THE D.I.C.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2171, 12 July 1889, Page 2

THE D.I.C.

AN INGENIOUS INVENTION

Ever slnoe the commencement of the Drapery Importing Company's business Id Ohrlstohuroh the want has been felt (and he necessity haß been greatly|jintensl6ad by the rapid inoraase of the Company's oußtneas) of a more speedy and convenient dystem of transmitting cash from the various counters to the cash desk. Until now, the old aystom of cash runners has been followed m the Company's warehouse, but the adoption of " The Patent Rapid Servloe Cash Railway System" tvoldo the oorifuslon of a dozen boys and girls continually rushing to and from the 4eßk, dispenses with the noise of the assistants shouting " cash " at the oonolaslon of every transaction, saves the outcomer the time of waiting until the messenger — having had to await his turn *t the desk— -returns with the change and receipt, and transmit the amoun* direot from the customer to the cash clerk

" Tha Hapid Service Otsh Railway System" is an Amerioan patent, the result of m^ny* yaaio' atody and experiment on the part of Us inventor, Mr ttobert A. M Oarty, who, although loop possessed of the fundamental idea, developed and brought it Into pnotloal > efleot while aaioolated with Mr Bdlaon, Exception may, however, be taken to the title bestowed on the Invention, whtoh is, as a matter of fact, a clever adaptation of the aerial tramway. The lines which run from the cash desk m various directions •re single steel wlr<ss, wall atialned. The travelling carriage has two grooved wheels, which rest upon the wire. From these wheels are suspended the body of the vehiole. The motive force used for the propulsion of the carriage is simply a short length of rubber, with a loop of cord at one end, a oouvenlent pull-handle at the other, and a "atop " for precisely regulating the "puil" which can be given to the rubber. The thing ia, m brief, an idealised "shanghai," which projects a aarrUge along a ateel wire, instead of a mUslle through the air and possibly through some unhappy householder's window. There is at one end of the carriage a sort of trigger, over which the b ;fjrementloned loop of oord passes. Oa pulling the handle, tension is pat on the rubber, and by the action of the trigger this aotlon cease* lnstautaneonsly. The carriage recoils, and the momentum is sufficient to cause it to travel two hundred feet or more At the opposite end of the wire there is another loop mechanical y held to catoh and retain it until it baa to be despatohed on its return journey. The body of the carriage inoludeß a wooden box, detachable from the metal framework by the slightest poesible turn of the wrist, and as easily and qulokly replaced, It is this box waioh forms the reoeptiole for the transit of bills, cash, &o. It is found iv praotioe that any ordinarily '*' levelheaded" lad, placed m a suitable cash desk, oan deal easily with ten of these Aerial lines. And tbe cash desk m the D.I.G is a suitable one. There are conveniently arranged spaces for the various coins and notes ia ordinary circulation, and books for the rapid class ficasioa of duplicate invoices. Taken as a whole, this new cash system Is cleverly devised, aad admirably executed. It should— as we have previously indicated — greatly facilitate operations, and oondnue m a remarkable degree t) the conservation of time, of money, and of good temper.