Improvements in Apparatus for Theatrical and Stage Effects.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 21st July, 1894-Accepted, 15th Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Theatrical and Stage Effects.
I, WALTER PFEFFER DANDO Stage Manager, Palace Theatre Shaftesbury
Avenue London, W. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
--
My invention relates to apparatus for producing in an improved manner living
pictures or tableaux vivants.
My invention consists of a novel and portable construction of framework which
is easily and quickly put together. Upon the centre truss of this framework
revolves a platform upon a centre pivot, and the platform is made sufficiently large
to allow of several pictures (by preference four) being set at the same time thus
enabling the pictures to be quickly and readily changed with all the necessary
scenery, personages and accessories placed in position, the preparation of three of
these pictures can be going on during the time one perfect picture is being shown
to the public. I place at suitable positions, on the framework, wheels running in
bearings, to reduce any friction there may be from the unequal weight placed upon
the revolving platform during the setting of the pictures and also to facilitate in
turning the revolving platform when changing one picture for the other. I also
provide an arrangement of steps leading up to the level of the revolving platform
to enable the persons taking part in the tableaux vivants to easily ascend and get
into position on the revolving platform, these steps fit underneath and clear the under-
side of the revolving platform by a few inches, and I fix to the steps an india
rubber or lignum vitæ wheel in such a manner that when the revolving platform is
put into motion or has any extra weight put upon a point directly over the steps,
by the action of any of the persons taking part in the tableaux ascending to or
descending from the revolving platform the wheel on the steps will take the
bearing and prevent any movement in same. I also provide at the front ends of
the framework eccentric cams which I can readily put into position immediately
under the front end of the revolving platform so that any movement in the tableau
being shown to the public may be prevented, or any vibration obviated. This is
most essential as any movement or sway of the platform causes a movement in the
scenery and the persons taking part in the tableau and spoils the illusion.
In conjunction with the framework and revolving platform I attach to the sides
of the framework a picture frame of suitable design and proportions so that the
tableau presented to the public may appear just as an ordinary picture does, inside
a frame. The picture frame proper is provided with a mount hinged in four
sections to the four inner sides of the picture frame. These four sections forming
the mount, can be set at any angle, which by preference should be about 60° to the
square of the picture frame. This inside mount is arranged in such a manner
that by connecting the top and bottom portions of the same, either by cranks and
rods wires or other means I can by one movement of a cord or lever attached to
the top portion of the inside mount at one end and passing through suitable pullies
into the hands of one of the stage men bring the two sections of the inside mount
to fold close against the back of the picture frame.
A similar arrangement can be fixed to the two side or upright portions of the
inside mount, allowing them also to fold quite flat against the inside of the picture
frame. By this arrangement of a folding inside mount I am enabled to revolve
the platform with the pictures arranged on same during the time the curtains
which are hung and suitably draped in front of the picture frame are closed.

page_text: Immediately the curtains are closed and the inside mount is folded flat against
the back of the picture frame, the next picture which has been previously prepared
is revolved into position and the inside mount released and allowed to take up its
proper position: the curtains are then opened and the new picture shown.
India rubber springs or counterweights may be used to bring the movable inside
mount back to its proper position when the cord or lever is released. This arrangement
of inside movable mount in conjunction with the picture frame fixed to the frame-
work upon which the platform revolves forms a complete junction between the
tableau vivant and the picture frame and shows no break between the back-
ground of the picture, and the inside edge of the picture frame, and also does away
with the necessity of any supplementary pieces of scenery called in theatrical
parlance "tormentors."
At right angles to the picture frame at the reverse side to that seen by the
public, I fix upon the portable framework two light ladders of a suitable height
with a platform or bridge about 18 in. wide running from one ladder to the other at
a height just above the top portion of the picture frame so as to be invisible to the
public and allow of the revolving of the platform with its scenery &c. From this
bridge the necessary electric light or other suitable illumination is worked to light
up the tableau vivant in accordance with the lighting shown by the picture being
reproduced. All the previously described apparatus can be mounted upon suitable
grooved wheels running upon Tiron, and will enable anyone to readily move the
entire apparatus to any part of the stage.
Dated this 14th day of December 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Theatrical and Stage Effects.
I WALTER PFEFFER DANDO of 38 Marquess Road, Canonbury 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:-
My invention relates to apparatus for producing in an improved manner living
pictures or tableaux vivants and consists in providing in combination a novel
construction of framework which can be easily and quickly put together and a
rotatable platform of sufficient size to allow of several pictures (by preference
four) being set at the same time and the pictures to be quickly and readily changed
with all the necessary scenery, personages and accessories placed in position, the
arrangement permitting of the preparation of three of the pictures during the time
one perfect picture is being exhibited.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will describe the same
with reference to the accompanying drawings premising however that I do not
restrict myself to the details of construction illustrated and described.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus constructed according to my
invention looking towards the front, the parts being in position for exhibiting a
picture and
Figure 2 is a similar view looking towards the back of the apparatus, the parts
being in the position they occupy while the platform is being rotated.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section and Figure a plan of the apparatus
with parts broken away for the purpose of more clearly shewing the construction.
A is a rigid framework of wood (but which may be made of metal if desired)
mounted on wheels B to facilitate its movement from place to place. C is a
platform pivotted at D and bearing on antifriction wheels or rollers E carried on
the frame A, which rollers afford an efficient support to the platform and prevent
undue friction by unequal weights placed thereon in setting the pictures. These

page_text: wheels or rollers also facilitate the turning of the platform when changing one
picture for another. Steps F are provided to enable the persons taking part in the
tableaux vivants to readily ascend and get into position on the platform. These
steps fit under and clear of the under side of the platform to admit of the rotation
of the said platform and I provide the steps with a lignum vitæ or other wheel G
so that when the platform is put into motion, or should any extra weight be put
upon it at a point directly over the steps, for instance by the act of any of the
persons taking part in the tableau ascending on to or descending from the
platform, the wheel on the steps will take the bearing and prevent any movement
thereof. To prevent movement of the platform while a tableau is being shewn I
provide at the front ends of the opposite sides of the framework A eccentric or
cam levers H which can be readily turned into position to support the front end of
the platform, so that the frictional contact thereof will prevent any vibration of
the platform. This is most essential, as any movement or sway of the platform
causing a movement in the scenery and persons taking part in the tableau during
the time it is being exhibited would destroy the illusion. In conjunction with the
framework and rotary platform I attach to the sides of the framework a picture
frame I of suitable design and proportion, so that the tableau presented may
appear like an ordinary framed picture. At the inner side of the picture frame I
is hinged a mount made by preference in four sections K K L L. These four
sections forming the mount may be arranged at any desired angle, preferably of
about 60° to the plane of the picture frame, and the side sections K or the top
and bottom sections L may be connected together by rods, wires or other
convenient means so that by the movement of one of the sections the other section
connected thereto will also be moved. The movement of the sections L L is
shewn as being effected by means of a cord M connected at one end to the top
section L, the said cord passing round suitable pullies into a convenient_position
to be operated from below, so that by means of this cord the two sections L of the
mount may be caused to fold towards the back of the picture frame. The two
side or upright sections K K of the mount may be similarly operated if desired so
as to fold towards the back of the picture frame, or they may be separately folded
by hand or by mechanical means if desired. By this arrangement of folding
mount I am enabled to rotate the platform with the pictures arranged thereon
during the time the curtains (which are hung and suitably draped in front of the
picture frame) are closed. While the curtains are closed and the mount is folded
towards the back of the picture frame, the platform may be rotated so as to bring
the next picture which has been previously prepared into position for exhibition.
The upright sections K K are then returned to their angular position and the
cord M is released whereupon the sections L L of the mount will also resume
their angular position shewn in Figure 1, the upper section L resting on the upper
ends of the sections K, the new picture being then ready for exhibition. India-
rubber springs or counterweights may be provided if required to facilitate the
return of the sections of the mount to their proper angular positions when the
cord or lever is released. By this adjustable arrangement of the mount in
conjunction with the picture frame I a complete junction is made between the
platform carrying the tableaux vivants and the picture frame there being no
visible break between the background of the picture and the inside edge of the
picture frame, whereby the necessity for supplementary pieces of scenery called in
theatrical parlance "tormentors is entirely obviated.
"
At the back of the picture frame and at right angles thereto I fix upon the
frame work A two light ladders N of a suitable height to reach a platform or
bridge extending across the back of the picture frame from one ladder to the
other, the said platform being situated just above the top portion of the picture
frame so as to be hidden from view but allow of the rotating of the platform with
scenery or the like. From this bridge O the necessary electric light or other
suitable illumination can be worked to light up the tableaux vivants in accordance
with the lighting required to be cast on the picture being shewn. In the drawings

page_text: I have shewn on the front of the picture frame I a hollow bead i containing
electric incandescent lamps or other suitable illuminating device or devices for
throwing light on to the picture frame the said lamps being concealed from view,
electric lamps or other suitable illuminating device or devices being similarly
arranged at the back of the picture frame as shewn for instance at K between the
picture frame I and the mount in combination with other suitable illuminating
device operated from the bridge O for illuminating the picture.
The apparatus described being mounted. upon the wheels B is capable of being.
readily moved from place to place or to any part of a stage as required.
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. In apparatus for exhibiting tableaux vivants the combination with a rotatable
platform on which the pictures are set, of a folding or hinged picture frame or
mount constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose herein before
described.
2. In apparatus for exhibiting tableaux vivants or the like the combination with
a collapsible or folding frame and a rotatable platform on which the pictures are
set, of anti-friction rollers on which the platform runs and excentric or cam
levers for preventing the movement of the platform while a picture is being
exhibited substantially as herein before described.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting apparatus for
exhibiting tableaux vivants or the like, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 21st day of July 1894.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
Agents.