Apparatus for Producing Panoramic Lantern Illusions.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Producing Panoramic Lantern Illusions.
I, CARL GEORG TÄNZLER, 23, Weintraubenstrasse, Dresden-Neustadt, in the
Empire of Germany, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
Up to the present time panoramic scenes or illusions have been produced in
such a manner that the object or series of objects represented was either a
picture carried mechanically forward past the spectator or simply a circular set
scene. The illusion or deception thus produced not only was of a very expensive
nature but the representation was not natural and the deception being imperfect
could easily be recognised by the spectator. Again, panoramic representations
or illusions of the old kind must be of such dimensions as to cover the wall
space embraced by the spectators eye and in large scenes when set in motion
the necessary mechanism to produce this effect is complicated and expensive.
The object of the present invention is to produce a panoramic illusion apparatus
in which the picture is enlarged by lantern projection from an apparatus con-
structed in a manner hereinafter described, the picture from which the illusion
is produced being either photographic re-productions, hand-painted from nature,
or constructed in any well known manner, and, further, the apparatus is so
constructed that the illusion picture can be increased or diminished, or passed
before the spectator in a panoramic manner.
The two accompanying sheets of drawings illustrate the methods for carrying
the invention into effect when the panoramic illusion of a balloon voyage is
desired, and as follows:
Figure 1 is a sectional view of the lantern and projection apparatus,
Figure 2 is a sectional view illustrating a modification of the method of carrying
this lantern and projection apparatus.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a building in which the projection
apparatus is fixed and in which the desired panoramic illusion is produced, the
apparatus being arranged overhead,
Figure 4 is a ground plan of Figure 1,
Figure 5 is a diagramatic view of the building and apparatus on a smaller
scale with the projection apparatus over the spectator,
Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 5 with the projection apparatus under
the spectator,
Figure is a diagramatic representation of the apparatus and building in
which the panoramic illusion is displayed showing the produced picture in
position the projection apparatus being in this case arranged underneath the
spectator.
Throughout all these separate figures similar letters indicate similar parts.
Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings a building or structure a is
shown containing the projecting apparatus and for the purpose of exhibiting the
panoramic illusion. A stand b is shown in the centre of the building which
forms the balloon basket for a parachute or balloon c. The admission to this

page_text: stand can be effected from underneath or from the side by means of a movable
bridge as the drawing, Figure 7, shows. An apparatus & contains pictures
taken from a bird's eye view of the landscape, or the like, of the particular view
or views to be shown. These view or views are thrown by means of suitable
lenses on a white spherical screen and change of colour or cloud effects and
horizon are provided in a manner hereinafter described by special plates or
strips. The cylinders carrying the landscape picture strips are movably sup-
ported, for example in one way in a vessel containing water. The cylinders are
rotary around the optical axis but floating in water, so that, as well as lateral
movement of the picture films, other movements to completely imitate the
view as seen from a balloon are possible as the balloon rises or floats away, and
all as hereinafter more particularly described. The spectator can stand over
or under the projection apparatus and the diagrams and drawings at Figures 5,
6, and 7, indicate different position of the spectator.
The projection apparatus d is shown on a larger scale and in greater detail
at Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings.
The frame is constructed of angle iron and contains the lamp L, the incan-
descent carbons and k of which are shown in a small side view adjacent to
Figure 1. Around the lamp lenses h and 2 and reflectors are arranged. From
the lense the light passes through a second lense h¹ and both these lenses are
kept cool by a water supply. Adjacent to the lense lies the picture m which
can be wound on or off the cylinders n n. These cylinders rest in a receptacle
which is so constructed as to float in the water trough ¹, this construction
permitting oscillation or fluctuations of the picture film.
Immediately over the picture film a strip is placed arranged with inter-
mediate pictures to produce cloud effects or colouring tones as required.
Rays of light from L are laterally directed through the lense 2 towards the
reflectors s and from there towards the lense 3. Behind this lense 3 is placed
a circular plate q carrying sky colours while in front of this is placed a plate r
with cloud and other like effects as required. In the upper part of the projector
apparatus frame f¹ a movable frame work is placed which can be vertically
raised or lowered. This movable frame work carries a plate p made of glass
with parallel faces but having a cutting out in a certain position. This cutting
out serves to reproduce a curve representing the earth surface and produce an
artificial horizon. In the interior of the movable frame work a plate t stands
at a suitable inclination being silvered with a mirror surface a distance corre-
sponding with the cutting out of the plate p, and arranged centrally over that
plate so that the free glass surface of the plate t allows the light to pass from
the cutting out through that portion towards the lense head. The lense head
collects the rays from the lamp L after such have passed through the lenses h h¹
through the picture m, the cutting out of the plate p and the free surface of the
plate t. They are then directed from the lens head towards the spherical mirror
from which they are thrown on the projection screen of the building to produce
the picture or illusion desired. By the longitudinal movement of the picture
strip or film m the landscape is altered as desired so that to a spectator standing
in the cage the feeling of continual motion over varying landscape is felt. The
oscillations of the floating cylinders n produce in the spectator the feeling of the
backward and forward floating in the air while the illusion of a motion either in
a upwards or downwards direction as in a balloon is produced by the movement
of the frame work or cage carrying the lens head and the other apparatus
within. This vertical up or down movement of the lens head and cage is in
either direction during the passing along of the frame picture m so that to the
spectator the landscape becomes either larger or smaller.
The oscillation movements of the picture can be produced by arranging the
whole of the projector apparatus, picture films, plates, lenses, and the like as
shown in Figure 2, by embedding the whole apparatus in a water reservoir and
rotary upon a central bottom pin, or, again, another method would be to arrange

page_text: the mirrors movably when of course floating the apparatus
the picture film would be unnecessary.
or the rollers carrying
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham,
Agents.
Apparatus for Producing Panoramic Lantern Illusions.
I, CARL GEORG TÄNZLER, of 23, Weintraubenstrasse, Dresden-Neustadt, in the
Empire of Germany, Electrical Engineer, 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:-
-
Up to the present time panoramic scenes or illusions have been produced in
such a manner that the object or series of objects represented was either a
picture carried mechanically forward past the spectator or simply a circular set
scene. The illusion or deception thus produced not only was of a very expensive
nature but the representation was not natural and the deception being imperfect
could easily be recognised by the spectator. Again, panoramic representations
or illusions of the old kind must be of such dimensions as to cover the wall
space embraced by the spectator's eye and in large scenes when set in motion
the necessary mechanism to produce this effect complicated and expensive.
The object of the present invention is to produce a panoramic illusion apparatus
in which the picture is enlarged by lantern projection from an apparatus con-
structed in a manner hereinafter described, the picture from which the illusion
is produced being either photographic re-productions, hand-painted from nature,
or constructed in any well known manner, and, further, the apparatus is so
constructed that the illusion picture can be increased or diminished, or passed
before the spectator in a panoramic manner.
The two sheets of drawings filed with the Provisional Specification illustrate
the methods for carrying the invention into effect when the panoramic illusion
of a balloon voyage is desired, and as follows:-
Figure 1 is a sectional view of the lantern and projection apparatus.
Figure 2 is a sectional view illustrating a modification of the method of
carrying this lantern and projection apparatus.
Figure is a sectional elevation of a building in which the projection
apparatus is fixed and in which the desired panoramic illusion is produced, the
apparatus being arranged overhead,
Figure 4 is a ground plan of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the building and apparatus on a smaller
scale with the projection apparatus over the spectator.
Figure is a similar view to Figure 5 with the projection apparatus under
the spectator.
Figure 7 is a diagrammatic representation of the apparatus and building in
which the panoramic illusion is displayed showing the produced picture in
position the projection apparatus being in this case arranged underneath the
spectator.
Throughout all these separate figures similar letters indicate similar parts.
Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings a building or structure a is

page_text: shown containing the projecting apparatus and for the purpose of exhibiting the
panoramie illusion.
A stand is shown in the centre of the building which
forms the balloon basket for a parachute or balloon c. The admission to this
stand can be effected from underneath or from the side by means of a movable
bridge as the drawing, Figure 7, shows. An apparatus d contains pictures
taken from a bird's eye view of the landscape or the like, of the particular view
or views to be shown. This view or views are thrown by means of suitable
lenses on a white spherical screen f and change of colour or cloud effects and
horizon are provided in a manner herein after described by special plates or
strips. The cylinders carrying the landscape picture strips are movably sup-
ported for example in one way in a vessel containing water the cylinders are
rotary around the optical axis but floating in water, so that, as well as lateral
movement of the picture films other movements to completely imitate the
view as seen from a balloon are possible as the balloon rises or floats away and
all as hereinafter more particularly described. The spectator can stand over
or under the projection apparatus and the diagrams and drawings at Figures 5,
6, and 7, indicate different positions of the spectator. The different positions of
the spectator are indicated in Figures 5 and 6 by the small circles respectively
below and above the projection apparatus.
The projection apparatus d is shown on a larger scale and in greater detail
at Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings.
The frame is constructed of angle iron and contains the lamp L, the incan-
descent carbons and k of which are shown in a small side view adjacent to
Figure 1.
Around the lamp lenses hand and reflectors are arranged. From the
lense the light passes through a second lense h¹ and both these lenses are
kept cool by a water supply. Adjacent to the lense lies the picture m which
can be wound on or off the cylinders nn. These cylinders rest in a receptacle.
which is so constructed as to float in the water trough, this construction
permitting the oscillation or fluctuations of the picture film.
Immediately over the picture film a strip o is placed arranged with inter-
mediate pictures to produce cloud effects or colouring tones as required.
Rays of light from L are laterally directed through the lens 2 towards the
reflectors s and from there towards the lense h³. Behind this lense 3 is placed
a circular plate ₫ carrying sky colours while in front of this is placed a plate r
with cloud and other like effects as required. In the upper part of the projector
apparatus frame f¹ a movable frame work is placed which can be vertically
raised or lowered. This movable frame work carries a plate 2 made of glass
with parallel faces but having a cutting out in a certain position. This cutting
out serves to reproduce a curve representing the earth surface and produce an
artificial horizon. In the interior of the movable frame work a plate t stands
at a suitable inclination being silvered with a mirror surface a distance corre-
sponding with the cutting out of the plate 2, and arranged centrally over that
plate so that the free glass surface of the plate t allows the light to pass from
the cutting out through that portion towards the lense head. The lense head
collects the rays from the lamp L after such have passed through the lenses h h
through the picture m, the cutting out of the plate p and the free surface of the
plate. They are then directed from the lense head towards the spherical mirror
from which they are thrown on the projection screen f of the building to produce
the picture or illusion desired. By the longitudinal movement of the picture
strip or film m the landscape is altered as desired so that to a spectator standing
in the cage the feeling of continual motion over varying landscape is felt. The
oscillations of the floating cylinders n produce in the spectator the feeling of the
backward and forward floating in the air while the illusion of a motion in an
upwards or downwards direction as in a balloon is produced by the movement
of the frame work or cage carrying the lense head and the other apparatus
within. This vertical up or down movement of the lense head and cage is in

page_text: either direction during the passing along of the frame picture m so that to the
spectator the landscape becomes either larger or smaller.
The oscillation movements of the picture can be produced by arranging the
whole of the projector apparatus with its picture films, plates, lenses, and the like
upon a floating vessel within a water reservoir as shown in Figure 2 the
vessel being loosely pivotted to the bottom of the reservoir upon a central pin
so as to allow an oscillating or like movement to be given to the apparatus.
Another method would be to arrange the mirrors movably when of course floating
the apparatus or the rollers carrying the picture film would be unnecessary.
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. Apparatus for the production of panoramic lantern illusions characterised
by the fact that suitable projecting pictures are produced under or over or at
the side of the spectator in the manner and substantially as herein before described.
2. In an apparatus such as specified in Claim 1, the arrangement of two or
more different pencils or rays which illuminate several films or plates for the
production of the picture and are projected by one and the same system of
lenses and consequently have one and the same optical axis substantially as
herein before described.
3. In an apparatus such as specified in Claim 1, the movable arrangement of
the lens head with the horizontal limitation for the purpose of producing the
sensation of rising or sinking on a balloon voyage substantially as described.
4. In apparatus such as herein before described the arrangement of the pictures
or of the whole apparatus for the production of the illusion of the floating or
oscillation of the spectator substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. An apparatus for the production of panoramic lantern illusions sub-
stantially as herein before described.
Dated is th day of June 19.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester,
Agents.