Improvements in Polychromatic Moving Signs or Devices for Advertising and Decorative Purposes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Dec., 1890-Accepted, 10th Jan., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Polychromatic Moving Signs or Devices for
Advertising and Decorative Purposes.
I WALTER HARWAR, of 24 Gray's Inn Road in the County of Middlesex,
Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows
My invention has for its object an improved and more effective mode of making
moveable, and constantly changing colored effects to illuminated signs, letters and
devices, for advertising and decorative purposes, with horizontal perpendicular or
other motion, and producing an optical illusion of alternately descending and
ascending changing colors, and is to be applied to facias, windows, blinds and other
partly transparent and partly opaque words or devices; and is applicable to shallow,
circular or deep signs as hereafter declared.
For convenience of description I call the three classes of signs, hereinafter described,
circular when a sign with only one moving drum is employed-shallow or horizontal
signs when two or more drums are employed, carrying a band in a horizontal
direction, and deep or perpendicular signs when one or more many sided horizontal
drums are employed carrying bands in a perpendicular direction-premising that all
are illuminated and moving, and colored effects produced on the same principle,
though by different immediate ways.
As to the colored illumination with moveable colored effects of shallow or horizontal
signs.
In order to effect this I take two or more circular wheels or drums of wood, metal,
or other material set on a perpendicular axis and rotated by any power produced by
clockwork, steam, electricity geared banded or other form or source of motion com-
municated to the axle rod of one (or more) of the said drums by a band, cog, bevel
I connect these
cog or other usual and common source of transmission of motion.
two drums or any other number of drums (such third, fourth or other drums, being
placed in any position of a triangle parallelogram square, oblong or other angled
figure) with a band of leather or other flexible material, passing round the outside
faces of the various drums.
The motion communicated to the first drum causes the others to revolve simul-
taneously.
To this band I attach light frames of metal, tape, card or other suitable material
containing colored glass gelatine, gelatinised glass or other transparent material,
showing strips of various colors, set at different angles which produce an optical
illusion of rising and falling of the various colors, when seen through the stencils
or devices hereinafter mentioned, when the band is set in motion by the drums.
the drums being revolved the band and colored frames of glass &c. are carried from
right to left or vice versa. 1 support the frames when of heavy material with a
guide rod between the points where the bands leave the various drums, to the next
drum.
On
Between the bands, when two drums only are used, or behind and contiguous to the
moving line of frames, when three or more drums are used is placed the gas, oil, or
electric, or other class of light, with reflectors &c. throwing the light outward towards
the stencils.
Outside the band and line of moving colored frames of glass gelatine &c. I insert a
card, painted glass, metal or other material, cut out or painted as a stencil, partly
opaque and partly transparent, with any letters, words or device and outside of the
stencil sign, I fix a sheet of glass.
For circular sign effects use the same stencil and glass arrangement, but cause

page_text: the frames and colored glasses to revolve on a large disc, but without drums as in
angular signs.
For deep signs shewing stencils set lighted and exhibiting signs in one direction or
facing, opposite directions, I use a horizontal equal sided moving drum or drums with
motion communicated as aforesaid to the axle, and studded with pegs or pins at the
angles and drawing over it a number of bands with holes cut to meet the pegs, to
which bands are attached frames of colored glass, gelatine or other suitable material,
set at various angles. The revolution of the drums draws the bands and frames with
an upward motion on one side, and a downward motion on the reverse side. For deep
frames I use one or any requisite number of bands, according to the length of the
horizontal drum, to extend along the face of the drum and depth of the stencil sign
and the lighting arrangement is enclosed beneath the drum and within the rotating
bands and frames of glass &c.
The stencil devices are then placed facing outward from outside the bands and
covered on the outside with a sheet of glass.
I will describe the invention more particularly with reference to the accompanying
drawings, premising that I do not limit myself to the precise details, which I shall
describe.
Figure 1. Horizontal signs. A standard with drum head for band frames and
colored glasses, with drum to receive motor band and communicate motion. B con-
tinuing standard and drum. C (a) band (bb b) attachment to band to hold frames
(ccc) frames.
Figure 2 (a a) band (bb) frame holders (ccc) frames without glasses (d d d) frames
containing colored glasses.
Figure 3. (A) section of continuing drum head (") band (c) frame attachment
(d) frame and glasses and stencil device.
Figure 4. A. circular sign drum set with glasses (a a a) connected with two hori-
zontal sign drums BC and rotating bands frames and glass (b bb).
Figure 5. An indication of some of the various forms in which drums can be
relatively placed.
Figure 6. Perpendicular signs. Section of a deep sign shewing (C) eight sided
drum with frames and glasses passing over it (a a) support to drum (b bb) band and
frames of colored glasses and gas lights and stencils.
Figure 7. Horizontal drum shewing bands and glasses attached with gas in
rear.
Dated the 4th March 1890
Dated the 4th March 1890
WALTER HARWAR.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Polychromatic Moving Signs or Devices for
Advertising and Decorative Purposes.
I, WALTER HARWAR, of 24, Gray's Inn Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:
:-
My invention has for its object an improved and more effective mode of making
moveable and constantly changing colored effects to illuminated signs lamps letters
and devices for advertising and decorative purposes, with horizontal, perpendicular or
other motion, and producing an optical illusion of alternately ascending and descending
changing colors and is to be applied to lamps, facias, windows, blinds and other
structures, exhibiting partly transparent and partly opaque words or devices, and is
applicable to shallow circular or deep signs as hereafter declared.
For convenience of description I call the three classes of signs hereinafter described,
circular when a sign with only one moving drum is employed. Shallow or horizontal
signs when two or more drums are employed, carrying a band in a horizontal direction,
and leep or perpendicular signs when one or more many sided horizontal drums are

page_text: employed, carrying bands in a perpendicular direction-premising that all are
illuminated and moving and colored effects produced on the same principle, though
by different immediate ways.
As to the colored illumination with moveable colored effects of shallow or
horizontal signs.
In order to effect this I take two or more circular wheels or drums of wood metal
or other material set on a perpendicular axis and rotated by any power produced by
clockwork, steam, electricity geared banded or other form or source of motion
communicated to the axle rod or other portion of one or more of the said drums by a
band cog, bevel cog, or other usual and common source of transmission of motion. I
connect these two drums or any other number of drums (such third, fourth or other
drums being placed in any position of a triangle, parallelogram, square, oblong or
other angled figure) with a band of leather or other flexible material, passing around
the outside faces of the various drums.
The motion communicated to the first drum causes the others to revolve
simultaneously.
To this band at any required depth or distance I attach light frames of metal tape,
card or other suitable material, containing colored glass gelatine, gelatinised glass or
other transparent material showing strips of various colors, set at different angles,
which produce an optical illusion of rising and falling of the various colors, when seen
through the stencils or devices hereinafter mentioned, when the band is set in motion
by the drums. On the drums being revolved the band and colored frames of glass &c.
are carried from right to left or vice versa. I support the frames when of heavy
material with a guide rod and rollers between the points where the bands leave
the various drums to the next drum, to prevent their being pulled off the drums by
the weight of the frames.
Between the bands when the two drums only are used or behind and contiguous to
the moving line of frames, when three or more drums are used is placed the gas oil
electric or other class of light with reflectors &c. throwing the light outwards towards
the stencils.
Outside the band and line of moving colored frames of glass gelatine &c. I insert a
card, painted glass, metal or other material cut out or painted as a stencil, partly
opaque and partly transparent with any letters words or device, and outside of the
stencil sign (when necessary) I fix a sheet of glass or other transparent protective.
For circular sign effects I use the same stencil and glass arrangement, but cause the
frames and colored glasses to revolve attached to a large disc or drum but without
other drums as in angular signs but circular signs can be connected and form part of
the general arrangement of a sign and geared or joined to perpendicular or horizontal
signs and moved simultaneously with them.
For deep signs shewing stencils set lighted and exhibiting signs in one direction or
facing opposite directions I use a horizontal equal sided moving drum or drums with
motion communicated as aforesaid to the axle and studded with pegs or pins at the
angles and drawing over it a number of bands with boles cut to meet the pegs or with
other equivalent means to control and keep them in position or draw them over the
drum, to which bands are attached frames of colored glass, gelatine or other suitable
material set at various angles. The revolution of the drum draws the bands and
frames with an upward motion on one side, and a downward motion on the reverse
side. For deep frames of a many sided figure I use one or any requisite number of
drums, according to the length of the sign geared together to extend along the face
of the sign and depth of the stencil sign, and the lighting arrangement is enclosed
beneath the drum and within the rotating bands and frames of glass &c.
The stencil devices are then placed facing outward from outside the bands and
covered on the outside with a sheet of glass or other protective where necessary.
I will describe the invention more particularly with reference to the accompanying
drawings, premising that I do not limit myself to the precise details which I shall
describe.
The drawings referred to were left with Provisional Specification.

page_text: Figure 1. Horizontal signs. A standard with drum head for band frames and colored
glasses with drum to receive motor band and communicate motion, the mode of
communicating motion being subject to the varying exigencies and position of back
sign when fixed. B continuing standard and drum. C (a) band (b 6 b) attachments
to band to hold frames (e c c) (frames which may be suspended at any distance from
the band).
Figure 2. (a a) band (6 b) frame holders suspended immediately contiguous or at
any distance below band (c c c) frames without glasses (dd d) frames containing
colored glasses.
Figure 3 (A) section of continuing drum head (b) band (c) frame attachment
(d) frame and glasses and stencil device, outside frames with protective glass or other
material outside that when necessary.
Figure 4 plan of a circular sign drum set with glasses (a a a) connected with two
horizontal sign drums B. . and rotating bands frames and glass (b b b).
Figure 5 an indication of some of the various angular and other forms in which
drums can be relatively placed.
Figure 6. Perpendicular signs. Section of a deep sign shewing (C) eight sided drum
with frames and glasses passing over it (a a) support to drum (although support may
be from any other point or direction) (bb b) band and frames of colored glasses gas
lights shown intermediate and stencils facing outwards.
Figure 7 horizontal drum shewing bands and glasses attached with illuminant in
rear, but without stencil.
"
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
Improvements in polychromatic moving signs as applied to letters and devices on
lamps facias shop windows and other structures and fixtures for advertising decorative
and illuminating purposes, by a combination or partial combination of drums, bands,
frames guides, colored transparent material and stencil devices, illuminated and
applied substantially as before described.
Dated the 3rd day of December 1890.
WALTER HARWAR.