Novel Optical and Mechanical Contrivance for Giving Amusement, and for Advertising Purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1895
.
Complete Specification Left, 19th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 12th Oct:, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Novel Optical and Mechanical Contrivance for Giving Amusement,
and for Advertising Purposes.
1, HARRY SANFORD-BURTON, of 50 Cormarket Street, Oxford, Dental Surgeon,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of an arrangement of and adjustable sheet of transparent,
or thin transparent fluted glass, or other suitable transparent material in relation
or combination with a picture, lantern, slide, or object, to be viewed by its means.
This glass is fluted or rolled, or otherwise prepared, so that it consists of alternate
concave depressions and convex ridges by preference parallel with each other.
Such glass may be of any desired thickness, colour, or size, or may 'be in flat or
curved sheets, and the concave depressions and convex ridges, may be of any
suitable degree of concavity, or convexity, or at any suitable distance apart from
each other, and may be arranged in straight or diverging lines, as desired.
This glass is arranged at any suitable distance from any picture, lantern slide,
or other suitable object to be viewed, whether flat, or depressed, or in relief, so
that the glass is on either side of such picture, slide, or object, and by the suitable
movement of either the glass itself, or of the picture, slide, or object to be viewed,
very grotesque, weird, or comic effects, or alterations of expression facial or
otherwise, may be produced at will. The person or persons to be amused by it,
either looking through the glass at the object, picture, or slide on the other side
thereof, or in the case of a lantern exhibition, on to the screen (and not through
the glass,) in the usual way.
It can also be combined with some illuminating agent, or may be adapted in
duplicate for use in the stereoscope.
The glass may if desired be arranged across any part of the inside of a tube, or
at one end thereof, with or without a suitable lens, at any requisite distance from
such glass, and the glass may be either parallel with the picture, slide, or object to
be viewed, or at any suitable fixed angle, or variable angle thereto.
If used for advertising purposes, it may be worked automatically, by any suitable
power or motor.
Dated this 17th dow of May 1805
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97 Newgate Street, E.C., Agent for Applicaut.
A Novel Optical and Mechanical Contrivance for Giving Amusement,
and for Advertising Purposes.
I, HARRY SANFORD-BURTON, of 50 Cornmarket Street, Oxford, England, Dental
Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in optical apparatus for producing

page_text: distortions of human features and other picturesque objects, for giving amusement
and for advertising purposes.
For the purpose of my invention, I construct a frame or casing with side ribs
and with an aperture, into which I place a piece of transparent fluted glass, the
flutings being transversely to the line of sight, and I either move the frame over a
picture, or I move the picture under the glass, the ribs giving the proper distance
the glass should be from the image for producing the distortions.
The frame may be foldable like a book, the upper cover having the glass and
the lower a couple of rollers and stretched bands for the picture to be moved on.
By having a couple of fluted transparent glasses in fairly close contact, a greater
illusory optical effect is produced than by a single fluted glass, and if one of such
glasses be moved simultaneously with say the vertical movement of the picture
very grotesque representations of the picture can be obtained, the grotesqueness
increasing or decreasing according to the movements of one glass over or under
the other.
The transparent fluted glass or glasses may be in colour and the flutings of, say
two pieces may be different.
My apparatus will be clearly understood from the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 is a top or plan view of simple form of apparatus with fixed fluted glass
of circular shape.
Figure 2 section of same.
Figure 3 view of interior with the lid or upper part folded open.
Figure 4 part sectional elevation of apparatus with movable or rotative fluted
glass.
Figure 5 section on line a, b, of Figure 4.
Figure 6 section of apparatus with one fixed fluted glass, and one movable.
Figure 7 plan of casing with fluted glass of rectangular shape.
Figure 8 section on line c, d, of Figure 7.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, A the casing hinged at B to enable the lid C
to be folded back like the cover of a book, the lid being temporarily fastened when
closed by any convenient appliance.
The casing A is composed of bottom and two side walls D, D, the ends being
open. The side walls D, D, support rollers E, E, arranged at either end, one of
These rollers
said rollers being rotatable by the thumb button F, or otherwise.
have stretched over them and kept taut india rubber or tape bands G, G, which
when one roller is turned gives motion to the other and causes the bands to travel.
The lid hinged at B, B, has centrally a piece of transparent fluted glass H
secured over the central opening 1, so that any picture on view placed on the bands
can be seen by looking through the glass, the undulations in the glass tending to
thin down some of the lines on the picture and to thicken others, which from a
movement of the picture, or of one of say two glasses moving continuously or
reciprocating over the picture, or advertisement, changes the effect in the most
outrageous yet pleasing or charming manner.
By arranging the bands G, as at Figures 7 and 8, to be moved over a given
area, and by placing the lid frame C to rest on the side walls of the casing A,
strips of pictures, of human beings, animals, birds, fish, ships, or views of buildings,
landscapes, or pictures or pictorial. advertisements of any kind could when moved
produce very remarkable and queer impressions of their actuality very different to
what would be present in an observer's mind.
Two fluted glasses H, H, may be affixed in one lid C, as at Figures 4, 5, and 6,
which if the lid frame C be placed just above a picture, and one of the glasses be
rotated slowly by the button F, the lines in the picture would not only be thinned
and thickened alternately but thrown to the angles of the movable fluted glass
with varying angles given off by the fixed fluted glass, which by reflection changes
to the eye of an observer at each change of position of the glass or glasses.
For magic lantern and other slides where light has to transfer a picture to a
screen, or a transparent picture is to be viewed through the glass by the eye in the

page_text: ordinary way, the invention is particularly suitable, such as by making an aperture
in the bottom of the casing, Figure 1, to coincide with that in the lid, and by
placing a transparent picture in the lid C, or by arranging the fluted glass or
glasses in the carrier J, the varying effect by moving the picture in the casing
could be had, and if the fluted glass be a movable one over a fixed one, as at.
Figures 4, 5, and 6, other and more varied effects could be obtained.
The handle K, Figure 8, will enable the glass and its frame to be moved to and
fro by hand, but if used for advertising purposes it may be worked automatically,.
by any suitable power or motor.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An apparatus composed of open ended casing A, rollers E, E, bands G, G,.
lid C with fluted glass H, so combined or arranged that pictures views or
advertisements, passed slowly along on the bands can have the impressions or
markings distorted, as and for the purposes described.
2. In an apparatus having the properties and constructed substantially as above
explained, the employment of additional fluted glass or fluted glasses with or
without a fixed fluted glass for the purposes set forth.
3. An optical apparatus in which by the aid of a fluted glass or glasses and a
movement of the same or of a picture or pictures or printed device therewith, an.
illusory effect is produced, as set forth.
244 LUCA
སབ
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Harry Sanford-Burton.