ADDINGTON'S "TOTE"

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 108, 3 November 1937, Page 13

ADDINGTON'S "TOTE"

SUCCESSFUL TRIALS HELD

The newly-installed "Bel) Punch totalisator, which will be in use_ at Addington next week, cost £.35,000. Trials neid last week were completely successful. There are 42 selling windows and 42 pay-out windows. In the inside enclosure one £5, five £1, and 15 10s windows are available to investors, and, in the outside there are two £1 and 19 10£» windows. There are also two £1 and two 10s selling windows at the western side of the stewards' stand, one 10s selling window in the stewards' stand, and still another 10s window-in the members' stand. UNITS PRINCIPLE. The totalisator is worked on the units principle. It registers amounts on eacn horse, and simultaneously on the grand total. A staff of 60 sellers and 42 pay-out clerks are engaged. The sellers operate ticket-issuing machines, which work on the same principle as a typewriter. The equipment provides for a sale and issue of a sufficiency of tickets varying in their particulars, within specific limits of time. The method of issuing tickets gives the utmost protection against fraud and forgery. The Bell Punch totalisator ticket was designed by racing experts. The ease and speed of the selling machines are an impressive feature of the totalisator. It is the fastest of its kind in the world, and the win-and-place tickets of different values are of distinctive colours. THE CONTROL ROOM. The Control room, equipment comprises electrical switchboards and numerical recorders. The size of each machine is 18in •by 15in by 14in, and weighs 1301b.- It is designed for a. speedy issue of more than 100 tickets a minute. The actual speed of issue under racing conditions, however, is unascertainable,, as it .is dependent upon varying circumstances. Its capacity is 1200 tickets for each selling machine without reloading, which is more than sufficient for any race. The machine incorporates among its safeguards many important features, it is remotely controlled from the central control panel, from which all machines can be locked or unlocked as desired. -■' ISSUE OF TICKETS. The race number, printed on the ticket is automatically set from the control panel, and can be-changed only when the machines are locked against ticket issue. Furthermore, the race number can be advanced only one race at a time, and cannot be reversed to a previous race. An efficient type of lock is fitted on all machines, preventing the operator from gaining access to the printing and counting mechanisms. A tioket cannot be issued until the wager has been accepted and recorded by the totalisator apparatus. Much thought has been devoted to the designing of the units on the public indicator, which can be read at a considerable distance. The dividends are displayed in the same-sized figures on the totalisator face, and are automatic- % ally controlled. ,