Improvements in the Construction of. Panoramic Scenes, and Method of and Apparatus for Producing the same.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 6th Oct., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of. Panoramic Scenes, and Method
of and Apparatus for Producing the same.
1, JOSEPH TRAIN, of Ayrshire House, Albert Road, Albert Park, near
Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria, Manufacturer, 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 :-
Since Barker of Edinburgh obtained in 1787 Royal Letters Patent for his
invention of the panorama, by which extensive views of Nature were exhibited as
seen from a central point, such cylindrical representations have attained great
popularity, and entire buildings now exist up to 130 feet in diameter, erected and
fitted at enormous expense solely to show panoramic or as they are now called
cycloramic views. These views closely imitate Nature and reproduce to the eye
of the spectator the actual appearance of the real landscape as it would be seen
when he successively directs his eye in every direction from his point of view,
towards the horizon.
The enormous expense and labour, and great skill required by the present
method of preparing viz., painting the view, on the cylindrical surface or sheet
used in such cycloramas, are, however, a bar to frequent change of subject, or to
the easy portability of the material. The educational advantages and the
pleasures afforded by cycloramas are thus restricted.
No means has hitherto been suggested by which the production of panoramic
views with realistic effects might be vastly cheapened and simplified, so that they
might become objects of greater utility. My invention comprises such means.
The apparatus I use, comprises a series of optical lanterns; a series of views
(each view continuing the "subject" of some other view) and a continuous series
of screens or like surface placed around the series of lanterns, so as to form a
complete circuit or a partial circuit.
The area to be occupied by the spectators should be approximately central,
relatively to the screen, and not exterior thereto, as the latter arrangement would
prevent the production of the peculiar cycloramic effect I aim at.
By using all these parts simultaneously, and observing certain other conditions
hereafter stated, the appearance of a continuous scene all round, or for a large
angle around, may be reproduced in a strikingly faithful manner. The various
features I employ co-operate so that the individual effect of each picture no longer
attracts the eye, and instead of the spectator discovering a number of parts, each
producing a mere pictorial effect he has the illusion of seeing one continuous scene
naturally, and as a whole.
When a single lantern view is projected on any screen, the illusion that one sees
as in reality cannot be entertained. But by means of a series of lanterns such as
sixteen, when the subject is projected on to a curved or approximately curved
screen, and is continued to the right and left (all round until a complete or the
major part of a complete circuit is formed-with the station of the observer at
about the centre) then the individual effect of each view is effaced, they blend into
one, and the eye is deceived into acceptance of the series of views, as one unbroken
whole. By such means as these I produce cycloramic pictures.
Some of the parts I use, have, taking them individually been used before, but
they have not before been similarly combined either for the purpose I have stated,
nor in the manner I shall state.

page_text: In respect to the screen I sometimes use a special form thereof, viz., curved in
horizontal section. Screens hitherto used have consisted of a plane sheet, or of a
plane wall. The rays of light falling on such surfaces leading from the objective,
are not all equally long, and this is partly remedied by using a curved screen
having the same centre approximately as that around which the optical lanterns
are ranged.
Referring now to the accompanying sheet of drawings,
Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic view of a screen or series of screens so placed as
to form a regular polygon or circle, and sets of optical projecting lanterns or
systems arranged for the production of cycloramic pictures as per my invention.
Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic plan view of a screen or series of screens so
placed as to form an ellipse, and
Figures 4 and 5 show a few out of many modified forms of screen suitable for
the purpose of this invention.
Figure 3 is a diagram representing a vertical middle section through a cyclorama
fitted with my invention.
In these drawings A represents a polygonal screen made up of smaller plane
screens B. C represents a single circular screen or one made up of smaller curved
screens D D and usable in lieu of A. My screens are not painted, but left white
where the picture is to fall. They may therefore be handled with ease, and
demand no special attention, while the rest of the apparatus may be transported
as required and used with other screens.
E, E, E are a series of optical lanterns having therein a series of slides or views,
representing in order successive sections of a scene such as a landscape from the
initial or thereabout to the horizon the edges of each pencil of rays being shown by
the dotted lines F, F¹.
No combination of lantern projections would produce the illusive effect aimed at,
if the screen were straight as at G, Figure 1; a curved or polygonal screen A or C
will not produce the effect if only one or two lanterns be used; there must be a
circuitous screen in combination with one or more series of lanterns, and in my
experiments I have obtained good results by using from seven to twelve lanterns
per series according to the extent of the circuit. H shows the platform to which
the spectators are limited.
Referring to Figure 3 it will be seen that the lanterns are so placed as to be out
of sight of the spectators. It might be convenient in some cases to arrange them
below the floor L instead of over the roof M. Other series of lanterns as E¹ E'
might in addition be used in the method above indicated throwing out rays between
the lines F and F³, to represent portions on the foreground Z, or the projection
from E might include part of such area as by the downward rays extending to N.
Conversely the upward rays might be extended to O their projection not being
limited necessarily to vertical screen surface.
It is usual to arrange real accessories in the foreground to increase the illusion
disposing them so that they appear to blend into the vertical picture. Foreground
and roof areas may be treated conventionally as also such portions, if any, of the
vertical screen to which the projected pictures do not extend. If the rays extend
only to P the part above it would be blackened, or otherwise conventionally
treated.
No other surface than the picture and the foreground should be adapted to reflect
light to the observer or the effect is spoiled, and when not inconsistent with the
general scene, a dead black surface suits such parts as the roof.
When not
pictorially illumined by lanterns as E E¹ the foreground will, in general, be
seen sufficiently by aid of the light reflected from the screen.
So far, I have more particularly described that form of my invention in which
a complete circular screen is used, as also a circular foreground. If, however,
a screen forming (in horizontal section) a sufficiently large portion of a circle
or of a polygon or some suitable modification of such a form (in conjunction
.with all the other elements necessary) be used, such an arrangement would fall

page_text: within the scope of my invention. As a mere illustration, suppose in Figure 4
the screen R to form only a partial circuit, and S to represent a ship H, the
platform or station to which the spectators are limited, V.deckhouse and other
arrangements limiting the rearward view of the spectators to the lines W, W.
In such a case the spectators would secure a true and satisfying panoramic
effect.
An appropriate scene would be Captain Cook's party planting the British flag
at Botany Bay, all the interesting land and life appearing in the view, the part
cut off by the deck house representing only ocean and scrub.
By not having an absolutely complete circuit a convenience is attained some-
times, since the shape or other conditions of a building may not admit of the
whole, but may allow the best part of the scene to be shown with realistic
effect and to natural apparent size. An illustration of this may occur in the use
of a horse shoe shaped theatre. The scene might extend from over 200 to
270 degrees, more or less, the rear part of the scene being represented by some
natural cut-off as in the case already cited.
My invention lends itself to the introduction-at no great expense-of moving
effects, light changing effects, and alterations of scene, so as to imitate in a
marvellously realistic manner events as well as scenes thus improving on the
painted cyclorama, and relegating the latter to a secondary place. Extra
lanterns might be used if desired, and be fitted with duplicate views to increase
the brilliancy of parts of the scene, and the lighting of other parts may be
diminished to faithfully imitate the supposed natural lighting of the occasion.
The optical and slide appliances, may, within limits be used with screens of
varying sizes as Y, Y in Figure 1 by adequately focussing, so that the apparatus
can be accommodated for exhibition purposes to various buildings.
Instead of the exact meeting of the sectional views projected from each pair
of lanterns along one line as K there are cases in which the sections might be
allowed to overlap without detriment to the effect. In such cases the overlapping
portions should not disagree and will generally coincide in subject.
My specific method or series of actions, in the treatment of the parts which
I combined as above stated, may be summarized as particularly comprising
Arranging centrally the series of lanterns relatively to the surrounding screens ;
arranging in such lanterns in proper sequence a series of slides or the like,
bearing suitably prepared views of successive sections of a landscape or scene;
and projecting such series of views upon the screen so as to give to persons within
the area about the centre of the screen
an. unbroken and realistic panoramic
view of the complete scene; it being understood that not only the view, but
also the light thrown out by each lantern is made to meet, but not overlap
the light thrown out by the adjacent lanterns on each side, except as already
stated.
Amongst the moving effects I include the connecting the whole of the lanterns
in a series on a single platform and revolving the platform slowly so as to exhibit
to a spectator the entire landscape as the lanterns revolve.
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 :-
1. The process of producing cycloramic or panoramic representations in the
manner hereinbefore described.
2. In combination, in panoramic apparatus one or more central series of optical
projection lanterns or systems as described and oue or more corresponding series
of lantern slides each slide forming part of a complete scene, and placed in
proper relative position as described, whereby such scene may be exhibited as
a panoramic whole upon a surrounding screen or screens as set forth.
3. The emination with a wholly or partly surrounding screen or screens
and foreground as set forth, of a cycloramic or panoramic picture representing

page_text: an unbroken scene, said picture consisting of a series of separate views, which
meet and merge together, and are projected upon the interior surface of the said
screen or screens and foreground from one more series of optical systems
Pubstantially as set forth and illustrated.
or
4. In apparatus for producing cycloramic pictures the general construction,
combination and arrangements of parts as herein before described and illustrated
in the drawings, said parts having an interdependent relation to each other as
and for the purposes set forth.
5. In apparatus for producing cycloramic representations and combination of
one or more series of optical systems as set forth with a movable revoluble
platform for each series and the operation of the same substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
Dated this 27th day of August 1894.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.