Improvements in Magic Lantern Slides and Apparatus in Connection therewith.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 19th Aug., 1839-Accepted, 28th Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Magic Lantern Slides and Apparatus in Connection
therewith.
I, WALTER POYNTER ADAMS of Springwell, The Terrace, Barnes, in the county of
Surrey, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My improvement consists in the use of a substance which is as far as possible
transparent, flexible, not brittle light, and not affected by moisture or heat, in place
of glass for Lantern Slides or transparencies.
Gelatine or Algin or other suitable substances specially prepared in shoots may
be used.
Slides made of such substitute may be of the usual square form or in long
strips.
In connection with the strips of pictures I use holders which may be made as
follows;
On two opposite sides of a frame placed in front of the Lantern condenser are
rollers or cylinders: in exhibiting the pictures the strip is wound off of one roller
or cylinder on to the other; this may be done by hand or mechanically.
Two pictures may be made to combine in one by having roller on all four sides,
the pictures being wound on to and off of the opposite rollers.
By the use of the roller holders I am enabled to produce motion of the picture, or
parts of the picture in any direction.
Dated this 17th day of November 1888.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Magic Lantern Slides and Apparatus in Connection
therewith.
1, WALTER POYNTER ADAMS Electrical Engineer of Springwell, The Terrace
Barnes, S.W. in the County of Surrey 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 improvements relate to the substitution for glass, of a flexible and transparent
support for the picture, in slides used with the Magic or Optical Lantern.
Gelatine, Algin Compounds, and Celluloid are suitable for this purpose.
Slides made with such substitute may be of the usual square form or in strips.
The following is a description of one way in which a series of photographic views
may be produced, in a strip, with Gelatine as the support.
Each view is printed on a special paper known to the Trade as "Transferrotype
Paper "and then squeegeed in a row on to a smooth even surface, glass will do-
carefully levelled and previously polished with French chalk: when dry the paper is
removed with hot water leaving the picture film adhering to the glass; over all is
flowed a solution of gelatine so as to form an even layer. A solution of gelatine pre-
pared as follows gives good results: for a series of twelve views 31 inches square,-
the glass being about 4 inches wide,-dissolve oz. of gelatine in 8 ozs. of water,
this is filtered and applied hot. When " set "it is soaked for 5 minutes in a
saturated solution of, chrome alum, to render the Gelatine insoluble; it is then well
washed and again soaked in a solution of 1 oz. of glycerine in 15 ozs. of water;
when thoroughly dry the strip is cut to the required width, and a length of 4 inches
left at each end for attachment to rollers, then the whole layer of Gelatine with
the picture films adhering may be stripped from the glass.

page_text: In connection with the strips of pictures I use roller holders to bring each view
into place in front of the Lantern condenser.
The rollers are placed on opposite sides of a frame, whose position when in use is in
front of the condenser, and the strip is wound on to one roller from the other, so that
each view passes the condenser in turn.
The movement of the rollers may be accomplished by hand or mechanically. The
following is a description of a form of roller slide that I find convenient for the change
of pictures mechanically.
Refering to the accompanying drawing: A is the frame on the vertical sides of
which are rollers B and B₁, C and C₁. On roller C the strip is wound, from thence
it passes over B, through the frame, over roller B₁, and the free end is fixed to
roller Fixing the end is managed in this way; a longitudinal groove is cut in
the roller and a strip of wood is fitted loosely into it, the end of the strip of pictures
is pressed into the groove with the wood which is then screwed down.
Roller C is caused to revolve by a spring in the barrel S turning the toothed
wheels, so that the strip is wound off of C on to C₁.
The strip in passing over rollers B and B₁ causes them to rotate, one of these, B, is
used in the following manner to check the movement of the strip when a picture
has attained to its position in front of the condenser: the roller is made of such
size that its circumference is equal to the length of a picture: thus it makes one turn
as each picture passos over it. D is a slot in the upper end of the roller cut for the
admission of the tooth. E of the catch G: the tooth is forced into the slot, when the
roller is in position, by the spring F ; when E is in the slot the teeth H are engaging
with the toothed wheel fixed to roller C.
I is a pneumatic arrangement-worked through a convenient length of india rubber
tubing L by pressing a rubber ball K-for raising the teeth on G free from their
respective rollers, allowing the latter to revolve under the action of the spring. As
soon as the rollers begin to revolve the pressure on the rubber ball is removed and E
rubs on the surface of the roller until the slot D is brought round; E then falls
into D causing H to engage with the teeth on C, thus bringing the whole apparatus
to rest.
On again pressing the rubber ball another picture is brought into position, and
so on until the whole series of pictures has been exhibited.
A brake O is used to prevent C turning too rapidly.
The form of this holder is altered to meet requirements.
Panoramic views made on strips, can, with a slight modification of the roller holder
described, be caused to pass slowly across the Lantern screen.
By the use of 4 or more rollers, two or more pictures may be made to combine on
the Lantern screen.
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 employment of a flexible and transparent substitute for glass as the support
for the picture in Optical Lantern slides.
2. The employment of roller holders in connection with the flexible and transparent
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