Post by traveller on May 12, 2014 13:45:57 GMT
There is a secondhand 6 lever metal ball counter for sale on eBay
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEVER-BALL-COUNTER-FOR-CRICKET-UMPIRES-stainless-steel-/251526248949?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Cricket&hash=item3a9021f9f5
The advertiser quotes
Cricket umpires 6 ball lever counter, by Acumen Books. See their website.
About £65.00 when new, grab a bargain.
Fits on the wrist with a Velcro (provided) or a watch strap.
I bought this some years ago and have only used it twice, so it's time to sell it on.
Really solid and well made, bomb proof! 100% Stainless steel.
Velcro like new.
Width, without strap loops...6cm
Depth...3.5cm
Lever hight...2.5cm
The crucial parts of the mechanism
(a) six "fingers" which are mounted on an "axle"
(b) a "spring" which holds the individual fingers in "closed", "halfway" and "open" positions (approx 90 degrees apart)
(c) a reset plate to move all fingers from "closed" position to nearly "halfway" so that they can be easily moved to the "open" position.
(d) a base plate which serves as the "home" position for "closed" fingers but leaves the "open" fingers exposed.
(e) rings and velcro - which we can source elsewhere if necessary.
OPERATION
The umpire starts with the fingers in the "open" position. As the bowler starts, he raises it to the "halfway" position. Playing action takes place and the umpire may move - the fingers MUST be stable. When play ceases, he moves it to the "closed" position unless there was an incident which requires him to return it to the "open" position.
When all six are closed, he calls "Over" and resets all the fingers to the "open" position.
FUTURE DESIGN
The mechanics may be changed in any suitable way but there are two over-riding characteristics that are NOT satisfied by the several wheeled counters available:
(1) There must be TWO positive actions by the umpire to count each ball (he may forget ONE action in the heat of the moment and thereby miscount - much less likely with two actions)
(2) There is a positive outcome at the end of the over - a wheeled counter goes back to zero with no tactile feedback to the umpire and it has been known for him to allow a 12 ball over!
Happy bidding and good luck.