Improvements in Apparatus or Cabinets for use in "Living Statuary” and other Stage Performances.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 29th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 11th June, 1898
Improvements in Apparatus or Cabinets for use in "Living Statuary”
and other Stage Performances.
"
I, JOHN GELLER, of "Olympia," Kensington, Gymnast, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus or cabinets for use in
living statuary" and other stage performances, and has for its object to provide
a revolving cabinet that can be disposed upon an open stage, platform, circus-
ring, or similar place, for the purpose of heightening the effect of, and facilitating,
a living statuary" or other performance given within such cabinet, a further
object being to combine in one compact and portable apparatus, a miniature revolv-
ing stage together with a dressing room and means for effecting the necessary
revolution of the said apparatus.
According to my invention I provide (as is usual with apparatus of a similar
nature) a frame composed of suitable metallic or other tubing preferably jointed
together in any well known manner, to enable it to be readily taken to pieces for
purpose of transport.
The said frame is mounted upon a platform or stage secured by bolts or their
equivalent, to an under platform having a depending circular metal rim or track
upon which rests and travels a number of circularly disposed rollers mounted in
bearings in the immovable base standing upon tubular legs or supports.
The outer periphery of the depending rim or track is toothed to engage an end-
less chain which passes around such toothed periphery and gears with a hori-
zontally disposed sprocket wheel mounted upon the end of a vertical spindle having
its bearings in the immovable base.
Mounted on this spindle, below the said sprocket wheel is a spur-wheel which
gears with a second spur-wheel mounted upon a vertical spindle also having its
bearings in the immovable base aforesaid, the lower end of such spindle being
cranked.
The depending rim or track is flanged to keep the endless chain in position.
The base is provided with cross-bars or braces to the centre of which is fixed an.
upright pin which acts as a pivot for the under platform, (and consequently the
upper platform or stage) to revolve upon.
The frame has a bar across the top of same upon which is suspended, by means
of hooks or rings, a curtain formed of velvet, cloth, or other suitable fabric of a
black or other suitable dark hue. The circular top bar of the said frame is also
provided with a similar curtain which is adapted to be drawn apart in front to
expose the interior of the cabinet or apparatus.
The curtain is intended for the purpose of subdividing the cabinet or apparatus
in order to apportion off a space at the rear of same to serve as a dressing room
for the performer or performers.
In operation the cabinet or apparatus is placed upon a stage, in a circus ring
or other place and the performers retire behind the rear curtain to dress for their

page_text: respective parts. They then appear upon the stage or platform (the front curtain
having been drawn apart) which together with the appurtenances relating thereto
is caused to revolve very slowly, so as to present a view of the performance alter-
nately to the audience at the front, sides, and rear of the cabinet. The necessary
revolution of the apparatus is effected by means of an individual situated beneath 5
the movable base (and concealed from view by suitable draperies,) who turns the
crank beforementioned.
Improvements in Apparatus or Cabinets for use in Living Statuary
and other Stage Performances.
I, JOHN GELLER, of "Olympia," Kensington, Gymnast, 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 apparatus or cabinets for use in
living statuary and other stage performances, and has for its object to provide a
revolving cabinet that can be disposed upon an open stage, platform, circus-ring
or similar place, for the purpose of heightening the effect of and facilitating a
living statuary or other performance given within such cabinet, a further object
being to combine in one compact and portable apparatus, a miniature revolving
stage together with a dressing room and means for effecting the necessary revolu-
tion of the said apparatus.
And in order that this my said invention may be the more readily understood
and carried into practical effect reference is hereby made to the accompanying
sheet of illustrative drawings, and the letters and figures of reference marked
thereon, that is to say:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the frame of my improved apparatus shewn
separate.
Fig. 2 a similar view of the apparatus complete.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the revolving stage or platform of the apparatus.
Fig. 4 being a similar view of the base upon which the frame revolves, while
Fig. 5 shews an underside view of the revolving stage or platform.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like letters of reference indicate correspond-
ing parts throughout the figures, a represents a frame composed of suitable
metallic or other tubing preferably jointed together in any well known manner
to enable it to be readily taken to pieces for purposes of transport.
The said frame a is mounted upon a platform or stage 6 secured by bolts or
their equivalent to an under platform c having a depending circular metal rim or
track c which rests and travels upon a number of circularly disposed rollers d¹
mounted in bearings in the immovable base d standing upon tubular legs or
supports d. The outer periphery of the depending rim or track c¹ is toothed to
engage an endless chain e which passes around such toothed periphery and gears
with a horizontally disposed sprocket wheel f¹ mounted upon the end of a vertical
spindle having its bearings in the immovable base d. Mounted on this spindle f
below the said sprocket wheel fl is a spur-wheel 9 which gears with a second spur-
wheel mounted upon a vertical spindle h¹ also having its bearings in the immov-
able base aforesaid the lower end of such spindle h¹ being cranked at h and pro-

page_text: vided with a handle h³. The depending rim or track c¹ is flanged at c³ to keep the
endless chain in position.
The base d is provided with cross-bars or braces ³, to the centre of which is
fixed an upright pin which acts as a pivot for the under platform c (and con-
sequently the upper platform or stage) to revolve upon.
The frame a has a bar a¹ across the top of same upon which is suspended, by
means of hooks or rings ¹, a curtain i formed of velvet, cloth or other suitable
fabric of a black or other suitable dark hue. The circular top bar of said frame
is also provided with a similar curtain which adapted to be drawn apart in front
(see Fig. 2) to expose the interior of the cabinet or apparatus.
The curtain i is intended for the purpose of subdividing the cabinet or apparatus
in order to apportion off a space at the rear of same, to serve as a dressing room
for the performer or performers.
In operation the cabinet or apparatus is placed upon a stage, in a circus ring
or other place and the performers retire behind the rear curtain i to dress for their
respective parts.
They then appear upon the stage or platform 6 (the front curtain i having been
drawn apart) which together with the appurtenances relating thereto is caused to
revolve very slowly, so as to prevent a view of the performance alternately, to the
audience at the front, sides, and rear of the cabinet.
The necessary revolution of the apparatus is effected by means of an operative
situated beneath the immovable base (and concealed from view by suitable
draperies) who turns the crank beforementioned, which rotates the spur-wheel h
gearing with the spur-wheel which is in its turn rotates so as to impari a rotary
movement to the sprocket-wheel f¹ over which passes the sprocket-chain e and by
which a slow rotary movement is given to the platform or stage b.
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:-
―:
In apparatus or cabinets for use in living statuary and other stage performances
the under platform c having a depending flanged rim or track c¹ the outer peri-
phery of which is toothed, said rim or track resting and travelling upon rollers d¹
mounted in the surface of the immovable base d, in combination with a sprocket
chaine passing around the depending rim or track and a sprocket-wheel fl
mounted upon a spindle carrying a spur-wheel g gearing with a second spur wheel h
whose spindle h¹ is cranked and provided with a handle, all arranged, combined,
and operating, substantially as and for the purpose described and as illustrated by
the drawing.
Dated th: 20th day of Annil 1808
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.