A New Toy.
Year: 1899

page_text: I, FRANK CHARLES MEISLAHN, of Arlington, New Jersey, U.S.A., Inventor,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to toys of that class having a disc which, when spun,
stops with a portion of it visible through an aperture through which imprinted
matter on the disc can be read, and is supposed to foretell fortunes.
The object of the invention is to provide a device of the character above-
mentioned in which the disc is adapted for rotation by a current of air imparted
-by the mouth or other means to a fan. A further object is to provide a
cheap and amusing toy of the kind mentioned.
The invention comprises a cylindrical casing having a cover provided with two
or more openings. A spindle is centrally pivoted in the casing and carries a
disc upon which fortune-telling matter is imprinted within radially marked
off spaces, visible through the apertures in the cover.
A wind-wheel or fan is situated on the spindle beneath the disc, and is adapted
to rotate the disc when a current of air is directed against it. The air may be
projected through suitably placed openings in the casing, through openings in
the cover and cut-out portions of the disc, or in any other suitable manner.
Tubes, with mouth-pieces, may extend from the openings which may be blown
through by the operator.
• 壹
1000
P. R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicant.
A New Toy.
I, FRANK CHARLES MEISLAHN, of Arlington, New Jersey, U.S.A., Inventor,
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 a toy which will furnish a suitable answer to any
question spoken into the conical tube representing part of the apparatus.
The improvement to this end, embraces certain features of construction and
combination of parts which will be described and claimed. These objects are
attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in
which:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of

page_text: the same, taken on a horizontal plane. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view
taken on line 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1,
shewing the connection of the sound transmitting tube to the cylindrical case.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
A designates a cylindrical case, which is closed at its upper end by a flat
cover piece A¹.
:
The cover plate A is provided. with an opening D, located close to its edge,
around which is fitted a flange or collar J, which is part of the tube B.
Diametrically opposite to the opening the same cover plate A' is provided
with a slotted opening E. The tube s is permanently connected to the cover A',
as before described. The cover plate A', in connection with the case A, forms a
box in which are placed the working parts of the apparatus. The tube B is
telescoped into the conical tube C, a sound transmitting tube of a length pro-
portional to the size of the apparatus to further facilitate talking into the said
tube B.
"
Fastened to the underside of the cover plate A' and the upper side of the
bottom of the case A are the perforated plates F and F, in which the ends of
the pin G are placed so as to hold it in its proper position.
Near the upper end of the pin a round dise K is connected or fastened.
This disc K is made of paper or other light material and is fastened to the
pin G by means of a piece of cork I or other suitable material, the cork and disc
being glued or cemented together. The said disc K, as shewn in Figs. 2 and 3,
on its upper side, is divided into equal segments by lines, and the space of each
segment is utilized to print words thereon which are answers to questions asked
ot the apparatus. To complete the system of answering the different questions,
to every answer a number is added, around which a circle is placed as shewn
in Fig. 2.
.
The round dise K is provided on its circumference with semi-circular cuts L
each segment being provided with one. These cut-outs have their centre points
on the circumference of the disc K.
Under the disc K the fan wheel H is placed, fastened to the piu G in the
same manner as the disc K. The fan wheel H may be constructed of paper or
other tight material and may be made in the following manner:-A round disc
is divided into equal segments and on the lines dividing these segments, starting
at the circumference and cutting towards the centre, about one quarter of th
radius of the circle, when a cut should be made at right angles to the radial
liue for a short distance only. By bending each of these so-formed blades at
an angle to the plane of the disc a fan wheel of common form is the result.
This fan wheel can easily be set in motion by the vibrations of the voice, trans-
mitted to the inner disc of the apparatus through the tubes C and B.
The manner of using the device may be used as follows: The apparatus is
placed in front of the person who is desirous of obtaining an answer to whatever
question he may see fit to ask. The questioner places his lips close to the
tube C, into which he talks and asks the question. The vibration produced by
the sound of the voice is transmitted through the tubes B and C to the blades of
the fan wheel H, producing a rotary motion in the same. The disc K being
attached to the same pin G will take part in this rotation of the fan-wheel, thus
changing its original position. When the wheel and disc come to rest, the
answer will be visible at the cut-out portion E on the upper part of the apparatus.
It is found in practice that the semi-circular cut-outs around the edge of the
dise K tend to cause each individual answer to come to rest directly under the
slotted opening E in the cover-plate A¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: —
(1) In a tov the combination of a cylindrical case and à cover plate provided

page_text: with two openings; a conical tube with a flange; an adjustable tube; a rotary
pin firmly connected with a fan-wheel and a disc provided with semi-circular
cut-outs near its circumference and having on its upper sides radial lines divid-
ing the diso into spaces bearing words and figures, substantially as specified.
(2) In a toy, the combination of a cylindrical case A, a cover-plate A¹, pro-
vided with two openings D and E; a conical tube C; a rotary pin G pivoted
in the case A and the cover plate A³, so as to move freely about its axis, in the
plates F, F; a disc K provided on its upper sides with radial lines, words and
figures, and on its circumference with semi-circular cut-outs L, L; a fan
wheel H firmly connected to the same pin G, substantially as described.
Dated this 6th day of November 1899.
P. R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicant.