New Developments in Destinationindicator Gear
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SOME practical features are incorporated in the design of the latest type of destination-indicator gear manufactured by the Whitley Tool Co., Ltd., 7, Lemuel Street, London, S.W.18. The company has developed a device from which the blinds or rollers may easily be removed or exchanged. The equipment embodies the standard Routicator destination gear and its component spring friction plate, a cam being fitted to the latter member, so that by operating a small lever the plate may be depressed away from the rollers.
Under the driving spigots on the gearing and under the bearing boles in the spring plate are fixed cradles upon which the rollers rest. Depression of the lever on the friction plate automatically disengages the rollers, which may then be lifted out. By releasing the lever, the rollers are pushed into engagement, and the gear may be operated in the usual manner.
An interesting development is the formation by the Whitley Tool Co., Ltd., of a subsidiary company under the name of Printsigns, Ltd., to manufacture the linen blinds employed. The B42 material has a washable finish, whilst the paint is flexible and opaque.
We understand that the blinds have been approved by an important group of bus-operating companies, which has found the black deposit to be non-cracking and the white letters to provide particularly clear definition when illuminated from the rear.
On each end of the blind are two metal tabs, which may be inserted through holes, into a slit in each metal roller. Thus the blind is securely fasiened, yet may easily be withdrawn.
On some types of Whitley gear, pilot rollers having spring plungers at their extremities are employed to keep the blinds close to the glass and in a vertical position. It can well be realized that if the blind were of considerable length and one roller carried more material than the other, the sheet would slope and would tend to become limp. In removing the blind from a box in. which pilot rollers are employed, the value of the easy method of detaching the sheet makes itself dearly apparent.
The Whitley Tool Co., Ltd., has also adapted its destination gear for use in automatic advertising machines, some of which are being employed by travel agencies. This type of equipment is suitable for use in coach stations.