A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS OR DEVICE FOR PRODUCING THEATRICAL OR STAGE ILLUSIONS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT
to George Tanner and George Parkes, both of
Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, Theatrical Performers, for the
Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS OR DEVICE FOR PRODUCING
THEATRICAL OR STAGE ILLUSIONS."
Sealed the 17th July 1866, and dated the 20th January 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Tanner and
George Parkes at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 20th January 1866.
We, GEORGE TANNER and GEORGE PARKES. both of Lambeth. in the
County of Surrey, Theatrical Performers, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS OR DEVICE FOR
PRODUCING THEATRICAL OR STAGE ILLUSIONS," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists in the employment of a series of wires, colored
as practice or fancy may dictate, and extended by preference somewhat
loosely between frames. The top frame, for example (supposing the
frames to be set. horizontally), is suspended from the top opper part of
the stage or proscenium with the colored wires depending herefrom, and
a frame similar to the other frame at bottom. By throwing a powerful light
such as that produced by the lime light on the colored wires, and by
communicating a vibratory motion to the said wires, a novel and most
beautiful effect is produced. Sometimes we cause the top frame to rotate
either by hand or mechanical means, and thereby still further enhance the
Price Sd.1

page_text: effect. We do not limit ourselves to the colors of the wires or to the
material of which they are composed, and in some cases we find it
advantageous to combine spanglés or other devices with the said wires.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent.
filed by the said George Tanner and George Parkes in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 19th July 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE
TANNER and GEORGE PARKES, both of Lambeth, in the County of Surrey,
Theatrical Performers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth
year of Her reign. did. for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us. the said George Tanner and George Parkes, Her special
licence that we, the said George Tanner and George Parkes, our executors.
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we. the said George Tanner and
George Parkes, our executors. administrators, and assigns. should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise. and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A NEW
OR IMPROVED APPARATUS OR DEVICE FOR PRODUCING THEATRICAL OR STAGE ILLU-
BIONS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said George
Tanner and George Parkes, our executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, thai we, the said George Tanner and George Parkes,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement and the Drawings therein referred to
(that is to say)—
Our Invention has reference to the production of a novel and beautiful
theatrical or stage illusion intended to represent a fall or shower of water

page_text: or other similar effect, and consists in the employment of a series of bright
or burnished wires (preference being given to that known as wire flatting)
coloured as may be found desirable in practice or fancy, the said wires
being extended between and secured to frames or battens fitted or arranged
in such manner as to admit of a vibratory or tremulous motion being
communicated to the apparatus, whilst a powerful light. such as the lime
light, is thrown or directed on to the front of the said wires, whereby the
appearance of falling water is produced.
In order that this our said Invention may be more clearly understood
and readily carried into practice we have filed herewith a Sheet of
Drawings, with the aid of which and of the letters and figures thereon
marked we now proceed to describe the same in detail (that is to say):-
Fig. represents a front view of the apparatus composed of two sets of
frames and wires; Fig. 2, a top or plan view thereof: Fig. 3, a front view
of a modification of the apparatus to be employed when it is desirable
to enclose or surround a figure or device: and Fig. 4. a top or plan
view of the same. The same letters of reference in each Figure denote
corresponding parts.
A. A. the frames or battens: B. B. beams to which the upper frame is
secured; C, C, lines for connecting the frames together; D, D, the wires,
those represented by the dotted lines being secured to the back battens;-
E. E, tapes secured to the battens by means of tacks or otherwise; F. F.
ties or loops fastened to the tapes for the purpose of attaching the wires
to the apparatus. The upper frames or battens are to be affixed in any
ordinary manner to a beam or other convenient part of the stage or theatre.
the lower frames being left loose: on a vibratory or tremulous motion
being communicated as above mentioned (by hand or otherwise) to the
apparatus through the medium of the lower batten, the lime light or
otherwise being at the same time thrown or directed on to the wires, an
appearance greatly resembling a fall or shower of water will be produced.
Although we have shown in Figs. 1 and 2 two sets only of frames and wires.
any other number that may be found desirable may be employed in like
manner; also motion may be communicated otherwise than by shaking
the lower batten, as, for instance, in the case of circular frames, as repre-
sented at Figs. 3 and 4, a rotary movement may be given to both the
upper and lower battens. In place of the lower batien a roller may be
employed, so as to enable the apparatus to be raised or lowered in like
manner to the curtain or drop scene of a theatre, and any suitable means
may be used in lieu of the tapes and ties for securing the wires to the

page_text: baitens. In some cases where it is not necessary for the shower in pro
duce a transparent or semi-transparent effect. the wires may be arranged
in a series of endless bands, and by causing an endless band of canvass
painted or coloured to represent water to revolve beneath the same still
further increase the effect. The wires may be coloured in any device or
design sometimes we colour them in an arched or rainbow form; and we
may also combine spangles or other ornaments with the wires with
advantage, or the wires and baitens may be curved instead of flat, as
represented at Figs. 1 and 2. The upper battens and connecting lines
may be hidden from the view of the audience by the apparatus being
constructed of such dimensions as to enable the same to be placed or
arranged behind the side and upper portions of the proscenium, whilst
the lower batten may be concealed by a ground screen or other suitable
contrivance.
Having now described the nature of this our said Juvention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed and carried into effect, we
would have it clearly understood that we do not confine ourselves to the
precise details herein-before described, as the same may be varied without.
departing from the general principle of this our said Invention: but that
which we do claim as new and of our said Invention is, the production of
the effect of a fall or shower of water by the employment of a series of
wires in motion in connection with the use of a powerful light, in the
manner and for the purposes herein-before set forth and described.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Tanner and George Parkes.
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Nineteenth day of July.
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
CEORCE TANNED