AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR EXHIBITING MOVING AND OTHER PICTURES
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alonzo Galord Grant at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th February
1867.
I, ALONZO GALORD GRANT, of No. 25, Osnaburgh Street, Regent's Park,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR EXHIBITING
MOVING AND OTHER PICTURES," to be as follows:-
The said Invention relates chiefly to the exhibition of moving pictures or
series of pictures which are caused to travel in a regular and continuous
manner by means of a pair of winding reels or rollers and suitable operative
mechanism. A jet of oxyhydrogen or other powerful light is produced at two
or more points in front of the winding reels, and is concentrated upon a
certain area through which the pictures pass by peculiarly formed lenses, a
magnified reflection of the illuminated portion of the pictures being cast by
means of a suitable object glass upon a sheet of cloth or other surface which
may be either opaque or transparent.
The winding reels or rollers, which may be constructed of brass or other
suitable material, are formed with deep rims or flanges; the said reels are

page_text: provided with journals, and are supported thereby to turn freely in bearings
formed in a metal frame; each of these reels is attached to one end of a band
or strip of canvas, paper, or other material upon which the pictures are
produced or fixed. The said reels are arranged in the frame at the required
distance apart to allow a sufficient portion of the picture to be properly
exposed to the light from the lenses; guide rollers are provided between the
winding reels for the pictures to pass over, and are arranged in such a position
that the said pictures in passing over them are caused to present a flat surface
to the action of the light.
One end of an adjustable shaft or spindle is supported in a swivelling
bearing or eye which is fitted to turn in a socket formed or fixed on the
metal frame; this shaft carries a worm or endless screw, and each of the
winding reels is provided with a worm wheel whose teeth are formed to gear
with the said worm. Two fixed bearings are provided for supporting the
outer end of the adjustable shaft, and are attached to the frame of the
apparatus in such a position that by adjusting the outer end of the shaft from
one to the other of the said bearings the worm can be brought into gear with
the worm wheel of either winding reel; the said shaft may be caused to rotate
by power applied to à crank or handle attached to its outer end, or may be
connected with an arrangement of clockwork or other suitable motive power.
The swivelling bearing allows the said shaft to be readily thrown into gear with
either of the winding reels, and the pictures can thereby be caused to move in
either direction.
The lanterns or cases which enclose the jets and burners are placed in front
of and in close proximity to the winding 'apparatus, and are so constructed
and arranged that the light therefrom is concentrated and caused to illuminate
a certain area in a vertical plane midway between the two winding reels; the
said lanterns are so constructed as to allow of the employment of either the
oxybydrogen or lime light, the magnesium light, the electric light, or other
powerful illuminating means. The lenses are preferable made in the form of a
portion of a globe or sphere, and are arranged at such an angle to the plane
of the pictures that the light from the burners is thrown thereon with equal
effect from each burner; by this ärrangement all shadows which might arise
from inequalities of the surface of the pictures are prevented. An adjustable
object glass is placed in front of the pictures to transmit a magnified reflection
of the illuminated portion of the same to the surface of a sheet of cloth or other
suitable material; the said cloth may be either transparent or opaque according
as it is desired to exhibit the pictures on either side of the same.

page_text: Additional winding reels and lanterns may be employed in connection with
those herein-above described to enable two or more views or pictures to be
exhibited at the same time; photographs and other detached pictures or
views may be also exhibited, in which case the winding reels will not be
required.