Page:Patent for Ballot-Box US28339.pdf/3

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and, secondly, the acctiracy with which a vote

tests on the end of a small screw passing up can be determined, and the ready means of through the bottom of the box, which being detecting a fraudulent voter by the alarm turned in causes dial () to press against the bell. under side of partition N, thus increasing the I am aware that a patent was issued to one friction and preventing the pawl from mov. ing the dial back when the pull is let go. A small bell c, Fig. 2, is fixed inside the box about at its center in such a manner as to

cause a sound to be given from the bell at every pull of E, by which any person attempt ing to vote twice is easily detected. The strik ing-hammer 2 is hinged to the bottom of the box, and is keptin position by a stop and spring. A narrow strip of metal 3 is also hinged to the bottom of the box, extending length wise from pull E to the striking-hammer, against which it rests.ith a vertical position. A pin projects from the side of pull E, which, when said pull is let go, after having been drawn out, comes in contact with one end of

the strip of metal 3, causing it to press back the hammer, and thus the bell is-struck upon its inner side.

There are two sets of the above-described mechanism, with the exception of the bell and haimmer, contained in one box, one set to record the “yeas” and the other the “ nays,” the internal parts of only one of which are shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The other, which is pre

cisely like the one described, is placed near the opposite end of the box, and for conven

ience in placing the pulls E is made to re volve in an opposite direction. The two sets are entirely separate from one another in their operation.

On one of the knobs K, or near it on the box, is placed the monosyllable “Yes, and on the other “No,” and the same are placed near the corresponding apertures in partition N, SO that a person pulling the knob marked 'Yes' will have his vote registered “yes, and vice versa. I am aware that slides to be pushed ill, or key's similar to piano-?orte keys, may be sub stituted for the pulls; but I prefer the latter. Some of the advantages of this improve ment are, first, a great saving of tiune both in taking a vote and in announcing the result,

Joseph A. Hill, dated August 6, 1850, for an improvement in ballot-boxes, in which the number of votes was registered by means of a tape printed with numerals, operated by pedals which were to be trodden on by the per son coming up to vote, and I do not wish to be understood as claiming any device or combi nation specified in said II ill's patent as my imvention. I do not claim a self-registering ballot-box as new or as of my invention, neither do I claim any of the parts herein described as new in themselves; but, IIaving described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Paterat, is 1. The employment of dials O and P, with their numerals and blank space operating in conjunction, substantially as and for the pur pose set forth. 2. The employment of dials O and P, as and for the purpose set forth, in combination with ratchet-wheel I, pawl A, and pull E, or their equivalents. 3. The combination and use of the above claimed dials, ratchet-wheel, pawl, and pull, operating as described, with alarm -bell C, for the purpose set forth. 4. The combination and use of the above claimed dials, ratchet-wheel, pawl, and pull, whether with or without alarm-bell C, with

any suitable box, substantially as described. 5. The combination and use of an alarm bell with a self-registering ballot-box. 6. The combination and use of two Sets of registering mechanism with one ballot-box, operating substantially as and for the purpose he'eill sot forth.

GILBERT L. BALLEY. Witnesses:

W. F. MASON,

E. K. BOOTHBY,