Improvements in Apparatus for Showing the Illusions Produced by Persistence of Vision to Large Audiences.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 11th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 29th Mar.. 1890
MOITIATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Showing the Illusions Produced by
Persistence of Vision to Large Audiences.
I, ERIC STUART BRUCE, Gentleman 10 Observatory Avenue Kensington London W.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A narrow lathe of wood about an inch wide is made to revolve rapidly by means of an
electric motor, the effect being an almost invisible haze.
lathe is placed in the path of the rays of light proceeding from an optical projection
But when the revolving
lantern in which there is placed a transparent picture the image is apparently cast
upon the air. In reality portions only of the image are cast upon the revolving
plane in such rapid succession that they are united into the perfect whole by the
rententive action of the retina of the eye.
Dated this 11th day of ML. 1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Showing the Illusions Produced by
Persistence of Vision to Large Audiences.
I ERIC STUART BRUCE Gentleman 10 Observatory Avenue Kensington London W.
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 narrow lathe of wood or other suitable material about an inch wide is made
to revolve rapidly by hand power, an electric motor or other suitable power, the
effect being an almost invisible haze. But when the revolving lathe is placed in the
path of the rays of light proceeding from an optical projection lantern in which
there is placed a transparent picture the image is apparently cast upon the air. In
reality portions only of the image are cast upon the revolving lathe in such rapid
succession that they are united into the perfect whole by the retentive action of the
retina of the eyc.
In some cases of exhibition it may be desirable to obliterate the second image
which in ordinary circumstances is cast upon the wall or other receiving surface
behind the revolving lathe. This can be conveniently done by placing two sheets of
ribbed glass, of which the exterior surfaces are covered with crumpled sheets of
gelatine preferably of a blue colour behind the centre of the lathe at a suitable angle.
The sheets of glass are supported on a stand which is capable of adjusting the
angle. The second image then falls upon the sheets of glass & is so distorted by
the angular position of the glass & broken up by the crumpled surface of gelatine
that it is practically annihilated.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein fig. 1 shows
a convenient method of revolving the lathe by hand power.
optical projection lantern Fig. 3 the arrangement of glasses for obliterating the
Fig. 2 shows the
second image. The stand A is made of metal, wood or other suitable material.
athe of wood B is attached to the small wheel C worked by the multiplying wheel D.
The lantern E is shown in position as casting the picture upon the lathe.
The
The outer surface of the ribbed glass represented at F is covered with crumpled
gelatine. G shows the adjustable stand.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said, inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what. I
claim is
1. The herein described apparatus for showing. the illusions produced by persistence
of vision consisting of a lathe revolving in the path of rays proceeding from an
optical projection lantern so that the perfect image of the picture in the lantern is
visible to the spectators apparently in mid air, no continuous screen for the reception
of the image being provided or necessary.
2. The herein described apparatus for the obliteration (if required) of the second
image by the absorption, distortion, & irregular reflection produced by the use
of the sheets of ribbed glass covered with crumpled gelatine as shown in the
accompanying drawings.
1:1 Jav of Wohruary 1890.
DIECIN
ERIC STUART BRU
A