IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AND RECORDING TIME APPLICABLE ALSO TO STAMPS FOR STAMPING TELEGRAPH FORMS, RAILWAY OR OTHER TICKETS AND FOR CHECKING RECEIPTS ON TRAM CARS OR AT OTHER PLACES AND FOR OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Henry Thompson and Charles William Thompson
both of Endell Street Long Acre in the County of Middlesex Engineers
and Machinists for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
INDICATING AND RECORDING TIME APPLICABLE ALSO TO STAMPS FOR STAMPING
TELEGRAPH FORMS, RAILWAY OR OTHER TICKETS AND FOR CHECKING RECEIPTS
ON TRAM CARS OR AT OTHER PLACES AND FOR OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Henry Thompson
and Charles William Thompson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
on the 7th December 1882.
3
CHARLES HENRY THOMPSON and CHARLES WILLIAM THOMPSON, both of
Endell Street, Long Acre in the County of Middlesex Engineers and Machinists
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AND RECORDING TIME APPLICABLE
ALSO TO STAMPS, FOR STAMPING TELEGRAPH FORMS, RAILWAY OR OTHER TICKETS,
AND FOR CHECKING RECEIPTS IN TRAMCARS, OR AT OTHER PLACES, AND FOR OTHER
ANALOGOUS PURPOSES
19
The principal part of our said Invention relates to the combination of a clock or
indicator of time with a press, in such a manner as to enable impressions to be
taken from the said press recording accurately and instantaneously the time of the
day, as well as the date at which any impression of the stamp is taken together
with any other particulars, and will be especially useful for stamping telegrams
showing the time of receipt and despatch or letters showing the time of
commencing and finishing sealing posting and delivery,-for stamping Post Office
letters for Railway Tickets, showing the train by which the passenger booked
thus abolishing the necessity for clipping or punching the tickets, for labelling
Railway parcels showing time of receipt and of despatch for omnibus or tramcar
tickets for checking the receipts from passengers, and for checking the work of
night watchmen. It can also be adapted for recording the time and speed of trains
on a railway, say at curves crossing or the like, and it is capable of application
for all purposes where it would be advantageous to record the time of the day as
well as the date at which the stamping was performed.

page_text: 1
It can be adapted to register high velocities with greater accuracy, and to the
much smaller fraction of time than by other known means and would therefore be
useful for many scientific purposes.
In carrying our Invention into effect we transmit by suitable gearing or
connections the movements of the clock or time keeper to a spindle carrying a
moveable hand or hands and a dial forming part of the die or stamp of the press;
so that the said hand or hands move around the dial as they move round the face
of a clock. Thus when an impression of the die or stamp is taken, in addition to
any suitable combination of figures letters or signs to denote date, or other
particulars; there is also taken therewith an impression of the dial, and of the hand
or hands in the position in which it or they may be, at the time of taking the
impression, and this impression of the position will serve as a permanent record of
the time at which the impression of the stamp was taken. The impression of the
dial and hands can of course if desired be the only impression taken by the stamp ;
if further particulars be unnecessary.
"
We prefer to dispense with the figures and numerals of the ordinary clock dial and
to substitute for them 12 or other number of divisions or plain marks of uniform
width, equidistant round the dial In place of the hand or hands we prefer a disc
which accurately fits in and is flush with the dial circle, with a square or oblique
ended hand or revolving "gauge" raised or engraved thereon, the gauge and the
space between the divisions being each equal to some factor of the dial's
circumference. These divisions form the units for measuring the advance of the
leading edge of the gauge, which gives the measurement of the time. The width
of those divisions, and of the guage in for example a dial with 48 divisions
measure 15 minutes of time, therefore for every distance advanced by the " guage'
equal to its width of an hour is recorded-The half hours are recorded by the
guage being flush or in radial line with the intermediate divisions, and the. hours,
likewise, by the gauge being flush or in radial line with the main divisions The
square or oblique end of the "guage" being divided into 3, 5, or other number of
equal parts the time can be measured as the guage advances by those fractions of
the th of an hour-With four or more vernier marks or divisions placed in
advance of the guage 59 minutes apart, the time may be told to one minute or to
the fraction of a minute. It will be seen that when the leading edge of the gauge
overlaps, any division the amount of that, overlap in minutes is shown by the
leading edge of the 1st 2nd 3rd 4th or 5th verniers being flush or in the radial line, with
the leading edge of the corresponding succeeding divisions of the dial subdivisions
may be added to measure the time to any fraction of a minute.
When it is necessary to use a guage, making one revolution in one hour or
less time we prefer to place the 12 hour gauge on the outer circumference of the
dial When the disc gauge makes one. revolution in a.minute we place 4 or more
verniers in advance of the outer gauge to record.the-minutes, those on the disc
recording the seconds-In this dial the main divisions are taper their width at the
outer circumference being 11th of that circumference and their width at the inner
circumference being th of that circumference, the outer circumference being
divided into 144 and the inner into 60 divisions and subdivisions respectively.
60
For measuring the time to the very small fraction of a second (for recording
high velocities) We prefer the outer gauge to make one or, more revolutions in one
or more minutes, and the inner gauge one or more. revolutions in one or more
seconds, the dial being divided decimally or duodecimally with divisions' sub-
divisions and verniers suitable to the nature and accuracy of the work required..
When the instrument is adapted to Tram and Omnibus uses we use a moveable
sector-type which is moved round the outer circle of the dial.by hand by means of
suitable wheel work connecting the type with the front and with the back discs―
This sector denotes what section of the route the vehicle is passing over the time
of commencing and the time of finishing any journey--A special or "section
ticket" is stamped by the conductor at the commencement and at the conclusion of
each section for recording the shifting of the sector which record is kept by the
+
St..70
85

page_text: conductor to be delivered up at the end of the journey The passengers' tickets
will record the section in which they commenced and the section in which they
finished their journey and therefore the fare paid to the conductor they will also
show the time at which they commenced and the time at which they finished their.
journeys and by comparison with the section tickets will show at what part of
each section they entered the vehicle and at what part they alighted. By these
tickets the number of passengers entering the vehicle and the number alighting at
each and all the "sections" is accurately recorded Also how many passengers
travelled on the out and how many on the home journey the time of travelling
the distance travelled and the fare paid-On the tickets can also be printed the
number of the vehicle and also that of the conductor or other particulars.
To the instrument a gong or bell is added and fitted for sounding once when a
ticket is stamped-also a counter for registering the number of impressions taken
by the press One dial of the clock being seen 'inside and one dial outside
the vehicle, each with movable sectors. Passengers can at any time watch the
progress of their journey These clocks may be arranged with dials and gauges
divided as herein before described For printing the time, type can be used for
perforating, embossing or for printing with ink. The system of divisions can be
applied to counters pressure gauges dynamometers weighing apparatus or other
instruments or apparatus. The clock for moving the gauge of the type dial may be
placed on top of descending spindle,-driving the spindle of the gauge direct, or at
the side or under the type being connected by wheelwork as before explained. A
clutch box with a spiral spring is used to connect the type spindle with that of
the clock to equalise the work of driving and to prevent the momentary detention
of the gauge spindle from stopping the clock-work during the taking of impressions
To effect the alteration from, A. M. to P. M. (when a 12 hours dial is used) without
removing the first type we may connect the loop of the P with the after stroke" of
the A by means of a horizontal spindle carrying 2 small eccentrics working in the
bottom parts of the "stems" of those portions of the two letters. By turning this
spindle half round that portion which completes the A is turned out of the plane
for printing while that portion which completes the loop of the P is raised into
position for printing. The instrument can be made of any convenient size. When
the instrument is to be used for stamping purposes in which a set time is to be.
recorded say for example when used for stamping on railway tickets the time at
which the train starts for which the tickets are issued the time indicating part of
the die may be unconnected with clockwork and be moved round by hand to the:
requisite position to indicate the required time

page_text: ·
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Henry Thompson and Charles William Thompson in the
.Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th June 1883.
CHARLES HENRY THOMPSON and CHARLES WILLIAM THOMPSON both of
Endell Street Long Acre in the County of Middlesex Engineers and Machinists
* IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AND RECORDING TIME APPLICABLE
ALSO TO STAMPS FOR STAMPING TELEGRAPH FORMS, RAILWAY OR OTHER TICKETS
AND FOR CHECKING RECEIPTS ON TRAMCARS OR AT OTHER PLACES AND FOR OTHER
ANALOGOUS PURPOSES
"
The principal part of our said Invention relates to the combination of a clock or
indicator of time with a press or stamp in such a manner as to enable impressions
to be taken from the said press or stamp recording accurately and instantaneously
the time of the day at which any impression of the stamp is taken together with
. the date or any other particulars and is applicable to all purposes where such a
record would be advantageous; for example, it will be especially useful for stamping
telegrams, for shewing the time of receipt and despatch thereof; or for letters
shewing the time of commencing and finishing, sealing, posting, and delivery; for
stamping Post Office letters; for Railway Tickets so that the train by which the
passenger booked may be indicated thus abolishing the necessity for clipping or
punching the tickets; for labelling Railway parcels shewing time of receipt and
of despatch; for Omnibus or Tramcar tickets for checking receipts from Passengers;
and for checking the work of Night Watchmen. It can also be adapted for
recording the time and speed of Trains on a Railway say at curves crossings or the
like, but it is capable of application generally for all purposes where it would be
advantageous to record the time of the day, as well as the date, at which the
stamping was performed.
It can be adapted to register high velocities with greater accuracy and to the
much smaller fraction of time than by other known means and would therefore bé
useful for many scientific purposes.
The hereinafter described dials and hands or indicators can be applied generally
to clocks watches or other time indicators.
In carrying our Invention into effect we transmit by suitable gearing or connec-
tions the movements of a clock or time keeper to a spindle or spindles carrying a
movable hand or hands or indicator forming with a dial the die or stamp or part
of the die or stamp so that the said indicator or 'hand or hands moves or move
around the dial after the manner in which the hands move round the face of a
clock Thus when an impression of the die or stamp is taken there is taken an
impression of the dial and of the hand or hands in the position in which it or they
may be at the time of taking the impression and in addition if necessary to any
suitable combination of figures letters or signs to denote date or other particulars
This impression will serve as a permanent record of the time at which the
impression was taken The impression of the dial and hands can of course if
desired be. the only impression taken by the stamp if further particulars be
unnecessary.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood we shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to

page_text: the several figures on the annexed drawing the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings represent elevations taken at
right angles to each other of a stamping press arranged to indicate time in addition
if desired to the ordinary or other particulars as hereinbefore described. The upper
part consists of a press which may be arranged as shewn or in any suitable manner
after the way in which presses are or may be constructed. The die a or stamp
proper (shewn in plan in Figure 3) is however provided with a central part b
which can be rotated within the other part the said part 6 having thereon a
pointer c forming a part of the raised or engraved portion of the stamp and being
formed with a stem 62 which is attached to clockwork, or to gearing from clockwork,
in such a manner that the said central part b is caused to rotate at the same speed
as the hand or hands of the clock; say once in twelve, or in twentyfour hours. The
inner edge of the stationary part of the die a, is engraved or formed with divisions
so that the position of the pointer, and consequently the time, may be accurately
ascertained. In the arrangement shewn in the drawing a clock d is used mounted
in a casting e forming the base of the apparatus. The external or hand spindle d²
of the said clock is furnished with pins f which bear upon springs g carried by a
spindle h upon which is fixed the pointer ² of the dial i for indicating the time at
the exterior of the apparatus. The said spindle carries a bevel wheel h² which
gears with another bevel wheel b³ upon or connected to the spindle b² carrying the
central part b, of the die or stamp of the press. The parts of the press itself may be
of any ordinary or convenient construction as will be understood on reference to
the drawings without further description.
We prefer to dispense with the figures and numerals of the ordinary clock dial
(whether used in the stamp or for indicating time at the exterior) of the apparatus
and to substitute for them twelve or other number of divisions or plain marks of
uniform width, equidistant round the dial. In place of the hand or hands like
those of an ordinary clock we prefer a disc which accurately fits in and is flush
with the dial circle (as shewn in figures 1 and 3 and further figures of the drawings)
with the " guage" (c or 2) raised or engraved thereon having a square or oblique
end the guage and the space between the divisions being each equal to some factor
of the dials circumference. These divisions form the units for measuring the advance
of the leading edge of the guage which gives the measurement of the time. The
width of those divisions and of the guage, in for example a dial with forty eight
divisions, measure fifteen minutes of time; therefore for every distance advanced.
by the "guage" equal to its width one fourth of an hour is recorded. The half
hours are recorded by the "guage "being flush or in radial line with the inter-
mediate divisions and the hours likewise by the guage being flush or in radial line
with the main divisions. The square or oblique end of the guage being divided
into three, five or other number of equal parts the time can be measured as the
guage advances by those fractions of the one fourth of an hour. With four or more
Vernier marks or divisions placed in advance of the guage, say fifty nine minutes
apart, the time may be told to one minute or to the fraction of a minute. In figure 4
such a Vernier is indicated at j in dotted lines. It will be seen that when the
leading edge of the guage overlaps any division the amount of that overlap in minutes
is shewn by the leading edge of the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth Verniers
being flush or in the radial line with the leading edge of the corresponding suc-
ceeding divisions of the dial. Sub-divisions may be added to measure the time to
any fraction of a minute.
When it is necessary to use a guage making one revolution in one hour or less
time we may place the twelve hour guage on the outer circumference of the dial
as shewn in figure 5 where the said twelve hour guage is marked k.
When the disc guage makes one revolution in a minute we place four or more
Verniers in advance of the outer guage as indicated at to record the minutes;

page_text: "
those on the disc recording the seconds. In this dial the main divisions are taper,
their width at the outer circumference being one forty eighth of that circumference
and their width at the inner circumference being one sixtieth of that circumference,
the outer circumference being divided into one hundred and forty four and the
inner into sixty divisions and sub-divisions respectively."
For measuring the time to the very small fraction of a second (for recording
high velocities for example) we prefer the outer guage to make one or more
revolutions in one or more minutes and the inner guage one or more revolutions in
one or more seconds the dial being divided decimally or duo-decimally with
divisions, sub-divisions and Verniers and the moving parts connected with the
requisite parts of the clock mechanism in any suitable manner according to thé
nature and accuracy of the work required.
When the instrument is adapted to Tram and omnibus uses we may use a
moveable sector type as shewn at 1 in Figure 64 which type is moved round the
outer circle of the dial by hand by means of suitable wheel work which may
connect the type with the front and with the back discs. Figure 6 is a-front
elevation and figure 7 a vertical section of the lower part (the upper or stamping
parts being omitted) of an apparatus, provided with the said sector which is
operated by the button. on the spindle 3 carrying a toothed pinion l' engaging
with a toothed wheel formed on a circular collar piece carrying the said sector l.
This sector is shifted one division at each section of the journey and denotes at
what section of the route the vehicle is passing over at the time of stamping and
consequently the time of beginning and the time of finishing any journey. A
special or section ticket is stamped by the conductor at the commencement and at
the conclusion of each section for recording the shifting of the sector which record
is kept by the conductor to be delivered up at the end of the journey The
passengers' tickets will record the section in which they commenced, and the section
in which they finished, their journey and therefore the fare paid to the conductor;
the said tickets will also shew the time at which they commenced and the time at
which they finished their journeys and by comparison with the section-tickets will
-shew at what part of each section they entered the vehicle and at what part they
alighted By these tickets the number of passengers entering the vehicle, and the
number alighting, at each and all the sections, is accurately recorded. Also how
many passengers travelled on the out, and how many on the home, journey; the time
of travelling, the distance travelled, and the fare paid, will be indicated. On the
tickets can also be printed the number of the vehicle and also that of the Conductor
or other particulars and in conjunction with the instrument a gong or bell may be
provided for sounding once when a ticket is stamped Also a counter may be used
for registering the number of impressions taken by the press the indications being
exhibited through openings shewn at p in figures 8 and 9. In figure 7 I have
shewn the clock at d actuating, through the gearing shewn, the indicators or hands
of two clock dials in addition to that of the indicator b of the stamp, one dial
being seen inside, and the other dial outside the vehicle, and each being provided
with movable sectors so that passengers can at any time watch the progress of
their Journey. The sectors are shewn at 15 and are upon rings having toothed
wheels thereon one being actuated by a pinion 1 on the spindle and the opposite
one being actuated by a similar spindle 7 with pinions which transmit motion
to the said opposite sector-carrying-ring. The pinions and wheels bear the requisite
proportions to give corresponding movements to all the sectors.
The clocks may be arranged with dials and guages divided. as hereinbefore
described.
The stamp or press may be arranged to print or to emboss or perforate as may.
be most convenient and the clock for moving the guage of the type dial may be
placed in any suitable position for example at top of the spindle so as to drive the
opindle of the guage direct or at the side or under the type and connected by wheel

page_text: work as before explained And if desired one clock mechanism can actuate the
moving parts of more than one stamp.
Figure 8 shews a press with two stamps actuated by one clock suitable for use
for stamping entries and exits of passengers to and from vehicles. A clutch box
as at P with a spiral spring or other similar yielding device is or may be used to
connect the type spindle with that of the clock to equalise the work of driving
and to prevent the momentary detention of the guage spindle from stopping the
clockwork during the taking of impressions..
The instrument can be made of any convenient size and when it is to be used
for stamping purposes in which a set time is to be recorded say for example when
used for stamping on Railway Tickets the time at which the train starts for which
the tickets are issued the time indicating part of the die may be disconnected from
the clock work and be used to indicate a set time for any desired period.
Figure 10 is a section of a modified form of dial and pointers for the stamp and
Figure 11 is a representation of an impression taken therefrom. The central
part b is used for indicating the minutes and the pointer on the ring n the hours
or vice versa, the said parts b and n being connected with the parts of the clock
mechanism requisite to give them the required rate of motion.
The system of divisions can be applied to counters pressure guages dynamo-
meters weighing apparatus or other instruments or apparatus.
The Invention it will be readily understood can be applied to hand or stationary
stamps or presses of any kind.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our Invention
and the system mode or manner in or under which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect we would observe in conclusion that we do not limit ourselves to
the precise details herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings as the same may be varied within considerable limits without departing
from the nature of our Invention for example in place of the time keeping
mechanism conveying motion to a moveable part of the die or stamp consisting of
a pointer or pointers it may convey motion to wheels with figures upon them
so that these figures indicate the time in place of the pointer or pointers; but what
we consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as our Invention secured
to us by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is:-
First. In apparatus for indicating and recording time the combination with a
stamp or press of a moveable part or parts actuated from a time keeper substantially
as herein before described.
Second. In apparatus for indicating and recording time the combination with the
die of a press or stamp of a dial and moveable pointer or pointers substantially as
herein before described.
Third. In apparatus for indicating, or for indicating and recording, time, or for
other indicating purposes, the dial divided, or graduated, substantially as hereinbefore
described, and illustrated, in combination with a pointer which is so formed, or
divided, at its end as to indicate subdivisions of the divisions, or graduations, of the
dial substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6
of the accompanying drawings whether the same be used with or without a
vernier.
Fourth. In apparatus for indicating and recording time the combination with a
stamp or press, provided with a pointer or pointers actuated from a time keeper, of
the sector or moveable division-recorder forming part of the die or stamp of the
press substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 6. 6ª and 7
of the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. In apparatus for indicating and recording time the combination with a
die or stamp of a dial and a moveable pointer and pointer carrying ring
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 of the
accompanying drawings

page_text: Sixth. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the apparatus for
indicating and recording time for various purposes substantially as herein before
described and illustrated under various modifications in the accompanying
Drawings..
•
In witness whereof we the said Charles Henry Thompson and Charles
William Thompson have to this our Specification set our hands and seals
this Sixth day of June, One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.