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Spokane United Railway System Passenger Counter

Spokane United Railway System Passenger Counter - Counter, Tally
Accession #: 3343.2
Title: Spokane United Railway System Passenger Counter
Object Type: Counter, Tally
Participants:
Physical Description: The passenger counter is a black metal box with glass window in front and silver knob on side. Gold lettering in window spells out: "S. U. RYS 63 BUS" (SURYS = Spokane United Railway System). Below this is a 3 digit counter. On the front of the counter above the window on small plate is the name of manufacturer (see inscription field for text).
Description: Although the Johnson Fare Box Company patented this trolley passenger counter from 1909 to 1919, its "S.U.RYS" marking matches the 1922 merger of two trolley lines into the Spokane United Railways, owned by Washington Water Power. As automobile competition grew, ridership declined, and by 1936 the company had completely converted to buses.
Category: History
Subjects/Topics/Concepts:
Railroad (Industry)
Geographical Reference: Spokane (Washington->Spokane County)
Dimensions:
Object H x W x D 6 x 9 x 12 1/4"
Materials/Techniques:
glass (material) (Material)
metal (Material)
Marks/Inscription:
Gold print: "S.U.RYS 63 BUS"; "IN/OUT"; "JOHNSON FARE BOX CO. NEW YORK - CHICAGO"; "UNDER US PATENTS APRIL 1909 - MARCH 1919 OTHER PATENTS PENDING". In black: "SER. J"; "VOLTS". In red: "R 6278" & "12".
Related Exhibits:
Credit Line: Gift of Helen Groves and Heritage Spokane Museum, 1987

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