A NEW TRAVELLING BUILDING FOR A CIRCUS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Henry Keith, Circus Proprietor, at present
residing at Bradford, in the county of York, for an Invention of "A NEW
TRAVELLING BUILDING FOR A CIRCUS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Henry Keith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th February 1882.
CHARLES HENRY KEITH, Circus Proprietor, at present residing at Bradford in
the County of York. "A NEW TRAVELLING BUILDING FOR A CIRCUS."
My said Invention has for object, the construction of a travelling Building
forming a circus, whereby the circus when not in use may be separated in sections
forming vehicles which can be taken from place to place either by horses or other
means and formed into a building for a circus in a short time.
Heretofore the practice has been for a circus proprietor to have crected at each
place he stops at a wooden Building or circus which is costly and takes several
weeks to erect; the circus proprietor is therefore obliged to stop at each place a
certain time to recoup the cost of the building and such buildings when done with
arc. often sold for a very small suin of money compared with the cost of the same.
I construct my travelling building by preference of ten vehicles each vehicle
being made fifteen feet in length and seven feet six inches in width and having
the side to be placed within the circle seven feet six inches in height and the other
side six feet in height thus giving a sloping roof; the vehicles when a circus is
formed are placed within a circle eighty five feet in diameter, but it is obvious
that the circus can be formed in a circle larger or smaller and that more or less
than ten vehicles can be employed and the dimensions given of the vehicles may
be altered according to requirements.
Spaces are left between the vehicles some of which are used for the entrance
and exit of the horses etc. and a space is left in front to which is fitted a portico
which is made in sections and can be removed in the vehicles when the circus is
taken away; other moveable buildings can also be made in sections for the horses
and for the use of the performers,

page_text: The vehicles are by preference made of wood and secured together with strong
wrought iron bolts and they are fitted with springs, bearers, axles and wheels in
the usual manner; the side of the vehicle which measures seven feet six inches is
made moveable and with a strong frame covered with planks; the bottom part is
fitted with hinges as also is the bottom frame of the vehicle; through these hinges
is passed a strong bolt so that the moveable side is lowered to the ground and
takes an angular or sloping position, the inside of the side is fitted with rows of
seats which when the side is closed on the vehicle, aro shut in and the side is kept
secured in position when closed by a bolt, the ends of the vehicles are also made
moveable and used to close the openings between the vehicles except those
required to be left open; moveable boards fitted with seats are fitted in a slanting
position to the ground and close the openings; when the sides to which the seat
boards are fitted have been lowered, the end boards removed and slanting covers
placed over the spaces between the vehicle tops a free passage is left through the
vehicles forming the promenade, and at the back of the vehicles are fitted shutters
which, when a circus is formed, are lowered enclosing the wheels; these shutters
are secured in position and fitted with boards which enclose the openings between
the vehicles, and doors are provided to close up the circus when required.
The vehicles forming the travelling building, when arrived at a desired place,
are brought to their several positions, the shutters at the back are lowered, the
shafts removed from the vehicles and the sides and seats lowered to the ground;
the openings are then closed in and the circus formed; then a ring for the
performers is fitted on the ground, a stout pole fitted in the centre and a cover
made of any suitable material secured on the top of the pole and brought to the
top's of the vehicles by means of ropes which are passed through strong rings fitted
to the frames of the roofs; quarter poles may be employed to steady the cover;
seats may be placed between the slanting seats and the ring, which seats are
placed in the vehicles when travelling.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Henry Keith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th August 1882.
CHARLES HENRY KEITH, Circus Proprietor, at present residing at Bradford in
the county of York. "A NEW TRAVELLING BUILDING FOR A CIRCUS."
The said invention has for object, the construction of a travelling building
forming a circus, whereby the circus when not in use may be separated into
sections forming vehicles which can be taken from place to place either by horses
or other means, and formed into a building for a circus in a short time.
Heretofore the practice has been for a circus proprietor to erect at each place he
stops at a wooden building or circus which is costly and takes several weeks to
erect; the circus proprietor is therefore obliged to stop at each place a certain time
to recoup the cost of the building and such buildings when done with being often
sold for a very small sum of money compared with the cost of the same.
I construct my travelling building by preference with ten vehicles each vehicle
being made fifteen feet in length, seven feet six inches in width and having the
side to be placed within the circle seven feet six inches in height and the other
side six feet in height thus giving a sloping roof; the vehicles when a circus is
formed are placed within a circle eighty five feet in diameter; but it is obvious
that the circus can be formed in a circle larger or smaller and that more or less
than ten vehicles can be employed and the dimensions given of the vehicles may
be altered according to requirements.
The vehicles having been placed in the circle, spaces are left between the vehicles
some of which are used for the entrance and exit of the horses, etc., and a space is
left in front to which is fitted a portico which is made in sections and can be
removed in the vehicles when the circus is taken away; other movable buildings
can also be made in sections for the horses and for the use of the performers.
The vehicles are by preference made of wood and secured together with strong
wrought iron bolts and they are fitted with springs, bearers, axles, and wheels in
the usual manner; the side of the vehicle which ineasures seven feet six inches is
made movable and with a strong frame covered with planks; the bottom part is fitted
with hinges as also is the bottom frame of the vehicle; through these hinges is
passed a strong bolt so that the movable side is lowered to the ground and takes
an angular or sloping position; the inside of the side is fitted with rows of seats
which when the side is closed on the vehicle are shut in and the side is kept
secured in position when closed by a bolt; the ends of the vehicles are also made
movable and serve to close the openings between the vehicles except those
required to be left open; movable boards fitted with seats are fitted in a slanting
position to the ground and close the openings; when the sides to which the seat
boards are fitted have been lowered the end boards removed and slanting covers
placed over the spaces between the vehicle tops, a free passage is left through the
vehicles forming the promenade, and at the back of the vehicles are fitted shutters
which when a circus is formed are lowered and enclose the wheels; these shutters
are secured in position and fitted with boards which enclose the openings between
the vehicles, and doors are provided to close up the circus when required.
The vehicles forming the travelling building when arrived at a desired place are
brought to their several positions, the shutters at the back are lowered, the shafts
removed from the vehicles and the sides and seats lowered to the ground; the
openings are then closed in and the circus formed, then a ring for the performers
is fitted on the ground, a stout pole fitted in the centre and a cover made of any

page_text: suitable material secured in the top of the pole and brought to the tops of the
vehicles by means of ropes which are passed through strong rings fitted to the
frames of the roofs; quarter poles may be employed to steady the cover; seats may
be placed between the slanting seats and the ring which seats are placed in the
vehicles when travelling.
But in order to enable my improvements to be better understood I will proceed
to describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which figure 1,
sheet 1, represents a block plan of my improved travelling building forming a
circus.
: 'Figure Sheet 2, represents a side elevation of one of the vehicles or carriages
with frame ends removed and with movable side having the seats lowered and
figure 3, represents a front elevation with the movable side partly shewn and
lowered and also with part of the movable side removed to shew the wheel and
spring.
Similar letters of reference are employed to represent similar parts.
A, A, A, are vehicles which are made by preference about fifteen feet in length
seven feet six inches in width and with the front sides B, seven feet six inches in
height and the sides C, at the back six feet in height for giving a sloping roof D.
Ten of these vehicles are employed and placed in a circle of eighty five feet in
diameter, but the dimensions of the vehicles can be varied; the number of vehicles
employed may be more or less and the diameter of the circle altered according to
circumstances and requirements.
The vehicles having been placed in the circle spaces are left on each side of the
entrance or portico and the passage for the horses and performers; these spaces are
fitted with movable boards E, and F; the boards F take a slanting position and
ȧre fitted with seats G, and when the doors of the ends of the vehicles are removed
they leave an open space within the carriages between each side of the portico and
passage for the horses and perforiners and thus form promenades; the end doors of
the vehicles when a circus is formed are employed to fit over the spaces between
the vehicles and form the roof over such spaces. When the vehicles have been
placed in position within the desired circle, the front doors H, of the vehicles are
lowered and brought into a slanting position which brings the seats I, which are
secured to the doors into position for the use of the public and the doors are fitted
with foot boards J; the front doors are made with strong frames to which are
secured planks K, and the doors work on hinges L, fitted to the bottom frame work
of the vehicles and to the frame of the doors.
A. portico M, made in sections is fitted to the building for the entrance of the
public and for the pay office; also several buildings N made in sections are erected
for the use of the performers and the horses; movable seats B' are fitted within the
space left between the slanting doors and the ring P which ring is also made in
sections and fitted in the ground, and an entrance fitted with doors Q, is made for
the entrance and exit of the horses and performers; all these buildings are easily
taken down when the circus is to be moved and placed within the vehicles.
The vehicles are by preference made of wood, but other suitable materials may
be used and the framework of each vehicle is strongly secured together by strong
iron plates R and bolts, and the bottom or foundation frame of each vehicle is fitted
with springs S, axles T, and wheels U, also with shafts and the usual fittings, the
shafts are removed and placed under the vehicles when the circus is formed;
seats V are also. secured within the vehicles for the use of the public using the
promenades; the back of each vehicle is made with a strong frame work W, to
which are secured the planks X, and the front of each vehicle is made with strong
posts Y and rails Z; shutters A¹, are fitted to the outside of the carriages or
vehicles which are lowered when the circus is formed and boards are secured in the
outside spaces between the vehicles which close in the lower part of the circus or
building.
A stout pole is fitted in the centre of the building and a cover made of any
suitable material is secured to the top of the pole and is brought to the tops of

page_text: the slanting roofs of the vehicles and secured thereto by ropes which are passed
through rings fitted to the frame work of the roofs; I also employ quarter poles to
steady the cover..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed and carried out in
practice, I wish it to be understood that what I claim is :-
Firstly. The construction and use, as herein described of a travelling building
forming a circus, whereby the circus when not in use may be separated into
sections, and the vehicles or carriages can be taken from place to place and the
vehicles and sections formed into a building for a circus in a short time; substantially
by the means and in the manner hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
Secondly. The construction and employment of the vehicles or carriages, sub-
stantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, of the
accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Charles Henry Keith have hereto set my
band and seal this 31st day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness
JOSEPH SMITH.
CHARLES HENRY KEITH. (LS.)