Improved Method of and Means for Operating the Colours or Coloured Glasses connected with Lime Lights.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Lelt, 5th July, 1894-Accepted, 11th Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Means for Operating the Colours or
Coloured Glasses connected with Lime Lights.
I, ERNEST SEWELL COOPER of Ivy Cottage, Manchester Road, Milnsbridge,
near Huddersfield, Yorkshire Dyer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
This invention refers to the coloured glasses or plates which are introduced in
front of the lens of the lime box for throwing varied colours upon scenery, persons,
or objects for producing changing and pleasing scenic or coloured effects.
At present the colours or glasses are separate or detached and have to be picked
up by hand one at a time, and introduced into grooves formed in the lime box in
which grooves they are slided into position in front of the lens and lime light.
This manipulation of the glasses in addition to having to attend to the light and
angle of the lime box is a disadvantage, especially when, as is usually the case,
there is but little room for the operator to work in, and frequently the glasses are
let fall and broken; the said glasses are also liable to jam in the grooves when
being slided into position or removed from the box which not only delays the
change from one colour to another but in many cases spoils the effect.
My invention is intended to provide means whereby the glasses or colours can be
placed in front of or removed from the lens with ease and certainty, and without
liability of breakage.
In carrying out my invention I mount the frames or glasses preferably upon
hollow shafts or tubes, one for each glass, said shafts being arranged concentrically
and adapted to work one within the other.
The outer shaft or shell is supported in suitable bearings attached to or formed
on the side of the lime box, and to the opposite ends of the series of shafts
are secured lever arms of different lengths, by which any of the shafts can be
turned round at will. Each lever is provided with a button or stud to form a
handle.
The said buttons may be affixed to studs which are provided with spiral springs
so as to enable them to yield slightly to pressure, and said studs may also answer
as stop pieces to limit the movement of the glasses.
The levers are situated at the rear of the lime box and by moving any of them
round a part of a revolution the glass or colour connected therewith is brought in
front of the lens and limelight and by moving a second lever in the reverse direction
the glass already in front of the lime light is withdrawn, thus, any colour can be
brought into play and removed by the turning of the levers corresponding thereto,
which may be marked or coloured so as to prevent mistakeş.
By this means the glasses are always in position ready for being moved in front
of the lens, and, being secured to the shafts, they are not liable to fall, or get
misplaced in making rapid changes; their action is quick, certain and smooth, and
the operator has much less trouble in making the changes.
A stop piece on the side of the lime box limits the outward movement of the
glasses and the base of the lime box in front of the lens is preferably lined with
india rubber, felt, or other suitable yielding substance or material to form a cushion
or bed for the glasses when moved down in front of the light and to break their
fall if allowed to descend too rapidly.
Instead of hollow shafts working one within the other, solid shafts arranged at
the side of the lime box may be employed and actuated as before described.

page_text: Glasses or plates with views or subjects thereon may be removeable from the
frames which are fast with the shafts so that others can be substituted.
Dated this 3rd day of October 1893.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Market Place, Huddersfield, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Means for Operating the Colours or
Coloured Glasses connected with Lime Lights.
I, ERNEST SEWELL COOPER, of Ivy Cottage, Manchester Road, Milosbridge,
near Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Dyer, 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 :-
This invention refers to the coloured glasses or plates which are introduced in
front of the lens of lime light apparatus or stage lamps for throwing varied colours
upon scenery, persons or objects for producing changing and pleasing scenic or
coloured effects.
At present the coloured films or glasses are separate or detached and have to
be picked up by hand one at a time and introduced into grooves formed in front
of the lime box or lamp in which grooves they are slided into position in frout of
the lens. This manipulation of the glasses by hand, in addition to having to
attend to the light and angle of the box or lamp, is a disadvantage especially
when, as is usually the case, there is but little room for the operator to work in,
and frequently the glasses are let fall and broken; they are also liable to jam
in the grooves when being slided into position or removed from the box, which not
only delays the change from one colour to another, but in many cases spoils the
effect.
My invention is intended to provide means whereby the glasses or films can be
placed in front of or removed from the lens with ease and certainty and without
liability of breakage.
For the purpose of fully describing my invention reference is hereafter had to
the annexed drawings illustrative thereof wherein :-
Fig. 1 is perspective view of an ordinary stage lamp or lime box for lime or
electric light having my improvements applied thereto, and
Fig. 2 is rear elevation of same.
Fig. 3 is a detail of self locking stop pieces connected to each lever for limiting
the outward movement of the coloured films or glasses.
Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a modification of my invention.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
Letter a represents the lime box or stage lamp, 6 the lens to same, and
c, c¹, c³, c³, c* the coloured films or glasses secured in any suitable manner in
frames d, d', d, d³, d, but preferably so as to be easily removed and other glasses
or films substituted to change the range of colours. The said frames are arranged
side by side at the front of the lime hox and are provided on one side with
openings each of different diameter bored to receive hollow shafts or tubes e, e¹, e³, e, e
one for each glass or film, which are arranged concentrically and adapted to
work one within the other. The outer shaft e is supported in bearings f secured to
the side of the box a.
The aforesaid shafts are made of different lengths of tubing in order that when
telescoped into position each shaft shall project a little beyond both ends of the
next larger shaft and onto the front ends of these shafts are respectively secured
by set screws or like means, the frames d, d', d, d, d, whilst onto the rear ends
are secured lever arms g, g', 9³, y³, y', each made shorter than the other so that the

page_text: handles or buttons h at the extremities thereof are quite clear of each other and
can be grasped by the hand and the levers operated without affecting the proximate
lever or levers. By turning the levers or lever arms 9, 9', g³, 93, 94, half a
revolution in the direction of arrow k or of arrow the frames d, d', d², d', d', are
respectively moved into position in front of the lens b as indicated by frames d and d³
or withdrawn from the front of the lime box as indicated by frames d' and d. The
frame is shewn in an arrested position intermediate of the others.
At the front of the box a and at the base thereof is a platform or shelf m on
which is placed a sheet of india rubber, felt or other soft or yielding substance or
material n to form a bed or cushion for the frames to rest on when moved down in
front of the lens and to break their fall and prevent breakage of the glasses should
they be allowed to descend too rapidly.
The position occupied by the lever arms 9, 9, 9³, g³, g, at the rear of the lime
box or lamp places them in convenient reach of the operator who can bring any
coloured glass or film into play and withdraw them again by a simple movement of
the hand. The frames when withdrawn from the front of the lime box rest on and
are supported by a stop piece o secured to the lime box side and are always in
position ready for being moved in front of the lens; and in order that no mistake
may be made in bringing the desired colours into play, the lever arms g, g', g², g³,g',
or portions thereof, are painted in colours corresponding to the glasses or films with
which they are connected or they are otherwise distinguishable by marks or
lettering by reason of which the operator need only direct his attention to the
levers, and has no occasion to look at, or examine, the glasses or films to ascertain
the colours of same prior to manipulating them.
The boxes or lamps are fitted up with the levers and shafts on the right or left
hand side as may be required.
In Fig. 3 I shew the lever arms provided with button headed studs which, by
means of springs p surrounding same and enclosed in a recess in the levers, are
adapted to yield to pressure and to engage with openings in the grate shaped
brackets when the lever arms are moved in the direction of arrow in Fig. 1 to
withdraw the glasses or films from the front of the lens and thereby act as self
locking stop pieces for limiting the outward movement of the glasses. The said
grid or bracket & may be made in the form of a quadrant and holes punched
therein at short distances apart with any of which the studs h may be engaged to
hold the glasses or films at various angles as may sometimes be required in
producing combined or graduated colour effects.
Although for convenience and compactness I prefer the arrangement of the
shafts e, e, e, e³, e, one within the other, or concentrically as herein before shewn
and described, they may be arranged one under the other or in separate bearings
side by side in the manner somewhat as illustrated at Figs. 4 and 5, the action in
both cases being the same.
The number of shafts with which the lamp or lime box is provided is determined
by the number of glasses or coloured films to be employed therewith. By securing
the coloured glasses or films used in connection with stage lamps or lime light
apparatus to shafts each provided with a lever or lever arm and carried in bearings
fixed to said lamp or lime box, there is no liability of them falling or getting
misplaced in making rapid changes, they are never to find or to handle, and can
be manipulated with the greatest ease and certainty and changes made more rapidly
and with less trouble than is possible under the present methods.
Glasses or plates with views or subjects thereon are held in the frames by a
spring or other form of catch so that they may be easily removed and others
inserted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
Firstly. The method of and means for operating the colours or coloured glasses

page_text: or films in stage lamps or lime light apparatus substantially as herein described
and shewn.
Secondly. In lime light apparatus or stage lamps the combination with coloured
films or glass slides of frames for holding same secured on separate shafts arranged
concentrically or mounted in separate bearings at the side of the box or lamp,
levers or lever arms for actuating same and a stop piece or pieces for limiting the
outward movement of the frames, all arranged and operating in the manner and
for the purposes substantially as shewn and described.
Thirdly. The combination with lime light apparatus or stage lamps of frames
such as d, d', d³, d³, d, shafts e, e', e², e², e, on which said frames are respectively
mounted, means for actuating said shafts and a yielding or soft cushion or bed such
as n for the frames to rest on when moved in front of the lens and to prevent
concussion, all arranged substantially as herein shewn and described.
Fourthly. The combination with shafts e, e¹, e³, e³, et, of levers g, g', g³, g³, g*,
provided with self locking stop pieces or studs and a grid or bracket such as s
having openings or recesses therein with which the said studs are adapted to
engage substantially as shewn and described.
Dated this 4th day of July 1894.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Agents.