IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MECHANICAL ILLUSIONS IN THEATRICAL EXHIBITIONS, PARTS OF WHICH APPARATUS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Matthew Morris, of Hanover Street,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MECHANICAL ILLUSIONS IN THEATRICAL
EXHIBITIONS, PARTS OF WHICH APPARATUS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES."
Sealed the 19th December 1873, and dated the 20th June 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Matthew
Morris at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 20th June 1873.
I, JOSEPH MATTHEW MORRIS, of Hanover Street, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MECHANICAL ILLUSIONS IN
THEATRICAL EXHIBITIONS, PARTS OF WHICH APPARATUS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO
OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to that form of apparatus in which the illusion
is produced by which a performer having one arm resting upon a

page_text: vertical stick or wand when moved into a reclining or horizontal
position remains in such position, appearing to recline in the air without
sufficient visible means of support.
The method in which this effect is ordinarily obtained is as follows :-
The upright stick or wand above described is made sufficiently strong
when its lower end is fixed to the ground, or to a platform, to carry at
its upper extremity the end of a jointed lever, the other end of which
carries a frame, which is strapped to and supports the performer. The
end of the lever which fits upon the stick or wand is concealed behind
the hand or arm of the performer, who rests it securely upon the stick,
and is then raised gently into a reclining position by the jointed lever
being raised by an assistant until a detent falls, which prevents its
descent, and the performer so remains in the desired position apparently
reclining in the air.
My improvements consist in arrangements of apparatus by which the
performer is raised from the ground into a reclining position without
the visible assistance of a bystander, and apparently automatically. For
this purpose
I make the end of the jointed lever which rests upon the
top of the stick or wand consist of a hollow socket, which fits freely
but securely upon or into the latter, and carries a small tangent toothed
wheel fitted upon a bar revolving in bearings attached to the jointed
lever. The other end of the bar has a screw formed upon it, which
gears into and drives the teeth of a tangent toothed wheel or segment
which is attached to the outer part of the jointed lever to which the
performer is attached, and secured by means of a frame or cradle, as
already described.
The stick or wand, the lower end of which fits freely but securely
into a socket in a suitable platform or framework, is made tubular,
and contains a bar or rod, the upper end of which within the tube
is made square or otherwise adjusted to fit, and drive a screw which
works into the tangent toothed wheel first described, and is carried by
bearings on the same hollow socket. By this arrangement when the
performer's hand or arm is placed upon the top of the tubular stick
the socket is at the same time fitted upon the latter, and the screw
carried by the socket is connected to the rod in the tube. When the
rod in the tube is made to revolve it actuates the tangent toothed
wheels and screws described, and thus raises into the air the cradle
or frame together with the performer.

page_text: Instead of driving a tangent wheel the outer end of the screw first
described may work through a nut suitably attached to the extremity
of a short arm formed upon or fixed to that part of the jointed lever
which carries the cradle or frame.
The platform or frame in which the lower end of the tubular stick or
wand rests is made of sufficient thickness to contain similar screws
and tangent toothed wheels to those already described; and the lower
end of the rod in the tube fits into or upon the axis of one such wheel,
which is driven by a screwed rod, the other end of which carries another
such wheel, which is driven by a screwed rod, which passes down the
centre of one of the legs or feet upon which the platform is supported.
When it is desired that the apparatus should be exhibited the
platform is moved or wheeled into such a position that the hollow leg
or foot described is exactly over a hole in the floor, through which can
be passed, from beneath, a key or handle, by which the screwed rod
concealed in the leg or foot may be made to revolve. .
By the arrangement described if the key or handle is turned the
different. screws and tangent toothed wheels are put in operation, and
thus the cradle or frame (and with it the performer) may be made to
rise or fall slowly round the centre of the jointed lever upon which
it turns. If the handle or key be then withdrawn (from below) the
platform with the suspended performer may be wheeled or moved
about.
Sometimes I use toothed bevilled wheels instead of some of the screws
and tangent wheels described; or sometimes I use a strong cord, chain,
wire, or catgut, for the purpose of elevating and lowering the part of
the jointed lever which carries the cradle or frame; and in such case I
carry the cord or chain over suitable pullies and down the tubular stick
ór wand to a barrel or drum, round which it may be wound or unwound,
and which may be set in motion by means of a key or handle passing
through a hole in the floor, as already described. Suitable couplings
may be made in the cord or chain where required.
:
Sometimes. I arrange a catch or detent so that the screws and tangent
or other toothed wheels described which drive the rod in the hollow
tube cannot revolve without the latter also revolving. By this
arrangement the performer, when elevated to the required position, may

page_text: be made to move round horizontally backwards or forwards (with the
tubular stick or wand), and may thus be made to present the appearance
of being attracted or repelled at the will of an assistant.
The arrangements described by which the performer is raised, lowered,
or moved horizontally, may be applied to the purpose of similarly
moving any other weights, as well as to the production of mechanical
illusions in the way described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Matthew Morris in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 20th December 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
MATTHEW MORRIS, of Hanover Square, in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
WHEREAS - Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her:
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Joseph Matthew Morris, Her special
licence that I, the said Joseph Matthew Morris, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph Matthew
Morris, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MECHANICAL
ILLUSIONS IN THEATRICAL EXHIBITIONS, PARTS OF WHICH APPARATUS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Joseph Matthew Morris, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Matthew Morris, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to
say):-
This Invention relates to that form of apparatus in which the
illusion is produced by which a performer having one arm or elbow
resting upon a vertical stick or wand when moved into a reclining or
horizontal position remains in such position, appearing to recline in
the air without sufficient visible means of support.
The desired effect is produced in apparatus as ordinarily constructed
and used in the following manner:-The vertical or upright stick or
wand, above described, is made of sufficient strength to carry at it's
upper end (when its lower end is fixed to the ground or to a platform
prepared to receive it) one extremity of a bar or lever, horizontal or
nearly so, the other end of which is jointed to a frame to which the
performer is securely strapped or otherwise attached. The end of the
bar or lever which fits upon the top of the stick or wand is concealed
by drapery arranged round the arm of the performer, who thus appears
to be suspended in the air without other support than that afforded by.
the elbow resting upon the stick or wand. When desired the performer
can be raised by an assistant into a reclining or horizontal position, the
frame to which the performer is fixed being made (as it is raised) to
turn round the joint at the outer end of the horizontal bar or lever
until a detent or catch comes into operation, which prevents its descent,
and the performer then remains in the desired position, apparently
noclining in the ain

page_text: also suitable bearings in which revolves a cylindrical rod, parallel or
nearly so to the arm, and having fixed upon it a small tangent toothed
wheel. When the socket is fitted upon the stick or wand this tangent
toothed wheel gears into and is driven by an endless screw formed upon
the upper end of a rod which revolves within the vertical stick or wand,
which is made hollow for the purpose. The outer end of the horizontal
revolving bar, which carries the tangent toothed wheel described, has
formed upon it an endless screw, which gears into and drives another
small tangent toothed wheel (or segment of a toothed wheel), which is
fixed to the cradle or frame carrying the performer, and revolves round
a bolt or joint between the shoulders and at or near the centre of the
back of the performer upon which the frame or cradle turns, as already
described.
By the arrangement described if the bar contained in the hollow
stick or wand be made to revolve the frame or cradle (and with it the
performer) is made to rise from a vertical to a horizontal position,
and by making the bar revolve in the opposite direction the frame
or cradle and the performer may be made to return to their original
position. The endless screw, which drives the tangent toothed wheel
first described, may be fitted to revolve in bearings attached to the
tubular socket at the inner end of the horizontal bar, and may have
its lower end made square, so as to fit into a corresponding square
socket formed in the upper end of the revolving bar contained in the
tubular stick or wand. By this arrangement when the performer's hand
or arm is placed upon the top of the stick or wand the tubular socket
is at the same time fitted upon the latter, and the screw carried by
the socket is connected to the rod in the tube.
Instead of driving a tangent toothed wheel connected to the frame
or cradle the outer end of the horizontal revolving bar may work
through a nut attached to the extremity of a short vertical arm or
lever (vertical when the performer is crcct) fixed to that part of the
jointed lever which carries the cradle or frame.
In order to cause the bar within the tubular stick or wand to revolve
I make the platform or frame into a socket, in which the lower end of
the tubular stick or wand is fitted (though apparently only resting upon
it) of sufficient thickness to contain screws and tangent toothed wheels

page_text: similar to those already described, and the lower end of the revolving
rod inside the tubular stick or wand fits into or upon the axis of one
such wheel, which is driven by an endless screw upon a rod, the other
end of which carries another such wheel, which is driven by an endless
screw upon a rod which passes down the centre of one of the legs or
fcet upon which the platform is supported.
When it is desired that the apparatus should be exhibited the
platform is moved or wheeled into such a position that the hollow leg
or foot is exactly over a hole in the floor, through which can be passed
(from below) a key or handle, by turning which the endless screw
concealed in the leg or foot may be made to revolve.
By the arrangement described, if the key or handle is turned, the
different endless screws and tangent toothed wheels are made to revolve
and put in operation, and thus the frame or cradle, and with it the
performer, may be made to slowly rise or fall round the bolt or joint
upon which it turns between the shoulders of the performer. If the
key or handle be then withdrawn (from below) the platform and with
it the suspended performer may be moved or wheeled about as
desired.
Sometimes I use bevilled toothed wheels instead of some of the endless
screws and tangent toothed wheels described, or sometimes I use a
strong cord, chain, wire, or catgut, for the purpose of elevating and
lowering round the joint at the outer end of the horizontal arm or bar
the frame or cradle, and with it the performer. In this case I carry
the cord or chain over suitable pullies and down the tubular stick or
wand and the hollow leg or foot, and through the floor to a drum or
barrel, round which it may be wound or unwound, as required. Hooks
and eyes or other suitable couplings may be arranged in the cord
or chain where required.
Sometimes I arrange a catch or detent so that the endless screws and
tangent or other toothed wheels which drive the rod in the tubular
stick or wand cannot revolve without the latter also revolving in the
socket in the platform into which its lower end is fitted. By this
arrangement the performer, when elevated or lowered to any desired
position in the methods above described, may be made to move round
horizontally backward or forward, and may thus be made to present
:

page_text: appearan
assistant.
w3333333
The arrangements, as described, by which a frame or cradle carrying
a performer is raised, lowered, or moved horizontally, may be applied
to the purpose of similarly moving any other weight, as well as to the
production of mechanical illusions in the way described.
The accompanying Drawing is in illustration of my Invention.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus constructed according to my
Invention; Figure 2 is a plan of part of the same. a, Figure 1, is
a vertical tubular wand or stick (preferably of iron or steel), the upper
end of which fits into and supports the tubular socket at the end of
the horizontal or nearly horizontal arm c. The other end of the arm c
has formed upon it the joint d, to which is suspended the cradle or
frame e, in which the performer is placed and fixed by means of straps
attached to the ribs ƒ, f, f, f. Upon the upper extremity of the frame e
the tangent toothed wheel or segment g is attached, and is caused to
revolve by the endless screw h formed upon the bar i which revolves in
bearings k, k¹, formed upon or attached to the arm c. The other or inner
end of the revolving bar i has fixed upon it a tangent toothed wheel 1,
which is driven by an endless screw formed upon the short bar m,
which revolves in a bearing in the socket b. The lower end of the
bar m within the socket 6 is made square and fits into a corresponding
socket in the upper end of the bar n which revolves within and is
concealed by the tubular stick or wand a. The lower cylindrical end
of the tubular stick or wand a fits into a socket o formed to receive it
in a suitable position upon the upper surface of the platform p, which
is carried by four legs or feet r, r, r, r. And the lower end of the
bar n, which revolves within the tube a, is provided with a square
socket (similar to that at its upper end) which, when the tubo a is in
its place, fits upon the upper square end of a spindle s, which carries
the tangent toothed wheel t. This toothed wheel is driven by an
endless screw u upon the horizontal axis v, which in turn carries the
tangent toothed wheel x, which is driven by the endless screw y upon
a spindle which passes down through one of the legs or feet », which
is made hollow for the purpose. The lower end of this spindle is
provided with a square socket (within the leg or foot) into which a
corresponding square key or handle can be thrust through a hole in the
floor from below, and can be withdrawn or replaced as desired.

page_text: Figure 3 represents another form of apparatus, which I sometimes adopt
when the action of the several tangent toothed wheels and endless screws,
shewn in Figures 1 and 2, is too slow for the elevation and lowering of
the frame or cradle. In this form of apparatus some or all of the
tangent wheels and endless screws are replaced by bevilled toothed
wheels. The remainder of the apparatus is constructed, as already
described, but the revolving rod i is formed with a screw upon its outer
end, which fits into and actuates a nut g connected to the vertical
lever k upon the upper part of the frame or cradle f; Figure 4 is a plan
of part of Figure 3.
-
The action of the apparatus is as follows:- The frame or cradle is
fitted and strapped to the performer, who is then placed upon the
platform p, the arm c with the socket b, and the wheels and screws
g, h, i, l, being jointed to the frame at right angles to the latter. The
stick or wand a being adjusted in its socket o, the performer is placed
upon a stool on the platform p, and the socket 6 is adjusted upon
the upper end of the stick or wand a, the square end of the spindle m
fitting at the same time into the upper end of the internal rod n, and
the whole being concealed by drapery. Upon turning the handle or
key beneath the floor the different toothed tangent wheels and endless
screws (or the bevilled toothed wheels, or cords, chains, or wires, if
these are used) are set in motion, and the frame or cradle, together
with the performer, is raised from the vertical position and caused to
move into any desired position round the centre bolt d. When the frame e
(with the performer) has been brought back to its original vertical
position the stool is replaced upon the platform, and the separato parts
of the apparatus can be taken apart in the same way as they were put

page_text: weight can be raised or lowered, or made to move horizontally, round
a vertical tube, as and for the purposes described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Matthew Morris, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three