Drawing on recently discovered and previously unpublished material the author, Anthony Cross, imparts his research into the famous Gibson ticket machine in an informative and highly readable style.
Before World War II, London Transport was still using the punch system to validate travel on its road transport operations. Unlike the rail division, the London Passenger Transport Board deemed that none of the ticket machines in production worked sufficiently well or were hardwearing enough to take over the job. However, during the war George Gibson, the Superintendent of London Transport’s Stockwell Punch Works, was successful in both devising and constructing the earliest models of what was to be known as the Gibson ticket machine.
The book deals with how the ‘Gibson’ came into being, why it took so long to get into production, how it was further developed in the 1970s by George Sawyer to cope with decimalisation and fare increases, overseas sales of withdrawn Gibson machines still in serviceable condition, and its longevity. Remarkably some of the machines remained in continual use for 40 years, the last one being withdrawn from service in 1993. Also looks at the ticket machine works where the machines were not only produced, but also serviced, maintained and repaired; and at the hunt for a replacement machine to take over from the Gibson machine.
Well illustrated with a good selection of pictures covering punches and cancellers; conductors with punch machines; punch tickets; ticket machines; fare strips; conductors with ticket machines; tickets produced by London Transport machines, by operators abroad, and commemorative tickets; the reproduction of a pamphlet giving instructions to conductors regarding Gibson ticket machines; and a cutaway drawing of a Gibson Ticket Issuing Machine.
Over 100 black & white and colour photographs and illustrations. 112 pages.