A New Scenic Effect for Theatres, Concert Halls, and other Places
Year: 1889

page_text: Dite of Application, 21st Mar., 1889
Complate Specification Left 21st Dec. 1889-Accented. 25th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New Scenic Effect for Theatres, Concert Halls, and other Places.
ALFRED JOSEPH SHORT Tinner and Inventor of Theatrical Novelties, 51 Brearley
Street in the City of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick do hereby declare the.
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention for an apparatus to be employed in theatrical performances and in
a novel scenic effect, consisting of a construction representing a house, and in the
opening and closing of the windows &c. in the said house, the said windows &c. to be
so constructed as to open and close by springs connected to suitable bolts and levers,
and to open at once by the release of the said springs by the said levers and bolts.
The purpose of this being to represent an explosion, the noise being made by a
suitable detonating contrivance; and by means of colored fire will (after the explosion
and opening of the windows &c. represent the house on fire.
Date : 10th day of Man 1880
ALFRED JOSEPH SHORT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New Scenic Effect for Theatres, Concert Halls, and other Places.
ALFRED JOSEPH SHORT, Tinner and Inventor of Theatrical Novelties, 51 Brearley
Street in the. City of Birmingham in the County of Warwick, 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 :-
A construction representing a house or building and in the opening and closing of
the windows, doors, and any other parts of the said house or building necessary to
represent an explosion, and the effects produced by an explosion, the said windows,
doors &c. to be so constructed as to open and close by means of India rubber or other
springs connected to suitable bolts and levers, and all to open at one and the same
time, or otherwise by the release of the said springs by the said levers and bolts.
The said new scenic effect may be used either in a theatre, concert hall or other
place, or in the open air.
The windows, doors, and other movable parts are locked or secured by means of
swing bolts A & A in the accompanying drawings, fixed on rods B the ends of which
are bent and have a hole made in the bent ends so as to join to each other by means
of a cotter, pin, or screw C.
Fixed on to rods B are catches D which are held in position by swing bars E
working on a pin in the centre, these are joined together at one end by another
bar F, at the free end of one of the swing bars E is attached a lever G G by means of
a hook and eye, or other suitable arrangement: the swing bolts A & A' are joined
together by springs, (either india rubber, spiral, or other) which when windows, doors,
and other movable parts are closed, are stretched out, attached to windows, doors,
and other movable parts are springs K (either india rubber, spiral or other)
which are fixed to fastenings I, which when windows, doors &c. are closed, are
stretched out.
Upon pulling lever G G along slide L bar E is pulled over, drawing with it
bars F&E, this causes springs H to be released, which in contracting draw
together A & A¹. Upon the release of the windows, doors and other movable parts,
the springs K suddenly pull the whole of the movable parts open, which occurring at
the same time that an explosion is caused by means of gunpowder or any other
detonating agency being discharged either by means of a match, percussion, or elec-
tricity, will make it appear as if an explosion had taken place.

page_text: Movable parts include any parts of the house or building made movable for the
purpose of the better portraying an explosion and the effects produced by an
explosion.
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 opening and closing of the windows, doors, and any other parts necessary to
represent an explosion and the effects produced by an explosion.
Dated this 19th day of December 1889.
ALFRED JOSEPH SHORT.