The morning times., 1897-03-05
AHOme- MADE kaleidoscope
Some Wonderful and Very Amusing
Toys That Any Boy or Girl
Could Manufacture
BY Theodore Waters.


Although the kinetoscope as invented
bg Edison is a wonderful instrument, yet
fairly good imitation of it may be made
by any boy possessing a little ingenuity.
1t is not to be supposed that the perfected
machine can be constructed 10y an amateur.
That would be impossible without special
Photographic apparatus, besides being an
infringement on the kinetoscope patents
But as the commercial machine OF today
is nothing more than development of
some old-time optical toys, there is moth
ing 10 prevent any person constructing
some very amusing Instruments which
will be like the kinetoscope in effect if not
in name.
The simplest of all is the thaumatrope.
IT consists simply OF a circle of card
board attached TO which are two pieces
Of cord, and on each side OF which is
painted ct drawn half picture. The
object 5 to twirl the cardboard by means
of the strings and thus cause the two
drawings to blend so as TO form one pic
ture For instance, if bird is drawn
on one side of the card and the cage on
the cage when the card is twirled. In
order to have the bird appear upright in
the cage, the two pictures must be drawn
upside down to each other, as it were.
That is, the top OF the cage must point
toward one edge of the card and the top
OF the bird toward the opposite edge.
ANY number OF pictures may be drawn.
A 1uggler may be drawn on one side and
OF Ia1 he 10
appear TO juggle the balls when the card
is twirIed. If an equnibrist is drawn on
one side and plate on the other, he VIII
appear to be balancing the plate If the
latter S properly placed. a man and
horse may be used, OF cat and dog
having a fight, or man and woman
dancing, and 50 on with Infinite variety.
kaleidoscope cards are now being sold
by rakirs on the streets Of large cities.
They may be homemade, however, with
but little trouble Each card has a figure
drawn upon il. Every cara shows the same
figure but each in different position.
The various positions bear a definite re-
latlou to one another, so that when the
cards are Tipped rapidly past the eye
tie figures on them appear TO be moving.
The cards are held in one hand and bent
double with the other; then one after
another allowed to spring back TO their
ori ginal position If, for instance, a
dancer is shown, the arms and legs must
have {. progressive action. That is, if the
arm is to be shown in the act of being
raised. each successive picture must show
il elevated a trifle higher than the last.
SO with erery part of the body. Each
succeeding card showing the action little
mere advanced.
A zoetrope can be made by combining
the posthumus uses OF a hatbox with a
little artistic talent. An old hatbox is
arranged on pivot so that it viii spin
easily a series of Sits or openings, one
quarter inch wide by three inches long
and about two inches apart, must be cut
around the upper sides of the box. It is
through these windows one must gaze
TO get a proper effect from what is going
on within. The figures are drawn pre-
ciSely as they We're on the cards men
toned above, only they must be drawn side
by side on a long strip of paper. This
paper is placed around the lower inside
wall Of the hatbox. If properly drawn,
some very lie-like actions may be wit
messed when the box is rapidly revoIved
onitS pivot
modification OF the Zoetrope may he
made bY cutting out circular piece Of
cardbolses fixing it on pivot and
drawinsNthe figures to be shown III a
progressive ring around the edge Of the
circle The pictures sho4id be about an
inch deep and occupy the outside quar-
ter Of the space between the center and
the edge of the disc Sits like those in
the hat box should be cat from the base
of each picture TO within Il half inch oi
the center The affair must be reyoIved
on a pivot "a common pin stuck in a
clotkespin will do) in front OF d mirror
and tie spectator must look through the
windows that have been cot in the disc
Horses may be made 10 run, trot or gal
lop, men made to walk, dogs made tC
chase cats, ladies to dance and many
other diversiye sights to be witnessed in a
well-constTucted Instrument OF the kind
Reynaud's zoetrope is a trifle more am
bilious than any OF the preceding. First
obtain or make a pyramid Of wood, the
height of which is equal TO one side d
its base. Each side Of this pyramid
must be covered with a mirror cut tc
fit it. handle should be fitted tightly
into hole in the bottom OF the pyra'
mid metal rod or spike must be
driven into the apex or point OF the
pyramid This completes the STATIONARY
part OF the apparatus. Now for the
moving figures. They are to be four IL
number, and are to be painted or drawn
on a circular piece OF cardboard or tin
This disc must have a hole cut in IT:
center, so that 1T may be spun on the
rod which projects from the point or th'
pyramid Let the disc be divided Int
four parts This can be quickly done by
drawing the diarneters OF the disc upol
A. In each Of the quarters SO formed