Method and Means or Apparatus for Producing Colour Effects.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 24th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Method and Means or Apparatus for Producing Colour Effects.
I, ALEXANDER WALLACE RIMINGTON, of 26 Kensington Park Gardens,
Bayswater, in the County of London, Artist, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
According to this invention coloured light is projected on to a screen or other
suitable body or surface in such a manner as to give effects in colour bearing a
definite relationship to certain sound vibrations. This may be effected in a variety
of ways, thus a keyboard may be used with appropriate mechanism to control
devices such as diaphragms adapted to arrest or permit rays of light to pass from
any suitable source on to the screen or other object on which the colour effects are
to be produced, such rays of light being projected through suitable coloured media,
on to the said screen or other object.
Thus it will be understood that by this invention inter alia, sound music may.
(figuratively speaking) be translated into colour-music. In order to throw coloured
light upon a screen or other suitable object according to the novel method set forth
apparatus variously constructed and arranged can (as already indicated) be
employed.
An arrangement for the purpose may comprise for example, a keyboard arranged
in any convenient manner, as for instance, it may be similar to that of a pianoforte
or organ; this key-board being connected by a series of trackers wires or silk cords,
with a corresponding set of diaphragms (adjusted and balanced by weights or
otherwise) arranged in front of a number of convex mirrors and lenses, and a set of
coloured glasses, celluloid films, or spectroscopic prisms, arranged in such a manner
as to colour the light reflected from the convex mirrors on passing through the
lenses.
In connection with the foregoing there would be special fittings with suitable
sources of light such as arc electric lamps or oxyhydrogen lamps, one for.
each lens.
As an additional feature I in some cases also make provision for enabling any
given sound note to introduce the element of variable form and intensity into the.
rays of light passing through the corresponding colour medium and the colour-space;
or image thus produced upon the screen.
Apparatus constructed and arranged in any convenient form to operate on the.
principle of this invention can be used (figuratively speaking) to translate sound
music into colour-music by such adjustment of the colours of the spectrum upon.
the said glass or other discs in regard to the sound vibrations to which they
correspond, as approximately to correspond also with the relative air vibrations of
the chromatic scale as such is understood in music. In other words according to
the just indicated application of this invention each note of the keyboard will be
connected with a colour whose place in the spectrum will correspond in a certain
mathematical sense with the place occupied by a note upon the chromatic.
sound-scale of the musical instrument.
:
The invention is also applicable by arranging the said colours and notes or keys
of the keyboard to correspond with any other arbitrary scale which may be desired
for the purpose of producing other forms of colour-music or carrying out colour
experiments.

page_text: By suitable modifications of certain features in carrying out the invention it can
be adapted to meet the requirements of colour measurement and notation for artistic
and art industrial purposes.
In order to facilitate the use of the apparatus the keys of the keyboard may be
also coloured to correspond with the respective colours projected upon the screen by
lenses or reflectors.
D
31
30 1 1
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Method and Means or Apparatus for Producing Colour Effects.
I, ALEXANDER WALLACE RIMINGTON, of 26 Kensington Park Gardens,
Bayswater, London, England, Artist, 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:-
According to this invention coloured light is projected on to a screen or other
suitable body or surface in such a manner as to give effects in colour bearing a more
or less definite relationship to certain sound vibrations. This may be effected in a
variety of ways, such as by employing a keyboard with appropriate mechanism to
control devices such as diaphragms, adapted to arrest or permit rays of light to pass
from any suitable source on to the screen or other object on which the colour effects
are to be produced, such rays of light being projected, through suitable coloured
media, on to the said sereen or other object.
Thus it will be understood that by this invention, inter aliu, sound music may
(figuratively speaking) be translated into colour-music. In order to throw coloured
light upon a screen or other suitable object according to the novel method set forth
apparatus variously constructed and arranged can (as already indicated) be
employed.
An arrangement for the purpose may comprise, for example, a keyboard arranged
in any convenient manner, as for instance, it may be similar to that of a pianoforte
or organ; this key-board being connected by a series of trackers or wires with a
corresponding set of diaphragms (adjusted and balanced by weights or otherwise)
arranged in front of a number of reflectors and lenses, and a set of coloured glasses,
films or spectroscopic prisms, arranged in such a manner as to colour the light
reflected from the mirrors on passing through the lenses, there being in connection
therewith special fittings with suitable sources of light such as arc electric lamps or
oxyhydrogen lamps.
As an additional feature I in some cases also make provision for the introduction
of the element of variable form and intensity into the rays of light passing through
the corresponding colour medium and the colour-space or image thus produced upon
the screen.
Apparatus constructed and arranged in any convenient form to operate on the
principle of this invention can be used (figuratively speaking) to translate sound
music into colour-music by such adjustment of individual colours of the spectrum
upon the said glass or other diaphragms in regard to the sound vibrations to which
they correspond, as approximately to correspond also with the relative air vibrations
of the chromatic scale as such is understood in music. In other words according to
the just indicated application of this invention each note of the keyboard will be
connected with a colour whose place in the spectrum will correspond in a certain
mathematical sense with the place occupied by a note upon the chromatic sound-
scale of the musical instrument.

page_text: The invention is also applicable by arranging the said colours and notes or keys
of the keyboard to correspond with any other arbitrary scale which may be desired
for the purpose of producing other forms of colour-music or carrying out colour
experiments.
By suitable modifications of certain features in carrying out the invention it can
be adapted to meet the requirements of colour analysis and notation for artistic and
art industrial purposes. The mode of effecting this will be readily understood
when it is remembered that the process admits of notation exactly as in the case of
music.
For example any given combination of colours can be registered by musical
notation and the effect of the juxtaposition of various coloured patterns for
decorative purposes can be tested with greater ease and speed than with the
palette.
In order to facilitate the use of the apparatus the keys of the keyboard may be
also coloured to correspond with the respective colours projected upon the screen
by lenses or reflectors.
The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example a construction of
apparatus for carrying my invention into effect.
In these drawings,
Fig. 1, shews a front elevation of the apparatus, partly in section.
Fig. 2, shews parts of the apparatus in vertical section in a plane at right angles
to Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is also a vertical section in a plane at right angles to Fig. 1, but is, (like
other views hereinafter referred to), drawn to a larger scale. This view shews one
of the front apertures 6 and the arrangement with respect to it of the corresponding
lamp (17) condenser (18) lens (19) and set of diaphragms (5) connected to the
keyboard, as also the arrangements for supporting and adjusting the lamp, condenser
and lens.
Fig. 4 is a detached view, at right angles to Fig. 3, shewing the means
illustrated in that figure for supporting and adjusting the lamp and other
parts.
Fig. 5 shews in front elevation a set of diaphragms with their holders, actuating
wires, springs, buffer stop and other parts hereinafter described.
Fig. 6 is a view (partly in section) at right angles to Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 shews to a larger scale a wire loop 55 and a wire 53 which is connected
as hereinafter described to a diaphragm holder and is furnished with an adjustable
nut or button 57 so that downward movement of the loop 55 will through the
button 57 and wire 53 actuate the corresponding diaphragm holder, and that the
wire 53 can move downward without actuating the loop 55.
Fig. & shows in plan the construction of the registers through which the wires 53
and loops 55 respectively work.
Fig. 9 shews to a larger scale than Fig. 6 a series of diaphragm-holders
together with attached connected and adjacent parts hereinafter more particularly
referred to.
Figs. 10 and 11 are detail views of the adjusting screw arrangement shewn to a
smaller scale at 29 in Fig. 3.
Fig. 12 is a detail view of the arrangement shewn to a smaller scale in Fig. 3 for
adjusting the distance of the lamp froin the front of the apparatus along the upper
part of frame 25,
Fig. 13 is a detail view of the arrangement shewn to a smaller scale in Fig. 3 for
enabling the position of the lamp to be adjusted in a lateral sense.
Figs. 14 and 15 are views at right angles to one another of the adjustable eye
piece employed to facilitate accurate adjustment of the lamp are notwithstanding
irregularities in the combustion of the carbons.
1 is a keyboard, similar to that of an ordinary organ, from which the movement
of the keys is conveyed by means of stickers and trackers and the back fall 2, to
the rollers 3, which rollers transfer the movement, (in the manner usual in an

page_text: organ) to the trackers 56. These trackers actuate the diaphragms 38 of which
there is a series opposite each front aperture 6 (see Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 9) in
such a manner as to cause the said diaphragms. to rise and fall, or oscillate, in front
of the apertures 6, so that the respective diaphragms will be opposite to the
corresponding apertures or not according as the corresponding keys of the key board
are for the time being elevated or depressed.
It is advisable to make the diaphragms 5 of some material that is strong, light,
and capable of enduring high temperatures. I have obtained satisfactory results
by using thin pieces of mica, and in order to obviate noise when in movement which
I found liable to occur when employing a single thickness, I construct each
diaphragm of two layers or films secured in one and the same diaphragm holder so
as to be held in contact with one another.
The diaphragms are either coloured with the respective colours referred to above
or tinted grey, the object being to enable any given note or key to allow the given
strength of a certain colour to pass the corresponding aperture 6 and appear upon
a screen or other suitable object placed in front of the instrument. That diaphragin
of each series which is nearest to the corresponding aperture 6 is rendered non-
transparent by being smoked and varnished, or may be made of a thin plate of
metal or other suitable material. An arrangement is provided (as hereinafter
explained) by which, on the depression of any given note of the octave, this non-
transparent diaphragm is removed simultaneously with any other diaphragm or
diaphragins of the series belonging to the same aperture 6, the object being, that on
the depression of any given key, this non-transparent diaphragm shall invariably be
moved from the front of its aperture 6, so as to allow the cone of light rays from
the corresponding lamp to pass through such aperture.
In addition to the movable diaphragms 5, there is a stationary diaphragm fixed
immediately in front of the non-transparent diaphragm; and whether the other
movable diaphragms be coloured, or be tinted grey, this fixed diaphragm is
invariably coloured of the tint which corresponds to the given note upon the
key-board.
For the transparent coloured diaphragms it is important to use transparent
colours and varnishes capable of withstanding the high temperature and powerful
light. As the result of numerous experiments I have found it advantageous to use
what is known as "Soehne's No. 3 varnish," and various colours of aniline origin,
such as aurine mixing the colour and varnish in proportions depending upon the
depth of colour required, applying the varnish so coloured to the mica or glass
diaphragm in the same way that a photographer covers a photographic plate with
collodion and drying afterwards by artificial heat. When I have failed to obtain
the particular colour desired, I have used, in lieu of juxtaposed coloured films of
mica a piece of coloured glass having as nearly as possible the colour desired, and
I bave corrected the colour by the use of a superimposed tint of coloured varnish
such as already described. In these cases the mica diaphragms, tinted grey, have
merely served to partially resist the passage of the light or to allow more or less
of it to pass; the colour being given by the one fixed plate of glass. 39, 39, are
the diaphragm holders; they are made as light as possible; they may be of any
suitable material; I have used mahogany with satisfactory results. Referring to
Figs. 5 to 9, the holders constituting a series are pivoted upon a rod or centre 40
so as to be capable of oscillation in the direction indicated by the dotted lines 41.
7 is the fixed diaphragm; it is carried by the nipping block 42. 43 is a perforated
metal plate attached to the face of the diaphragm board 44 and determining the
effective area of the aperture 6, which may be of any desired shape. 44ª is a
buffer block to which is attached a piece of thick felt 45 which receives the impact
of any diaphragm holder 39 when thrown back by the depression of a note of the
keyboard. 46 is a block or bracket accurately grooved to take the diaphragm
holders 39 which are mounted upon the steel centre pin 40 upon which they
oscillate. 50, 50 are arms formed of wire (it may be brass wire); each wire is so
bent as to afford a secure attachment to the corresponding diaphragm holder; as

page_text: will be seen the arrangement and respective lengths of the arms are such that upon
the outermost diaphragm being moved it will carry the remaining three with it;
upon the second diaphragm being moved it will carry the two at its inner side and
so on. 51 and 52 are registers or guides constructed as shown in Fig. 8. Both
these registers or guides are "clothed" to prevent noise and friction. 53, 53, are
wires each bent to a right angle at its upper part so as to engage in a hole at 54 in
the corresponding diaphragın holder; each of these wires is actuated by a wire
loop 55 attached to a tracker 56. Upon each wire 53 there is a nut or button 57
so that when the tracker is actuated so as to pull down a wire loop 55 the
corresponding wire 53 will be pulled down; but that upon any given diaphragm
being moved the remaining wires which are depressed by others of the diaphragm
holders simultaneously moved may pass freely through their respective holes at
the tops of the loops 55. The diaphragm holders 39 and the wires 53 are held in
position by springs 58 which are regulated by the nuts or buttons 59.
In order to overcome the slight disadvantage resulting from having to move a
number of diaphragms and springs by the depression of one note in the upper
octaves, and in order also to be able to increase the size of the diaphragms if
desired, without throwing undue stress on the notes of the key-board, I may in
some cases attach to the trackers a pneumatic arrangement such as is sometimes
employed in organs. Behind the apertures 6 are placed the lamps or other
suitable sources of light and the lenses whereby to project cones of light rays
through the apertures.
In the arrangement illustrated (see Fig. 3) 17 is a constant focus electric arc
lamp, but there may be substituted an oxycalcium burner, or other suitable source
of illumination. 18 is a condenser, and 19 a lens through which the light is carried
to the aperture 6. 20 is a screw engaging in a nut 21 which is carried by the
rods 22 and plate 23. The screw 20 is for the purpose of raising or lowering the
table 24 which carries the condenser and lens.
This table and the arc lamp 17 are carried by the frame 25 which rests upon
the wooden support 27 and is also supported by the T-shaped bar 28 forming part
of the general framing of the instrument. The upper portion of the frame 25 is
pivoted at 26 and can be raised or lowered by the screw- 29 (Figs. 10 and 11).
This is to provide for the accurate adjustment of the carbon points of the arc
lamp 17 opposite the condenser 18. Adjustment of the lamp in a direction from
front to back of the apparatus is provided for by the screw 30 (see Fig. 12) which
is attached to the blocks 31 adapted to slide on the top of the frame and carry the
lainp pivots 32. Lateral adjustment is provided for by providing the frame 25
which is pivoted at 27* with a slot and pinching screw 33 (see Fig. 13). The
pivoted frame 25 slides upon the bar 28. In order to facilitate this lateral
adjustment to enable the carbon are to be accurately adjusted and kept in proper
position notwithstanding any irregularities in the combustion of the carbon points,
there is provided an eye piece 34 (Figs. 14 and 15); it can be raised and lowered
upon the rod 35 and the small slit 36 is capable of being rendered as narrow as
may be desired by the small metal slide 37 which is made to fit tightly upon the
front plate of the eye-piece or gauge.
It is to be understood that the various adjusting devices hereinbefore mentioned
are provided in order that the cones or beams of light passing through the various
openings 6 may be projected wholly or partly onto one and the same portion of a
screen or other body in order that the resultant colour. effect produced on such
screen or body shall be that due to the combination of all the beams or cones of
light projected at any given time.
Where it is desired to enable (a), glasses upon which forms produced by sound
vibrations, or by photography, drawing or painting, or (b), glasses of varying
ransparency; to be shifted across the paths of the cones of light rays, so as to
atroduce the element of variable form or to increase or diminish the quantity of.
coloured light projected upon the screen or other suitable object, the following
arrangement may be conveniently employed.

page_text: Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, immediately in front of the diaphragms, (or it may
be in front of the lenses behind the apertures 6) I arrange a series of frames 8,
which are carried upon brackets 9 (or upon other suitable supports) and are
adapted to be shifted from side to side by means of the stops 10, or pedal 11, and
to return to a fixed position (by springs 12 or equivalent means) on the stop or
stops being replaced, or on the pedal being released.
In front of the frame 8 is an outer casing 13, which carries a series of projecting
funnels 14 corresponding in position with the apertures 6, these funnels having for
object to prevent any escape of light sideways from behind the diaphragins.
The space 15 is (or may be) occupied by an American organ or harmonium,
actuated by the same keyboard that actuates the diaphragms 5. In this way hoth
light and sound music may conveniently be played at the same time, and the colour
organ will be enabled the better to be accompanied by other sound instruments, or
an orchestra, etc.
With regard to the form to be introduced by means of the sliding frames above
referred to, I may mention that I have employed the kind of forms produced by
sound known as the "Watts-Hughes voice pictures," photographs of cloud forms,
and other objects.
My invention is susceptible of various applications. One of these is the direct
production (by means of the keyboard) from music written for an instrument such
as the organ or pianoforte of what I call "colour music" by which expression
I desire to have it understood that I mean colour effects produced upon a screen or
other suitable object and which are variable in point of combination, intensity, tint,
and rapidity of change in the same way that in sound music given notes are
variable in point of combination, intensity, tone, and rapidity of change at the will
of the executive musician. In this connection it will be evident that by my
invention am enabled to associate time and rhythm with colour and an almost
infinite number of varying combinations of colour in the same way that the almost
infinite number of sound combinations may be obtained by means of known sound
instruments such as the organ or piano.
Or colour music may be produced as a separate composition and independently
of sound music though accompanied by it in some cases on other instruments or an
orchestra.
My apparatus can also be constructed in such a manner as to express or take
advantage of the remarkable analogy which exists between the prismatic spectrum
of white light and the musical scale.
In the case of the spectrum, the lowest visible colour in the red portion of the
spectrum band approximately corresponds to a rate of 451 millions of millions of
vibrations per second, and the highest visible colour in the violet portion to a rate
of 785 millions of millions of vibrations per second or roughly double that of the
red portion.
Taking any tonic note, say C, on the sound or musical scale, the corresponding
note at the top of the octave has double the number of air vibrations per second;
and if we suppose the 7th, or note immediately below this upper tonic to corre-
spond to the extreme violet of the spectrum, we have the closest possible analogy
in point of ratio of vibration between the colour octave of the spectrum and the
sound octave of the musical scale.
In one form of my instrument the intervals between the colours-taking them in
point of position along the spectrum band and their ratio of vibration,-have been
arranged upon the same chromatic and diatonic system as that of the notes of the
musical scale; the octave being completed by the recurrence of the red (towards
which the blue end of the spectrum would seem to tend, by the gradual conversion
of the blue into violet) this upper red note thus recurring as the tonic recurs in the
final note of the musical octave, and the relative ratio of vibration of the other
notes being in an identical relationship on both the colour scale of this colour
organ, as it may be called, and any properly-tuned sound organ or pianoforte.
With this object in view, the colour of the diaphragms used in my colour organ

page_text: (as I call it) are obtained (when it is used for this musical purpose) by calculating
the approximate ratio of vibration at proper intervals along the whole length of
the spectrum projected upon a white screen and matching the colour at the
required points corresponding in respect of the ratio of vibration to the notes of
the musical scale.
This is done by cutting off by a suitable slit (as understood in connection with
the spectro-scope) a narrow band of colour at the respective points or intervals,
and experimentally varying the colour of the diaphragm until on passing a beam of
white light through it a similar colour band or indication is obtained or projected
upon the spectrum screen corresponding in tint to that of the above mentioned
narrow band of colour.
Another application of my invention is for the production of colour effects
entirely independently of sound musical relationship, for stage and other purposes.
It may also be used for experimenting upon and notation of combinations of colours
for artistic scientific or manufacturing purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The production of colour effects such as hereinabove referred to as " colour
music" by the use in conjunction with a suitable source of light of appropriate
coloured media and controlling means adapted to enable rays of light to be at will
arrested or projected or combined in a regulated manier from such source of light
through the coloured media on to a screen or other object.
2. For the production of colour effects apparatus comprising lamps, condensers,
lenses, coloured diaphragms, and mechanism for operating such diaphragms in a
systematic manner in such wise that rays of light may be at will arrested or
projected through the coloured diaphragms upon a screen or other suitable object
substantially as described.
3. In combination with apparatus of the kind referred to in the preceding claim
frames adapted to carry sheets of material such as glass or mica upon which forms
produced by sound vibrations or by photography, drawing or painting; or sheets
of like material but of varying transparency, such frames being arranged to be
operated so as to enable the said sheets to be shifted across the paths of the cones
of light rays so as to increase or diminish the quantity of coloured light projected
upon the screen or other object as set forth.
4. My apparatus for producing colour effects constructed arranged and operating
substantially as described and shewn in the accompanying drawings for the purpose
mentioned.
Dated this 24th day of September 1894.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.