Improvements in connection with a Theatrical Illusion.
Year: 1891

page_text: te of Application, 23rd Mar., 1891-Accepted, 11th Apr., 189
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in connection with a Theatrical Illusion.
I, JOSEPH BUATIER, of 85, Rue de Pompe, Passy, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Gentleman, 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 :-
The present invention relates to a theatrical illusion wherein special means are
used by the operator for causing the disappearance of a cage and a person placed
therein, without the public being able to detect how the disappearance is effected.
In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated the illusion and the apparatus
employed therein.
Fig. 1 shews, in elevation, the person in position within the cage before the
disappearance.
Fig. 2 shews what remains of the apparatus after the disappearance; and Figs. 3
and 4 are side and plan views of a collapsible frame used in carrying out
the trick.
A is a cage and B is a wooden stool, which seems perfectly solid, but which in
reality is composed of two parts, as hereinafter described.
The operator having shewn the stool to the spectators, places it on a given
place on the stage, stands the cage on it, and the person who is to disappear is made
to enter the cage (see Fig. 1).
The cage is then surrounded by a large veil, not shewn in the drawing, and
shortly afterwards, when the veil is taken away, the cage and its contents have
disappeared.
The following is a description of the means employed to produce this illusion.
The stool B which the operator has shewn to the spectators, and which they
suppose to consist of a single piece, is in reality composed of an exceedingly thin
frame b, into which fits a block of wood 61, level with the frame in all ways.
The stool being thus in two pieces, it will be understood that if it be placed upon
a trap such as that shown at C in the drawing, of the exact dimensions of the
internal block b¹, the block and the cage placed upon it may be lowered, leaving the
frame in place, which will still appear to the spectators as the complete stool.
In order that the stool thus constructed may be shewn and touched by the public,
without their being able to see that it is in two parts, the inner walls of the frame b
are tapered in such a manner as to permit of the block being retained therein
by a wedge action.
In order that when the cage is covered by the veil, its disappearance in the
trap C may not be noticed by the displacement of the veil, I use a skeleton frame D
(see Figs. 3 and 4), which covers the cage, and takes the form of the upper part
thereof. This frame, supported in the manner to be presently described, is sus-
pended in the air under the veil while the cage descends through the trap.
This skeleton frame D is made of very thin, fine iron or steel wire, so as to be
invisible to the public; it may be previously placed on the cage, and brought on the
stage at the same time together with a metallic support which serves to hold the
frame, and which may disappear at the last moment.
The skeleton frame may also be made of concentric circles of very fine steel
wires connected one to the other by cotton thread.
This frame, brought onto the stage at the same time as the cage, will be fixed
to an invisible wire coming from the flies of the theatre, or if preferred, it be
supported by the hand of the operator.
may
The whole being thus covered by the veil, when the cage is lowered on the trap

page_text: the veil continues to hang on the frame, thereby concealing the descent of
the cage.
On removing the veil, the operator will have to rapidly unhook the frame
from the suspending wire, when such is used, and, in unfolding the veil, will let
fall the frame onto the stage, where it will flatten out, and thus be rendered
invisible to the spectators.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
In a theatrical illusion which has for its object to effect the disappearance of a
cage and a body introduced thereinto, the employment of the means hereinbefore
described, and consisting of a stool or its equivalent made in two parts, one of
which is to support the cage and a body over a trap, and a collapsible frame which
maintains the veil extended, as if by the cage, while the latter is lowered through
the trap, in the manner explained and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1891.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.