An Improved Method of Producing an Optical Illusion, and Improved Apparatus to be Used therein.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 12th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Producing an Optical Illusion, and
Improved Apparatus to be Used therein.
I GEORGE RIGNALL of Her Majesty's Theatre, Pitt and Market Streets
Sydney in the Colony of New South Wales, Theatrical Lessee and Manager do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The purpose
of this invention is to make it appear that persons or objects are
enveloped in flame or that such persons are moving as dancing in the midst of fire
or that such persons or objects are being consumed by fire.
This purpose
achieved by utilising the reflective power of a sheet of transparent
glass set at a forwardly inclined angle upon the platform or stage towards the
spectators and causing to appear on such sheet of glass the reflection of flame or
fire which appears as if it were real flame or fire some distance behind the glass
sheet which of course is not perceived. In the floor of the stage in front of the
inclined glass sheet is an aperture or space which is occupied by the apparatus for
producing the real flame or fire. This apparatus may be of any kind but prefer-
ably consists of a perforated pipe to which a supply of gasoline or hydro-carbon oil
is assured. It is preferable also that the stationary objects of the scene which
is seen through the glass sheet by the spectators should be duplicated in this open
aperture or space of the stage.
Now the gasoline being lighted under the stage the flame or fire is reflected
through the glass and is perceived by spectators in front as if it were real fire some
distance back and through and about this fire persons as fairies or witches &c.
may dance or gesticulate or otherwise act as may be required or a coffin or pyre
in or on which a living figure is to be immolated may apparently be gradually
consumed by this fire by shrinking or disappearing through the stage while the
living figure remains unhurt.
Dated this Sixth day of May One thousand eight hundred and ninety-five.
An Improved Method of Producing an Optical Illusion, and
Improved Apparatus to be Used therein.
I GEORGE RIGNALL of Her Majesty's Theatre Pitt and Market Streets
Sydney in the Colony of New South Wales, Theatrical Lessee and Manager 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 purpose of this invention is to make it appear that persons or objects are
enveloped in flame or that such persons are moving as dancing in the midst of fire
or that such persons or objects are being consumed by fire.
This purpose is achieved by utilising the reflective power of a sheet of transparent
glass set at or forwardly inclined angle upon the platform or stage towards the

page_text: spectators and causing to appear on such sheet of glass the reflection of flame o
fire which appears as if it were real flame or fire some distance behind the glass
sheet which of course is not perceived. In the floor of the stage in front of the
inclined glass sheet is an aperture or space which is occupied by the apparatus for
producing the real flame or fire. This apparatus may be of any kind but prefer-
ably consists of perforated pipes to which a supply of gasoline or hydro-carbon oil
is assured. It is preferable also that the stationary objects of the scene which is
seen through the glass sheet by the spectators should be duplicated in this open
aperture or space of the stage.
Now the gasoline being lighted under the stage the flame or fire is reflected
through the glass and is perceived by spectators in front as if it were real fire
some distance back and through and about this fire persons as fairies or witches &c.
may dance or gesticulate or otherwise act as may be required or a coffin or pyre in
or on which a living figure is to be immolated may apparently be gradually
consumed by this fire by shrinking or disappearing through the stage while the
living figure remains unhurt.
But in order that this invention may be clearly understood reference will
now be made to the drawings herewith in which Figure 1 is a front view Figure 2
a sectional plan and Figure 3 a sectional elevation of a theatre stage showing the
manner of and apparatus for producing this improved optical illusion or scenic
effect arranged according to this invention.
A is the platform or stage with its proscenium A' and ordinary foot lights and
reflectors A and having upon said stage or platform the requisite scenery B.
Upon said stage or platform A during the process of scene shifting or at the
desirable moment in the performance a sheet of glass C is allowed to descend upon
the stage in the manner of ordinary drop scenery so that its bottom edge takes
against stop pieces A³ secured to the flooring the sheet of glass being inclined out-
wardly therefrom towards the proscenium or auditorium and held in such position
by ropes or guys C₁ secured to the glass sheet by clamps C² for use in lowering
and hoisting it to and from the stage while in front of said glass sheet C at each
side and above are set wings or side scenes B₁ and hanging curtain B2 to obscure
the edges of the glass from the audience. In the stage or flooring A in front of
glass C is an aperture or trap A to the under stage room A5 in which is
located immediately under said aperture a frame or grid D composed of one
or a series of perforated pipes or channels to which gasoline, hydro-carbon oil or
other like combustible liquid or fluid is conveyed by pipe D² from tank or
reservoir D¹ whilst under said frame or grid D is a tray D³ to catch any burning
oil which may fall from the grid.
When the frame or grid D is ignited the flames arising therefrom are reflected
on the glass sheet C in such a manner that they appear to those in the auditorium
who cannot perceive the glass sheet as if they actually arose from an object at a
certain distance behind said glass say for instance from the representation of an altar
or pyre B shown in the drawings forming portion of the scenic property on the
stage A which would appear to the audience as if it were in flames and if the
person reclining thereon was actually being burned, such an effect being produced
if desired as if the body of "She" in Rider Haggard's novel were immolated on
the pyre and "She were to rise unharmed from the flames.
"
Among many other effects obtainable is the dancing of fairies or witches amidst
and the change of one into the other.
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 :-
First. The improved method of producing an optical illusion on the stage
consisting in reflecting upon an inclined sheet of glass (inclined at a suitable angle)
the flames of a fire in front of said sheet of glass and below said stage substantially
as herein described and explained.

page_text: Second. The combination and arrangement on a stage and with the scenery
thereof of a sheet of glass such as C an aperture or opening such as A' perforated
pipes such as D tray such as D³ and tank or reservoir such as D' substantially as
herein described and explained and as illustrated in the drawing.
Dated this Thirtieth day of December One thousand eight hundred and
ninety-five
GEORGE RIGNALL.