Rail signalman's eye testing board, possible prototype

[OliReading]

I'm trying to work out how best to sell a piece of potentially rare UK rail memorabilia. Sorry I don't have a picture for this item at the moment.

My grandfather worked on the railways and obtained (not sure how) a Rail Signalman's Eye Testing Board (these were apparently common) but with a letter from George Armstrong explaining how to use it, so we suspect this is an early prototype and as such could be of particular interest to collectors.

I can put it onto eBay (with pictures and more details) but my question is whether there's a better place to post about it. I can imagine if it really is an early prototype it could be exceptionally interesting to a collector of UK rail related antiques and I'm not sure what's the best way to alert that community that this item is available.

Any advice about it would be appreciated. I'll try to get some pictures if anyone's interested.

Thanks,
Oli

 

[Gloster]

If the George Armstrong is the man who was in charge at Stafford Road Works, Wolverhampton until 1897, could it be for testing drivers’ eyesight and ability to see signals? It would be a pity if it went to some collector who might get bored with it or die, after which it gets dumped or handed to a museum who have no idea what to do with it and shove it in the back of the storeroom.

 

[WesternLancer]

I'm trying to work out how best to sell a piece of potentially rare UK rail memorabilia. Sorry I don't have a picture for this item at the moment.

My grandfather worked on the railways and obtained (not sure how) a Rail Signalman's Eye Testing Board (these were apparently common) but with a letter from George Armstrong explaining how to use it, so we suspect this is an early prototype and as such could be of particular interest to collectors.

I can put it onto eBay (with pictures and more details) but my question is whether there's a better place to post about it. I can imagine if it really is an early prototype it could be exceptionally interesting to a collector of UK rail related antiques and I'm not sure what's the best way to alert that community that this item is available.

Any advice about it would be appreciated. I'll try to get some pictures if anyone's interested.

Thanks,
Oli

You could try a specialist Railwayana auction house. People with an interest will keep an eye on their auction catalogues.

Eg Great Central Railwayana Auctions. But there must be others.

 

[Rescars]

If the George Armstrong is the man who was in charge at Stafford Road Works, Wolverhampton until 1897, could it be for testing drivers’ eyesight and ability to see signals? It would be a pity if it went to some collector who might get bored with it or die, after which it gets dumped or handed to a museum who have no idea what to do with it and shove it in the back of the storeroom.

George Armstrong's bio in Wikipedia notes that one of his responsibilities was overseeing the running of the Royal Train and the handover from the GWR to the LNWR when Queen Victoria was heading north. Apparently he did this on 120 occasions. This is all supposition, but given this experience, safe driving might have been a particular interest.

 

[Dr Hoo]

George Armstrong's bio in Wikipedia notes that one of his responsibilities was overseeing the running of the Royal Train and the handover from the GWR to the LNWR when Queen Victoria was heading north. Apparently he did this on 120 occasions. This is all supposition, but given this experience, safe driving might have been a particular interest.

A typical Royal journey was Windsor to Ballater (for Balmoral). GWR to Wolverhampton Low Level, then via the little-used Bushbury Spur onto the L&NWR (and v.v.). George Armstrong at Stafford Road Works would be ideally placed.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Is this a railway equivalent of a Snellen chart? Does it have pictures of signals instead of letters/numbers?

 

[OliReading]

Attached pictures of the sight testing board and the letter from George, 1877.

@Islineclear3_1 Not much like a Snellen chart. The letter I think explains how to use it, but not so easy to read!

 

[alxndr]

Attached pictures of the sight testing board and the letter from George, 1877.

@Islineclear3_1 Not much like a Snellen chart. The letter I think explains how to use it, but not so easy to read!

Here’s a transcription of the letter:

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. — Loco. Dept., N.D.

Instructions with regard to the use of the new color[sic] board, issued October 15, 1877

First – Test each eye of candidate as to recognition of colors.

Second – The black dots are clearly visible to a man with perfectly acute vision in full daylight at a distance of 19 yards.

[in smaller red writing]
And it will be sufficient to observe the following(?) rule in using the Examining(?) _____.

Expose the board in full daylight at a distance of 15 feet from the candidate and examine as to numbers.

Third – Examine each eye separately taking care that the unused eye be merely covered and not pressed upon or closed.

Fourth – Vary the number and position of the dots by covering some of them and by moving the board.

Geo. Armstrong
[another signature]

Wolverhampton
15 October 1877

 

[Rescars]

Seeing the heading "Loco Department ND" (ie Nothern Division), this surely signed by or on behalf of George Armstrong of Stafford Road Works. In which case it seems most likely that this board was intended to test drivers' eyesight.

The coloured blocks are interesting. Though much faded, are they red, green, blue and yellow? Others will know more, but when did the GWR change over its signal lamp colours from green for caution, white for clear to yellow for caution, green for clear? Was this c1877? If so, could this board be connected with this conversion?

 

[Gloster]

Seeing the heading "Loco Department ND" (ie Nothern Division), this surely signed by or on behalf of George Armstrong of Stafford Road Works. In which case it seems most likely that this board was intended to test drivers' eyesight.

The coloured blocks are interesting. Though much faded, are they red, green, blue and yellow? Others will know more, but when did the GWR change over its signal lamp colours from green for caution, white for clear to yellow for caution, green for clear? Was this c1877? If so, could this board be connected with this conversion?

A quick look at Vaughan’s book suggests that the changeover started in 1895. Armstrong appears to have retired in 1897.

 

[Rescars]

A quick look at Vaughan’s book suggests that the changeover started in 1895. Armstrong appears to have retired in 1897.

Thanks for this. I don't have access to my Vaughan just now. Well, it was a nice idea....! Despite this, it still seems likely the intended test candidates were locomen. I wonder who the signature belongs to. Anyone know who might have been Armstong's (Outdoor) Assistant [or similar] at the time? IIRC "Young Joe" Armstrong joined his uncle at Wolverhampton rather later.

 

[OliReading]

Hi all - now that you've seen it, do you have any suggestions what I should do with it? I would have thought there would be collectors of George Armstrong memorabilia but don't know how to reach out (eBay seems too wide). I tried contacting a few rail museums to see if they had contacts, but no response yet.

Ultimately I'd like to sell it, and it does seem quite an unusual piece with the letter explaining how to use it so quite nice for someone's collection.

 

[Dr Hoo]

How about the National Railway Museum (or The GWR museums at Swindon or Didcot) for their own collections.

It would be a pity if it was hidden from the light of day in a private collection.

 

[WesternLancer]

How about the National Railway Museum (or The GWR museums at Swindon or Didcot) for their own collections.

It would be a pity if it was hidden from the light of day in a private collection.

Was it said there’s a west midland connection? If so Birmingham Museum of Science and Industry could be added to that list. Is that now called ‘Think Tank’ ?

 

[OliReading]

If it interests anyone, we've listed this item on eBay now.

RARE 1877 GWR Railway Vision Test Board & Archive - George Armstrong Provenance | eBay UK

Boasting direct provenance from the legendary Armstrong family of Wolverhampton—including the 1877 instruction sheet signed by George Armstrong himself and a 1950s letter of gift from his grandson—this archive represents a vanishingly rare intersection of early railway safety technology and...

www.ebay.co.uk

Yes, started at a high price, mostly because we don't know the interest or value, but hoping for offers that will give us an idea of either.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

How about the National Railway Museum (or The GWR museums at Swindon or Didcot) for their own collections.

It would be a pity if it was hidden from the light of day in a private collection.

I think that the GWS at Didcot would be interested in taking this off your hands; If you'll bear with me, I'll get you a contact number as soon as I can.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

I think that the GWS at Didcot would be interested in taking this off your hands; If you'll bear with me, I'll get you a contact number as soon as I can.

The contact address is info@didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk, so if you contact them, I'm sure that they'll be happy to discuss this with you. Please use the subject title GWT Enquiry on your e-mail.