Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Aug., 1340
Complete Specification Left. 15th May, 1891-Accepted, 20th June, 1891
DI MULPTATION.
A Toy.
1, THOMAS FENNELLY of 574 Old Broad Street, in the City of London,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A disc or drum is mounted on a vertical pivot about which it can turn freely.
The centre of the disc or drum carries a pivot upon which an index is mounted;
this index has a long and short arm, and in order that the balance about the pivot
may not be disturbed by the unequal expansion of the two arms owing to variations
of iemperature, the shorter arm is provided with a movable weight which may con-
veniently take the form of a screw, by slightly turning which the balance can be
adjusted. The moveable weight may be dispensed with if the two arms have the
same weight and if they be so formed that their centres of gravity are at the same
distance from the pivot. The disc or drum is preferably furnished with arms by
which it can readily be rotated, and when this is done the friction on its pivot causes
the index also to revolve, but at a different speed to the disc or drum, so that it
is a matter of chance at what position the index and the disc or drum come
to rest.
The disc or drum has printed upon it a number of humorous suggestions
prophecies or questions and the remark under the index when the apparatus comes
to rest after having been spun is taken to apply to the player at whom the index
points. Or the dise or drum may have numbers printed upon it which refer to
parr graphs in a book accompanying the apparatus.
In place of employing a simple index I sometimes mount a figure upon one end
of it. The head and arms of this figure are pivotted and so balanced that when
the index is revolved the centrifugal force causes the head to lean forward so that
the figure appears to be looking downwards to inspect the remarks upon the disc or
drum the arins being at this time raised. When the apparatus comes to rest the
figure resumes its upright position whilst the arms drop and one points to one of
the remarks and the other to one of the players. Pivotted counterbalance weights
may be added at the other end of the index so as to preserve the balance.
In some cases the disc or drum may be omitted, the balanced index alone being
used in which case the remark is announced before the index is spun.
Dated this 14th day of August 1890.
THOMAS FENNELLY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Toy.
I THOMAS FENNELLY of 57 Old Broad Street in the City of London,
Merchant, 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 :-
A disc or drum is mounted on a vertical pivot about which it can turn freely.
The centre of the disc or drum carries a pivot upon which an index is mounted;
this index has a long and short arm and the shorter arm is provided with a counter-
balance weight. The disc or drum can readily be rotated, and when this is done
the friction on its pivot causes the index also to revolve, but at a different speed to
the disc or drum, so that it is a matter of chance at what position the index and the
disc or drum come to rest.

page_text: The disc or drum has printed upon it a number of humorous suggestions or
questions and the remark under the index when the apparatus comes to rest after
having been spun is taken to apply to the player at whom the index points. Or
the disc or drum may have numbers printed upon it which refer to paragraphs in a
book accompanying the apparatus.
I sometimes mount a figure upon the index. The head of this figure is pivotted
and so balanced that when the index is revolved the centrifugal force causes the
head to lean forwards so that the figure appears to be looking downwards to inspect
the remarks upon the disc or drum. When the apparatus comes to rest the figure
resumes its upright position whilst the arm points to one of the remarks. Pivotted
counterbalance weights may be added at the other end of the index so as to
preserve the balance.
In order that my said invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
The drawing represents an elevation partly in section of a toy in accordance
with my
invention.
a is a base block from which projects vertically the pin or pivot a'. b is the
dise or drum, it is shown in section; in the centre thereof a hollow or tubular
pivot is provided, it fits loosely over the pivot a and its closed end bears upon
it at the top. Around the periphery of the disc or drum at 2 are the words or
figures to which the longer arm of the index is intended to point. The index has
a hollow pivot which passes over the pivot and being closed at its upper end
is supported by it. The longer arm e² of the index in the case represented takes
the form of a figure more or less grotesque and the axe in the hand of the figure
serves as the pointer. The shorter arm of the index marked carries a counter-
poise which as represented is in the form of a squirrel, its weight is such as to
balance the index about the pivot e' when at rest.
The head is separate from the rest of the figure to which it is pivotted at ;
it can move forward about the pivot to the position indicated by dotted lines. If
desired the counterpoise on the arm may also be pivoted in order that the
balance may be preserved when the head is forward but this will not usually be
found to be necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The toy consisting of the stationary base and pivot; the disc or drum
mounted on the pivot and the index pivoted upon the disc or drum substantially as
described.
:
2. The toy consisting of the stationary base and pivot; the disc or drum mounted
on the pivot the index pivoted upon the disc or drum; and the movable weight
or weights upon the index which are thrown outwards and by the rotation of the
index return as the rotation ceases substantially as described.
Dated this 14th day of May 1891.
THOMAS FENNELLY.