IMPROVEMENTS IN ORNAMENTAL SIGN BOARDS APPLICABLE ALSO TO SIMILAR ADVERTISING OR ANNOUNCING MEDIA
Year: 1884

page_text: We, JAMES RIGG COLLIER, of 27 Bradshaw Street, Shudehill, Metal Merchant,
and DYER STEAD MUSGRAVE, of 23 Port Street, Piccadilly, Wire Worker, both in
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster do hereby declare the nature of our
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ORNAMENTAL SIGN BOARDS APPLICABLE ALSO
TO SIMILAR ADVERTISING OR ANNOUNCING MEDIA," 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 so to construct a sign board or other announcing
medium that the same shall be equally visible at night as in the day time.
In carrying out our Invention we employ a suitable box or frame, in the front
part of which are fixed a pair of screens, the outermost screen being designed to
bear on its outside the lettering or other matter visible in the day time and also to
form the screen upon which, by means of artificial illumination placed behind the
screen, is projected the image of the lettering or other matter upon the back screen
requiring to be visible at night time such projection being assisted by the agency
of a suitable transmittor placed between or behind the screens.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1. represents a perspective view of our
improved sign board and Fig. 2. is a sectional plan of the same. In both views a,
is a box or frame constructed of wood, sheet metal, or other suitable material for
supporting the screens and transmittor which are arranged in the front part of the
box, and parallel to each other. The outermost screen b, is constructed of
perforated copper or zinc or of woven wire or other suitable metallic construction
capable of receiving the lettering say for instance the word "Midland" as
illustrated or any other device or matter constituting the advertisement or
announcement requiring to be visible in the day time and which is painted or
otherwise depicted on the outside of such screen, this screen is hereinafter called
the "day light screen."
The back screen consists of a metallic plate (f) say of zinc, copper, iron, brass, or
other suitable metal or material, and out of this plate are cut openings (3).
representing the letters (for instance those forming the word "Midland") or any
design or device which is required to be illuminated and reflected forwards upon
the day light screen and thus to be rendered visible at night time. The

page_text: illuminating agent which may consist of a series of gas jets (h) is placed behind
this back screen and shews through and strongly illuminates the cut out device
or lettering, the exact forms of which are reflected forward through and by means
of the transmittor hereinafter described and so projected on to the day light
screen.
The transmittor (c) situated between the screens as illustrated is composed of
glass pieces moulded into convex form, or lenses, as indicated separately and on a
large scale in Figs. 3, and 4 which represent a front and side sectional view
respectively of a portion of such transmittor. In this transmittor (c) the glass
pieces c are all supported in the same plane on a wire framework (d) and are each
secured in position by means of studs with wires attached which clip the frame-
work, so that each glass piece is capable of removal in case of breakage. This
construction permits a small space to be left between each of the glass pieces for
the free passage of air. Instead of the glass pieces c being of a convex form or
lens shape they may be of a prismatic or other suitable form or may be substituted
by twisted glass rods or by glass beads threaded upon wires, the object being to
produce a light transmittor of highly polished glass pieces capable of throwing
forward the rays of light proceeding from the gas burners or other illuminating
agent employed and so projecting the image of the lettering or other matter forming
the back screen on to the day light screen.
It will be readily apparent that the day light screen not only shews in the day
time the lettering or device painted upon it but that at night time owing to its
perforated nature it also forms a medium for receiving the image or reflection of
the letters or design cut out of the back screen. It will be further apparent that
if the design in the latter is filled in with colored glass a similar coloring is
produced in the image thrown on to the day light screen and hence facility is
afforded by this Invention to give an effect at night time which has hitherto been
unattainable without great expense.
Instead of having the letters for instance cut out of the screen such letters may
be formed solid and of sheet metal and be supported simply upon wires in which
case the letters would appear dark upon the screen and the back ground only would
be illuminated.
Again instead of having the transmittor between the screens the same may be
behind the latter or next to the illuminating agency.
Electric lights, oil lights or other lighting media may be substituted for the gas
jets h.
The box a is sheltered from the weather by a sloping louvre roof and as the
screens and transmittor are also perforated as herein before described free
ventilation is ensured and over heating prevented.
Fig. 5 represents a front view and Fig. 6 a side sectional view of a shop front
shewing our improved sign or name board applied thereto and illustrating how the
same lights or gas burners i may be utilized not only for illuminating the screens j
constituting our improved sign board but also for lighting the interior of the shop
window and for materially assisting in the ventilation of the premises.
Fig. 7 is a front view and Fig. 8 a side sectional view of a part of a tram car
shewing how the ordinary oil lamp k may be utilised for illuminating the sign
board (consisting of our improved screens and transmittor) and also the interior
of the car.
By this arrangement of screens it will be obvious that facility is afforded for
changing the screens from time to time (an advantage of considerable moment
where as in the case of theatrical announcements the name of the play or the name
of the performers is constantly changing. This is easily effected by having. the
screens to slide into their respective grooves either by having the louvre roof to
lift up for that purpose or the screens may be introduced from either end of the
box or casing.
Where it is not required to change the screens from time to time as aforesaid
and the letters are in shade and the back ground only illuminated then the back

page_text: screen may be dispensed with and the letters be affixed at the back of the day
light screen.
Although we have only indicated a few purposes to which our Invention is
applicable we wish it to be understood that the same is equally useful for rendering
(visible by night as well as by day) the names of railway stations streets police
and fire stations hotels restaurants public gardens and other places it is also
applicable to devices and other illuminations and to street and other lamp
announcements and for other analogous purposes.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this our said
Invention together with the best methods with which we are acquainted for
carrying the same into practical effect we wish it to be distinctly understood that
we do not confine ourselves to the precise details relative proportions or dimensions
of the various parts of our improved sign boards screens and other apparatus
herein before described and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing as the same
may be considerably varied without departing from the Invention but what we do
claim is:
:
1 The improved combination and arrangement of apparatus for rendering sign
boards and other similar announcing or advertizing media visible by night as well
as by day substantially as hereinbefore described.
or its
2nd The use and application of a "day light screen " and "back screen
equivalent in combination with a transmittor substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
3rd The improved construction and arrangement of transmittor substantially as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated on the accompanying
Drawing.
4th In the construction of a sign board or other announcing or advertizing media
the use of a day light screen alone in combination with a transmittor substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.