An Improved Inanimate Bird or Target to be used in Shooting Sports and Practice
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 12th May, 1897-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Inanimate Bird or Target to be used in Shooting
Sports and Practice,
WILLIAM PALMER JONES 25 Whittall Street Birmingham Gun Maker do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of a Metallic disc of the form generally employed in the
manufacture of ordinary Clay or Composite inanimate Birds or Targets which are
thrown from various forins of spring traps having radial arms and holders at their
extreme ends.
The disc is sufficiently strong to resist the force of ordinary shot, and in order to
ensure a similar flight to that of the ordinary breakable Clay or Composite inanimate
birds, I provide a counterpoise in the form of a strip of metal or other suitable
material which I attach to the rim of the metal disc.
To detect when the metal disc is struck in mid-air I coat it with a wash of
Lime Blue, Lamp black, or other suitable colour, mixed with water or other liquid,
which when dried shews a distinct puff or cloud upon being struck with the shot or
projectile.
The Disc, Bird or Target being practically indestructible may be used over and
over again, consequently a great saving is effected by their use. They may also be
sent in any quantities to any distance without fear of breakages, which is not the case
with those made of Clay or other fragile materials.
In place of the wash with powdered colours the disc may be coated with a mixture
of resin, lime, and pitch boiled or melted to a fluid state, which when set cold will
chip off upon being struck.
Dated this 10th dan August 1906
WILLIAM PALMER JONES.
An Improved Inanimate Bird or Target to be used in Shooting
Sports and Practice.
WILLIAM PALMER JONES 25 Whittall Street Birmingham Gun Maker 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:-
My invention consists of a Metallic disc of the form generally_employed in the
manufacture of ordinary Clay or Composite inanimate Birds or Targets which are
thrown from various forms of spring traps having radial arms and holders at their
extreme ends.

page_text: The disc is sufficiently strong to resist the force of ordinary shot, and in order to
ensure a similar flight to that of the ordinary breakable Clay or Composite inanimate
birds I provide a Counterpoise in the form of a strip of metal or other suitable
material which I attach to the rim of the metal disc.
To detect when the metal disc is struck in mid-air, I coat it with a wash of
Lime Blue, Lamp black, or other suitable colour, mixed with water, or other liquid,
which when dried shews a distinct puff or cloud upon being struck with the shot or
projectile. The Disc, Bird, or Target, being practically indestructible may be used
over and over again, consequently a great saving is effected by their use. They
may also be sent in any quantities to any distance without fear of breakages, which is
not the case with those made of Clay or other fragile materials. In place of the wash
with powdered colours the disc may be coated with a mixture of resin, lime, and
pitch, boiled or melted to a fluid state, which when set cold will chip off upon being
struck.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the form of an artificial Bird or Target.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the bird. Fig. 2 is an internal view of the same
shewing the rim (A) lined with a strip of metal (B) which acts as a counterpoise
so as to ensure a similar flight to that of ordinary breakable inanimate birds, thrown
from the ordinary spring traps having radial arms or levers and suitable holders.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. A Metallic inanimate or artificial Bird, target or object in the form of a cupped
disc capable of being thrown from ordinary inanimate bird spring traps, having radial
arms or levers to which is attached suitable holders or clips for holding the disc.
2. Fixing or attaching a rim of metal or other suitable material to the lower rim of
the bird or disc in order to act as a counterpoise and to regulate the flight of the
same.
3. Coating the disc either internally, or externally, or both, with a coloured wash,
which when dry presents itself in the air as a cloud of dust when struck thereby
indicating a blow from the shot or projectile.
Deted this 11th day of May 1807
WILLIAM PALMER JONES.