Improvements in Apparatus for Showing Pictures in Motion.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Feb., 1898-Accepted, 9th Apr., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Showing Pictures in Motion.
I, HERMAN CASLER, of 208, Geddes Street, in the City of Syracuse, State of
New York, U.S.A., Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in mutoscopes upon which Letters-
Patent were granted to me under Number 14,4339 and under date of July 30, 1895.
I have found by experiment and practice that in the practical operation of the
mutoscope above referred to that in the larger sizes there was not always sufficient
resiliency in the card upon which the picture was printed to impart to it the
necessary quick, snapping movement to produce the desired effect, and to that end
my object is to improve the construction heretofore referred to.
My invention consists in the several new and novel features and combination of
parts hereinafter described.
It is constructed as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
in which: :-
Fig. 1 is an edge view of a section of the worm-gear and edge of the printed
cards and interposed cards or plates, imparting resiliency to the printed cards,
mounted upon a spool.
Fig. 2 is one of the plates detached, which imparts resiliency to the printed
cards.
Fig. 3 is a side view of a mutoscope of a modified form from that shown in
Letters Patent before referred to.
Fig. is a top plan view thereof, the top removed.
Fig. 5 is a side view of the modified form showing another way in which the
cards may be exhibited in rapid succession.
Fig. 6 is a top plan view thereof.
Fig. 7 is still another modified form of exhibiting the cards.
Fig. 8 is a top plan view thereof.
Fig. 9 is a side view of another modified form.
Fig. 10 is an edge view thereof.
Fig. 11 is a quarter view showing the cards in position which they occupy
when being operated.
Inasmuch as the operation of the worm-gear as shown in Fig. 1 is operated in
all respects like the invention shown, illustrated and described in Letters Patent,
Number 14,439 dated July 30, 1895, I will not again here describe the operation,
but limit myself to the actual difference in the construction of the printed cards
and the plates which impart resiliency to the printed plates to produce the desired
effect.
a is a transverse arbor suitably mounted upon which is placed a spool adapted
to receive the worm-gear and printed cards a¹. It will be observed that these

page_text: printed cards of themselves possess more or less elastic or resilient qualities, but it
has been found that they sometimes do not possess enough of the resilient qualities
when printed upon certain papers or substances desirable for good artistic effects,
and I have therefore inserted between the printed cards a card or plate a¹¹,
possessing highly elastic qualities and adapted to rest against or come in contact
with the rear face of the printed card so as to impart to it the quick movement
when it passes the point of obstruction.
Referring now to the construction set forth in Figs. 3 and 4, A is a case con-
structed preferably substantially as shown, provided at one end with an opening 1
through which the cards may be seen; 2 and 3 are rollers suitably mounted trans-
versely within the case as shown in Fig. 4, the roller 2 being provided with a
crank-arm 4 for the purpose of rotating it. Upon these rollers 2 and 3 is mounted
an endless belt 5 as shown, upon which belt are mounted as shown, printed cards 6
which may be secured tangentially upon the belt as shown. These cards 6 may
be constructed substantially as shown, being bent at their inner end at an angle
as shown in Fig. 3, to permit them to be easily attached to the belt.
I do not limit myself to this precise method of attaching the cards to the belt
as they may be attached by glueing or otherwise rigidly fastening their edges to
the belt.
It will thus be observed that by turning the crank-arm 4 and allowing the
picture to produce a quick, springy motion they will be successively brought into
view to produce the desired effect.
It is obvious that when the endless belt is placed in a vertical position, the lower
roller may be dispensed with so that the lower end of the belt will be hanging
loose, and that in consequence of its own weight, there will be sufficient tension
in the belt to allow the pictures to be successively brought into view, by turning
the crank-arm of the upper and only roller.
Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, which show another method of exhibiting the
cards, 7 is a box constructed substantially as shown, provided with an opening
to its upper face 8 and mounted in the bottom is a rack 9 adapted to receive and
hold the cards 10 substantially as shown. 11 is a longitudinal slotway in the
bottom of the receptacle in which the operating piece 12 is mounted which
operates the rack 9 longitudinally within the receptacle 7. 13 is a bale mounted at
one edge of the opening 8 in the top of the receptacle and serves to hold the cards
momentarily so as to impart to them a resiliency as the rack is moved from right
to left so as to exhibit the pictures upon the cards in rapid succession so as to
produce the desired effect.
Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, 14 is a receptacle constructed substantially as
shown, having a pulley 15 at its upper end and a belt 16 passing over said
pulley, having one end of said belt connected to a spring 17 which in turn is
secured to the bottom of the receptacle; transversely upon the belt are mounted
the picture cards 18, and 19 is a cord secured to the free end of the belt and
provided with means for rapidly drawing it over the pulley 15 so that as the
cards pass around and over the pulley they will display a picture for the purposes
set forth.
Referring to Figs. 9, 10 and 11, 20 is a small handle bracket having the cards 21
mounted radially upon its upper end and 22 is a crank-arm constructed of a piece
of wire or metal and passes through the body of the handle bracket and thence
upwardly and across forming a bale 23 to engage with the upper end of the
cards so that when the handle bracket is held in the hand the other hand may
turn the crank-arm and force the cards back, then releasing them allowing them
to pass into the vision of the eye to produce the desired effect.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
Agent for Applicant, 97, Newgate Street, London, E.C.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Showing Pictures in Motion.
I, HERMAN CASLER, of 208, Geddes Street, in the City of Syracuse, State of
New York, U.S.A., Inventor, 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:
This invention relates to improvements in mutoscopes upon which Letters-
Patent were granted to me under Number 14,439 and under date of July 30th,
1895.
I have found by experiment and practice that in the practical operation of
the mutoscope above referred to that in the larger sizes there was not always
sufficient resiliency in the card upon which the pictures was printed to impart
to it the necessary quick, snapping movement to produce the desired effect, and
to that end my object is to improve the construction heretofore referred to.
My invention consists in the several new and novel features and combination
of parts hereinafter described and which are specifically set forth in the claims
hereto annexed.
It is constructed as follows, reference being had to the drawings accompanying
the Provisional Specification in which :-
Fig. 1 is an edge view of a section of the worm-gear and edge of the printed
cards and and interposed cards or plates, imparting resiliency to the printed
cards, mounted upon a spool.
Fig. 2 is one of the plates detached, which imparts resiliency to the printed
cards.
Fig. 3 is a side view of a mutoscope of a modified form from that shown in
Letters-Patent before referred to.
Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof, the top removed.
Fig. 5 is a side view of the modified form showing another way in which
the cards may be exhibited in rapid succession.
Fig. 6 is a top plan view thereof.
Fig. 7 is still another modified form of exhibiting the cards.
Fig. 8 is a top plan view thereof.
Fig. 9 is a side view of another modified form.
Fig. 10 is an edge view thereof.
Fig. 11 is a quarter view showing the cards in position which they occupy when
being operated.
Inasmuch as the operation of the worm-gear as shown in Fig. 1 is operated in
all respects like the invention shown, illustrated and described in Letters-Patent,
Number 14,439 dated July 30th, 1895, I will not again here describe the
operation, but limit myself to the actual difference in the construction of the
printed cards and the plates which impart resiliency to the printed plates to
produce the desired effect.
a is a transverse arbor suitably mounted upon which is placed a spool adapted
to receive the worm-gear e and printed cards a'. It will be observed that these
printed cards of themselves possess more or less elastic or resilient qualities, but
it has been found that they sometimes do not possess enough of the resilient
qualities when printed upon certain papers or substances, desirable for good
artistic effects, and I have therefore inserted between the printed cards a card
or plate a, possessing highly elastic qualities and adapted to rest against or
come in contact with the rear face of the printed card so as to impart to it the
quick movement when it passes the point of obstruction.
Referring now to the construction set forth in Figs. 3 and 4, A is a case con-

page_text: structed preferably substantially as shown, provided at one end with an opening 1
through which the cards may be seen; 2 and 3 are rollers suitably mounted trans-
versely within the case as shown in Fig. 4, the roller 2 being provided with a
crank-arm 4 for the purpose of rotating it. Upon these rollers 2 and 3 is mounted
an endless belt 5 as shown, upon which belt are mounted as shown, printed
cards 6, which may be secured tangentially upon the belt as shown. These
cards 6 may be constructed substantially as shown, being bent at their inner end
at an angle as shown in Fig. 3, to permit them to be easily attached to the belt.
I do not limit myself to this precise method of attaching the cards to the belt,
as they may be attached by glueing or otherwise rigidly fastening their edges to
the belt.
It will thus be observed that by turning the crank-arm 4 and allowing the
picture to produce a quick, springy motion they will be successively brought into
view to produce the desired effect.
It is obvious that when the endless belt is placed in a vertical position, the
lower roller may be dispensed with so that the lower end of the belt will be
hanging loose, and that in consequence of its own weight, there will be sufficient
tension in the belt to allow the pictures to be successively brought into view,
by turning the crank-arm of the upper and only roller.
Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, which show another method of exhibiting
the cards, 7 is a box constructed substantially as shown, provided with an open-
ing to its upper face 8 and mounted in the bottom is a rack 9 adapted to receive
and hold the cards 10 substantially as shown. 11 is a longitudinal slotway in
the bottom of the receptacle in which the operating piece 12 is mounted which
operates the rack 9 longitudinally within the receptacle 7. 13 is a bale mounted
at one edge of the opening 8 in the top of the receptacle and serves to hold the
cards momentarily so as to impart to them a resiliency as the rack is moved from
right to left so as to exhibit the pictures upon the cards in rapid succession so
as to produce the desired effect.
Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, 14 is a receptacle, constructed substantially
as shown, having a pulley 15 at its upper end and a belt 16 passing over said
pulley, having one end of said belt connected to a spring 17 which in turn is
secured to the bottom of the receptacle; transversely upon the belt are mounted
the picture cards 18, and 19 is a cord secured to the free end of the belt and pro-
vided with means for rapidly drawing it over the pulley 15 so that as the cards
pass around and over the pulley they will display a picture for the purposes set
forth.
Referring to Figs. 9, 10 and 11, 20 is a small handle bracket having the
cards 21 mounted radially upon its upper end and 22 is a crank-arm constructed
of a piece of wire or metal and passes through the body of the handle bracket and
thence upwardly and across forming a bale 23 to engage with the upper end of
the cards so that when the handle bracket is held in the hand the other hand
may turn the crank arm and force the cards back, then releasing them allowing
them to pass into the vision of the eye to produce the desired effect.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a mutoscope, an arbor having picture cards arranged radially thereon
and auxiliary cards or plates to impart resiliency to the picture card, as set forth.
2. In a mutoscope, an arbor having picture cards arranged radially thereon,
an auxiliary card or plate adapted to impart resiliency to said picture card, a
worm gear secured to said arbor and a wormi adapted to rotate said gear and arbor,
as set forth.
3. In a mutoscope, the herein described auxiliary card or plate adapted to
impart resiliency to the picture card, as set forth.
4. In a mutoscope, rollers secured therein, means for operating one or both of

page_text: them, an endless belt mounted thereon, and picture cards secured thereon and
held back by a stop as set forth.
5. In a mutoscope, a case having rollers mounted transversely therein, means
for rotating one or both of them, an endless belt mounted thereon, cards secured
thereto and means for holding the upper end rearwardly for the purpose of
exposing the picture to view, as set forth.
6. In a mutoscope, a casing having a roller mounted transversely therein, an
endless belt mounted on this roller the other end hanging loose, cards secured to
the belt and held back by a stop and means for rotating the roller, substantially as
set forth.
7. The herein described card for a mutoscope having its lower end bent sub-
stantially as described, for the purposes set forth.
8. A mutoscope comprising a receptacle having an opening in face thereof
and a rack mounted in its bottom, means for moving said rack to and fro and
means for retarding the upper face of the cards, as set forth.
9. A mutoscope comprising a receptacle having an opening in its upper face
and a rack in its bottom, means for operating said rack to and fro and a bale
extending transversely across the upper part of the receptacle for the purpose of
retarding the upper end of the cards, as set forth.
10. A mutoscope comprising a receptacle open at one end and having a pulley
mounted therein, a belt having cards mounted thereon, at near right angles to
the belt, and means for drawing the belt over the pulley, as set forth.
11. A mutoscope comprising a receptacle having an opening in one end, a belt
mounted on a pulley at the upper end of the receptacle and a spring having one
end secured to the bottom of the receptacle and the other end to the belt and
means for drawing the belt over the pulley, as set forth.
12. A mutoscope comprising a bracket having cards in its upper end and a
crank-arm having a bale secured thereto for the purposes set forth."
13. A mutoscope comprising a bracket having cards mounted upon one end
and means for bending the upper ends backward and allowing them to snap
forward, for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 3rd day of February 1898.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
Patent Agent, 171, Queen Victoria Street, London.