Improvements in Coin Freed Apparatus for Exhibiting Optical Illusions.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 14th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin Freed Apparatus for Exhibiting Optical
Illusions.
We THE ELECTRICAL WONDER COMPANY LIMITED of 425 Strand in the
County of London do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been
communicated to us from abroad by Ottomar Anschütz of 14 Unter den Linden
Berlin in the Empire of Germany) to be as follows :—
This invention relates to coin freed apparatus for displaying or producing optical
illusions and consists of an arrangement of mechanism operated by electricity clock-
work or other suitable motive power brought into action by the introduction of a
coin or token causing or allowing the motive power to impart motion to a disc or
frame carrying a series of pictures causing the said pictures to pass in succession
opposite a sight hole, so as to present to an observer looking into the sight hole
an appearance resembling the actual motions of the object. In order to enable
the effect of the optical illusion to be observed each picture is illuminated by
electricity only at the instant it is in front of the eye of the observer. This is
effected by causing a moving part of the machine to operate an electric sparking or
illuminating device only at those instants. These objects are preferably photo-
graphs from the life of a moving object taken successively in such a manner
that the series represent different phases of movement.
The following is an arrangement according to this invention in which we
presume an electric motor to be used as motive power. The electric motor is
mounted in bearings inside the apparatus which motor when in action transmits
motion through suitable gearing to a disc or frame carrying a series of pictures
as aforesaid.
The motor may be worked from any convenient source of electricity either
outside or inside the case of the apparatus, the circuit through the motor being
completed by suitable contacts operated by a coin or token introduced through a
slot or opening in the case of the apparatus. The contact piece for completing the
circuit through the motor is normally held out of contact by a spring catch which
is disengaged by the coin, in its passage through a shoot, in connection with the
slot or opening, whereupon the contact piece will effect the completion of the
circuit through the motor which will then commence to rotate and transmit rotation
to the disc or frame carrying the pictures. The duration of the rotation of the
disc is governed by a ratchet wheel mounted on a stud in the interior of the case
which ratchet wheel receives an intermittent partial rotary motion, by a tappet or
projection on the spindle of the disc or frame carrying the picture or on a wheel
carried by the said spindle or on any other suitable rotating part of the apparatus,
the said tappet striking a tooth on the ratchet wheel at each complete rotation of
the said rotating part of the apparatus carrying the tappet. A lever is centred to a
suitable part of the interior of the case one end of which lever is situated beneath
the contact maker of the motor circuit whilst the opposite end of the said lever is
within the path of a stud or projection or studs or projections on the ratchet wheel,
so that at each complete rotation, or partial rotation of the said ratchet wheel equal
to the distance between two studs thereon, the stud or one of the studs by acting
on one end of the lever raises the opposite end thereof and moves the contact piece
so as to break the circuit through the motor, and thereby stop the rotation of the
disc the contact piece being then engaged by and held out of contact, or in its
normal position, by the spring catch hereinbefore referred to. The arrangement for
producing the intermittent electric light to illuminate the pictures as herein before
mentioned may be arranged as follows:-A Geissler tube is provided in the interior
of the apparatus opposite the sight hole the said tube being electrically connected

page_text: with an induction coil fed with current from a storage battery also contained inside
the case and which may be charged by the current used for driving the apparatus.
The illumination of the tube is intermittently effected by a spark generated by
the induction coil at the instant each picture appears before the eye as the disc or
frame is rotating. This sparking may be effected by means of contacts made and
broken by the movement of the disc or frame at periods coincident with the
appearance of each picture before the eye of the observer.
If in place of an electric motor a clockwork or other motor be used it will be
arranged to be released or put in gear for operation by the coin or token.
Dated this 14th day of December 1892.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin Freed Apparatus for Exhibiting Optical
Illusions.
We, THE ELECTRICAL WONDER COMPANY LIMITED late of 425 Strand
now of Savoy House 115 Strand in the County of London do hereby declare
the nature of this invention (which has been communicated to us from abroad
by Ottomar Anschütz of 14 Unter den Linden, Berlin in the Empire of Germany)
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to apparatus for exhibiting optical illusions and consists
of a disc or frame carrying a series of pictures or photographs representing
succeeding phases of movement so that as they are presented in succession before
a sight hole they represent the actual movements of an object.
In order to enable the effect of the optical illusion to be observed, each picture
or photograph is illuminated by electricity at the instant it is in front of the eye
of the observer. This is effected by causing a moving part of the machine to
operate an electric sparking or illuminating device at those instants. The pictures
are preferably photographs from the life of a moving object taken successively
in such a manner that the series represents different and successive phases of
movement. The apparatus may be arranged to be operated by any suitable
means; for instance the disc or frame carrying the pictures or photographs may
be operated by electricity, clockwork, or other suitable motor, which may be
liberated by the insertion of a coin or token into the apparatus. It may also
be arranged so that the pictures or photographs pass before a sight hole through
which the observer looks, or they may pass a lens by which the pictures or
photographs are projected upon a screen, after the manner of what is known as
a magic lantern. We will describe the invention with reference to the accom-
panying drawings, as applied to an apparatus wherein the pictures or photographs
are carried by a disc which is driven by an electric motor set in motion by the
insertion of a coin, and exhibiting the pictures or photographs before a sight
hole from which its other applications will also be understood, as it will be evident
for instance that in place of a disc the pictures may be arranged so that the
frame or device by which they are carried moves lengthwise like a strip from one
roller to another.
Figure 1 is a front elevation (partly in section) of an apparatus, constructed
according to this invention.
Figure 2 a front elevation shewing the case complete and Figure 3 a view at
right angles to Figure 1 (shewing the case in section).
Figures 4 to 10 represent details as hereinafter described.
A represents an electro motor, which may be of any suitable description, and be
secured in the case B of the apparatus in any suitable way; for instance by the
frame a, as shewn. The armature a² of the motor has fitted on its shaft a³ a

page_text: worm a which gears with and drives the worm wheel c³ on the shaft C on which is
also mounted a fly-wheel c, and a disc D, carrying the photographs or pictures
representing successive phases of movement. These photographs or pictures are
transparent and are mounted on the disc D, which may be effected as shewn in
Figure 4, by providing the disc with apertures d, and grooves d' into which the
photographs can be slidden, and in which they can be fixed in proper relative
position. The motor A can be worked from any convenient source of electricity,
and in the example shown, the current is presumed to be supplied from an
external source, it entering the apparatus by the terminals b, 62, and the circuit
through the motor is completed by contact made by a coin or token introduced
through an opening B2 in the case of the apparatus as hereinafter described.
The pictures or photographs pass in rapid succession behind a sight hole F.
when the motor is set in motion, and they are illuminated by means of an electric
sparking or illuminating device such for instance as a Geissler tube e. through
which an electric spark is caused to pass as each picture comes in position before
the sight hole F. This intermittent illumination is effected by contact pieces e³ ³
(see the detail views Figures 7 and 8) which are caused to complete the circuit
intermittently by a series of projections f, on the fly wheel c which projections f
bear against the tail of a lever E, the end 2 of which is normally kept up by a
spring to hold the contacts e² es apart by being provided at its extremity with a
disc which bears upon a spring f carrying the contact e². By this means as the
projections successively operate the lever E, the contacts e² e meet, and the
electric circuit through the Geissler tube is periodically completed and a spark
illuminates each picture just as it is presented before the sight hole. As the
number of photographs or pictures in the series may vary, several rings each with a
number of projections corresponding to the number of photographs or pictures in
the series with which the ring is to be used are shewn as being provided, any one
of which rings may be caused to act upon the lever E. For this purpose the con-
tacts e²e and lever E. adjuncts are mounted on a bracket g, which is capable of
being adjusted on pins 3 projecting from the frame a, the bracket g when adjusted
being secured in position by a screw 93 which takes into one of a series of holes 9*
provided in one of the pins 92. The sparks through the Geissler tube are shewn as
being produced by an electric current from the accumulator E2 (which may be
charged by the main current) the circuit from which accumulator is caused to pass
through the induction coil G provided with a condenser H so as to obtain the
necessary electro motive force in the secondary circuit h to produce the light.
The duration of the rotation of the disc D is governed by a ratchet wheel I
mounted on a stud i on the frame a which ratchet wheel receives a partial rotary
motion by a tappet 2 projecting from the shaft C on each rotation of the disc D.
On the ratchet wheel 1. are studs j, one of which when the ratchet wheel I has
been rotated to the necessary extent (in accordance with the number of rotations
of the disc D, which it is desired shall take place before the apparatus is stopped)
engages with a lever 12 centred at j³ and having its other end engaging with a lever
carrying the contacts for the motor and light circuits. By this means after the
disc D has made the predetermined number of revolutions, the lever 2 is operated
to break the circuit and stop the machine until again started by the insertion of
another token or coin. A friction device K may be provided to prevent the
ratchet wheel I from rotating by momentum, after the tappet has engaged one of
its teeth. J represents an adjustable resistance in the motor circuit by which the
speed of the motor can be regulated.
As before stated the apparatus may be arranged so that the pictures or photo-
graphs are viewed through a sight hole or in place of the sight hole, a magic
lantern lens inay be arranged so that the pictures or photographs are successively
presented between the lens and the light and are projected on to a screen. The
apparatus may be set in motion by a coin or token inserted thereinto and in this
case we may use any suitable arrangement for the purpose but we prefer to use
the arrangement we shall now describe; in Figures 9 and 10 we have shown an

page_text: arrangement which is well adapted for the purpose. It is secured inside of the
case as shown at B. It consists of a plate or base L, upon which the plates 1
and are affixed, the said plates forming respectively the sides and back of the
channel in which the coin is guided in its descent to the collecting box. Upon
these plates the mechanisms for opening and closing the electrical circuit returning
a coin inserted while the machine is in operation and exhibiting the operating
coin are mounted.
A coin being introduced into the channel through the circular opening B2 in
the front of the case, rolls by gravity down the zig-zag inclines, which form the
sides of the upper end of the channel and strikes a bowl or small wheel m centred
to a lever m² carrying at its lower end a catch m³ upon which rests, when the
machine is ready to be operated, one end of a lever n, centred at n² and carrying
an insulator n³ to which is clamped a contact maker, consisting of a U shaped
wire in electrical connection by the wire n' with the electric supply circuit.
The bowl m, when struck by the coin causes the lever m² to release the end of
the lever n which then falls (assisted by the weight n) and the ends of the contact
maker n enter mercury cups p. p². The mercury in these cups is in connection
with the terminals p³ p of the electric circuit of the motor A, which is thus com-
pleted. Means for increasing or diminishing the distance between the bowl or
small wheel m and the side of the channel are shown at 13 where a lug having
slots is attached to the side 1, rendering it adjustable along and fixable by
guiding set screws 1. Where the disc D has made the required number of revolu-
tions and the ratchet wheel I has been operated as described the lever n is again
raised and caused to engage with the catch m³ by means of the lever j² the
lever m² carrying the catch m³ being returned to its normal position by the blade
spring mattached to its back and bearing against the pin m³.
The lever n carries an arm 7 having jointed to its upper end a rod q² which
operates a rocking slider, centered at 12. When the lever n falls, the arm q
through the rod q2 pushes the slider toward the front of the case allowing the
coin to continue its descent in the channel.
The coin next strikes a pin s carried on the lower end of a bell cranked lever s²
which is thus caused to turn on its centre pin s³ and to raise by means of a pro-
jection on the end of its shorter arm, a lever s centred at 6, the free end of
which raises the end of the rod q² which engages with the pin at the upper end
of the slide r. The said end of the rod q² is recessed as shown, this recessed
part resting normally on the pin the step formed by the recess acting to push
the pin when the lever n falls, but when the rod q² is raised as already described
the pin is released and the slide », returned to its normal position by the action
of the spring on the pin ³. A coin inserted into the channel while the machine
is in operation is thus diverted from the vertical route, and returned to the front
of the case through a slot at t in the plate L and is received on the shelf t2.
The operating coin is detained in its descent by a catch u, on the lower end of
a lever u² centred at 3 and maintained in the position shown by a spring u
The coin is seen from the exterior when so retained through the glazed opening u
in the side of the case. It is released (then falling from the lower end of the
channel into a suitable receptacle) by the next operating coin when passing
between the plate L and the bent part 2 of a lever r. which is thus caused to
turn on its centre ³ and by means of the adjusting screw at its lower end, to
press on the upper end of the lever u², and so to withdraw the catch u.
second operating coin has passed the bent part 2 of the lever v the catch u is
again in position to detain it so that it is seen through the opening u³.
When the
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In coin freed apparatus for exhibiting optical illusions, the combination of a
disc or moving frame or strip, and means for operating it the said disc frame or

page_text: strip carrying a series of pictures representing succeeding phases of movement
with an electric illuminating device by which each picture is illuminated as it
passes before a sight hole or the like substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In coin freed apparatus for exhibiting optical illusions, the combination of a
disc or the like and means for causing it to be operated on the insertion of a coin
or token, the said disc or the like carrying a series of pictures representing
succeeding phases of movement with an electric illuminating device by which cach
picture is illuminated as it passes before a sight hole or the like substantially as
hereinbefore described.
3. In coin freed apparatus for exhibiting optical illusions the combination of a
disc or the like, and means for causing it to be operated on the insertion of a coin
or token and means for arresting the movement after a pre-determined interval
the said disc or the like carrying a series of pictures representing succeeding
phases of movement and an electric illuminating device by which each picture is
illuminated as it passes before a sight hole or the like substantially as herein before
described.
4. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the coin freed
apparatus for exhibiting optical illusions substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 14th day of September 1893.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.