The Dickie=Brown Automatic Stamp-Seller. ♦ A Successful Invention.

Progress, Volume II, Issue 7, 1 May 1907, Page 250

The Dickie=Brown Automatic Stamp-Seller. ♦ A Successful Invention.

We read in The Times that, " with the approval of the Postmaster-General and the First Commissioner of Works, there was placed in the Members' Lobby of the House of Commons a penny-in-the-slot automatic machine for the sale and delivery of postage stamps." " The contrivance, which is enclosed in a handsome oak case specially designed for its reception by Mr. Ridge, the Clerk of Works of the Houses of Parliament, stands near the entrance to the Legislative chamber, between the letter box and the telegraph counter." Since the above (which refers to the Dickie-Brown-Stamp seller) appeared, we learn that the machine has been placed on test at the Street Post Offices, the latter instalment being as much for the convenience of the members of the London stock Exchange as for the general public. In view of the fact that Messrs. Dickie and Brown are New Zealanders, a few details regarding ttie mechanism of the invention, which has passed through every test satisfactorily, and the course adopted for its exploitation, cannot fail to interest our readers. On reference to our illustration, it will be seen that the machine is unpretentious, but compact, being 13in. in height and 7in. in width. The leather shield, A, has been raised in order to show the slot, B, for pennies. On placing the penny in the slot the handle. C, is lifted in the direction indicated by the arrow, whereupon the stamp falls on to the delivery shoot, D. The mechanism is so finely adjusted that it rejects all spurious, overworn, or foreign coins. Thus, if a French or Italian penny be dropped in the slot, it is promptly returned to the would-be purchaser through the delivery shoot, D. Further, if the supply of stamps should become exhausted, a small metal disc makes its appearance bearing the words " empty." In Wellington the machine sold 7886 penny stamps in three weeks, and while in use in London each machine had more than trebled the local takings for the same period. We learn that Mr. J. H. Brown recently left for London on business connected with the Dickie-Brown Company, which has been registered in that city with a capital of £60,000, its objects being the manufacture and sale of the invention. Mr. R. J. Dickie proposes to follow his partner about the middle of this month, and we may conclude that the machine has come to be regarded as commercially possible.