Improved Combination Firing Register Holder and Aim Indicator.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 28th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 30th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Combination Firing Register Holder and Aim Indicator.
ALFRED GRANVILLE BALFOUR, Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion Highland
Light Infantry, Naval & Military Club 94 Piccadilly London do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in holders for registers such as are
generally employed for scoring at target practice, combined with an improved aim
indicator for indicating at what portion of the target the rifle or gun should be
aimed under varying conditions.
According to my invention the apparatus consists of a flat case of wood, metal,
or other suitable material with a suitably hinged lid which can be held open at any
desired angle by means of a suitable hook or clamping arm at the side.
In the lower half of the case the register, which is printed on a card or piece of
paper, is held by means of a frame of wood, metal, or other suitable material whic!
nips the edge of the register all round, the frame being conveniently hinged or
otherwise suitably secured.
On the interior of the lid are arranged small scale representations of the several
forms of targets in use, arranged with a pivoted arm of metal or other suitable
material furnished with a sliding disc or other indicating piece. By rotating the
arm and clamping it in the requisite position by means of a nut with which the
pivot is furnished, and by sliding the disc up or down the arm, the disc can be
placed over any portion of any one of the facsimile targets, the instructor being
thus enabled to indicate clearly to the firer the exact spot on the target that is
being fired at at which he is to aim.
Slides for holding memorandum cards, and printed regulations as to firing may
also conveniently be fixed in the interior of the lid.
Dated this 21st day of June 1890.
ALFRED G. BALFOUR.
Lt. 71st H.L.I.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Combination Firing Register Holder and Aim Indicator.
I, ALFRED GRANVILLE BALFOUR of 94 Piccadilly, London, W. Captain in
H.M. 1st Highland Light Infantry 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in holders for registers, such as are
generally employed for scoring at target practice, with which is combined an
improved aim indicator, the object of which is, that the instructor or officer
marking, or registering the scores, may be able to indicate to the man firing, by
means of the apparatus forming the subject of my invention, at what part of the
target the aim should be taken, to insure the best results, under varying conditions,
such for instance, as a strong wind blowing in a certain direction.
The apparatus according to my invention consists of a flat case, or box, which
may be made of wood, metal, or other suitable material, provided with a lid, hinged,
or otherwise connected thereto, and capable of being held open at any desired angle,
upon which is fastened a miniature representation of the target, or targets being
fired at, and provided with an adjustable indicator, for pointing to any spot

page_text: upon said miniature targets, to indicate a similar spot upon the target, or targets
proper.
In order that my invention and the manner of operating the same may be fully
understood I have appended the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a representation of the miniature targets (drawn to about half the
actual size) which are pasted, or otherwise fixed, inside the lid of the case, also
shewing the position, and formation of the adjustable pointer, or indicator.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the entire apparatus, open as when in use.
In carrying my invention into effect construct a flat case of any suitable
material, the bottom of which A, is provided with a slightly raised ridge, or rim 13,
upon its upper surface. To the bottom A, is hinged, or otherwise attached, the
lid C, provided with a rim D, capable of enclosing the rim B, when the lid is closed
upon A.
Within the bottom of A. is placed the paper, or card E, upon which the
scoring of the firing is recorded, and this is held in position by a flat frame F, of
any suitable material, hinged or otherwise connected to A, within, or upon, the
ridge, or rim B, preferably at the side nearest the lid C. The frame F is shewn
in Fig. 2 raised from E in order to the better illustrate its attachment to A, and
would be raised in a similar manner when E is being placed in position, and when F
is shut down upon E, and within B, may be held in that position by means of a
button a, or other suitable device, a space being left in B for that purpose.
Upon the inside of the lid C, at or about the centre thereof, I provide a fixed
stud, upon which I form a fine screw thread, and upon this is pivotted the adjustable
pointer, or indicator, to be presently more particularly described. Within the
lid C, I paste, or otherwise fix, a paper, or card G, upon which is printed, or other-
wise shewn, a miniature representation of the several forms of targets in use, and
being fired at, and these represent in outline the head and shoulders of a man, a
man, or a row of men, according to the length of the range and other conditions of
firing. A suitable hole is formed in G through which passes the screwed stud
previously mentioned. A pointer, or indicator H, provided with a slot b, is
mounted upon said stud, and held in any desired position by means of a thumb nut,
or the like c, screwed upon the stud. Upon the narrow part of the pointer H, I
mount a sliding disc, or other indicating piece d, capable of being placed, and
retained, in any position thereon. The pointer, or indicator H being pivotted upon
the fixed stud by means of the slot b, may be shortened, or lengthened at will, so as
to reach any part of G desired, and by this means the sliding disc d may be
brought to clearly indicate upon G, to the man firing, the exact spot upon the
target proper that the instructor may deem it advisable, or best, under the then
existing circumstances, that the aim should be made at, with the rifle, or gun being
used. Fig. 1 clearly illustrates the card, or paper G, and the pointer, or
indicator H, and d.
Upon the inside of the lid C, I provide two, or more slides, or cases e, which may
be used for holding memorandum cards, or printed regulations as to firing, or for
the safe keeping of a pencil, or for any other purpose for which they may be found
useful. The lid C may be held at any desired angle relatively to A, by means of
a suitable hook, or clamping arm, hinged, or otherwise attached to A, and
engaging with studs, or pins gupon C, or any other means by which the same end may
be obtained. Upon each end of A I form a slot, or other suitable device h, to which
may be attached a strap, or the like, and this passing over and under the shoulders of
the score recorder, or instructor, the apparatus may be borne in the position of a desk
when in use, and carried suspended at the side when closed. A suitable catch, or
lock upon C, may be employed to hold the apparatus together when closed.
The instructor from long experience of the various conditions under which target
practice, or other use of the rifle, or gun is carried out, knows exactly where the
aim should be taken to attain the result required, and hitherto his instructions have
been limited to such remarks as "more to the right," "more to the left," "higher,"
or "lower," as the case may be, but by means of the apparatus forming the subject
of my invention, the instructor, or recorder of the scores, is able to clearly

page_text: demonstrate to the man firing, the very spot upon the target upon which the aim
should be taken, by manipulating H and d, until d shews the exact spot upon G,
and when the shot is fired the result is recorded upon E, thereby rendering
my said invention invaluable alike to the instructor and the instructed.
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.
In an improved combination firing register holder, and aim indicator, the con-
struction and use of the entire apparatus, substantially as and for the purposes
herein described, and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 974h done at Wahm 1001
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.