recording the same collectively at any time or station when desired,
all in a more simple and certain or efficient manner than has heretofore
been the case or practice.
And the nature of this Invention consists all as follows:-In attaching
⚫a small automatically acting bell or other equivalent audible sounding
indicator or tell-tale to the ordinary reciprocating (or other equivalent)
arrangement of the small numbering wheels with their ordinary oscillating
or other equivalent automatic inking pad or roller, all as a small
portable instrument fitted into a close protecting case, slung or strapped
to the breast or other part of the conductor's person, convenient for his
hand to work a reciprocating or oscillating finger knob or key on the
outside of the case for each single fare he receives. Each depression or
action of the knob outside through its stem inside would strike or
sound the bell once, and reciprocate the numbering wheels and ink
them, so that they would successively register up to the number of 999
single fares paid by the passengers singly by the sounding of the bell,
and collectively at any moment or at the stations by printing the same
on cards, sheets, or books as might be desired.
The case would have a part or side formed with perforations to let
out the sound of the bell, and have painted or otherwise indicated, in
legible letters on the front the words "passengers are requested to see
that the bell is sounded once for every penny paid," or it might be any
other uniform single fare, whatever that may be.
The action of the finger or thumb on the reciprocating knob outside
and the stem within the case gives a positive motion to the frame and
ordinary working mechanism, which strikes the bell and carries the
spindle of three or more numbering wheels and inks them below, so as
to print at any time the number of the strokes which had been given to
the bell and instrument, all against the power of a strong reacting
spring, which brings all the parts back to their normal position ready
for the next stroke or action, and also turning the numbering wheels,
the first wheel one number forward, each stroke to indicate the units,

page_text: and the second wheel one number forward, every tenth number or
complete revolution of the first wheel for the tens, and the third wheel
one number forward for cach revolution of the second wheel, or ten
revolutions of the first wheel, to indicate the hundreds, and so on, when
there are more than three wheels in the set.
A small hole through the bottom of the carrying frame of the
instrument, or that and its enclosing case also, below the lower printing
face of the numbers cut on the wheels allows the impression of the
number of the last stroke made by the instrument to be taken or printed
on the pay sheets, cards, or books at the stations by the instrument itself
without the possibility of mistake by transcribing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Neil Macphail in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 4th March 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NELL
MACPHAIL, of the City of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Stationer and Engraver, send greeting.
•
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty.
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Neil Macphail, Her special licence,
that I, the said Neil Macphail, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Neil Macphail, my 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, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A NEW MODE
AND MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING AND CHECKING THE NUMBER
OF PAYMENTS MADE BY PASSENGERS IN TRAMWAY AND OTHER PUBLIC CARRIAGES
OR OMNIBUSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Neil Macphail, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in.
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-

page_text: ticularly 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 Neil Macphail, 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 in writing, reference being had to the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon, that is to say:
My said Invention has reference to the construction, arrangement, and
use of a new or improved portable apparatus or instrument to be carried
by the conductor or person collecting the fares or payments from the
passengers in each carriage or omnibus, for the purpose of registering and
checking uniform payments or fares received from the passengers, singly
and at the moment of their receipt by the guard or conductor while he is
passing the passengers in succession for the purpose, and then recording
the same collectively at any time or station when desired, all in a more
simple and certain or efficient manner than has heretofore been the case
or practice:
And in order that the nature, novelty, and mode of performing my
said Invention may be properly understood, I shall now proceed to.
describe the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings, which I have
hereunto appended for the purpose of showing the best modes and means
I am at present aware of for carrying my said Invention or improve-
ments into effect or practice, the same reference letters indicating the
same or like parts in all the Figures.
Figures 1 and 2 are a front and a side elevation, and Figures 3 and 4
are sectional elevations corresponding to Figures 1 and 2, all of ono
modification of a new or improved recording instrument, constructed in
accordance with and for the purposes of my said Invention.
Figure 5 is a plan of the under side corresponding to Figures 1 and 3,
but with the two under door B¹¹, B¹¹¹¹, removed for taking a printed
record and getting at the numbering wheels when required, which are
shown in inside face views respectively in Figures 6 and 7 detached.
And Figure 8-is a plan of the under side. of the palls ¹ and their

page_text: b
lever a¹, a¹¹, and spring 6 as detached, for actuating the four numbering
wheels 1, 2, 3, 4, of the recording instrument.
Referring to these Figures 1 to 8, the nature, novelty, and mode of
performing my said Invention consist all as follows:-In attaching or
combining a small automatically acting bell A as large as convenient
for the case or box B, and to be distinctly heard by the guard and
passengers; or it might be other equivalent audible sounding indicator
or tell-tale, to the ordinary reciprocating (or other equivalent) arrange-
ment of the small numbering wheels 1, 2, 3, 4, with their ordinary
oscillating or other equivalent automatic inking pad or roller 5, all as a
small portable instrument fitted into a close protecting case B, slung or
strapped to the breast or other part of the conductor's person as by the
strap B¹ at the top, convenient for his hand to work a reciprocating or
oscillating finger knob, key, or lever a, on the outside of the case B for
cach single fare he receives. Each depression or action of the knob or
lever a outside, through, or by its stem or arm a¹ inside, would strike or
sound the bell A once, and reciprocate or turn the numbering wheels
and ink them, so that they would successively register up to the number
of 9999, (by a four wheeled instrument or 999, with three wheels)
single fares paid by the passengers registered singly by the sounding of
the bell, and collectively by the position of the numbering wheels
visible at any time, or at the stations by taking a printed copy from the
numbers on the four numbering wheels opposite the recording slit D in
the case for the purpose, on cards, sheets of paper, or leaves of books, as
may be desired.
The case B containing all the works within it is preferably made
nearly round of thin sheet brass with a flat back to lie against the
breast of the guard or person collecting the fares, with the bell A secured
by a central screw A¹ just clear of the sides of the case B and domed
front B¹¹ with the lettering on it, to the bracket A" fixed to the front of
the small brass frame C secured at the bottom of the case B, and
carrying the numbering or counting wheels (in this case four, 1, 2, 3, 4),
turned loosely on their spindle C¹ by the action of the bell-crank
lever a, a¹, a¹¹, fulcrummed on the pin a" at the top end of the frame C,
and by the four palled link 61, 6¹¹, ¿¹¹¹, ¿¹¹¹, with spring b seen detached
in Figure 8; each pall working into a ratchet wheel c on one side of
cach numbering wheel, 1, 2, 3, 4, which are all made and mounted,
substantially of an ordinary construction, such as used for other ticket

page_text: and book page numbering and "counting" machines. Ench wheel is
divided into ten indicating divisions or positions with the nine numbers
1 to 9 cut on their edge one in each division, and a cipher for the tenth
place having also a blank space between it and the 1 to set all the
wheels at their non-indicating positions across the face, for starting a
fresh count opposite an open slit D in the bottom B₁ of the case B, as
will be understood on looking at the under face view, Figure 5, where
the four wheels are shown at the 0, 0, 0, 0, turned at once by the
palls,,,, after having indicated 9999, being the last and
highest number it is possible to indicate by four wheels right across the
printing tangential face or slit D, left for the purpose through the loose
removable bottom door B¹¹ shown in side and edge view in Figure 7.
This door B has a thin broad spring D¹ across the slit D with a pad Du
of india-rubber or other soft or elastic material on it, sufficiently below
the printing face of the figures on the wheels 1, 2, 3, 4, to allow the
card Z or other equivalent to enter by a slit D in the back indicated in
red lines in Figures 3 and 7, and be printed by the pressure of the
thumb or otherwise on the spring pad D¹, D", after the removal of the
outer sliding door B shown detached in Figure 6. The door B™ is
sprung on and retained in position by the pins B and sealed at the split
screw neck B³ at one end, where a cap B' is screwed on for the perfect
retention of the door B¹¹ and protection of a wax seal formed within
the neck B³ before screwing on the cap. The outer sliding lid B™ is
similarly secured by a seal and a screw cap at B³, for removing it when
it is required to insert the card Z into the slit D², and take an impression
of the numbers or positions of the indicating wheels 1, 2, 3, 4; the scal
at B³ of the large door B¹, only being broken for its removal and
replacement when the counting wheels, 1, 2, 3, 4, have to be set to their
normal blank positions or 0, 0, 0, 0, in line opposite the printing
face or indicating slit D.
The spindle E of the hammer and lever E¹, which strikes the bell A,
is carried in journal bearings in the back plate C" of the frame C of the
works, and a bracket C in front, secured to the top of the said frame C;
and near the back the said spindle E has fixed on it the lever E", to which
is attached the spiral spring E², which actuates the spindle E and
hammer lever E¹ in striking the bell A, and retains the lever E¹ up
against the spring stop E after it has been pushed down by the finger
or thumb of the person collecting the fares acting on the knob a of the

page_text: lever a, a, by the lateral pin a³ acting on the upper end of the spring
lever or arm E³, fixed on the spindle E of the bell striker E¹, so as to
strike and sound the bell A when the lever a, a¹, a", comes to the
lowest and last part of its motion, after having turned the wheels, as
5 before explained, and the acting pin a³ clears the end of the lever E³,
when the spring E then brings up the hammer E* with sufficient force
to strike the bell A, as stated, each time the lever a, a, a", is so
depressed. This lever is also brought back to its normal highest position
against any suitable stop, as the end of the slot B' in the side of the
case B, through which its outer end or knob a works, by the spiral
spring a, attached by a lateral pin a¹¹ on it, and to a fixed pin a
on the back plate C; and the acting pin a³ is rounded on its upper end,
so that in rising it acts on a rounded or bevelled part of the under inner
edge of the spring lever E³, so as to push it laterally out of the way
3 while rising, until the pin passes it, when it springs back below the
pin a³ again, all ready for the next depression and action of the whole, aş
described.
The case B would have perforations B formed through a part of it to
let the sound of the bell freely out, and might have painted, or other-
wise indicated in legible letters, on the front B" of the case B the words,
Passengers are requested to see that the bell is sounded once for every
penny paid." Or it might be any other such wording or uniform single
fare desired.
"
The action of the finger or thumb on the reciprocating knob a outside
the case B depresses the stem or arm a², a", within, which gives a
positive motion to the ordinary working mechanism or palls b, b¹,
6,6, to actuate the numbering wheels 1, 2, 3, 4, as well as indirectly
sound the bell A once for each single motion of the unit wheel (1) by
the reaction of the spring E, all against the power of a strong reacting
spring a', which brings all the parts back to their normal position ready
for the next stroke or action. Each positive depression of the knob a
thus turning the numbering wheels; the first wheel (1) is turned one
number forward to indicate the units up to 9, and the second wheel (2),
one number forward every tenth number for the tens or complete
revolution of the first wheel, which brings its last figure or cipher (0) to
the printing line, and face every change of the second wheel for the
tens; and the third wheel (3) one number forward for each revolution
of the second wheel (2) when its cipher (0) comes round, or for ten revo-

page_text: lutions of the first, wheel (1) to indicate the hundreds on this third
wheel (3); and the fourth wheel (4) one number or division forward to
indicate the thousands, and so on when there are more than four wheels
in the set, all as will be seen and understood from Figures 4 and 5, each
wheel 1, 2, 3, 4, being held in the position it is turned to by a separate 5
pall & and spring & and ratchet wheel d" to each wheel respectively,
seen in Figure 3, where the inking roller 5 is also seen turned by the
friction and action of the numbering wheels themselves, so as to ink
them and allow of an impression of the numbers indicated by the
position of the wheels 1, 2, 3, 4, being taken of the last stroke made by 1
the instrument, printed off on the "pay" or register sheets, cards, or
books, at the desired stations and times, by or from the instrument or
wheels themselves, as herein-before stated, without even the possibility
of mistake by transcribing or taking down the numbers.
The arrows show the direction in which the positive motions are 1
exerted on the parts, and that in which the numbering wheels and
inking roller are turned'; the reacting springs therefore acting in the
reverse direction.
.
· Although a stationary revolving inking roller is shown it will be
understood that any ordinary reciprocating one or a pad may be used; 2
and although one particular arrangement of acting levers for turning
the ordinary numbering wheels, and one arrangement for sounding the
bell, only have been shown and described, it will be understood that
other equivalent arrangements of levers might be employed, but that
the combining of these to act together simultaneously or in unison from 2
the motion of one lever or stem in the close case, and for the registering
and checking of the number of uniform payments made by passengers.
in tramway cars and other public carriages or omnibuses is a substantial
feature and part of these my said improvements.
Each instrument might have a number somewhere on its outside, as 3
in meters, so as to identify it with the printed register taken from it, or
with the conductor or guard carrying the recording instrument for the
time being.
Having thus described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or 3
carried into effect, I wisli it to be understood that I do not confine or
restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had

page_text: occasion to describe and delineate, as many variations may be made
therefrom without departing from the main or essential features thereof;
neither, on the other hand, do I claim the first use of numbering wheel
mechanism and of single stroke bells separately or by themselves (as
these have heretofore been used), except in their combination and mode
of joint or simultaneous action for the purposes of my. said Invention, as
herein specified; but what I consider novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. The construction and arrangement of the parts of a combined
numbering and sounding recording instrument, substantially in the
manner and for the purpose herein described, and shown in the accom-
panying Drawings,.or any mere modification thereof..
'
Second. The combination of an ordinary numbering wheel mechanism
with an ordinary single stroke bell mechanism within an enclosed case,
actuated jointly or simultaneously once for each fare or payment made
by the action of a simple lever or stem for recording and checking thesc,
all substantially in the new or improved manner herein described, and
shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification
thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Neil Macphail, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of March, in the year of our
Witness,
JOHN THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
NEIL MAOPHAIL. (L.S.)