IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MACHINES CALLED ROUNDABOUTS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Stephen Harrison, Carpenter, and Stephen
Eversfield Featherstone, Ironmonger, both of Deptford, in the County
of Kent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MACHINES CALLED
ROUNDABOUTS."
Sealed the 15th June 1866, and dated the 19th December 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Stephen Harrison
and Stephen Eversfield Featherstone at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 19th December 1865.
We, GEORGE STEPHEN HARRISON, Carpenter, and STEPHEN EVERSFIELD
FEATHERSTONE, Ironmonger, both of Deptford, in the County of Kent, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MACHINES CALLED ROUNDABOUTS," to be as follows:-
Those machines termed roundabouts used at fairs are well known, and they
are usually set and kept in motion either by steam power or by men pushing
against the framework, causing it to turn round, the rate of motion being
consequent upon the pace at which the men run, and its duration upon their
powers of endurance.
The object of our Invention is to economize the expence of the steanı
engine and men, and also to render the turning movement dependent only on
those for whose recreation our machine is adapted. We make a standard
framing of iron or wood broad at its base and pointed (or nearly so) at its
apex. We make another framing (which may take to pieces) composed of a

page_text: centre or boss, from which start any number of flat spokes, arms, or radii.
At the end of each spoke we place a wooden horse; in the flat of the spoke
or arm we cut a long slot, and in this slot works a chair, the length of the
slot permits the chair to be moved nearer to the centre or boss or farther
from it, and towards the horse, as may be found desirable for the adjustment or
counterbalancing of weight. The second framing is placed upon the first, the
top of which fits into the centre of the second or revolving frame by means of
a universal joint, spindle, and socket, or any of the known contrivances for
such purposes. The machine being in position the boys of the party are
placed on the horses and the girls or little children in the chairs. The weight
being adjusted one of the arms is canted towards the ground or floor, and the
boy on horseback gives it an impetus with his feet (as with a velocipede);
this has the effect of urging the horse forward, and at the same time lifting it;
the next arm or spoke then assumes the position left by the first, the pedal
motion is repeated, and a greater speed is given to the turning of the machine,
until by repeated foot pressure it attains a high rate of velocity. Cessation of
pedal urging soon brings the machine to a state of repose. It will be evident
that our accelerator will form a desirable means of recreation at places of
amusement, schools, and even in private families.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Stephen Harrison and Stephen Eversfield Featherstone
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th June 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE
STEPHEN HARRISON, Carpenter, and STEPHEN EVERSFIELD FEATHERSTONE,
Ironmonger, both of Deptford, in the County of Kent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said George Stephen Harrison and Stephen Eversfield Featherstone, Her
special licence that we, the said George Stephen Harrison and Stephen
Eversfield Featherstone, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said George Stephen Harrison and Stephen Eversfield
Featherstone, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,

page_text: and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MACHINES CALLED ROUNDABOUTS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
we, the said George Stephen Harrison and Stephen Eversfield Featherstone,
our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be.
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said.
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE; that we, the said George Stephen Harrison and Stephen
Eversfield Featherstone, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention,
and, in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to.
the Sheet of Drawing hereunto annexed, and forming part of this our Speci-
fication, and to the figures and letters of reference placed thereon, such letters
denoting similar parts in each of the Figures respectively.
The machines termed and known as roundabouts used at fairs and in other
places are usually set and kept in motion either by steam power, by men
pushing against the framework, or by turning a handle and cog wheels
causing it to turn round; the rate of motion in the latter cases being con-
sequent upon the pace at which the men run or turn the handle or winch,
and its duration upon their powers of endurance.
The object of our Invention is to economize the expence of the steam
engine in one case, or the men in the others, by rendering the rotatory or
turning movement dependent on those for whose recreation our Invention is
adapted, and it will be evident that the machine, the subject of this Invention,
will form a desirable means of recreation in places of public amusement, in
schools, and even in private dwellings.
.
.
Roundabouts as hitherto constructed may be likened to a wheel placed and
worked horizontally, supported in position by stays passing from the spokes or
radii of the wheel to a vertical shaft, and turning on a pivot. Our round-
about, on the contrary, is not so worked or constructed, the object being to
cant one part or end downwards towards the earth or floor, while the opposite
end or corresponding part is proportionately elevated in the air, and we effect
this in the manner herein-after described and shown.
In the Drawing Figure 1 represents in side elevation a machine with two
arms, only intended for the use of two or four persons. It is formed of a
standard a or pedestal, the lower part being fitted to a platform or framing, to

page_text: secure it in a vertical or upright position, and of a long beam 6, the length of
which is usually in the proportion of four to five times the height of the
standard a. At each end of the beam b, say at c, c, we place a wooden horse
at right angles, and in the same plane with the arms of the beam 6; near
each horse we commence to form a slot running thence towards the standard a
(see dat Figure 2), in each of which we place a sliding or shifting chair e,
causing it to take the position on the beam b, which will best ensure by its
weight and that of its load the balance of the beam. Boys are usually placed
on the horses, and girls or little children in the chairs, but men or women
may ride the horses if it be desired. The exact centre of the beam 6 (in
regard to its length) is fitted on the top of the standard by any mechanical
contrivance which will permit the beam to rotate and not hold it rigid in a
horizontal position, but allow each end to rise and fall alternately. We describe
several means of effecting this, but other contrivances may be used if preferred.
We make a spindle and socket of metal shown on a larger scale than at
Figure 1, at Figures 1* and 1**; Figure 1* being an end view, and Figure 1**
being a front view thereof, with a metal cradle or rocking piece' m. The
socket is fixed perpendicularly in the centre of top of pedestal or standard a;
the spindle being placed in the socket can revolve. The cradle or rocking
piece m being fixed to the centre of the beam 6 is placed in position by means
of pivots f, which will allow it to take an up-and-down motion. The weight
being adjusted one of the arms is canted towards the earth or floor, and the
rider on horseback gives it an impetus with his feet (as with a velocipede or
in leaping); this has the effect of urging the horse forward, and at the same
time lifting it. The next arm or spoke (where there is more than one) then
assumes the position left by the first, the pedal motion is repeated, and a
greater speed is given to the turning of the
pressure it attains a high rate of velocity.
brings the machine to a state of repose.
shown, as at Figure 1, is used the foot pressure of one boy is sufficient to urge
one end of the beam round until it cants sufficiently at the other end to permit
the other horseman to strike the earth with the feet in his turn. Or we obtain
the same result by using the contrivance represented by Figure 2. We make
à hollow or cup g in the top of the standard a, in which we place a ball or
part of a ball which will turn round, and also lean or cant towards the side,
so as to allow the beam 6 to perform the motion previously described, the
beam being kept in a horizontal position (as regards its breadth) by a wheel i
at each of its sides, and which run round on the top of the pedestal or
standard as the beam revolves; or this position of the joint or centre may be
machine, until by repeated foot
Cessation of pedal urging soon
When the machine described and

page_text: reversed, the ball being fixed on the standard and the cup being worked in the
under side of the beam, by which arrangement the cup clasping the ball keeps
the beam secure on the top of the standard. In both cases the weight of the
beam and up-and-down motion being centered in the wheels i, i. To prevent
the horses themselves touching the. ground or floor we check them either by
a spring placed under each horse or by any other well-known and suitable
contrivance.
.
Figure 3 represents on the standard a a centre for a machine having more
than two arms or radii, each arm being furnished with a horse and carriage as
before described, the top frame being allowed to cant any way until one side
or horse nearly touches the floor. A conical-shaped iron pivot j is fitted into
the top of the standard a, on or near the top. of which is placed an iron boss
or centre k in shape similar to an inverted funnel, being much broader at the
bottom than the iron pivot j to permit the wheel (composed of the radii_afore-
said) to cant in any direction. To this boss each arm or spoke is fixed, the
whole weight and centre of action being on the iron pivoting piece; the
spokes are supported by stays n, passing from a collar.on the upper part of
boss & to about half the length of the spoke or arm where each stay is fixed
or attached by a bolt and nut, or by any other known means. In this case
also the position of the centre joint may be reversed by placing the pivoting
piece on the under side of upper frame, and the funnel boss in the top of the
standard. The arrangement before described and shewn at Figure 2 may be
used in this case also, but the wheel i would be dispensed with, and a com-
plete ball would be necessary, as the centre of action would be at top or
bottom of ball as the case might be.
Figure 4 is an enlarged plan of part of a spoke or arm to show that the
horse is fixed at the forked end at c, c, and also the slot d in which the chair
or carriage is fitted and slides. The horses may be fixed rigid, or they may
be fitted with joints permitting them to hang always perpendicularly.
Figure 5 demonstrates that the up-and-down motion is obtained by having
the top frame fixed into the standard by means of a strong iron pivoting piece
or pinj being fitted into its top, the angle of the pivot to the perpendicular
being in proportion to the required cant of the upper frame which works on
the standard as a cart wheel usually does on its axle, the lower side or horse
being depressed to a degree sufficient to allow the rider to give the required
pedal inspetus in the manner before described of making a leap, each horse
in succession in one turn of the machine rising and falling according to the
degree in which the upper frame is out of a horizontal position, the direct
weight of the upper frame being upon a series of small wheels o, placed or

page_text: fixed on a ring or collar p around the top of the standard a to facilitate the
working of the pivot or axisj keeping the framework in position. From
two to twelve or more arms, spokes, or radii may be used with and by this
arrangement,. each spoke being secured by a stay n fixed and fitted as pre-
viously mentioned and shewn at Figure 3.
Figure 6 shows the adjustment of one of the wheels o on the collar, P
(Figure 5), p, representing part of collar in section; o, wheel; q, lug; and
r, bolt, passing through the lug, the wheel, and into and through the collar.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and means by
which we carry it into practical effect, we would have it distinctly understood
that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details herein given or illus-
trated on the annexed Sheet of Drawing, as such may be varied to suit the
circumstances of particular cases without in any way departing from the
principle of our Invention, which we declare to be and we claim as the Inven-
tion secured to us by the herein in part recited Letters Patent, the exclusive
use of machines known as roundabouts made and constructed to cant over so
that the rotation thereof is effected by persons seated on borses, or seats placed
at the ends of the arms, spokes, or radii, the whole substantially as herein set
forth and in part illustrated in and by the annexed Drawing.
.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Stephen Harrison and Stephen
Eversfield Featherstone, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
Fifteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-six.
(L.S:)
GEORGE STEPHEN HARRISON.
STEPHN. EVERSFIELD FEATHERSTONE. (L.S.)