Tyer's Tablet Apparatus [Henderson]
Maker and role
Tyer and Company Limited, Manufacturer
Production date
Circa 1900
Object detail
Accession number
2019.100
Maker
Description
Tyer's Tablet Apparatus - Henderson. Rectangular metal box, mounted on metal base plate. The whole instrument is painted red with black edging. The sides of the box have Perspex sheets fitted to view the internal mechanisms. At the front of the box is a silver-coloured maker’s plate, below this is a glass display window indicating whether or not the line is open, below this is a smaller square window which is just above the lower slide. The lower slide consists of a rectangular metal plate fitted into the instrument with a lobed front, attached to which is a knob handle. Mounted on top of the instrument is a short square metal box which has the ‘Switch’ and ‘Bell’ plungers fitted on top, and the upper slide mechanism of similar construction to the lower slide. Fitted to the back is a circular indicator gauge with a black arrow needle which can point between -60 to +60 on the gauge.
Brief History
Used for railway signalling, this type of machine was first invented during the 1870s by a British Engineer Edward Tyer. These machines were used throughout New Zealand from 1901 until 1994. It was last in service in Auckland's Henderson signal box and was operational from 1915 to 1970. It was replaced by Centralised Traffic Control.
Marks
TYER’S PATENT / TRAIN TABLET APPARATUS / LONDON. Maker's Plate
HENDERSON Label
SWITCH Embossed
BELL Embossed
NEWMARKET 30 Label
HENDERSON Label
SWITCH Embossed
BELL Embossed
NEWMARKET 30 Label
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Tyer and Company Limited. Circa 1900. Tyer's Tablet Apparatus [Henderson], 2019.100. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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