AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING FRAUD BY TRAMWAY AND OMNIBUS CON- DUCTORS, AND OTHER COLLECTORS OR RECEIVERS OF MONEY
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Rathbone Bacon, of Great Winchester Strect
Buildings, in the City of London, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING FRAUD BY TRAMWAY AND OMNIBUS CON-
DUCTORS, AND OTHER COLLECTORS OR RECEIVERS OF MONEY."
Sealed the 1st June 1880, and dated the 2nd December 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Rathbone Bacon
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd December 1879.
WALTER RATHBONE BACON, of Great Winchester Street Buildings, in the City of
London. "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING FRAUD BY TRAMWAY AND
OMNIBUS CONDUCTORS, AND OTHER COLLECTORS OR RECEIVERS OF MONEY."
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus in which are combined a money
receiving box, and mechanism for registering the number of fares paid by passengers
travelling in a tram-car, omnibus, or similar vehicle, or the number of payments
made by persons entering any building or place where the said apparatus may be
used.
The object of the said Invention is to provide improved means for preventing
fraud on the part of conductors or other money collectors or receivers.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a box, preferably of rect-
angular form, made of convenient dimensions to be placed in a suitable position
within a tram-car or omnibus so that it can be readily seen both by the passengers
and the conductor. The front and two sides, also the top of the said box, are
chiefly of glass in order that the contents of the box and the operation of the
mechanism may be observed by all in the vehicle. The upper part of the box
forms a chamber which is furnished with the registering mechanism to be operated
by the conductor, driver, or attendant, as hereinafter described; below this chamber
there is a second chamber deeper than the upper one, and a glass shoot or spout
extends downward within this second chamber, its upper end communicating with
an orifice in the front of the case or box, this orifice deing designed to receive the
money which passes by gravity through the shoot and falls upon a convex flap or
door at the lower end of a trap or receptacle situated at the base of and communi-
cating with the said second chamber. At the lower end of the spout there is a
D

page_text: curved piece designed to arrest or deflect any instrument or tool inserted to abstract
money. There is another trap or receptacle below the first one, and this second
trap is provided with a flap or door opening downward; this flap remains open by
reason of its own gravity whenever the box is in an upright position, but should
the box be reversed the flap closes and prevents the money which has passed
through this trap from returning to the upper part of the box. The said lower
flap when open is supported against a part of the framework of the box at a
suitable angle to provide an inclined plane for causing the coins as they fall through
the trap to be shot or conveyed into a drawer or receptacle at the bottom of the
box. The aforesaid convex flap or door is attached to a lug or projection on the
lower part of the first trap by means of a hinge or joint, and in such a manner
that it will open in a downward but not in an upward direction. An arm extends
outward from one part of the said convex flap, and is united at its free end to the
extremity of a vertical rod which extends from this extremity upwards through
the aforesaid second chamber into the upper chamber, where it is provided with a
pawl or other suitable device for actuating the registering mechanism. The said
rod is provided with a spiral or other suitable spring to cause it to descend after it
has been operated in an upward direction. A handle is provided to be carried by
the conductor, and a suitable aperture is made in the box within which the said
handle may be inserted to operate the rod whenever necessary; or in some cases
the said handle may be attached to the rod, and project from the box in a con-
venient position to be operated. In some cases a strap or other device may be
used for operating the vertical rod, the latter being connected at one end with the
aforesaid convex lid or flap, and at the other end with the registering mechanism;
the opening of this flap and the movement of the said registering mechanism are
effected simultaneously by the upward motion of the vertical rod. A coin or coins
representing a fare being passed through the aforesaid orifice at the front of the box
falls through the shoot or spout to the upper surface of the convex flap by which it
is arrested. The conductor then raises the vertical rod by means of the handle; by
this operation the convex flap opens downward, and the coin drops into the drawer
or receptacle at the base of the box, having in its descent passed through the afore-
said second trap, at the same time the raising of the vertical rod causes a unit to
be recorded upon the registering mechanism. I provide a duplicate set of dials
upon which the numbers are indicated, that is to say, one dial or set of dials is at
the front part of the box, and the other dial or set of dials at the back thereof;
these dials are protected by glass coverings, and being in duplicate can, when used
in a tram-car, be read by the conductor or driver outside the car, and the passengers
within the same, that is to say, one dial may be seen from the outside, and the other
from the inside of the car.
In some cases it may be desirable to provide two handles or other devices instead
of only one, so that the opening of the convex flap and the actuating of the
registering mechanism may be separate operations.
car.
When the apparatus is to be used in connection with a tram-car I provide moans
for readily attaching it to and detaching it from the same, so that it may be moved
from one end of the car to the other end thereof whenever a return journey is com-
menced; this obviates the necessity of providing two boxes or apparatus for each
For this purpose I attach in the desired position at each end and to some
convenient part of the car a metal shoe designed to receive a piece provided at the
lower end of the box, and above each of the said shoes I provide a sliding pieco
and a cam-lever, the sliding piece being arranged to fit over a metal projection on
the upper part of the box. The shoe and the sliding piece are so relatively arranged
that the box or apparatus will fit between them and be held securely in place
when the cam-lever has been operated to press the sliding piece into its position
at the top of the box. By pulling down the cam-lever the sliding piece may be
released and the box readily detached.
the
At night I propose to light the said apparatus by means of a lamp placed above
same, and whose light will be reflected upon and within the apparatus; or it

page_text: may be lighted by means of a lamp or lantern hung or placed on either side; or I
may utilize the ordinary lamp used for lighting the vehicle, in which case a suitablo
reflector or reflectors will be employed.
The registering mechanism is so arranged that the number shewn on the dials is
increased by one unit each time the conductor operates the handle, and these dials
may be set back at the end of a journey, or at any time, as desired; but the total
number for any number of journeys or for any desired time will be shewn upon
another set of registering mechanism, so operating in connection with the first
named registering mechanisin that when the setting back is effected and the
numbers thereby obliterated or removed they are recorded and preserved by the
said second registering mechanism. The registering mechanism may be practically
similar, with obvious modifications, to that described in the Specification of former
Letters Patent granted the Twenty fifth day of March, A.D. 1879, No. 1192, or any
ordinary well known mechanism may be used for the purpose.
In some cases I provide separate orifices for the reception of the coins, each one
corresponding to a different fare or amount, in which case the apparatus will be so
modified that the said coins will fall through separate shoots or spouts into separate
compartments, and there may also be separate registering mechanism so as to show
the number of passengers paying different fares.
Any slight modifications that may be necessary to adapt the said apparatus to
particular circumstances will be readily understood without further description.

page_text: '
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Walter Rathbone Bacon in the Great Scal Patent Office on the
2nd June 1880.
26
WALTER RATHBONE BACON, of Great Winchester Street Buildings, in the
City of London. AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING FRAUD BY TRAM-
WAY AND OMNIBUS CONDUCTORS, AND OTHER COLLECTORS OR RECEIVERS OF
MONEY."
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus in which are combined a money
receiving box, and mechanism for registering the number of fares paid by passengers
travelling in a tram-car, omnibus, or similar vehicle, or the number of payments
made by persons entering any building or place where the said apparatus may be
used. The object of the said Invention is to provide improved means for preventing
fraud on the part of conductors or other money collectors or receivers.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved apparatus, and
Figure. 2 is a central vertical section of the same.
Like.letters indicate the same parts in both of the Figures.
A represents a box, which is preferably of rectangular form, and of convenient
dimensions, to be placed or fixed in a suitable position within a tram-car, omnibus,
or other vehicle, so that it can be readily seen both by the passengers and the con-
ductor. The front A', the two sides, and also the top of the box, are preferably formed
chiefly of glass in order that the contents of the said box and the operation of the
registering mechanism may be observed by any person in the vehicle. The upper
portion of the box forms a chamber a which is furnished with the registering
mechanism, and either with or without a bell or alarm. This mechanisin may be
of any suitable construction, and is arranged to be operated by the conductor, driver,
or attendant, as hereinafter described. Below this chamber there is a second
chamber b, into which extends a shoot or spout c formed of glass, metal, or other
suitable material, projecting downward within the said chamber b. The upper end
of this shoot or chute is provided with an orifice c* in the front of the case or box,
this orifice being designed to receive the money which passes by gravity through
the shoot and falls upon a convex flap or door d' at the lower end of a trap or
The lower end of the
receptacle situated at the lower part of the chamber b.
spout c is provided with a curved piece or shield c¹ designed to arrest or deflect any
instrument or tool when inserted to surreptitiously abstract money from the fare
box. e represents another trap or receptacle below the trap d; this trap e is pro-
vided with a flap or door e' which opens downward, and remains open by reason of its
own gravity, as shewn in Figure 2, whenever the box is in an upright position, but
should the box be reversed or turned upside down tho said flap will close and
prevent the money which has passed through this trap from returning to the upper
part b of the box. The flap c¹ when open rests against a portion of the framework
of the box, as shewn, and at a suitable angle to provide an inclined plane for
causing the coins as they fall through the trap to be shot or conveyed into a drawer
or receptacle fat the bottom of the box. The convex flap or door d¹ is attached to
a lug or projection g on the lower part of the trap d by means of a hinge or joint,
and in such a manner that it will open in a downward, but not in an upward
direction. An arm g¹ extends outward from one part of the said convex flap, and is
united at its free end to the extremity of a vertical rod h which extends from this
extremity upwards through the chamber b into the chamber a, where it is provided
with a pawl or other suitable device for actuating the registering mechanism.
The said rod is surrounded by a spiral or other suitable spring i which bears upon
the collar or flange h¹ of the said rod and causes the latter to descend after it has
been operated in an upward direction; j represents a handle which is preferably

page_text: detachable and adapted to be carried by the conductor; represents an aperture
formed in the box within which the said handle may be inserted to operate the
rod h whenever necessary. In some cases the said handle may be attached to the
rod h and project from the box in a convenient position to be operated, or a strap
or other device may be used for operating the said vertical rod. The said rod is
connected at one end with the convex lid or flap d¹, and at the other end with
the registering mechanism as above described, so that when the said flap is opened
the movement of the said registering mechanism will be effected simultaneously by
the upward motion of the vertical rod h. If a coin or coins representing a fare bo
passed through the orifice c* at the front of the box it falls through the shoot or
spout cupon the upper surface of the flap d' by which it is arrested. The conductor
then raises the vertical rod h by means of the handle j, or otherwise; by this
operation the convex flap d' is caused to open downward and the coin drops into
the drawer or receptacle f, having in its descent passed through the trap e; at the
same time the raising of the rod / causes a unit to be recorded upon the registering
inechanism, which is preferably provided with a duplicate set of dials, as shewn
at 1, ', upon which the numbers are indicated, that is to say, one dial or set of
dials is arranged at the front part of the box, and the other dial or set of dials l¹
at the back thereof. These dials are protected by glass plates or coverings, as
shewn, and being in duplicate can, when used in a tram car, be read by the
conductor or driver outside the car, and also by the passengers within the same,
that is to say, the dial may be seen from the outside and the dial & from the inside
of the car.
In some cases, however, one dial only may be employed instead of two
as above described.
Instead of employing one handle j only it may be desirable to provide two
handles or other devices, so that the opening of the convex flap d¹ and the actuating
of the registering mechanism may be effected by separate operations.
When the apparatus is to be used in connection with a tram-car I provide means
for readily attaching it to and detaching it from the same, so that it may be moved
from one end of the car to the other end thereof whenever a return journey is
commenced. This obviates the necessity of providing two boxes or apparatus for
cach car. For this purpose I attach in the desired position at each end, and to some
convenient part of the car, a metal shoe m designed to receive the piece n at the
lower end of the box. The upper part of the box is provided with a similar piece n'
with which a sliding piece o moved in one direction by a cam-lever p, and in the
other direction by a suitable spring, engages; the said sliding piece is arranged to
fit over the said metal projection or piece o, as shown in Figure 2. The shoe m
and the sliding piece o are so relatively arranged that the box or apparatus will fit
between them, and be held securely in place when the cam lever p has been operated
to press the sliding piece into its position at the top of the box, the said lever being
locked when in position by a key preferably carried by the conductor or other
person in charge of the fare-box. By depressing the said cam lever
the sliding
piece o may be released and the box readily detached; or, instead of the fastening
device above described other suitable mechanism may be employed for the same
purpose without departing from the spirit of my Invention.
At night I propose to light the said apparatus by means of a lamp placed above
the same, and whose light will be reflected upon and within the apparatus, or
it may be lighted by means of a lamp or lantern hung or placed on either side, or
I may utilize the ordinary lamp used for lighting the vehicle, in which case a
suitable reflector or reflectors will be employed.
The registering mechanism is so arranged in the chamber a that the number
shewn on the dials is increased by one unit each time the conductor operates the
handle, and these dials may be set back at the end of a journey or at any time as
desired, but the total number for any number of journeys or for any desired time
will be shewn upon another set of registering mechanism so operating in connection
with the first named registering mechanism that when the setting back is effected,
and the numbers thereby obliterated or removed, they are recorded and preserved by

page_text: the said second registering mechanism. The registering mechanism may be
practically similar, with the exception of various modifications in the same to suit
the apparatus above described, to that described in the Specification of former
Letters Patent granted the Twenty fifth day of March 1879, No. 1192, or any
ordinary well known mechanism may be used for the purpose.
In some cases I provide separate orifices for the reception of the coins, each
orifice corresponding to a different fare or amount, in which case the apparatus will
be so modified that the said coins will fall through separate shoots or spouts into
one or more compartments, and there may also be separate registering mechanism
so as to show the number of passengers paying different fares.
Any slight modifications that may be necessary to adapt the said apparatus to
particular circumstances will be readily understood without further description.
Having thus fully described the said Invention and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. A fare or money receiving apparatus or box having a chamber whose
lower portion is closed by the hinged flap or door connected to the rod, which on
being moved upward by means of a handle, strap, or otherwise to depress the said
flap and permit the passage of the fare to the fare-receiving drawer, also actuates
by the same movement the registering mechanism in the said box, as above set
forth and for the purpose specified.
Second. A fare or money box or receptacle provided with registering mechanism
having two series of dials, and with or without a bell or alarm, substantially as
above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Third. The inclined chute or spout extending downward within the fare box and
provided with a curved piece or shield at its lower end, as above set forth and for
the purpose specified.
Fourth. The combination in a fare or money receiving box or apparatus of the
chambers or receptacles a, b, d, e, f, the chute, the flaps or doors, the rod, the spring,
the handle, and the registering mechanism, substantially as above set forth and for
the purposes specified.
Fifth. The devices for securing the fare-box in position within a tramcar and for
permitting the ready removal and re-fixing of the same, as above set forth and for
the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Rathbone Bacon, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
aight hundred and night..
WALTER RATHBONE BACON. (L.S.)