IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR EXHIBITING ADVERTISEMENTS AT NIGHT
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Garrett Tongue, of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck,
Patent Agents and Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS
AND APPARATUS FOR EXHIBITING ADVERTISEMENTS AT NIGHT." A commu-
nication from abroad by Jean Marie Auguste Lacomme and Louis Lefebvre,
both of Paris, France.
Sealed the 12th February 1878, and dated the 17th December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Garrett Tongue at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th December 1877.
JOHN GARRETT TONGUE, of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck, Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR EXHIBITING ADVER-
TISEMENTS AT NIGHT." [A communication from abroad by Jean Marie Auguste
Lacomme and Louis Lefebvre, both of Paris, France.]
This Invention has for its object new and improved means and apparatus for
exhibiting advertisements, names of firms, trade marks, views, or other decorations
at night. These advertisements, views, or decorations are produced or reflected on
the footway or pavement of the streets or principal thoroughfares. For this purpose
apparatus is employed arranged with a combination of achromatic and condensing
lenses, in order to reflect on a magnified scale upon the footpath or ground adver-
tisements, names of firms, views and devices.
The combined lenses and illuminating apparatus are placed in the interior of a
lautern, lamp post, or candelabra, in front of buildings or establishments, and the
apparatus is arranged in order to reflect upon the footpath, ground, or pavement,
and exhibit to the view of the public in passing the luminous image or advertise-
ment reflected upon the ground.

page_text: Upon a revolving or circular support in the form of a cross or other suitable shape
a series of advertisements or views on transparent glass is mounted; this revolving
support is caused to revolve by means of clockwork or other self-acting apparatus,
so as to bring the advertisement printed, painted, or photographed upon the trans-
parent glass in successive position with the reflecting lens apparatus. An intermittent
movement is imparted every two, five, or more minutes, by which the advertise-
inents or views are exhibited by reflection upon the ground until another takes
place, and so on.
In carrying out this Invention a bracket or console is fixed in the wall or front of
a house or building to support a lamp in connection with a gas pipe. The flame of
the gas is reversed in order that the gas burner may not produce a shadow in the
direction of the lenses.
The arrangement of the lenses may, if desired, consist of two plano-convex con-
densing lenses, arranged in such manner that the rays of light pass through two
plano-convex lenses arranged in a vertical position, and placed in the middle of the
lamp or lantern, and directed towards the ground.
Airanged within a tube or cylinder there is a smaller tube containing two convex
or meniscus magnifying lenses, the inner tube and lenses being moved to and fro
by a rack or pinion, by which the desired focus of the picture or advertisement is
obtained.
A box or case is arranged in which the clockwork or other self-acting mechanism
is contained. This mechanism is arranged to cause or impart in a given time a
movement which brings the printed or painted transparent glass with the adver-
tisements or pictures thereon in front or perpendicularly to the lens apparatus.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Garrett Tongue in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
May 1878.
JOHN GARRETT TONGUE, of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck, Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR EXHIBITING ADVER-
TISEMENTS AT NIGHT." (A communication from abroad by Jean Marie Auguste
Lacomme and Louis Lefebvre, both of Paris, France.)
This Invention has for its object new and improved means and apparatus for
exhibiting advertisements, names of firms, trade marks, views, or other decorations
at night. These advertisements, views, or decorations are produced or reflected on
the footway or pavement of the streets or principal thoroughfares. For this purpose
apparatus is employed arranged with a combination of achromatic and condensing
lenses, in order to reflect on a magnified scale on the footpath or ground adver-
tisements, names of firms, views, and devices of various kinds.
The combined lenses and illuminating apparatus are placed in the interior of a
lantern, lamp post, or candelabra, in front of buildings or establishments, and the
apparatus is arranged in order to reflect upon the footpath, ground, or pavement,
and exhibit to the view of the public in passing the luminous image or advertise-
ment reflected upon the ground
Upon a revolving or circular support in the form of a cross or other suitable shape,
a series of advertisements or views on transparent glass is mounted, this revolving
support is caused to revolve by means of clockwork or other self-acting apparatus,
so as to bring the advertisement printed, painted, or photographed upon the trans-
parent glass in successive position with the reflecting lens apparatus. An intermittent
movement is imparted every two, five, or more minutes, by which the advertise-
ments or views are exhibited by reflection upon the ground until another takes
place, and so on.
And in order that this Invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into practice. I will proceed to describe the Drawings annexed

page_text: upon the ground or pavement; O represents the footpath or pavement of streets or
thoroughfares.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention communicated to me, and the
manner of performing or carrying the same into practice, I would remark that I am
aware that it has before been proposed to exhibit an advertisement or image upon
the pavement in a similar manner to that previously eescribed, but no means of
changing such image automatically has been employed, and what I claim under the
above in part recited Letters Patent is, the improved means and apparatus for
exhibiting a series of advertisements at night, whereby each advertisement is
exhibited in succession by automatic or self-acting apparatus, being lighted by gas,
electricity, or other suitable light, substantially in the manner herein-before described,
and represented in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Garrett Tongue, have hereunto_set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
TORN CARRETT TONGUE G