An improved mode of Obtaining and other Representations.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1886.
Complete Left, 17th Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 1st Feb., 1887.
-
An improved mode of Obtaining
and other Representations.
I JOSEPH BUATIER of the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, London, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to effect the appearance or disappearance of a real
person or object for theatrical and other representations, instead of the mere reflected
image of the person or object, as heretofore, and the invention consists in the mode by
which I obtain this illusion.
In carrying out my invention, I take advantage of an optical illusion due to the
uniform shade of color of the side walls, the back, the ceiling, and the floor of the
chamber or scene, in or on which the trick is to be performed.
The material with which the walls, back, ceiling, and floor are covered, will be, by
preference, black velvet, as this material reflects light the least, but I do not confine
myself either to this material or color.
The back of the scene is made movable, and owing to its dark color, and that of its
surroundings, it may be advanced or withdrawn without any movement being
apparent to the audience, notwithstanding the light which is thrown upon the room or
scene.
In the movable back will be formed an opening or openings, which will be closed
by doors or shutters. These doors will be so hung or supported that they may open
and close quickly and silently, and the opening or closing may be effected by hand, or
by any suitable mechanical means.
At some distance behind the back, and secured thereto, is placed a screen, covered
with the same material as the back, and between which and the back the person or
object to appear or disappear is placed.
During the performance of the trick, the back will be caused to advance, and at a
given signal, the doors will be thrown open and the subject exposed to view. The
back will then be withdrawn to its normal position, and the subject, if a person, can
walk freely about the room or scene. To cause the disappearance, the back will be

page_text: again advanced, and when the subject is placed in position, the doors will be suddenly
closed, and the back again withdrawn.
Instead of placing the screen behind the back, it may be placed in front, or a series
of screens may be used which, at a given moment, will be raised, lowered, pushed on
one side, or otherwise manipulated to expose or cover the subject.
Or the subject may be covered with a costume or curtain of the dark material, which
will be withdrawn suddenly in any convenient manner.
Or in place of an inanimate screen, an animate screen may be used, in the shape of
a person clothed in a dress of the same colored material.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Mode of Obtaining Visible Illusions for Theatrical
and other Representations.
I JOSEPH BUATIER of the Egyptain Hall Piccadilly, London Gentleman 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 :-
The object of this invention is to cause the bodily presentation of a person or object
or the disappearance of the same for theatrical and other representations instead of the
mere reflected image of the person or object as heretofore and the invention consists
in the mode by which I produce these effects.
In carrying out my invention I create a optical illusion which is due to the uniform
shade of colour of the side walls, the back, the ceiling and the floor of the chamber or
scene in or on which the performance is to take place.
This optical illusion consists in rendering the eye powerless to discern or appreciate
differences in the planes of the scene presented to view, owing to the uniformity of
color of the scene.
The material with which the walls back ceiling and floor are covered will be by
preference black velvet as this material is a bad reflector of light but I do not confine
myself either to this material or colour. For example I may use paper or painted
canvas as the material and violet, red, and even white for the colour taking care that
the surface is an absorbent and not a reflector of light.
The back of the scene may be made movable and owing to its uniformity of colour
with that of its surroundings it may be advanced or withdrawn without any movement

page_text: being apparent to the audience notwithstanding that a brilliant direct light suitable for
illuminating the object to be presented to view is thrown upon the room or scene.
In the movable back will be formed an opening or openings which may be closed
by doors or shutters. The doors will be so hung or supported that they will open and
close quickly and silently and the opening or closing may be effected by hand or by
any suitable mechanical means. In some cases I propose to close the opening by a
curtain or screen of the same material as the back so cut or divided vertically and
horizontally in one or more places as to permit of the subject passing through and
then regain its normal state. The cut portions being arranged to overlap so that the
subject may not be seen either before the appearance or after the disappearance.
At some distance behind the movable scene and in a line with the central opening
therein is secured a screen covered with the same material in front of which the
person or object to appear or disappear is placed. This screen completes the back
ground for the figure when the door or curtains hiding the figure are opened or with-
drawn and it will advance with the scene so as to present the figure to view and effect
its dis-appearance at any required depth of the stage.
This principle it will be obvious is susceptible of various modifications some of which
will be hereafter referred to.
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a diagram plan of the simplest form of
apparatus which I employ in carrying out my invention.
A is the back scene which in this case is a fixture and B B are the side walls.
CC are hinged flaps or flys which stand out from the side walls and are capable
of being drawn back as shown at C¹ for the purpose to be presently explained.
The whole of the surface of the scene presented to view is covered by a uniform
color for the purpose already explained.
Behind the flap C the subject is placed so as to be hidden from the view of the
audience and at such a distance from the flap as to allow of the flap being thrown
back to the drawn position of Cor close to the side wall. When this movement is
rapidly effected the figure will suddenly appear before the spectator without the least
indication of movement of the apparatus.
The like effect may be produced at both sides of the stage either together or at
different periods of the performance and the disappearance may as rapidly be effected
by the advance of the flaps so soon as the figures have moved beyond the line of vision
limited by the opened flaps.
Fig. 2 shows in diagram plan the arrangement which I adopt for advancing and
retracting the back scene. Fig. 3 is a front elevation and Fig. 4 a side elevation
showing the moveable framework for the same.
D is a rectangular framing which extends across the stage to the side walls and is
supported in a vertical position by back stays E which connect it with horizontal
bars F on which the framing is set up.
These bars are fitted with rollers G which allow of the framing being moved forward
or drawn back as required.
In the centre of the framing is a doorway which may be closed with doors or cur-
tains. In the rear of this doorway and carried by the frame is a screen H which may
be either rigid or a simple curtain its object being to complete the back ground of the
scene when the doorway is open.
The apparition to be presented to view is set between the screen and the doors as
shown by the circle in the drawing and as the scene is advanced as indicated by the
dotted lines in Fig. 2 the Figure will advance with it.
When the apparition is presented to view the scene will be retracted leaving the
stage clear for the movements of the apparition.
When the disappearance of the apparition is to take place the scene will be advanced
to receive the Figure within the doorway and the doorway being then suddenly closed
the disappearance of the Figure will be effected.
Fig. 3 shews a modification of the way just described of working the back scene.
In this case the back scene is suspended from carriages II running freely upon
guiding and supporting rods K which are out of sight of the spectators the traverse

page_text: of the back scene in either direction may be effected by cords led over fixed guide
pulleys arranged in any convenient manner such cords being conveniently provided
with counterweights for securing the even movement of the back scene.
In all cases whatever may be the modification adopted the surface presented to view
must have the requirements above stated in respect to the absorption of light.
In place of giving mobility to the scene the subject to be presented to view may be
covered with a garment or curtain of the material corresponding in color to the back
scene which garment or curtain may be withdrawn suddenly in any convenient
manner, or a screen may be attached to the back of an article of furniture say a table,
to hide a performer who at a given signal will place a vase or other article suddenly
on the table,-
,-or a series of screens may be used one or more of which at a given
moment may be lowered, raised, slidden to one side or otherwise manipulated to expose
or cover the subject.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
As an improved mode of obtaining visible illusions for theatrical and other repre-
sentations the use of light absorbing surfaces arranged as above described for
neutralizing the judgement of the eye in respect of distance and thereby permitting
of the sudden presentation to view and the removal from view of persons or other
objects brought upon the stage.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.