BusTalk

Q65A · Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 5:06 pm Post subject: Farebox History

From the GCI website:
http://www.gfigenfare.com/Home/FbHist.html

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 12:17 am Post subject:

Bob,

It's almost hard to believe that the Johnson Model 'D' (mine shown below) served unchanged except for electrification option (which, by the way, did nothing to change the configuration of the basic machine) from 1905 through the fifties and beyond.

I never had the pleasure of using one when I drove for Green Line (NY) because they had just changed over to the Grant Electrofarer (which looked and sounded a lot like Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet - if you remember that movie).

BTW; that's not rust on the front of my box but the reflection of the table it was sitting on.

This box was completely chromium plated as a gift from a Phoenix Bus Company to a retiring driver and I bought it from his son on eBay a couple of years ago.

Regards,

Mr. 'L'

Q65A · Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 5:45 pm Post subject:

QTC also used Grant fareboxes. They sounded like slot machines from Las Vegas or AC.

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 1:56 am Post subject:

Bob,

Thought you'd get a kick out of this;

We're in Omaha 1938 on a trolley car (the make, model and operator being unimportant) watching the motorman doing what comes naturally.

Of note, of course, is the Johnson Model 'D' manual fare box and the well placed six barrel change carrier (also probably Johnson).

But can you imagine sitting on a hard wooden seat with no back through a whole shift without having to be carried away in an ambulance?

Green Line's drivers always complained about hemorrhoids and they were sitting in comfortable almost living room quality cushioned leather chairs!

Amazing!

Photo courtesy of Getty Archives.

Regards,

Mr. 'L'

Q65A · Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 5:53 am Post subject:

They certainly didn't have OSHA back in the day, did they?

Q65A · Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 5:55 am Post subject:

Interesting how long the lifepan was for the Johnson Model D.

fareboxer · Age: 83 Joined: 30 Dec 2013 Posts: 7

The Johnson company was an Iron/steel rolling mill back in the 1800'''''s....

I am going to try and post a few pictures....One will be an mid to late 1800's drawing of an early Johnson fare box.....The others are patent copies....

I am trying to find tools that were used on the boxes....Any ideas where to find any? I have only seen a couple of fare boxes with Tell-Tale in its holder......Taking the top off the box requires long needle nose pliers AND a mountain of patience or a special tool to fit the slotted nut....

Got mine working well except for the Tell-Tale and the chute plate.....