Improvements in Military and other Machines for Measuring and Indicating the Height of Adult Persons and Children.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 29th Apr.. 1889-Accepted, 15th June, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Military and other Machines for Measuring and
Indicating the Height of Adult Persons and Children.
RICHARD WATSON Clerk in Holy Orders RICHARD WATSON (no calling) son of
the above 6 Clifton Place Stapleton Road Bristol, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the machines which are used for
measuring the height of soldiers, and also to machines which are known as
automatic height measuring machines which require a coin to be inserted to
allow of the machine being operated or made use of. Heretofore while a person.
was measuring himself by such machines he stood with his back against the
figures or scale which indicated his height, and could not see them until he
changed his position, which in practice has been found to be inconvenient, and
sometimes causes an alteration in the position of the measuring arm; but our
invention consists in so arranging the machine that he will stand with his face
towards the figures or scale, and will see for himself without moving his head his
correct height before him. Heretofore by such automatic machines as have the
height indicating figures or scale on the outside on the front of the machine,
persons might measure each other without paying the predetermined toll by placing
the hand or a piece of wood or other material on the head of each other while
standing against the scale on the front of the machine. The present improvements
have for their object to remedy these and a few other objections. A part of the
mechanism constituting the subject of this invention is arranged within the case of
the back standard. In order to carry out our invention we construct our machino
by using a part of the ordinary military height measuring apparatus, which consists
essentially of a fixed platform, a perpendicular standard at its back, a moveable
measuring arm, a vertical groove on its front face in which the measuring arm slides
up and down, when used for measuring the person standing upon the platform, a
scale fixed on each side of the groove to indicate in fect, inches, and parts of an inch
the height of the person being measured. This is the usual mechanism employed in the
apparatus for measuring the height of soldiers, and it is also used in our machine.
Our machine has also a perpendicular standard fixed at the front of the platform as
well as one at its back. The figures on each side of the groove are fixed and never
move; but all the lines which indicate inches and parts of an inch are automaticly
moved out of their true position by the measuring arm or by a cord, chain or band
when the measuring arm is liberated; and to effect this object all the lines are
marked upon a moveable frame composed of two long strips or bars of any suitable
material joined by two short bars one at the top and the other at the bottom of the
strips or bars. The moveable frame slides up and down in guides on the front of
the machine and it has a long slot in which the measuring arm slides up and down.
A pulley with a chain, cord or band and an iron rack is fixed on a spindle near the
top of the machine; and one end of the chain, cord or band is attached to the
measuring arm or to a bar to which it is fixed, and the other end of the chain or cord
or band is fastened to the iron rack which serves both as a weight and also as part
of the locking gear. The rack is made to slide up and down in a groove or in guides.
The action of the machine is as follows;- When a person standing erect on the plat-
form with his heels, back and head against the backside of the front standard draws
or pulls down the measuring arm to the top of his head, his correct height will be
indicated by actual measurement, and he will see it before him on the sides of the
groove on the front of the back standard; and when the measuring arm is liberated
it will return to its starting point by the action of the rack, chain and pulley; and

page_text: the moveable frame with the aforesaid lines upon it will also be drawn up a little out
of its true position; but it will return into its true position when the measuring arm
is again pulled down by the band or by a ring and chain or rod attached to the
measuring arm. When the machine is to be set free by a coin or the like, the coin is
placed in the machine through a slot or other opening, and slides down one or more
troughs and falls into a receptacle fixed on one end of a lever or detent, the other end
of the lever or detent gears with a rack or weight with one or more teeth or pins,
which is suspended by the aforesaid chain, cord or band, and holds it down; but
the weight of the coin depresses one end of the lever or detent and raises the other
end sufficiently to free the rack or weight. The coin remains in the receptacle, the
lever or detent a little inclined, and the machine unlocked, until the measuring arm
is pulled down as before described; then the lever or detent is further inclined,
and the coin falls through a slit or other opening into a safe or other receptacle.
And when the measuring arm is liberated the weight or rack descends upon a lover
turning upon a centre and fixed to one end of a bar or rod to which is also fixed
at the other end the lever or detent, and depresses it to its normal position, and
so locks the machine. The apparatus described may be a little modified by
marking both the figures and lines upon the aforesaid moveable frame which is used
to prevent persons from measuring themselves or each other without paying the
predetermined toll, it is to raise the measuring scale further from the platform and so
to alter the distance between it and the platform upon which the person measuring
himself stands. The moveable frame or scale may consist of only one strip or bar
instead of two, and the scale may be marked only on one side of the groove instead of
both sides.
Our invention may be used with any suitable form of apparatus by joining
it with the case of such as a weighing machine or with a strength-testing machine
or with a weighing and strength-testing machine combined, or with a height
measuring machine with an indicating dial and pointer, or with an automatic
delivery machine. To make the machine more attractive, the front standard may be
made and painted or clothed to imitate a soldier or other person measuring himself.
A real person measuring himself would stand with his back against the back of the
figure. As the measuring arm is always more than counterbalanced by the rack or
weight, it never strikes or hurts the head of the person or child being measured, and
no pressure is placed upon their head except that which is placed upon it by their
own hand pulling down the measuring arm.
The frame of the machine may have four wheels, and four screw legs. The object
of the wheels is to move it easily from place to place, and the object of the screw
legs is to set and keep the machine level and from moving when in its place. The
legs can be screwed up or down to fit the floor, and to take the weight of the machine
off the wheels. When the machine is to be used only for military purposes (if
prefered) both the coin and locking apparatus may be dispensed with.
Dated this 31st day of October 1888.
GEORGE SMITH MILTON,
6, Clifton Place, Stapleton Road, Bristol, Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Military and other Machines for Measuring and
Indicating the Height of Adult Persons and Children.
RICHARD WATSON Clerk in Holy Orders RICHARD WATSON (son of the above) no
calling 14 Dean Street St. Pauls, Bristol do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 improvements in the machines which are used for
measuring the height of soldiers, and also to machines which are known as automatic
height measuring machines which require a coin to be inserted to allow of the machine

page_text: being operated or made use of. Heretofore while a person was measuring himself by
such machines he stood with his back against the figures or scale which indicated his
height, and could not see them until he changed his position, which in practice has
been found to be inconvenient, and sometimes causes an alteration in the position of
the measuring arm; but a part of our invention consists in so arranging the machine
that he will stand with his face towards the figures or scale, and will see for himself
without moving his head his correct height before him. Heretofore by such automatic
machines as have the height indicating figures or scale on the outside on the front of
the machine, persons might measure each other without paying the predetermined toll
by placing the hand or a piece of wood or other material on the head of each other
while standing against the scale on the front of the machine. The present improve-
ments have for their object to remedy these and a few other objections. A part of the
mechanism constituting the subject of this invention is arranged within the case of the
back standard. In order to carry out our invention we construct our machine by
using a part of the ordinary military height measuring apparatus, which consists
essentially of a fixed platform, a vertical standard at its back, a moveable measuring
arm, a vertical groove on its front face in which the bar to which the measuring arm
is fixed slides up and down, when used for measuring the person standing upon the
platform, a scale fixed on one or both side of the groove to indicate in feet, inches
and parts of an inch the height of the person being measured, and an index fixed to
the measuring arm. This is the usual mechanism employed in the apparatus for
measuring the height of soldiers, and it is also used in our machine. Our machine
has also a vertical standard fixed at the front of the platforin as well as the one at its
back. All or some of the figures on each or on one side of the groove are fixed and
never move; but all the lines which indicate inches and parts of an inch are auto-
matically moved out of their correct position by the bar which slides up and down in
the groove on the front of the machine or by a pin or lifting piece attached to the said
bar or by the measuring arm or by a cord, chain, or band and a weight when the
measuring arm is liberated; and to effect this object all the lines are marked upon a
moveable frame composed of two long strips or bars of any suitable material joined by
two short bars one at the top and the other at the bottom of the strips or bars. The
moveable frame slides up and down in guides on the front of the machine and it has
a long slot in which the measuring arm slides up and down. A pulley with a chain,
cord or band and an iron rack is fixed on a spindle near the top of the machine; and
one end of the chain, cord or band is attached to the measuring arin or to a bar to
which it is fixed, and the other end of the chain or cord or band is fastened to the iron
rack which serves both as a counterpoise weight and also as the key of the lock. The
rack is made to slide up and down in a groove or in guides. The action of the machine
is as follows:-
When the
When a person standing erect on the platform with his heels, back and head
against the backside of the front standard draws or pulls down the measuring arm to
the top of his head, his correct height will be indicated by actual measurement, and
he will see it before him on the sides or side of the groove on the front of the back
standard; and when the measuring arm is liberated it will return to its starting point
by the action of the rack, chain and pulley; and the moveable frame with the afore-
said lines upon it will also be drawn up a little out of its correct position; but it will
return into its correct position when the measuring arm is again pulled dot a by the
hand or by a ring and chain or rod attached to the measuring arm.
machine is to be set free by a coin or the like, the coin is placed in the machine
through a slot or other opening, and slides down one or more shoots and falls into a
receptacle fixed on one end of a lever or detent, the other end of the lever or detent
gears with a rack or weight with one or more teeth or pins, which is suspended by
the aforesaid chain cord or band, and holds it down; but the weight of the coin
depresses one end of the lever or detent and draws the other end sufficiently to
free the rack or weight. The coin remains in the receptacle, the lever or detent a
little inclined, and the machine unlocked, until the measuring arm is pulled
down as before described; then the lever or detent is further inclined, and the coin

page_text: falls into a safe or other receptacle. And when the measuring arm is liberated the
weight or rack descends upon a lever turning freely upon a centre and fixed to ono
end of a vertical bar or rod to which is also fixed at the other end the lever or detent,
and depresses it to its normal position, and so locks the machine. The apparatus
described may be a little modified by marking both the figures and lines upon the
aforesaid moveable frame which is used to prevent persons from measuring them-
selves or each other without paying the predetermined toll, it is to lift the measuring
scale further from the platform and so to alter the distance between it and the
platform upon which the person measuring himself stands.
The moveable frame or scale may consist of only one strip or bar instead of two and
the scale may be marked only on one side of the groove instead of both sides or some
of the figures or lines may be marked upon the moveable frame and the other
marked upon the fixed frame. Our invention may be used with any suitable form of
apparatus by joining it with the case of such as a weighing machine or with a
strength-testing machine or with a weighing and strength-testing machine combined,
or with an automatic delivery machine. To make the machine more attractive, the
front standard may be made and painted or clothed to represent a soldier or other
person measuring himself or not. A real person measuring himself would stand with
his back against the back of the figure. In the base of the machine is fixed a common
house bellows which acts so as to prevent a too abrupt return of the aforesaid weight
or key which descends upon it when the measuring arm is released. The upper
handle of the bellows may he raised by a weight suspended by a cord from a pulley.
In order to enable our invention to be fully understood, we will proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying drawings in which figure 1 is a front
elevation of part of the height measuring machine showing some of the odd figures on
the moving or sliding frame, and some of the even figures on the fixed frame with the
front standard removed; figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section with the case
removed showing the arrangement of the locking and releasing mechanism; figure 3
is a back elevation of part of the height measuring machine partly in section
illustrating the mechanism to lessen the shock which would be caused by the key or
weight or rack suddenly returning to its normal position when the measuring arm is
liberated figure 4 is a similar view to figure 1 illustrating our moving or sliding
frame figure 5 is a view which shows the mechanism used to lift the moving or sliding
frame out of its correct position or distance from the platform; figure 6 is a sectional
elevation illustrating our locking and releasing mechanism; figure 7 is a similar view
to figure 6 illustrating the fork at the lower end of the key or weight or rack which
locks the machine; figure 8 is a front elevation of our weight and strength testing
machine combined with this our height measuring machine showing the front standard
or soldier and the scale on the front of the back standard in dotted lines behind it ;
figure 9 is a similar view to figure 8 illustrating the front standard. Similar letters
indicate similar parts in all the drawings. Referring to figure 1, C is the measuring
arm which is to be drawn down upon the head of the person being measured as used
in the usual apparatus for measuring the height of soldiers. is a part of the fixed
case or frame upon which a part of the scale is marked. e is the moving or sliding
frame upon which is also marked a part of the scale. fis the groove in which the bar
to which the measuring arm is fixed slides up and down on the front of the machine
as in ordinary military height measuring machines. t is a screw which can be
screwed up or down to fit the floor and to take the weight of the machine off the
wheels. ic is the slot in which a coin is inserted to unlock the machine.
r is the
platform upon which the person stands who measures himself. y' is a plate which
covers the lower part of the groove on the front of the machine. Referring to
figure 2, a is a pulley in the upper part of the case. 9 is the weight or rack or key
which locks the machine and also lifts both the measuring arm c and the moving or
sliding frame e figure 1. m is a chain by which the weight or key is suspended from
the pulley a, the other end of the chain is attached to the bar to which the measuring
arm c is fixed and the said measuring arm is also the pin which lifts the moving or
sliding frame out of gear or out of its true position for measuring correctly. is a

page_text: guide in which the key or weight a works. s is a shoot in which the coin is placed
which unlocks the machine. is the receptacle into which the coin falls and presses
down that end of the lever on which it is fixed and thus draws away the detent e¹ from
the weight g, and thus unlocks the machine. is the lever upon which the weight g
falls and presses back to its normal position when the measuring arm is liberated.
wis a bar or rod which forms one piece with the bar or rod and the bar or rod on
which the receptacle is fixed. h is a common house bellows on which the fork o
which is a part of the weight y falls to lessen the shock. y is a box into which the
coin falls when it leaves the receptacle I. In figure 3 is a weight suspended by a
cord n from the pulley r and lifts the upper handle of the bellows when the fork o is
drawn up. In figure is the vertical slot in the moving or sliding frame and e is
the moving frame with the odd figures upon it drawn up out of its correct position by
the pin or measuring arm c. In figure 5 e is a tooth or pin which in its normal
position is held down by the detent pas illustrated in figure 6, in which k is the centre
of motion of the lock, w' and i. In figure 7, o is the fork which descends on each
side of the balanced lever f. In figure 8, u is the front standard combined with our
weight and strength testing machine, and the moving or sliding frame is on the front
of the machine behind the standard as seen in dotted lines. All the mechanism of
our height measuring machine in combination with our weighing and strength testing
machine is the same as that which has herein before been described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
We are aware of Stanley's patent No. 4,726 of 1886 for a "machine for measuring
the height of human beings automatically." We are also aware of Stanley's patent
No. 11,416 of 1887 for "Improvements in height measuring Machines," and we
declare that we do not claim the mechanism therein described and claimed. 'Letters a'
and refer to the dial of the weighing and strength testing apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
1. In height measuring apparatus the combination and arrangement of the figure
or front standard u painted or clothed to represent a soldier, the platform and the
measuring arm c, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and
illustrated in figures 2, 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
2. In height measuring apparatus the combination and arrangement of the moving
or sliding frame e upon which the whole or a part of the scale or figures are marked,
the measuring arm c, the bar a² in figure 9, the pulley a, the chain or band m and the
weight g, adapted to move automatically the whole or a part of the fixed scale or
figures, which indicate the height on the front of the machine, out of the correct
position or further from the platform or ground than the lines and figures represent,
and thus to make the scale and figures useless for measuring purposes until a coin or
the like has been placed in the machine and the measuring arun drawn or pulled down
as in ordinary military height measuring machines, substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In height measuring apparatus the combination and arrangement of the locking
and releasing mechanism, substantially as herein before described and illustrated in
figures 2, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
4. The improved height measuring machine in combination or not with a weighing
and strength-testing or other suitable machine, substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
GEORGE S. MILTON,
25, Brigstock Road, St. Pauls, Bristol, Agent for the Applicants.