IMPROVEMENTS IN DOUBLE OPERA GLASSES, AND OTHER GLASSES OF A SIMILAR NATURE
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Wastell Dixey, of 3, New Bond Street, in
the County of Middlesex, of the firm of C. W. Dixey & Co., Opticians
Mathematical and Philosophical Instrument Makers to Her Majesty, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DOUBLE OPERA GLASSES, AND OTHER
GLASSES OF A SIMILAR NATURE."
Sealed the 21st April 1857, and dated the 13th November 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Wastell Dixey
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th November 1856.
I, CHARLES WASTELL DIXEY, of 3, New Bond Street, in the County of
Middlesex, of the firm of C. W. Dixey & Co., Opticians, Mathematical and
Philosophical Instrument Makers to Her Majesty, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DOUBLE OPERA GLASSES, AND
OTHER GLASSES OF A SIMILAR NATURE," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improved forms of connecting bars for
uniting the two barrels of double opera glasses and other double glasses,
whereby the eye glasses may be brought close up to the eyes.
According to one arrangement, the improvement consists in bending inwards
the front fixed bar (which connects the two barrels of the glass) as well as
the moveable bar (which is connected to the sliding tubes) in such a manner
that the eye glasses or leuses may be brought close up to the eyes, the nose

page_text: being free to enter into the recessed or bent portion of the cross bars between
the barrels, in place of being obstructed by them as is the case with the opera
glasses of the ordinary make wherein the cross bars are straight.
According to another modification, the cross bars may be bent or curved
upwards, similar to the bridge piece of a pair of spectacles, the same facility
of bringing the eye glasses close to the eyes being thereby obtained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Wastell Dixey in the Great Seal Patent Offico on
the 13th May 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
WASTELL DIXEY, of 3, New Bond Street, in the County of Middlesex, of the
firm of C. W. Dixey & Co., Opticians, Mathematical and Philosophical
Instrument Makers' to Her Majesty, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of November; in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Charles Wastell Dixey, Her special license that I, the said
Charles Wastell Dixey, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Charles Wastell Dixcy, my executors, administrators,
or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DOUBLE OPERA GLASSES, AND OTHER GLASSES OF
A SIMILAR NATURE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Charles Wastell Dixey, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to bo filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Wastell Dixey, do hereby
declare the nature of iny said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statenicut, reference being bad to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-

page_text: My said Invention relates to certain: improved forms of connecting bars for
uniting the two barrels of double: opera. glasses and other double, glasses,
whereby the eye glasses may be brought close-up to the eyes!
According to one arrangement, the improvement consists in bending inwards
the front: fixed; bar (which connects; the two barrels of the glass). as well as
the moveable bar (which is connected to the slides) in such a manner that the
eye glasses or lenses may be brought close up. to the eyes, the nose being free
to enter into the recessed or bent portion of the cross bars between the barrels,
in place of being obstructed by them, as is the case with opera glasses of the
ordinary make wherein tho cross bars. are. straight.
According to another modification, the cross bars may be bent or curved
upwards, similar to the bridge piece of a pair of spectacles, the same facility
of bringing the eye glasses close to the eyes being thereby obtained.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the
Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents a side elevation of a small double
glass closed, constructed according to this Invention. Figure 2 is a similar
view shewn open, in order that the curved shape of the connecting or cross
bars may be more clearly indicated. These curved bars A and B still pass
through a straight line, uniting the two axes of sight, as will be clearly seen
on referring to the plan, Figure 3. One of these bars A is fitted in the
ordinary manner to the slides C, C, carrying the eye glasses, whilst the second
bar B is fixed to the stationary tubes D, D, which carry the object glasses.
The curved form of these bars A, B, may be modified without altering the
principle, and may take, for example, the form of bar shewn in Figure 4, the
curve being carried upwards in place of inwards, so as to form a bridge which
will fit over the nose, somewhat similar to the bridge of a pair of spectacles,
or of double reading glasses.
In this latter case the milled adjusting tube E will no longer be in the
same plane as the sight tubes, but will be slightly above it; but this arrange-
ment will not, however, interfere with the adjustment of the slides.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion
to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
,

page_text: deviating from the principles or main features of my said Invention; but what
I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is, tho
forming of the connecting bars of double opera and other double glasses
in such a manner that they will not interfere with the nose of the user,
and will admit of the eye glasses being brought close up to the eyes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Wastell Dixey, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Thirteenth day of May, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-seven.
CHARLES WASTELL DIXEY. (L.S.)