Patent GB-190303369-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Advertising Devices.
Inventor: SMYTH JOHN MCFALL
Filed: 1903-02-12
Granted: 1903-12-17
Abstract: 3369. Smyth, J. M. Feb. 12. Advertising.-Relates to an advertising-device in which the illuminating-colours are continually changing, the advertisements either being made to appear and disappear intermittently, or remaining stationary. An electric clockwork or other motor b, through suitable reducing-gearing j, k, l, m, drives the shaft i, on the end of which is fixed a disc n, carrying at its periphery springs o with pins p connected therewith, and adapted to engage by friction on the side of the illumination cylinder q. The latter cylinder, of glass &c., has painted spirally upon it a number of differentlycoloured bands ; or strips of coloured material, sewn together or not, are removably applied to its surface. At the other end of the cylinder q and fixed thereto by spring friction devices or otherwise is a disc r, keyed to the hollow shaft s and supporting inside the cylinder one or more electric lamps 7 connected by conducting-wires passing through the shaft to two insulated conducting-rings 8, 9, making contact with terminal brushes 10, 11. A spur-wheel u transmits the rotation to a separate shaft w, on which is keyed a spur-wheel, deprived of several teeth, gearing with a wheel 3, fixed to a sleeve 5, which sleeve is loose on the shaft s and carries the advertising- drum z, the other end of which is mounted on a disc 4, fitting loosely into the drum and turning freely on the main shafc i. The advertising-drum z, preferably shaped as an octagonal or other equiangular prism, has either the letters of an advertisement cut out of each face ; or it may be made of transparent material, such as glass and paper, with the advertisements written or printed thereon, and supported in a suitable framework. The teeth on the mutilated wheel are so arranged that one advertisement at a time is brought to view behind the glazed orifice 12 of the outside casing a. Access to the lamp &c. is obtained by sliding out the base d which carries the standards f, g. In one modification, the advertising-drum z is driven directly from the motor through an intermediate shaft and the mutilated wheel, and the lamp 7 is carried on a holder, which is secured to a detachable pedestal in the base of the casing, and has loosely held on it and removable therewith discs 4, n, the latter in this case not driving the drum, but only acting as a support for the cylinder q. In another modification, the advertisement is fixed in the opening 12 of the casing, and the drum z is replaced by a second colour cylinder and the mutilated wheel by an ordinary pinion, the two cylinders being rotated in the same or opposite directions at different speeds to produce various colour effects. The plain bearings shown may be replaced by ball bearings &c., and othar illuminating means may be used. The Provisional Specification also states that, in some cases, the colour cylinder may be outside the advertising- drum, and that, instead of the mutilated gearwheel device, a hook rod, connected to a crank on the actuating-shaft, may engage with pins on the advertising-drum and rotate the latter through the desired partial turn at each reciprocation, as, for example, the card drum of a jacquard loom is turned.