IMPROVEMENTS IN REGISTERING TICKET PUNCHES OR APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING FRAUD BY FARE COLLECTORS, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Edward Davison, of Twickenham, in the County
of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REGISTERING TICKET
PUNCHES OR APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING FRAUD BY FARE COLLECTORS,
AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Edward Davison at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd April 1880.
CHARLES EDWARD DAVISON, of Twickenham, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REGISTERING TICKET PUNCHES OR APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING
FRAUD BY FARE COLLECTORS, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to the apparatus known as registering ticket punches
employed in tram cars and similar public vehicles, for the prevention of fraud on
the part of the collectors of the fares. Punches or apparatus of this class as
ordinarily constructed consist essentially of the punch proper for puncturing the
ticket, the alarm or bell for directing the attention of the passenger to the operation,
the receptacle for the punchings, and the registering apparatus for recording tho
number of times the punch is used. These apparatus however are of complicated
construction and are somewhat inconvenient in use, which defect it is an object of
my Invention to remedy. For this purpose I arrange and combine the before
inentioned parts in an improved manner, and employ in conjunction therewith
accessory devices, whereby I not only obviate the disadvantages of the ordinary
punch, but obtain a highly efficient as well as an ornamental apparatus calculated
to attract the attention of the passengers to the operations of the collector.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a main moving bar which actuates the
whole of the mechanism, the same being drawn downwards by the act of pulling a
strap, tassel, or knob attached to the lower end thereof, and being restored to its
normal position under the action of a helical or other spring. This bar which is
suitably guided, and if necessary jointed, is attached to one end of a lever which is
mounted upon a centre or fulcrum, and has connected to it the punch proper which
works in a suitable frame or matrix. The punchings from the ticket are collected
in a box or receptacle below the punch frame or matrix, the box or receptacle being
maintained closed under the action of a spring, whilst the apparatus itself is in its
closed condition.

page_text: The lever also carries a spring pawl which engages with a ratchet wheel forming
part of the counting apparatus, so that the ratchet wheel is moved round to the
extent of one tooth, thereby operating a units' dial each time that the main moving
bar is actuated; and from the said rachet wheel motion is transmitted by means of
gearing to other dials for registering tens and hundreds, suitable detents being
provided if necessary for preventing retrograde motion. One figuro at a time of
each dial is visible through glazed openings formed in the outer case of the
apparatus, so that the total number recorded and the change in the record each
time that the apparatus is operated is apparent to the passengers. The main
moving bar is provided with a pawl or catch which actuates the lover of a bell
hammer as the bar is moved, the hammer after striking the bell being returned to
its normal position under the action of a spring. The whole of the parts are
contained in a compact rectangular case which is securely locked, a slot being
formed for the insertion of the tickets, and other openings being provided in order
to expose the record to view, as before mentioned, whilst the main moving bar
protrudes at the bottom of the case.
The apparatus is suspended by a leathern strap passing round the neck, over the
conductor's breast, and is therefore in full view of every one entering the vehicle.
It is used in the following manner :-The conductor is provided with tickets of
various colours according to the different prices of the fares charged on the route,
having printed thereon the name of the company, and value of the ticket as
The
essentials, say, for example, white 1d.; blue 2d.; brown 3d., and so on.
conductor on collecting a fare selects a ticket of corresponding value, then places it in
the ticket aperture of the machine, he then pulls down the knob or handle smartly.
This punches a hole in the ticket, gives one sharp ring on the bell inside, and
registers the fare at one operation; he issues the perforated ticket to the passenger
who has just paid his fare, and the operation is complete.
It will be observed that all these details can be accomplished with one hand,
leaving the other free (as in the case of omnibus conductors) to hold on by.
The novelty of the moving figures and elegant case visible to every eye will so
arrest the attention of passengers, that every one will perhaps involuntarily act as
an inspector for the company towards checking peculation by noting that each fare
is duly registered.
The register will be taken at the end of each journey, and the clippings which
are pressed in a suitable box placed inside for the purpose may be examined, and
the cash takings checked by them either at the same time or at the end of the day's
traffic by the office clerk, who will be in possession of the key which alone gives
access to the inside of the apparatus.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuanco of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Edward Davison in the Great Seal Patent Office on tho
2nd October 1880.
CHARLES EDWARD DAVISON, of Twickenham, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REGISTERING TICKET PUNCHES OR APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING
FRAUD BY FARE COLLECTORS, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to apparatus known as registering ticket punches employed
in tram cars, omnibuses, and similar public vehicles for the prevention of fraud on
the part of collectors of fares. Punches or apparatus of this class as ordinarily con-
structed consist essentially of the punch proper for punching the ticket, the alarm
or bell for directing the attention of the passenger to the operation, the receptacle
for the punchings, and the registering apparatus for recording the number of times
the punch is used. These apparatus however are of complicated construction, and
are somewhat inconvenient in use, which defects it is an object of my Invention to
remedy. For this purpose I arrange and combine some of the before mentioned
parts in an improved manner, and employ in conjunction therewith accessory
devices, whereby I not only obviate the disadvantages of the ordinary punch so
called, but obtain a highly efficient as well as an ornamental apparatus calculated
to attract the attention of the passengers to the operation of the collectors.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a main moving bar, which actuates the
whole of the mechanism, the same being drawn downwards by tho act of pulling a
strap, tassel, or knob attached to the lower end thereof, and being restored to its
normal position under the action of a helical spring or other spring. This bar,
which is suitably guided, and if necessary jointed, is attached to one end of a lever
which is mounted on a centre or fulcrum, and has connected to it instead of a
punch of the ordinary kind a clipping tool which works in a suitable frame or
matrix. The clippings from the tickets are collected in a box or receptacle below
the punch frame or matrix, the box or receptacle being maintained closed under
the action of a spring whilst the apparatus itself is in its closed condition.
The lever also carries a spring pawl, which engages with a ratchet wheel forming
part of the counting apparatus, so that the ratchet wheel is moved round to the
extent of one tooth, thereby operating a units' dial each time the main moving bar
is actuated, and from the said ratchet wheel motion is transmitted by means of
gearing to the other dials for registering tens and hundreds, suitable detents being
provided if necessary to prevent retrograde motion. One figure at a time of each
dial is visible through glazed openings formed in the outer case of the apparatus, so
that the total number recorded and the change in the record each time that the
apparatus is operated is apparent to the passenger.
The main moving bar is provided with a pawl or catch which actuates the lever
of a bell hammer as the bar is moved, the hammer after striking the bell being
returned to its normal position under the action of a spring. The whole of the parts
are contained in a compact rectangular case, which is securely locked, a slot being
formed for the insertion of the tickets, and other openings being provided in order
to expose the record to view, as before mentioned, whilst the main moving bar
protrudes at the bottom of the case.
The apparatus is suspended by a leathern strap passing round the neck, over the
conductor's breast, and is therefore in full view of every one entering the vehicle.
It is used in the following manner:-The conductor is provided with tickets of
various colours, according to the different prices of the fares charged on the route,
having printed thereon the name of the company and the value of the ticket as
The con-
essentials, say, for example, white 1d.; blue, 2d.; brown, 3d., and so on.
ductor on collecting a fare selects a ticket of corresponding value, then places it in
the ticket portion of the machine; he then pulls down the knob or handle smartly.
This clips out a hole in the ticket, gives one sharp ring on the bell inside, and

page_text: registers the fare at one operation; he issues the perforated ticket to the passenger
who has just paid his fare, and the operation is complete. It will be observed that
all these details can be accomplished with one hand, leaving the other free (as in
the case of omnibus conductors) to hold on by.
The novelty of the moving figures and the elegant case, attractive to every eye,
will so arrest the attention of the passengers that every one will perhaps involun-
tarily act as an inspector for the company or proprietor of vehicle towards checking
peculation by noting that each fare is duly registered. The register will be taken
at the end of each journey, and the clippings, which are preserved in a suitable box
placed inside for that purpose, may be examined and the cash takings checked by
them, either at the same time or at the end of the day's traffic by the office clerk,
who will be in possession of the key which alone gives access to the inside of the
apparatus.
In order that the nature of my said Invention, and the means by which the same
is effected may be particularly described and ascertained, I append to this Specifi-
cation a Sheet of Drawings having Figures and letters of reference marked
thereupon, the like letter being used to denote a similar or corresponding part in
cach Figure.
In these Drawings Figure 1 is a view of the interior of my apparatus with front
of case removed; Figure 2 shows the registering dials; Figure 3 is an external
view of the case, through glazed openings in which is seen one figure of each dial,
and also the mouth for the insertion of the ticket, and beneath the main moving bar;
Figure 4 shows the clipper for clipping the tickets; Figure 5 is a sectional side view
of the registering dials and their wheels; Figure 6, at the top of Figure 3, represents
a box to hold the unclipped tickets, which is attached to the top part of the case
by lugs, bolts, screws and nuts, or otherwise. This box is provided in the interior
with a coiled spring, whose office is to press the tickets up to the front as the
preceding ones are withdrawn by the conductor, one ticket only being brought up
to withdrawing slot at top of ticket box. A slot for the thumb or finger is provided
at N, by which means the ticket is driven or impelled upwards and withdrawn at
the top slot. Figure 7 is the button plate with portion cut away to correspond
with slot at N, Figure 6.
A is the main moving bar which sets the whole mechanism in motion upon its
being drawn downwards by the strap, tassel, or knob, herein before mentioned as
being attached to this bar, its return motion being effected by a coiled steel spring A¹.
The main moving bar has two guides A2, A3. B is a transverse bar attached to A
at B, and to the casing of indicator at B¹; C is the clipper with hard steel concave
face; D is the frame down which passes the clipper C, having a bevelled cutting
face, cutting like a pair of scissors, in order to clip stout tickets easily, and a bevelled
mouth to receive the tickets to be clipped; also a hard steel circle at the lower and
of the mouth that the clipper may the more easily perforate the tickets. The hole
through which the clipper C enters is continued down and through D to its
junction with E.
E is a box or receptacle to receive the clippings. This is kept steady in its
proper position for that purpose whilst the lid of the box is shut, the lid then
touching the box.
Fis a pawl or catch attached by a moveable joint to the bar B which actuates
the unit wheel G one tooth or unit each time the bar A is pulled down. It is kept
in position by a spring E¹ which permits of its passing the next tooth on the return
of the lever B to its first position.
The unit wheel G has ten teeth, which being operated on by the pawl F describes
a complete circle in ten strokes of the bar A. In front of G is firmly fixed a
dial plate G (Figure 2) in the position shown by the dotted line circle in Figure 1.
In its outer periphery is placed a projecting tooth G which gears into and actuates
on a corresponding cutting or recess on the circumference of HL each time a complete
revolution is made by G
G2 may be on an independent circle if it be preferred.

page_text: It will be seen by the Drawing that G2 has a pawl or ratchet Gs with spring G+
gearing into the teeth of wheel G to provent its slipping back on the return of the
pawl F to its first position.
H is the tens wheel with its front dial H¹ similarly placed to G¹ over and under
In guide frame, as shown in Fig. 5. When it is desired to re-set the machine to
The wheel H is moved forward one of
zero it is done by moving round the dials.
its ten teeth or notches on each revolution of the wheel G by the contact of the
projecting tooth G₁ with one of the notches on its outer edge. The wheel H is
retained in working position by means of a lever with pin or ratchet piece H2 and
spring H*.
I is the hundreds wheel similar in all respects to the wheel H. A stop may be
provided to act when the numbers reach 999.
Hand I are both kept in position by such springs and levers with pins or ratchet
pieces as just above described herein. The wheel G is not thus provided, but is
fixed so that to re-set it the main bar A is required to be set in motion until G'
shows an 0 at the hole in the cover. J is a pawl or catch to actuate on the bell
hanımer K3; J is affixed to bar A. K is the lever to ring tho bell L, having a
moveable arm K¹ to permit of the return of J to its first position, and to ring the
bell L through the lammer K³; also a spring K² to return K to its first position.
L is the bell.
M is the lock to secure the machine from being tampered with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is effected, I wish it to be clearly
understood that what I claim and desire to secure by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,→
Firstly. The construction and use of a portablo apparatus for clipping or
punching tickets or cards, operated by a pull bar, and registering the number
clipped so as to show externally the number registered, such operations and
indications being capable of being effected by the use of one hand only of the
operator.
Secondly. The peculiar construction of clipping arrangement for cutting or clipping
the tickets; and
Thirdly. The general arrangement of parts, all as described in this Specification,
and in the accompanying Drawings illustrated, as and for the purpose or purposes
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Edward Davison, have hereunto set
my hand and goal this First day of October in the year of our Lord One.