|
|
|
|
|
|
| The first machine
is 1041 118319 numbered 0218 and comes
from Southend Transport. It is a short
range model with fares up to £9.99.
Registers show total tickets and £1,
10p and 1p units. |
 |
| It has an additional
fare stage selector in the form of a
small lever to the left of the fare
bands. The plastic handles were easily
broken and this machine has been fitted
with a more durable metal one. |
|
| The ticket shows
stage boarded 90, fare paid £1.00,
ticket type return, ticket number 967,
stage alighting (or route) 18, issued
on 06 December 1997. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| This one, 1994
207980 numbered 0484, is from BeeLine
who operated in Berkshire in the 1990s. |
|
| It is a long range
machine giving fares up to £99.99.
Registers show total tickets and £10,
£1, 10p and 1p units. The pod
on the right, below the lever, contains
the total ticket counter. |
|
| A label reading
'PLEASE TAKE YOUR TICKET' indicates
that this machine was used on pay as
you enter buses. |
|
| The ticket shows
fare paid £2.30, ticket type day
return, ticket number 450, stage boarded
60, issued on 11 September 2003. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| I have these two examples of
the Almex 'A' machine. We had a couple of these
on trial shortly after decimailsation in 1971, while
I worked on Hants & Dorset at Southampton. The
company however remained loyal to Setright until
the introduction of electronic machines. |
|
| The Almex A uses a plain paper
roll to print tickets and automatically cuts the
ticket. The fare stage boarded is set by turning
a small wheel on the side of the machine. The ticket
type is selected by sliding the red band to the
desired position. Two green bands select the price
in pence while one or two yellow ones select the
pounds (in UK money). Some machines, like 0046 and
0218, have two extra green bands to select the fare
stage for alighting. The second band, at the far
left, is static with a lever which moves up and
down. |
|
| To the left of this is a paper
level indicator, to warn of the need to change the
roll. Some machines were fitted with a ticket punch
and both of mine have a slot in which prepaid tickets
can be cancelled. The sliding bands can be reset
by pulling back on the lever. A lock on the right
side prevents accidental ticket issue and the ticket
roll door can be locked, although most keys including
mine seem to have been lost quite quickly. |
|
| To change the date you have
to open the side of the machine. Strangely, the
first ticket printed shows the previous setting
of the date. For this reason, a zero ticket needs
to be printed at the start of each day. |
|
|
|
|
| The door on the
side opens to reveal the date selector,
the ticket roll and the audit roll.
Thie audit roll could be analysed at
the garage. Also visible in this picture
is the fare stage dial. |
|
| The Almex A was
carried on a strap by conductors or
it could be mounted on the cab door
for driver operation. |
|
| Almex As are prone
to jamming, resulting in the need to
completely dismantle and rebuild them.
This is well beyond my abilities and
I have lost two machines as a result.
I haven't been able to find replacement
ribbons recently nor a suitable ink
for re-inking an old one. Water based
inks may damage the mechanism and should
not be used. Re-inking is a messy business
but is likely the only alternative. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
