IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF- · REGISTERING TARGETS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Beard, of Bury St. Edmunds, in the County of
Suffolk, one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the Borough of Bury
St. Edmunds aforesaid, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-
· REGISTERING TARGETS."
Sealed the 8th November 1878, and dated the 12th August 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Beard at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th August 1878.
CHARLES BEARD, of Bury St. Edmunds, in the County of Suffolk, one of Her
Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the Borough of Bury St. Edmunds aforesaid.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-REGISTERING TARGETS."
The object of my Invention is to construct target apparatus in such manner as to
expose to the marksman a disc or target of paper or other suitable material, and
when this disc or target is struck it is changed automatically for a fresh target,
whilst the target which has received the shot is retained as a record of the shot,
and can be removed from the instrument whenever it is required for inspection.
The apparatus is contained within a casing in which there is an opening of the
size of the disc or target it is desired to expose, and within the casing there is a
roller. The paper or material is made in a long length and is progressively wound
forward by the roller, and so made to pass the opening in the casing already men-
tioned. Immediately behind the opening a plate is arranged, but the paper or
material passes in front of the plate. Each shot which strikes within the area of
the opening thus perforates the paper or material and strikes the plate, which latter
it forces back sufficiently to release a detent and allow the roller to turn under the
influence of a weight or spring. The paper or material is thus drawn forward for
a length sufficient to change one target for another. When it is desired to examine
the record, the roller may be removed from the casing.

page_text: Figure 1 is an elevation of the target ready for use; Figure 2 is an elevation of
the same with the case containing the mechanism turned back or away from the
shield plate; Figure 3 is a back elevation with the door at the back of the case
open.
A represents the metal front or shield plate, and shows the aperture to the target
plate within a case or box at the back of the shield plate; B, the disc or bull's eye,
which is made of paper or other material and hangs immediately in front of the
target plate (2), and behind the aperture in the shield plate A. The shot or
projectile passing through the aperture records on the disc the exact number of
perforations made in transit to the target.
The target plate (2) on being struck is moved backward by the force of the shot
and releases a catch on the roller (3); a spring at the back of the target plate forces
it back into position, the roller making a revolution presenting to the operator a
fresh disc.
The discs may be colored or otherwise marked.
The shooting may be repeated until the sheet containing the discs is shot off; it
can then be removed for inspection, and a fresh sheet fastened upon the roller by a
spring clip (4).
No. 1 is the aperture in front of the target plate.
No. 2 is the target plate, which is fixed to the arm No. 5, jointed at A, A.
C, C, is a stop fixed on the target plate, which prevents the roller passing beyond
the required distance.
No. 3 is the roller around which the sheets with the discs are passed, with a stop
at the end.
No. 4 is the spring clip which holds the sheet in position on the roller.
No. 5 is the jointed arm to support the target plate.
37

page_text: No. 7 is a spring clip to keep the sheet in position in passing up and down the
rod; the weight of this clip causes the roller to turn when released.
No. 8 is an external winch to wind the sheet upon the roller.
No. 9 is a repository box for sheets with discs, plain or figured.
D represents a box at the back of the target containing the registering hand and
a graduated scale which records the exact force with which the target plate is
struck. A pin or punch is fastened in the target plate which, when the target
plate recedes, strikes the recording hand, moves it a distance along the scale
corresponding to the motion given to the target plate by the shot, and there leaves
it until it is replaced by the operator.
B, B, is a coupling which allows the arm to move backwards and forwards, and
keeps the target plate and arm in an apright position.
The target A can be made suitable for military or other gun practice.
It will be seen that my Invention is well calculated to facilitate and attract
practical and scientific shooting, and encourage scientific competition among rifle or
ball practitioners, and also among sporting gentlemen.
The self-registering testing target not only records the force with which the
target is struck but also records upon the dise the exact spot where the shot or ball
pierced in transit to the moveable target.
I distinctly claim as my Invention, collectively and in combination, the following
parts.
1. The front or shield plate with an aperture not exceeding the size of the target
plate.
2. The moveable sheet with the roller and clip, with a catch or stop at the end
of the roller.
3. The moveable target plate with jointed arm and stop catch attached thereto.
I make no claim to the separate parts.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Beard, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
C. BEARD. (L.S.)