Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1886.
Complete Left, 17th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 1st Mar., 1887
I JOSEPH BUATIER of the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, London, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide means whereby the transformation of one
object into another, in an illusive manner, may be performed.
In carrying out my invention, I employ a rectangular frame, across which a sheet
of thin drawing-paper is secured. The top and two sides of this frame are made of
considerable width, and each side bar is provided inside with a central rib or tongue.
This frame is intended to receive a second frame, the sides of which are grooved
externally to fit on to the ribs or tongues of the other frame.
Fixed to the second frame is a box or receptacle, which may take any con-
venient form, and which is intended to contain a person or object. This box or
receptacle is supported from the top, or any other part of the stage, by means of fine
steel wires or bands, covered with some suitable material, so that they will be invisible
to the audience. The weight of the box and the person will be nearly equalized by a
counterweight.
Across the stage is stretched, by means of a weight, a visible cord or wire, and in
the floor of the stage is made a trap, of such size, that the box or receptacle containing
the
person or object will pass through.
The box or receptacle will be, by preference, formed of a series of metal ribs,
pivotted at top and bottom to centres or pivot pins, and covered with suitable material
to give it the appearance of any article it may be intended to represent.
Now suppose, for example, the performer wishes to change the representation of a
silk worm to a cocoon, from which is to issue a butterfly. He will show the first
frame, with the paper on it, to the audience, and then place it in front of the trap, and
draw down the visible cord.
While this is being done, the second frame with the receptacle (the ribs of which,
in this case,. will be covered with yellow silk, and closed together within the limits of
the frame) is drawn up by the fine wires through the trap, and fits inside the first
frame, and the visible wire is attached thereto.

page_text: The weight on the end of the cord enables the performer to raise the whole without
effort, so as to bring the paper to a sufficient height to enable him to draw upon it,
and he will draw thereon the representation of a silkworm.
At a given signal, the person in the receptacle will cause the ribs to open out, and
break through the paper, thus producing a receptacle having the form and appearance
of a cocoon.
A stool is then placed below the receptacle, and the double frame is removed.
When this is done, the person contained in the receptacle, and who will be dressed to
represent a butterfly, will issue from the cocoon, to the astonishment and delight of
the audience.
It will be evident that the silkworm, cocoon, and butterfly, are only given as an
example, and that many other transformations or appearances may be effected in a
similar manner.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I JOSEPH BUATIER of the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly; London 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 improved means for presenting on the stage a succession
of pictures or representations (having either a natural or arbitrary connection), the
substitution of the one for the other being effected in full view of the spectator, with-
out any diminution or change of light being required to prevent the detection of the
means employed in the metamorphoses.
The pictures which are severally to be presented to view, say for example three in
number, I arrange one behind the other, and I provide for the displacement or
destruction of the foremost by the presentation of the second: in like manner, the
collapse or displacement of the second will reveal the third to view, and that by a
rapidity of movement which will secure an illusion not easy of penetration by even an
experienced eye.
To illustrate the principle of my invention, I will describe, for example, how the
successive stages of the metamorphoses of the silk worm may be represented without
it being possible to explain the substitution on the stage of the cocoon and the butterfly
therein for the worm.
•
It may be here remarked that the means described as applying to a silkworm may
equally well, with appropriate modifications, be used to represent other metamorphoses
or substitutions. Thus, for example, the various stages of the cockchafer may be
produced, a chicken made to come out of an egg, or a person from a bouquet, &c.
The stage on which the representation is to take place is furnished with a set of fine
steel wires pendent from an overhead block or bar carried by a counterweighted rope,
which is led over guide pullies to the back of the stage. These wires pass through a
trap made in the floor of the stage, and are connected to the metamorphosis apparatus
which it is intended to raise from below.
When the picture or other representation first to be presented to view has been
placed upon the stage, this suspended and balanced apparatus will carry the means for
effecting the metamorphosis intended to be displayed, and to prevent the audience*
from suspecting the existence of the trap, the stage is carpeted, and the trap is covered
by a partially severed portion of the carpet, which will offer no obstruction to the rise
of the counter balanced apparatus and its load.
The means for carrying out the metamorphosis of a silk worm is illustrated in the
accompanying drawings:
:-
Fig. 1 is a diagram representing the stage seen from the front, with a frame
standing in the middle of the same, and carrying a picture of a silkworm drawn upon

page_text: thin paper strained over the frame. Behind this frame, and hidden by the paper, is
the metamorphosis apparatus, which is suspended from the invisible wires.
Fig. 2 is a diagram representing the stage and its fittings in a line at right angles
to Fig. 1.
In these Figures A, is a rectangular frame constructed of light wood, and capable
of standing by itself on the stage. The paper strained upon it may contain the
picture of the silkworm before being brought upon the stage, or to give greater effect
to the representation, the operator may draw, on an enlarged scale, the silkworm in
coloured chalks in view of the spectators.
Fig. 3 shows the frame A in back view; and
Fig. 4 is a cross section of the same.
The frame is fitted with a top and side pieces projecting rearwards. In the side
picces, vertical grooves or channels are cut to receive corresponding ribs or projections
on the sides of a guiding frame B, shewn in back elevation at Fig. 5 and cross vertical
section at Fig. 6.
This frame is temporarily attached to the suspended metamorphosis apparatus, and
rising with it, serves to ensure its taking a proper position relatively to the paper
covered frame A, for the purpose to be hereafter explained. The frame B is also
formed like the frame A with side pieces projecting rearwards, which serve to shield
from view of the spectators the counterbalanced apparatus which I will now describe.
Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 illustrate the construction of a frame C, which, with its fittings,
is suspended from the fine wires represented at D, The wires D are attached to an
arm I, to the front end of which the frame C is pivotted. This pivot serves, with a
corresponding one on the lower end of the frame Û, for centres to a series of arcs C¹,
represented as 12 in number. These arcs are intended to receive a covering of thin
yellow silk of the colour of a cocoon, and to fold back like the ribs of a chinese lantern
when so covered. When the covering is stretched or expanded, it will represent both
in form and colour a cocoon, its size being made to correspond somewhat with the
representation of the silk-worm carried by the frame A.
Fig. 7 shows in front view the cocoon, the arcs C₁ being indicated by dotted lines.
Fitted to the frame C, and within the space circumscribed by the arcs, is a receptacle
C³, tapered off rearwards to hide it from the side glances of the spectators, see the
enlarged views Figs. 8, 9 and 10;-Fig. 8 being a back view of the frame C.
Fig. 9 a vertical cross section, and
Fig. 10 a plan view of the same.
This receptacle C¹ is made rigid with the frame, and of sufficient strength to carry
the weight of a winged person intended to represent the butterfly released from the
cocoon. The arcs C, with their covering of silk, before the frame C is lifted to the
stage, are adjusted to enclose the winged figure, and to facilitate the escape of
the figure at the proper time from the cocoon, the central are at the back of the frame
has the upper half of it cut away, while the two adjacent arcs are bent away from
each other, as shewn best at Fig. 10. The opening into this silk envelope will be
from the front, where the parting of the silk occurs, two arcs abutting against each
other at that part where the silk envelope is closed, as shewn at Fig. 8.
I will now explain the manner of presenting the metamorphosis of the silk-worm.
The operator takes the frame A, on which is mounted the picture of the silk worm.
He shows it to the audience that they may be sure there is nothing hidden behind,
and stands it in a vertical position on the floor of the stage immediately in front of
the hidden trap and the invisible steel wires D.
Within reach of the operator, while standing before this frame, is a visible weighted
cord E, extending across the stage. Catching at this cord, he draws it down, with
the presumed intention of connecting it to the frame A, but really to enable him to
account for the movement by which he lifts the counter balanced apparatus from
below. Resting upon the arm D¹ is the guide frame B, which having been adjusted
to its guide in the frame A, will, as it rises, ensure the frame C taking its proper
position with respect to the frame A; a temporary pin attachment will suffice to
connect the frames B and C together. This pin attachment may be effected, as

page_text: well as the disengagement of the pins, by the person stationed within the cocoon.
While effecting the feigned connection of the cord with the frame A, the operator
not only causes the frame C, which is hung by the steel wires, to rise from below the
stage through the trap, but also connects the cord E with the frame C.
During the operation of hooking on, the audience has not been able to see the
rising of the cocoon, which at this time is folded back, as represented at Fig. 11, to
provide for its close proximity to the paper screen. An impression is still possessed
by the audience that the frame A stands alone upon the stage.
If a picture of a silk worm is not already on the paper the operator proceeds to
draw a silk worm and at the moment it is intended to transform the worm into a
cocoon the person concealed within the silk envelope will release a convenient spring
catch when the arcs forming the edge of the envelope will be suddenly snapped
together and in the act of closing the silk envelope will burst through the paper
screen thereby destroying the picture of the silk worm and presenting the cocoon to
view as illustrated at Fig. 7.
Before however the audience gets a full view of the cocoon the operator has to
remove the frame A this he does together with the frame B which is meanwhile
detached from the frame C by the person within the cocoon as already explained and
the cocoon is thus left apparently suspended from the cord E.
A stool provided for the purpose is now placed by the operator under the frame C,
at the same time a half turn is given to the cocoon to bring in front those arcs (see
Fig. 10) which are shaped to provide an exit for the imprisoned person who is to
represent the butterfly.
The use of the stool is to provide a visible and apparently necessary support for
the suspended apparatus while the impersonated butterfly is bursting the silk envelope
of the cocoon and emerging from it. The butterfly, in the act of rising from a
crouched position in the receptacle C³, will sever the silk gauze that overlies the
opening provided by the now front ribs, and burst suddenly into full view of the
'spectators.
In a word, thanks to the invisibility of the steel wires (which might be replaced by
bands of steel placed edgewise to the audience), the presention of the metamorphoses
will be inexplicable to the spectators, the screen placed on the open stage having
afforded apparently no possible means of introducing to the stage the suspended
apparatus which the screen on its removal was found to cover.
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. The arrangement of counterbalanced apparatus as described, in combination with
a portable screen for effecting illusive transformations.
2. Presenting to view, on the bursting or opening of an invisibly suspended
envelope, a living or other picture in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.