Improvements in Fireproof Curtains for Theatres and other Buildings.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Sept., 1887
Complete Left, 11tn June, 1888
Complete Accepted, 13th July, 1888
Improvements in Fireproof Curtains for Theatres and other
Buildings.
1 ANDREW MELVILLE of the Grand Theatre, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Theatre Proprietor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to prevent the spreading of fires in Theatres and
other buildings.
It consists chiefly in constructing a proscenium fireproof curtain, preferably
composed of slag wool or silicated cotton (either in its present form or in the form of
felt, although it may be made of asbestos or of other fire resisting material.
For the purpose of lowering, the said curtain may be weighted sufficiently to cause
it to drop when released, and for balancing it may be fitted with counterbalance
weights.
For the purpose of stiffening wire netting may be employed and placed either
on one or both sides or in the centre of the slag wool &c. or interwoven with it
also if found desirable there may be a framework of iron rods or bars for this
purpose.
For the purpose of keeping the sides of the curtain in position it is proposed to
employ one of the following devices, viz.
A suitable groove is fixed to the sides of the proscenium walls into which a tongue
fixed to the sides of the curtain would slide for this purpose.
Or there may be a rod or groove on the walls and a series of wheel pulleys on the
sides of the curtain to run on.
Or there may be a rod or wire rope beside the walls, and eyelets or rings on the
curtain for sliding on the same in which case there would be a weight at the bottom
of the rod for keeping it rigid.

page_text: Or instead of either of the above there may be taper wings i.e. wings projecting on
to the stage at bottom, and slanting off to a point where they intersect the wall at top,
in this latter arrangement the weight of the curtain would keep itself firmly against
the wings.
For the purpose of reducing the weight also for the purpose of economy the said
curtain may be made much thicker at the top than at the bottom.
Wire ropes or chains are proposed to be used for drawing the curtain up except
when it is wound round a roller either of which methods would be carried out by
suitable mechanical appliances.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fireproof Curtains for Theatres and other
Buildings.
I, ANDREW MELVILLE of The Grand Theatre, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Theatre Proprietor, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to prevent the spreading of fires in Theatres and
other like buildings.
It consists in constructing a proscenium fireproof curtain composed of slag wool,
(Silicate Cotton).
For the purpose of stiffening or supporting the said slag wool, wire netting, wire
gauze iron or other metal perforated or otherwise metal laticing or bars, may be
employed and placed either on one or both sides or in the centre of the said slag wool
also there may be an additional framework of metal round the edges.
When wire gauze is used the slag wool may be interwoven with it and when
perforated metal is used it may be threaded through the perforations.
said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The use of slag wool, (Silicate Cotton) in any form for fireproof curtains.
2. A fireproof curtain constructed of slag wool (Silicate Cotton) in combination
with wire netting, wire gauze or other metal perforated or otherwise metal laticing or
bars as hereinbefore set forth and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 9th day of June 1888.