Dutton 1889
Pattern "Drink Handle" lever frame
This curious design of lever frame earnt the "drink-handle" name through the fact that the lever handle actually pivoted on the top of the lever, combining with it the function of catch handle.
Only limited numbers of this type of frame were built, most of which were found on the Cambrian Railway.
The example illustrated here is at Douglas, on which more details can be found in the Photo Gallery
Dutton 1893 Pattern lever
frame
A later design of Dutton frame reverted to a more conventional arrangement, although the levers looked far from that! The ugliness of the curved catch handles and the odd rising angle of the lever quadrants belied the practicality of operation of this type of frame.
It should be noted that most of the levers have had the handles shortened to signify electrical operation of the signals.
The example illustrated here is at Leyton, on which more details can be found in the Photo Gallery