An Improved Apparatus for the Production of Stage Illusions.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 21st Oct., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for the Production of Stage Illusions.
We, CHARLES MORRITT of 39, Brewer Street, Regent Street, London, W.
Entertainer and JOSEPH WINSON of 90, Oakfield Road, Penge, London, S.E.
Artiste, 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 relates to an improved apparatus for the production of stage
illusions, in which a figure is enclosed in a cage or cabinet of special construction in
view of the audience, and after the curtains have been drawn down for a few
seconds around the cage and raised, the figure has disappeared from the sight of
the audience.
The cabinet is formed with a floor raised a short distance above the stage, so
that full view is obtained under the cabinet, and a top or ceiling about six feet
above supported on posts at the corners and rails at suitable distances apart, thus
making a cage with open framework at all sides, excepting at front which is com-
Within this cabinet is a
pletely open to allow the performer to get in or out.
second cage, formed of bars and of just sufficient size to hold the performer standing
upright, having a door at front through which the performer enters, and a second
one at back to allow him to escape while the curtains are down. From one corner
of this inner cage to the corresponding corner of the cabinet, .at an angle of
45 degrees a mirror is fixed, and a second mirror from the same corner straight to
the back of the cabinet at right angles to the latter. A triangular or wedge shaped
compartment is thus formed at one corner, the second mirror forming a door to
allow of exit or entrance to or from the cabinet and inner cage.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the cabinet, and
Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively a sectional plan and a plan of the same.
A is the floor of the cabinet mounted on posts, or legs a, and raised clear of the
stage, carrying the posts B one at cach corner, on which the top or roof C is
placed. The bars or rails extend around the two sides and part of the back, and
are placed at such a distance apart that free view can be obtained through the
cabinet to the back, the front being quite open. Within the cabinet is fixed a
second cage D at about the centre, and extending from the floor to the roof, of just
sufficient size to allow of a man standing upright in it. This cage has a door dat
front, which can be opened in view of the audience to allow of the performer
entering it, and another door dat back which is only opened when the curtains
From one
are drawn down, hiding the interior of the cabinet from the audience.
corner of the cage D to the corresponding cornerpost of the cabinet, extends a
glass E at an angle of 45 degrees to the sides, and a second glass F is hinged to a
post at the back of the cabinet, closing against the door dat the same corner as
the glass E, and forming a back to prevent the said door opening until the glass
has been moved back.
The two glasses E & F thus form, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, a wedge shaped
recess into which the performer can step after the doors & F have been opened,
closing them himself as he steps in, a small catch or hook f' fastening the door F
when required.
Around the upper part of the cabinet, immediately under the roof, are fitted the
curtains G, G', at the front, sides, and back, the latter one G¹ being merely a
dummy one not intended for use, and extending only as far as the glass F, to
complete the illusion more effectually.

page_text: The cords g are for pulling down the blinds and for raising them, the usual
spring blinds being employed, so that on the cords g being pulled, the blinds may
be raised automatically. The front blind and the one at the side adjacent to the
glasses, are arranged to be raised by the same cord, as the front one must not be
raised before the side, or the arrangement of looking glasses would be exposed.
The cords g are also passed over the top of the cabinet through a perforation to
the recess between the glasses, to allow the performer when hidden to raise the
curtains himself if desired. Steps J are placed in front to allow the performer to
ascend and descend.
As shown in Fig. 1, the rails at the side adjacent to the glass E, will be
reflected in it, and, owing to the angle of 45 degrees at which the glass is placed
will appear in the positions which would be taken up by similar rails at the back,
thus giving the appearance of a continuous series of rails around the three sides.
The glass F will, to those situated at the other side, give a similar appearance by
reflecting the back rails. A screen of the same colour as and similarly lighted to
the back screen, is placed at the sides so that it can be reflected in the glass to
give the same effect as looking through the cabinet to the back screen.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is.―
1. An apparatus for the production of stage illusions, consisting of an open
cabinet formed of posts and rails, having an inner cage with doors, and two glasses
or reflectors extending respectively from one corner of the cage to a corner of the
cabinet at an angle of 45 degrees, and to the back of the cabinet at right angles,
the two forming a recess in which the performer can hide, and one serving as a
door, substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
2. The improved apparatus for the production of stage illusions, in which two
cages are employed one within the other, having two reflectors extending from a
corner of the inner cage respectively to a corner and to the back of the outer, the
latter reflector forming a door hinged to the back, the inner cage having a door to
correspond, and the outer cage or cabinet curtains around the sides, to hide the
interior from view when desired, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
3. The improved apparatus for the production of stage illusions, constructed and
operating substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 16th day of September 1893.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.