IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL TOY BOATS AND AUTOMATON FIGURES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Garrett Tongue, of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck,
Patent Agents and Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MECHANICAL TOY BOATS AND AUTOMATON FIGURES." A communication from
abroad by Elie Martin, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 28th March 1879, and dated the 4th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Garrett Tongue at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th October 1878.
JOHN GARRETT TONGUE, of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck, Patent Agents
and Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL TOY BOATS AND AUTOMATON
FIGURES." (A communication from abroad by Elie Martin, of Paris, France.)
This Invention has for its object the arrangement and construction of an improved
toy consisting of a boat furnished with a propellor and set in motion by clockwork
which at the same time sets in motion a little automaton, and causes it to go up
and down a ladder. This automaton is articulated in such a manner that the
movements of its arms and legs are similar to those of a man ascending a ladder in
the ordinary way and descending head first.
In order that the Invention may be thoroughly understood, I will proceed to
describe the accompanying Drawing which shows a sectional view of a boat con-
structed according to this Invention, and also a view of the ladder up which the
automaton is going, thus showing how the movement is transmitted to its limbs.
In the interior of the boat A of any shape or size is fixed a barrel a held between
two plates b, b, the cylinder of the barrel is provided with a cylindrical cog wheel c
which works into a little wheel d, on the upper end of whose axis is fixed an
angular wheel which works into another angular wheel g. This wheel turns the
shaft hand moves the propeller v.

page_text: On the shaft h is fixed a small pulley, which by means of an endless band k
turns a second pulley L, the axis m of which works in supports fixed on the deck of
the boat A. About the centre of this axle is fixed a small pulley o, which by
means of an endless band turns at the same time another pulley r, the axle of
which is supported by the upper end of a vertical board provided in a groove in
its front and back surfaces, the pulleys and the endless band occupying the double
groove.
Parallel to this grooved board and in the same plane two uprights 8, 8, are fixed
on the deck of the boat, and cross pieces t, t, join these uprights to the grooved
board in such a way as to form a double ladder with a common ascent, the cross
pieces on the one side being fixed in the centre of the intervals of the other.
The parts being thus arranged, a little figure is attached by a tenon fixed in its
front surface to the endless band p. It is evident that this, band will cause the
figure to make the round of the ladder in a continuous movement from bottom
to top, and top to bottom.
The little figure (see Fig. 2) has its arms and thighs articulated to its body, and
maintained by a spring or an elastic in a slightly elevated position, or even
horizontal; the lower parts of the legs are loosely joined to the thighs by means of
a simple rivet, in order that they may remain vertical in whatever position the
thighs may be in.
In this way when the articulated figure is drawn by the band p, an arm and
a leg of one side will catch the rungs in one half of the ladder, and are pushed
down as shown in Figure 2, whereas the other arm and leg being still between the
rungs of the other half of the ladder maintain their inclined position. The move-
ment of the band p continuing to draw the figure, the arm and leg which were
down coming into the interval between the rungs, the springs finding no resistance
draw the limbs into their inclined position; the limbs at the other side being at the
same time caught by the rungs on the other half of the ladder are drawn out in
their turn.
It will thus be seen that as the figure is drawn up, that whilst the limbs on the
one side are extended, those on the other are contracted. It will thus perfectly
imitate the movements of a man ascending a ladder.
In the descent, that is to say, when the figure has rounded the pulley ", the same
movements produced by the same causes will be repeated, and the descent will be
accomplished in exactly the same manner as the ascent, only head foremost.
This movement will continue as long as the boat moves, that is to say, until the
spring in the barrel runs down.
It is shown that an opening u is made in the deck to allow passage for the figure
in going up and down the ladder.
The pulley is enclosed in a sort of box in order that the motive power may be
entirely hidden from view; this box could be of any shape, that of a small cabin for
instance.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Garrett Tongue in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd
April 1879.
JOHN GARRETT TONGUE, of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck, Patent Agents
and Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL TOY BOATS AND AUTOMATON
FIGURES." A communication from abroad by Elie Martin, of Paris, France.
This Invention has for its object the arrangement and construction of an improved
toy, consisting of a boat furnished with a propeller and set in motion by clockwork,
which at the same time sets in motion a little automaton figure (or figures), and
causes it to go up and down a ladder. This automaton is articulated in such a
manner that the movements of its arms and legs are similar to those of a man
ascending a ladder in the ordinary way, and descending head first.
In order that the Invention may be thoroughly understood, I will proceed to
describe the accompanying Drawing, Figure 1 of which shows a sectional view of a
boat constructed according to this Invention, and also a view of the ladder up
which the automaton is going, thus showing how the movement is transmitted to
its limbs.
In the interior of the boat A of any shape or size is fitted a barrel a held
between two plates b, b. The cylinder of the barrel is provided with a cog wheel c
which works into a toothed wheel d, on the upper end of the axis of which is
fixed a bevil wheel f which works into another bevil wheel g. This wheel turns
the shaft h, and drives the propeller i.
On the shaft his fixed a small pulley j, which by means of an endless band k
turns a second pulley 1, the axis m of which works in supports fixed on the deck of
the boat A. About the centre of this axle is fixed a small pulley o, which by means
of an endless band p turns at the same time another pulley, the axle of which is
supported by the upper end of a vertical board provided with a groove in its front
and back surfaces, the pulleys and the endless band occupying this double groove.
Parallel to this grooved board and in the same plane two uprights 8, 8, are fixed
on the deck of the boat, and cross pieces t, t, join these uprights to the grooved
board in such a way as to form a double ladder with a common ascent, the cross
pieces on the one side being fixed in the centre of the intervals of the other.
The parts being thus arranged, a little figure is attached by a tenon fixed in its
front surface to the endless band p. It is evident that this band will cause the
figure to make the round of the ladder in a continuous movement from bottom to
top, and top to bottom.
This little figure (see Figure 3) has its arms and thighs articulated to its body,
and maintained by a spring or an elastic in a slightly elevated position, or even
horizontal, the lower parts of the legs are loosely joined to the thighs by means of
a simple rivet in order that they may remain vertical in whatever position the
thighs may be in.
In this way when the articulated figure is drawn by the band p, an arm and a
leg of one side will catch the rungs in one half of the ladder, and are pushed down
as shown in Figure 3, whereas the other arm and leg being still between the rungs
of the other half of the ladder maintain their inclined position. The movement of
the band p continuing to draw the figure, the arm and leg which were down coming
into the interval between the rungs, the springs finding no resistance draw the
limbs into their inclined position; the limbs on the other side being at the same
time caught by the rungs on the other half of the ladder are drawn out in their
turn.
It will thus be seen that as the figure is drawn up, that whilst the limbs on the
one sido are extended, those on the other are contracted. It will thus perfectly
imitate the movements of a man ascending a ladder.

page_text: In the descent, that is to say, when the figure has rounded the pulley r, the same
movements produced by the same causes will be repeated, and the descent will be
accomplished in exactly the same manner as the ascent, only head foremost.
This movement will continue as long as the boat moves, that is to say, until the
spring in the barrel runs down.
It is shown that an opening u is made in the deck to allow passage for the
figure in going up and down the ladder.
The pulley is enclosed in a sort of box in order that the motive power may be
entirely hidden from view; this box could be of any shape; that of a small cabin for
instance.
I have shown in Figure 2 a different view of the same boat or toy; the mechanism
is the same, the driving shaft giving motion to two automatons ascending, and the
propeller being removed, in that case the governor of the propeller is replaced by a
Hy regulator i fixed on the barrel and in connection with the toothed wheel c by
means of a pinion; masts, rigging, and sails may be provided on deck for driving.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention and the manner of performing
or carrying the same into practice, what I claim under the above in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
The improved arrangement and construction of mechanical toy boats and
automaton figures consisting of a boat of any suitable size or shape propelled by
clockwork, which at the same time causes a figure or articulated automaton to
ascend and descend a ladder, the movements of this figure imitating those of a man
ascending a ladder and descending the same head first, substantially in the manner
herein-before described and represented in Figures 1 and 3 of the Drawings hereto
annexed.
I also claim the application to toy boats of two or more automaton figures, the
propeller being dispensed with, and the deck furnished with masts, rigging, and
sails for propulsion; a speed regulator being applied to the spring barrel, all arranged
to act substantially in the manner herein-before described and represented in
Figure 2 of the Drawings annexed.
I also claim the use of paddle wheels in place of the propeller i, motion being
given thereto by means of suitable gearing on the driving shaft.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Garrett Tongue, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.