Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Stage Illusions.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 13th Feb., 1893—Accepted, 18th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Stage Illusions.
We JOHN NEVIL MASKELYNE, Junior, and CHARLES MORRITT, both of the
Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, London, England, Illusionists, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
The object of this invention is to provide apparatus by the aid of which, illusions
may be produced on a stage or platform.
The apparatus consists of a board on which the performer is to lie, with his arms
outstretched. This board is supported, at a suitable distance above the stage,
on pillars, and a screen is placed round the board, extending from a short distance
below the board, to any height above, which will prevent the audience seeing what
is going on behind the screen.
The board is provided with means, consisting of a metal shackle to be closed by
a spring catch or padlock, or of a strap, or any other convenient device, by which
the wrists and ankles, and perhaps the neck of the performer, may be secured to
the board. These means, whatever they may be, must be of such a character, that
they can be readily released by a confederate.
The pillars are hollow, but they may be fitted with removable plugs, to give them, at
certain times, the appearance of being solid. The pillars it is preferred should fit
into holes in the board, which will be covered (as indeed may be the whole of the
board) with some quilted material, so arranged that the portions over the openings
can be raised.
The screen will be provided with slits through which apparently the hands and
feet of the performer lying on the board will be passed, so that the audience may
be deluded into the idea that nothing that goes on behind the screen can possibly
be effected by the performer, because his hands and feet are secured to the board,
and are also exposed to view through the screen.
The hands seen will, however, be those of a confederate (or confederates), who,
by passing his arms up the hollow pillar, will release the shackles, or other
fastenings, and free the performer's hands, substituting his own for them. In like
manner, dummy feet may be substituted for the real feet, by a confederate on the
stage.
In this way, the performer will be free to perform any tricks that may have
been previously agreed upon, such as playing on a musical instrument, which may
have been hidden in the quilting, or passed over the screen, or through the pillars,
by the confederate.
Dated this 19th day of May 1899
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Stage Illusions.
We JOHN NEVIL MASKELYNE Junior and CHARLES MORRITT, both of the
Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, in the City of Westminster, Illusionists, 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 provide apparatus by the aid of which illusions
man he produced on a stage or platform

page_text: In the accompanying drawing :-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the whole apparatus, with the figure of the
performer in position.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section of part of the apparatus; and
Fig. 3 a longitudinal section of the same.
The apparatus consists of a board A on which the performer is to lie with his
arms outstretched, as shewn. This board is supported at a suitable distance above
the stage, on pillars B, and a screen C is placed round the board, extending from a
short distance below the board to any height above, which will prevent the
audience seeing what is going on behind the screen.
The board is provided with means D, such as a metal shackle, to be closed by a
spring catch or padlock, or a strap, or any other convenient device by which the
wrists and ankles, and perhaps the neck of the performer, may be secured to the
board A.
These means, whatever they may be, must be of such a character that they can
be readily released by a confederate.
The pillars B are hollow, but they may be fitted with removable plugs, to give
them at certain times the appearance of being solid. The pillars it is preferred
should fit into holes in the board, as shown at Figs. 2 and 3, which may be covered
(as indeed may be the whole of the board) with some quilted material so arranged
that the portion over the openings can be raised, as shown at Fig. 2.
The pillars will also be arranged to fit over small traps in the stage floor.
The screen C will be provided with slits through which, apparently, the hands
and feet of the performer lying on the board will be passed, so that the audience
may be deluded into the idea that nothing that goes on behind the screen can
possibly be effected by the performer, because, his hands and feet are secured to
the board, and are also exposed to view through the screen.
The hands seen will, however, be those of a confederate (or confederates), who,
by passing his arms through the trap and up the hollow pillar, will release the
shackles, or other fastenings, and free the performer's hands, substituting his own
for them. In like manner, dummy feet may be substituted for the real feet by a
confederate on the stage.
In this way, the performer will be free to perform any tricks that may have
been previously agreed upon, such as playing on a musical instrument which may
have been hidden in the quilting, or passed over the screen, or through the pillars,
by the confederate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
Apparatus for producing stage illusions, consisting of a board provided with
detachable means for securing the performer thereon, hollow pillars on which the
board is supported above traps in the floor, and a screen as and for the purpose
set forth.
DAL
111 3
T1
1000