TIMs from the Soviet Union

Illustrated below are three examples of tickets issued from Soviet TIM machines circa late 1960s / early 1970s:

The title МИНАВТОШОСДОР consists of a series of abbreviations "МИН / АВТО / ШОС / ДОР" probably translating as "Ministry / Bus / Highway / Travelling" ie, "Ministry of Highway Travel"

The layout of these tickets is similar to that of the demonstration ticket illustrated on the homepage except that there is no class indicator between the conditions on the left and the main ticket frame. However, there are a number of detail differences, some of which are listed below:

• All text is in upper-case whereas the demonstration ticket is composed mainly in lower-case.
• The date blocks show Cyrillic month names and no year whereas the demonstration ticket uses numerals for the month and shows the year.
• The framing line is broken on the left of МАРШРУТ (route) in order to accommodate the panel heading.
• The serial numerals are in a distinctly different style from those normally provided on UK machines.
• The machine number font is in a style not seen on UK produced machines - see ticket from Д2772 in particular.
• The ticket rolls are narrower - 35/36mm (USSR) compared with 37mm (UK).

Some of the above characteristics would suggest that these machines were not produced in the UK. Possibly they were produced (under licence?) in the Soviet Union. I have a machine part (a ball race) with "USSR" (but not in Cyrillic) stamped on it. This had been supplied to South Yorkshire PTE in connection with the maintenance of their TIM machines. I have similar parts but with "Made in England" stamped on them. So what do we know about the possible manufacture of machines within the Soviet Union? If you have any information please email me from the link provided on the homepage.