Means and Appliances for Producing Illusory Scenes in Theatres and the like. with Living Animals and Human Beings, applicable also for Speeding Animals and Riding Appliances.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Deo., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Sept., 1897-Accepted, 2nd Oct., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Means and Appliances for Producing Illusory Scenes in Theatres and
the like. with Living Animals and Human Beings, applicable also
for Speeding Animals and Riding Appliances.
I, EMILE GUITTON, of 92 Jermyn Street, County of London, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain means and appliances for producing Illusory
Scenes in Theatres and the like with living Animals and Human Beings applicable
also for speeding Animals and riding appliances, the object being to put living
Animals, Peoples, Cycles and other movable articles manipulated by animal or
manual power on a movable belt or on belts adjoining one another, which is or are
operated in the reverse direction of travel to that of the figures and at the same
or at a slightly advanced speed to enable the animals or articles to be constantly
before the observer, and appear in full travelling advance action, the back ground
as Scenery being also moved, so that to an observer the Illusion is apparently real
and life like.
As an illustration of an Illusory action by my invention, I may note, The
Epsom Race Course, I provide mounted Jockeys on real Horses and these by the
movement of endless bands are caused to gallop by the ground being taken from
under them. The ground is of turf like formation and so far as colour is concerned
it looks natural to the eye.
The back Scenery in one or more sheets is travelling like a Panorama and has
all the appearance of Fields, Hedge Rows, Fences, Hurdles, side rails, Booths,
assembly of racing men, and finally the judges post, grand stand, and other
impedimenta of a Race Course during a Race Meeting.
My endless bands of which there may be any number are arranged edge to
edge and operated by gas or other power Engine at the same or at varying spee.Is
by attendants in charge of speed clutches, so that the Horses may pass one another,
or others go slower to give the effect of a genuine Race.
The bands are arranged on beds of rollers as a flooring, and these cant be run
on friction rollers or discs immersed in oil to reduce sound and friction.
The axles of the rollers are arranged in slots of framing irons, and these slots
are coverable by slot or rib plates to prevent the axles jumping or becoming
dislodged.
Dotad this 2nd day of Docombo 1900
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Emile Guitton.

page_text: Means and Appliances for Producing Illusory Scenes in Theatres and
the like, with Living Animals and Human Beings, applicable also
for Speeding Animals and Riding Appliances.
I, EMILE GUITTON, of 92 Jermyn Street, County of London, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to certain means and appliances for producing illusory
scenes in Theatres and the like with living Animals and Human Beings applicable
also for speeding Animals and riding appliances, the object being to put living
Animals, People, Cycles and other movable articles manipulated by Animal or
Manual power on a movable belt.or on elts adjoining one another which is or are
operated in the reverse direction of travel to that of the figures and at the same or
at a slightly advanced speed to enable the Animals or Articles to be constantly
before the Observer, and appear in full travelling advance action, the back ground
as Scenery being also moved so that to an Observer the illusion is apparently real
and life like.
As an illustration of an illusory action by my invention, I may note "The
Epsom Race Course," I provide mounted Jockeys on real Horses and these by the
movement of endless bands are caused to gallop by the ground being taken from
under them. The ground is of turf like form, and so far as colour concerned it
looks natural to the eye. The back Scenery in one or more sheets is travelling
like a Panorama and has all the appearance of Fields, Hedge Rows, Fences,
Hurdles, side Rails, Booths, Assembly of Racing Men and finally the Judges Post,
Grand Stand, and other impedimentia of a Race Course during a Race Meeting.
My endless bands of which there may be any number are arranged edge to edge
and operated by Gas or other power Engine at the same or at varying speeds by
Attendants in charge of speed clutches, so that the Horses may pass one another,
or others go slower to give the effect of a genuine Race.
The bands are arranged on beds of rollers as a flooring and these can be run on
friction rollers or discs immersed in Oil to reduce sound and friction.
The axles of the rollers are arranged in slots of framing irons and these slots are
coverable by slot or rib plates to prevent the axles jumping or becoming
dislodged.
During the scene, say when Horses are running, powerful currents of air blown
on the Running Animals and Jockeys will make the sleeves and blouses of the
Jockeys fill out and flutter for adding to the illusion.
The invention will be the better understood by reference to the annexed
drawings.
Figure 1 part side elevation of a structure with travelling bands supported on
ordinary rollers.
Figure 2 plan of same.
Figure 3 part side elevation of structure with antifriction rollers as the support
of the band.
Figure 4 plan of same.
Figures 5 and 6 end elevation and plan respectively of the mode by which I
arrange my rollers for easy removal in case of renewals of the first system.
Figures 7 and 8 are end views and plan of antifriction roll working in a trough of
Oil, as per the plan shown at Figures 3 and 4.
Figure 9 section of one of my drums which give motion to the bands.
I have at Figures 2 and 4 shown a structure with two bands only but these may

page_text: be multiplied and separately driven by clutch or other gear to suit the varying
speeds at which, say, Horses have to travel.
A, A, timber structure braced and tied together below the level of a Stage, so
that the bands B, B, appear about level therewith and preferably at a slight
angle in order that the Green wool top or surfacing to inutate grass can be seen
ty the Occupants of, say, the Pit of a Theatre as well as those Occupants of the
other part of the Building. These bands B, B, are stretched over drums C,
capable of being driven from below from riggers D, D, and straps E, said bands B
being supported by rollers F, F, and strained tight by the Jockey rollers G, G,
so that the Horses can have a sure foothold on the surface of the bands B, B.
The rollers G, G, as in the views Figures 1 and 2 are held in their bearings by
plates H, such as I show at Figures 5 and 6, said plates being notched at intervals,
as at I, I, and when slid along on the bearings J, J, the notches come opposite the
clip bolts K, K, and can then be lifted off the bearings for any roller to be removed,
or as desired.
Where antifriction rollers are used, such as I show at Figures 3 and 4, I support
them on other rollers L, L, as at Figure 7, said rollers running in a bath or
trough M furnished with a lubricant for constant lubrication of the bearers axles
and rolls.
The drums by which the bands are driven I prefer should be of skeleton form
covered with sheet metal on which wooden slats N can be nailed, the distance slots
between the slats giving the necessary bite to the bands for uniformity of travel.
It will be seen by Figures 1 and 3 that the drums may vary in diameter to give
room for the axles to be arranged at different levels for their separate bearings
and separate driving.
In placing my said invention before the Public, say, in a Theatre, I ay a rough
long haired open pile Carpet on the Stage in front of the apparatus to represent
grass turf, and a short Curtain on which is painted a representation of the usual
Race Course, Stalls for the sale of edibles, another Curtain or screen from above
having the representations of Booths, Food Pavilions, and the like, also Vehicles
with Occupants. So soon as the hubbub begins, the Staff and hired men and
women of the Establishment crowd on to the Stage along with Bookmakers,
Tumblers, Nigger Minstrels, Jugglers, and others to make up the usual motley
crew.
The bell next rings and all is bustle for the entry of Policemen to clear the
Course, the crowd becoming more orderly, then the Curtains are drawn away and
there appear the Horses which have just previously been placed upon the bands,
they take up the running and a Panorama screen behind on which is the usual
appearance of a crowded Race Course travels along in the reverse direction to the
movements of the Horses which with the arrangements of the Theatre lights give
the illusion of an actual Race Course during the running of the Horses, everything
to the eye of an Observer being real like and wonderfully surprising in effect, even
the Judges box and Grand Stand together with the return of the successful
Animal with its numerous admirers are shown by judicious operations of the
Curtains or screens, the Horse returning and walking back on the now stationary
band.
While the Horses, real Racers and real Jockeys are running, currents or blasts
of air are blown on to the Jockeys, each of which is apparently whipping up his
own Horse to win, in conjunction with the exciting motions of his body in
ndeavouring to get his Horse to the front, produce a filling out of the blouses and
leeves of his garment with a fluttering action which adds greatly to the illusion
of the Visitors.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
nd in what manner the same is to be performed I declaro that what I claim is :-
1. The apparatus shown on the annexed drawings, and its method of operation
or producing illusory effects in the manner and for the purposes set forth."

page_text: 2. The driving of separate bands at varying speeds, said bands being carried by
rollers and operated from drums, and made to support Animals, Cycles or other
like appliances with their Riders for producing illusions of Race Meetings within
an enclosed structure in conjunction with moving Panorama, substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore explained.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Emile Gnitton.