An Appliance for use in Sketching.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 1st Oct., 1891-Accepted, 7th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Appliance for use in Sketching.
I GEORGE GANT BEAZLEY 74 Redcliffe Square London S.W. Lt. Colonel late
83rd Regiment do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
That it is an instrument constructed of metal, wood or other suitable materials
and cords, to assist in making sketches of landscapes, buildings and other objects, in
or out of doors, by enabling the draughtsman to mark off, on a sheet of paper or
other surface, the relative position of as many points in the view before him, as he
may deem necessary to secure a correct representation thereof.
It is made in two forms, the first and preferable one, as may be seen by the
accompanying diagrams Figures 1 and 2 resembles a pair of compasses, with or
without a needle point, on an arm and a pencil on the other. The two moveable
arms A A of six or more inches in length, move smoothly on their pivots M M, with
sufficient friction to remain in any position in which they may be placed, and may be
alone Fig. 1, or on each side of a fixed arm F Fig. 2 connected with the base B.
To three points E E E of the base, or to two of the base, and to one on the fixed
arm, three cords C, C, C, are attached, each about four inches long. These cords are
tied together at K, where they are fastened to a single cord C, say three feet long.
This single cord runs smoothly but stiffly through two inclined holes H. H, in the
adjustment piece P, and allows the operator to vary the distance of the arms A, A
of the instrument from the adjustment piece P. This latter can be fixed at any
point on the cord C', by winding the said cord two or three times round it, and
inserting the cord in the saw-cut V.
The moveable arms may be left plain, or divided into inches, halves and quarters,
or into any other units of measurement, numbered or not. On each of these
arms A A, is a slide S, moving easily up and down, but sufficiently tight to remain
without shifting, at any point of the arm.
The adjustment piece may be held between the teeth, or affixed to a loop of cord
round the neck, or to a button on the breast of the coat, by means of a hook, or other
simple appliance.
The second form Figure 3 consists of a straight rod R R, say of eight or more
inches in length, half an inch wide, and a quarter thick, on which are two slides XX,
moving freely with a slight grip on the rod. To each end of the rod, are attached
two equal cords C, C, four to five inches long. To their juncture K another cord C
about three feet long is joined. A projection N marks the centre of the rod and
indicates the point, where the instrument is to be held when in use; it also serves
as a fixed point from which measurements may be made. LL are two moveable
arms, which when closed, sink flush into the rod, and move stiffly on their pivots Z Z.
They are used for determining the inclination, which one or two lines of an
object makes with another. The arrangements of the adjustment piece P, and the
cord C', are identical with those already described for the first form.
The cords in both forms are so arranged that when the adjustment piece P,
is fixed at any point of the cord C, and held (the observer being motionless)
between the teeth, or in either of the other ways mentioned and a slight tension is
put upon them, so that all are taut, the cord C, being in the direction of the centre
of vision, the instrument is then in the picture plane of the intended drawing.
When moved the cords being kept tight, it will pass over the surface of a sphere,
of which the adjustment piece is the centre, but for all practical purposes, when the
motion is limited to 30° round the central visual ray, the instrument is in the same
plane, as that of the proposed picture.

page_text: TO USE THE INSTRUMENT.
With the first form Figure 1 or 2 decide on the extent of the intended sketch,
or on the width or breadth some prominent object in the view, is to occupy on the
paper. Open the moveable arms, till the ends are that distance apart, place the
knob Q of the adjustment piece between the teeth, or fasten it by any of the other
means indicated. Close one eye, look in the direction of the object or objects and
keeping the cords taut with the left hand, with the other draw the cord C¹ to and
fro through the adjustment piece until the ends of the arms, exactly subtend the
same angle, as the selected points in the view (see sketch). Then without allowing
the cord C to shift its position, wind it two or three times round the adjustment
piece, and fix it in the saw cut V.
The instrument is now in adjustment and the position of one or more points being
fixed on the paper, the distance of as many other points, as may be required, may
be easily measured from nature, and marked on the paper.
Should the angle subtended by the two arms of the instrument, when held at the
full stretch of the observers arm, be greater than that subtended by the object,
recourse must be made to the two slides S S, which must be placed opposite each
other, at the middle, quarter, or at such other points of the moveable arms (without
disturbing them) as will subtend the required angle. All angles subtended by the
distant objects, can then be measured by the slides S S, while the ends of the
arms A A can be used for plotting the points on the paper.
In the event of the instrument being inconveniently near to the eye, the reverse
of the above plan may be adopted.
When the instrument is in adjustment, the inclination of lines can be taken, by
causing one of the moveable arms or the fixed arm to coincide with one of the lines,
while the remaining arm is made to coincide with the other.
To use the second form (Fig. 3). Proceed as with the first using the slides X X,
instead of the arins A A for obtaining the angles subtended by the objects in nature,
and the arms L L for the inclinations of lines. Should the angle subtended be
unattainable at the full stretch of the arm, the difficulty can be only overcome, be
setting the slides at half the required distance, and doubling all the subsequent
measurements on the paper.
It is evident that with the 2nd and 3rd form, the observer availing himself of the
fixed arm F, or the projection N, can often determine two points at one
observation.
When the instrument is in adjustment the fingers of one, or both hands may be
used to operate the arms, or slides.
17th August 1891
GEO. G. BEAZLEY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Appliance for use in Sketching.
I GEORGE GANT BEAZLEY 74 Redcliffe Square S. Kensington London S.W.
Lt. Colonel late 83rd Regt. 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 :-
That it is an instrument, constructed of metal, wood, or other suitable material,
and cords, to assist in making sketches of landscapes buildings and other objects, in
or out of doors, by enabling the draughtsman, to mark off on a sheet of paper, or
other surface, the relative position of as many points in the view before him as he
may deem necessary to secure a correct representation thereof.
It is made in two forms, the first and preferable one, as may be seen by the
accompanying diagrams Figures 1, 2 and 24, resembles a pair of compasses, with or
I

page_text: without a needle point, on one arm, and a pencil on the other. The two moveable
arms A A of six or more inches in length, move smoothly on their pivots M, M,
and with sufficient friction to remain in any position, in which they may be placed, and
may be alone Fig. 1, or on each side of a fixed arm F, Fig. 2 connected with the base B.
To three points E E E of the base, or to two points of the base E E Fig. 2, and one
on the fixed arm, or for the sake of portability, and the securing of a wider base,
to two points E E at the ends of a rod pivoted at Y, Figure 24, retained at right
angles to the arm F, by a spring button (not shown) and one on the fixed arm F, three
cords C, C, C, are attached, each about four inches long. These cords are tied
together at K, where they are fastened to a single cord C', say three feet long. This
single cord runs smoothly but stiffly through two inclined holes H, H, in the
adjustment piece P, and allows the operator to vary the distance of the arms A, A,
of the instrument from the adjustment piece P, which latter can be fixed at any
point on the cord C¹, by winding the said cord two or three times round it, and
inserting the cord in the saw cut V.
The moveable arms may be left plain, or divided into inches, halves, and quarters,
or other units, numbered or not. On each of them is a slide S, running easily up
and down, but sufficiently tight, to remain without shifting at any point on the arm.
The adjustment piece may be held between the teeth, or affixed to a loop of cord
round the neck, or to a button on the breast of the coat, by means of a hook, or
other simple appliance.
The second form Figure 3 consists of a straight rod R R, say of eight or more
inches in length, half an inch wide, and a quarter inch thick, on which are two
slides XX moving freely with a slight grip on the rod. To each end of the rod,
are attached two equal cords C, C, four to seven inches long, to their junction K,
another cord C¹, about three feet long is joined. A projection N marks the centre
of the rod, and indicates the point, where the instrument is to be held, when in use,
it also serves as a fixed point from which measurements may be made. L L are
two moveable arms, which when closed sink flush into the rod, moving stiffly on
their pivots Z, Z, and are used for determining the inclinations which one or two
lines of an object in nature, make with one another. The arrangements of the
adjustment piece P and the cord C³, are identical with those already described
for the first form of the appliance.
The cords in both forins are so arranged that when the adjustment piece is fixed
at any point (determined as will be described subsequently) of the cord C¹, and
held, the observer being motionless, between the teeth, or in either of the other
ways mentioned, and a slight tension is put upon them by the hand, so that all are
taut, the cord C¹, being in the direction of the centre of vision, the instrument
is then in the picture plane of the intended drawing. When moved, the cords being
kept tight, it will pass over the surface of a sphere, of which the adjustment piece
is the centre, but for all practical purposes, when the motion is limited to an angle
of 30° round the central visual ray, the instrument is in the same plane, as that of
the proposed picture.
TO USE THE INSTRUMENT.
With the first form. Decide on the extent of the intended picture, or on the
width or heighth some prominent object in the view, is to occupy on the paper.
Open the moveable arms till the ends are at that distance apart. Place the knob
of Qof the adjustment piece between the teeth or fasten it by either of the other
means indicated, close one eye, look in the direction of the object or objects, and
keeping the cords taut with the left hand, with the other draw the cord C', to and
fro through the adjustment piece, until the ends of the arms exactly subtend the
same angle, as the selected points in the view (see sketch). Then without allowing
the cord to shift its position, wind it two or three times round the adjustment piece,
and fix it in the saw cut V.
The instrument is now in adjustment, and the position of any one or more points,

page_text: being fixed on the paper, the distance of as many other points as may be required,
may be easily measured directly from nature, and at once marked on the paper.
Should the angle subtended by the two arms of the instrument, when held at the
full stretch of the observers arm, be greater than that subtended by the object
selected, recourse must be made to the two slides S S which must be placed opposite
each other at the middle or at such a point in the moveable arms, without disturbing
them, as will subtend the required angle. The angles subtended by the distant
objects must then be measured by the slides, and the ends of the arms must be used
for plotting the points on the paper.
In the event of the instrument being inconveniently near to the eye, the reverse
of the above plan may be adopted.
When the instrument is in adjustment the inclination of lines can be taken, by
causing one of the moveable arms, or the fixed arm, to coincide with one of the lines,
while the remaining arm is made to coincide with the other.
With the second form. Proceed as with the first form, using the slides X X
instead of the arms A A. for obtaining the angles subtended by the objects in nature,
and the arms Z, Z, for determining the inclinations of lines.
Should however the angle subtended by the two slides X X, at the full stretch
of the observer's arm, be greater than that subtended by the object selected, the
difficulty can only be overcome by taking half the width or heighth of the object,
instead of the whole, or else the angle subtended by some other object, within the
capacity of the instrument.
It is evident that with the second and third form, the observer availing himself
of the fixed arm F, or the projection N, two points can be determined at one
observation.
When the instrument is in adjustment, the fingers of one, or both hands may be
used to operate the arms or slides.
It is to be understood, that I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein
described, for such may be varied, without departing from the peculiar character of
my invention.
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,
That the instrument gives in a handy and portable shape, a simple means of
placing the eye of the sketcher, and the arms, or rod, at the same distance apart, as
the eye, and the picture plane of the intended sketch, are required to be, and the
sketcher the assistance, substantially as herein shown, described and explained.
Dated this First day of October 1891.
GEO. G. BEAZLEY.