Improved Means for Producing Optical Illusions.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 23rd May, 1893-Accepted, 8th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Producing Optical Illusions.
We THOMPSON'S PATENT GRAVITY SWITCHBACK RAILWAY COMPANY
LIMITED and ALFRED BARNES PICKARD of No. 5 John Street Adelphi
London W.C. Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to make a small room or short length of passages
appear by means of suitably arranged mirrors of almost unlimited extent and to
place the mirrors at the same time in a convenient manner that persons in the room
or passages may have one or more plates or columns of mirrors to form convenient
entrances and exits and at same time increase the effects of the illusion by the extra
reflections from such plates or columns.
In making a room lined with mirrors we might place them in a continuous wall
round the room and arrange one or more mirrors to slide forming an entrance to
the room.
This we might accomplish with a lever or a rack & pinion.
In this arrangement of the walls of the room or passages the mirrors may be
placed in the vertical plane or slightly inclined to the floor & may be placed at any
angle to each other although the angle at which they are placed would preferably
be a multiple of four right angles, although they need not necessarily be placed at
the same angles to each other.
We have further found that by placing in the space or passages a plate or plates
of two mirrors placed back to back and with their reflecting surfaces parallel or
slightly inclined to the surfaces of the mirrors forming the sides of the room or
passages the effect of the illusion is greatly increased.
We might replace this plate of mirrors by a column or columns of mirrors made
in a triangular, square or polygonal shape of either regular or irregular shape.
We further find that by causing the plate or plates of mirrors or the column
or columns to revolve in the vertical plane the effect of the illusion is greatly
increased.
For THOMPSON'S PATENT GRAVITY
SWITCHBACK RAILWAY CO., LTD.,
C. Mountcastle, Secretary.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Producing Optical Illusions.
We, THOMPSON'S PATENT GRAVITY SWITCHBACK RAILWAY COMPANY,
LIMITED, and ALFRED BARNES PICKARD of No. 5 John Street, Adelphi,
London, W.C. Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in means for producing optical illusions
of the kind designed to make a small room, short passage or other space appear, by
means of suitably arranged mirrors, of almost unlimited extent the object of this
[Price 8d.l

page_text: invention being to produce a greater illusion than can be obtained with the means
heretofore employed.
For this purpose in conjunction with mirrors arranged to form the sides of a
room, passage or other space, and some of which are so placed that to persons in
the room passage or space they appear to form convenient entrances and exits we
employ additional mirrors arranged back to back, or so as to form a column or
columns of mirrors of triangular, square or polygonal form in horizontal section
placed within the said room, passage or space and the additional reflections from
which serve to greatly increase the illusion.
The accompanying drawing shows means for producing optical illusions con-
structed according to this invention.
A is a room or chamber into which leads a passage B and from which access may
be had to a labyrinth or maze-like passage C. The walls of this chamber and the
passages connected thereto are lined with or consist of mirrors D that may be
arranged vertically or slightly inclined to the vertical, and which may be placed at
any suitable angle to each other.
In addition to the mirrors placed upon or forming a continuous wall round the
chamber A we may provide one or more sliding mirrors arranged to serve as
entrance doors to the room or chamber and provided with suitable means such as a
lever or a rack and pinion for opening and closing them.
E E are additional mirrors placed back to back within the room or chamber A
with their reflecting surfaces parallel to some of the surfaces of the mirrors forming
the sides of the said rooms and inclined to others and by the use of which the
effect of the illusion is greatly increased. Instead of using mirrors E arranged
back to back so as to form practically a plate with a reflective surface at each
side, there can be advantageously employed three or more mirrors arranged
to form a column or columns of mirrors of triangular rectangular or polygonal
form in horizontal section, these mirrors being of equal or unequal width as
desired. In the example shown six mirrors El are arranged to form a hexagonal
column (shown by dotted lines) near the centre of the room or chamber. By causing
such additional mirrors to revolve the effect of the illusion is greatly increased.
For this purpose they may be mounted upon a base plate F to which rotary move-
ment about a vertical axis may be imparted by a worm wheel G and worm H
arranged below the floor of the room or chamber A and driven by any suitable
means as for example by an electric motor.
B
Behind each of the openings at J J' may be arranged a fernery aquarium or
other object and at the tops of the columns K K' floral or other arches may be
arranged so as to represent doorways images all of which will be reproduced a great
number of times by reflection from the various mirrors. It will be readily under-
stood that with the arrangement described, persons passing through the passage
into the room or chamber A and the passage C will be surrounded by reflecting
surfaces, which show an almost infinite number of images of the persons and objects
in front of them and cause the said persons to experience a somewhat confused
sensation, and great difficulty in deciding as to what direction to proceed in, thereby
giving a certain amount of interest and amusement in addition to the optical effect
itself. To regulate the entrance and exit of visitors to and from the passages B
and C and room A turnstiles L L' may be provided as well understood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. For producing optical illusions the combination with mirrors suitably arranged
to form the sides of a room passage or other space, of additional mirrors arranged
back to back or so as to form within the said room, passage or other space a column
or columns of mirrors of triangular, square or polygonal form in horizontal section
whether the said additional mirrors be made stationary or movable substantially as
herein before described for the purpose specified.

page_text: 2. The improved means for producing optical illusions constructed and arranged
substantially as herembefore described with reference to and shown in the drawing
annexed.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1893.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.