Improvement in Advertising Placards.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left. 30th Aug., 1889-Accepted. 26th Oct.. 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
An Improvement in Advertising Placards.
1, OSBERT HENRY HOWARTH, of 3, Savoy Buildings, Strand, London, W.C.
Journalist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A mechanical placard or show-card consisting of two cards, boards, or panels
sliding together into a grooved frame; the upper card being perforated so as to
display upon the under one a Cryptogram in words or figures, which, by the move-
ment of the perforated card, is converted into a full notice, announcement, or design
of the article to be advertised.
O. H. HOWARTH.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Advertising Placards.
I, OSBERT HENRY HOWARTH, of 23, Lower Belgrave Street, London, S.W. (late of
3, Savoy Buildings, Strand, W.C.) Journalist, 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 attract special attention to an advertising placard,
or show-card, by means of a mechanical movement put into operation by the action of
any person observing it; the appearance of the placard prior to such movements
being such as to suggest & invite the necessary action.
For this purpose I use a card, board, or plate, of any material, size, & shape suitable
to the purpose, on which is inscribed or printed an announcement or design of the
article to be advertised; such announcement being so devised as to include certain
words (or, if a design, certain parts) of the nature known as a Cryptogram; that is to
say, a separate phrase or design distinguishable from the complete statement or
design of which it forms a part.
The outer edge of the plate is turned over so as to form a recess or frame, into
which another plate of similar size & shape can be made to slide (preferably from
below) so as to cover the face of the inscribed plate. This outer slide is perforated in
such a manner that when pushed in as far as it will go, it covers & conceals the
whole of the announcement or design excepting the said Cryptogram, which remains
visible through a part of the perforations enlarged for that purpose; but when drawn
outwards through a certain fixed distance it discloses through the perforations the
whole of the said announcement or design including the Cryptogram.
The perforated slide is retained in its normal position (i.e. displaying the Crypto-
gram only) by a small rubber or metal spring or counterpoise attached to it in any
convenient manner secure from injury; thereby preventing the movement of the slide
beyond the requisite distance, & ensuring its return to the normal position when
released.
These features of my invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying
drawing, in which Fig. I. illustrates a specimen placard with the perforated slide in
the normal position displaying a Cryptogram only; & Fig. II. the same with the
slide withdrawn so as to disclose the complete announcement. Fig. III shews a
method of attaching the retaining spring.
The construction may be varied by arranging the two plates or cards so as to slide
together into a grooved frame, in which case either the perforated or the inscribed
plate may be fixed, & the movement imparted to the other. Or, the placard may be
G

page_text: circular in shape, & the above effect obtained by a rotatory movement of one of the
plates. I employ, however, the above described method of construction as the simplest
& cheapest.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
The use, for advertising placards, of the perforated slide exhibiting a Cryptogram ;
the latter being converted by its movement into a complete announcement.
Dated this 30th day of August 1889.
O. H. HOWARTH.