Year: 1885

page_text: I, THOMAS BINNIE RALSTON, Anchorage Bothwell in the County of Lanark,
Major in the Second Lanark Rifle Volunteers do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The improved target constituting this Invention consists of a rectangular frame
supported at its centre on trunnions or bearings on which it is capable of being
partially or wholly rotated. At one side of the trunnions the frame is filled in, or
the space enclosed by its boundaries is covered by a plate or plates constituting the
target and on which the bulls eye, centre, and other values are set out in the
ordinary manner. To counter balance or partially counterbalance the weight of
the plate or plates constituting the target the part of the frame at the other side
of the trunnions is weighted and at or near the extreme boundary of the said part
one end of a rope or chain is attached the chain being from thence conducted under
a pulley preferably situated in direct line below the trunnion or centre of movement
and thence over another pulley carried on a pin or stud fixed in the side of the
markers house or mantelet. from whence the chain hangs down loosely.
The target is kept in vertical or firing position by the lower part of the frame
entering under a recess made in a lever centred in front of the mantelet and whose
extreme outer end is curved upwards to enable the frame readily to enter the said
recess the other end of the said lever constituting a treddle, extending inside the
mantelet, for releasing the target when desired.
In the markers mantelet or house a window or spyhole is provided to enable the
marker to have the target fully in view and the said house has also a door opening
inwards and wbich, whilst firing is taking place, is kept closed by a catch carried
on a pin or stud and having an outwardly projecting tail piece on which the target
acts to enable the door to be opened. The door has also another catch which when
the door is opened projects outwards from the doorway and in the roof of the
mantelet four or other number of slots are made according to the number of discs
required to indicate values or danger.
In conjunction with each of these slots a vertically moving board is provided
and each such board is furnished with a cord or chain attached to the board near
its lower part and thence passed over a pulley or pulleys the loose ends of the
chains hanging convenient to the hand of the marker.

page_text: The action of the apparatus is as follows:—when the target is struck the marker
first raises one of the said discs or boards to indicate the value of the shot to the
rifleman and simultaneously places his foot on the treddle end of the lever before
mentioned and releases the frame causing the target to swing towards the mantelet.
In doing so it automatically releases the catch of the door which then either of its
own accord opens inwards or it is so opened by the marker whereby the pin attached
to the door is caused to project outwards and pevent the target from rising.
In this position the target constitutes a roof to the space in front of the mantelet
and thoroughly protects the marker who then passes out through the doorway and
paints out the shot thereafter placing on the spot so painted a paper disc which
indicates the locality of the shot.
This being effected the marker retires into his mantelet and shuts the door and
the catch above the target being thereby withdrawn it swings partially upwards
and is caused to assume the vertical position by pulling on the chain attached to
the lower end of the frame until the said lower end comes into the recess in the
treddle lever and locks the target in' its vertical position.
1
In cases where it is desired the parts of the frame on both sides of the trunnions
may be utilized as targets, the target, on one side being in that case preferably
narrower and lighter than that on the other.
The tail of the door catch is preferably, at a position intermediate between the
fulcrum and the end, jointed so as to be capable of folding upwards so that should
the edge of the target in being lowered get below it, it will, when the target again
rises, fold back.

page_text: Mantlets for Rifle Practice.
I, THOMAS BINNIE RALSTON, Anchorage, Bothwell, in the County of Lanark,
Major in the Second Lanark Rifle Volunteers, 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:—
The improved target constituting this Invention consists as seen in side elevation
at figure 1, in back end elevation at figure 2, and in plan at figure 3 of the annexed
drawings of a rectangular frame A, supported at or near the middle of each side on
trunnions or on a shaft B, extending across the frame and resting in bearings on
the upper ends of brackets or frames C which are stationary.
The frame A is capable of being partially rotated and from its upper part when
the target is to be of canvas or the like, there is suspended another frame D, com-
posed of two vertical side bars or cheeks, which are knife edged towards the firing
point. The vertical bars are connected at their lower ends by a horizontal bar the
extremities O, of which are bent at right angles rearwards and act as guides in
raising and lowering the target. The frame D, carries or has secured to it another
frame E, the space enclosed by the boundaries of which is covered with the canvas,
paper or the like, which covering constitutes the target proper on which the "bulls
eye,"
"centre" and other values are set out in the ordinary manner as indicated in
dotted lines at figure 2. Besides being suspended from the frame A, the frame D,
is connected or tied by rods a, to guys or stays b, of the stationary brackets or
frames C, and to one side of the frame A, at a point below the bearing or trunnion
there is connected one end of a rod M, whose opposite extremity is attached to the
lower end of a hand lever F, centred at d, on a bracket G.
"
The target E is kept in vertical or firing position by the lower part of the
frame A, entering under the hooked end of a lever H, centred at I, in front of the
markers mantelet J, the extreme point of the hooked end of the lever being curved
upwards as shewn to enable the frame A, to enter readily under the hook. The
other end of the lever H, extends into the mantelet and constitutes a treddle for
releasing the target when desired.
In the roof of the mantelet four or other number of slots are made according to
the number of discs or signals required to indicatè values, or danger, and in con-
junction with each of these slots a vertically moving board is provided as indicated
at L, figure 1, these boards resting on a ledge or sill e, and each of them furnished
with a cord or chain f passing over pulleys g, suspended from the roof of the
mantelet, the loose end of each cord or chain having a counterbalance weight h,
connected to it to maintain the board in its raised position when the said end of
the chain or cord is pulled by the marker.
The action of the apparatus herein before described is as follows:-
When the target E, is struck, the marker in the mantelet first.raises one of the
boards or signale L, to indicate the value of the shot to the rifleman. and simul,
-

page_text: taneously or immediately thereafter he, places his foot on the treddle end of the
lever H, thereby raising the hooked end of the said lever and releasing the frame A
The upper part of the frame A carrying the target E, thereupon swings towards
the mantelet J, and the lower end of the frame D at the same time swings away
from the frame A, the lower cross bar of the said frame D, coming under a catch
formed on a lever N, centred on the axis I by which, it is held in its lower position
as indicated at figure 4, of the drawings. To ensure that the frame A shall, when
released, swing in the proper direction the upper part of it is, as shewn on the
drawings, cranked or overhung from the bearing B, towards the mantelet and, in
descending, the frame D, is prevented from swinging too far in the direction of the
mantelet by the stays a. The lever N, has a cross piece or jaw N¹ formed on the
tail of it within which the lever H, passes and the frame D, in coming in contact
with the upper end of the lever, is prevented from throwing it too far back by the
lower part of the jaw acting against the under side of the lever H. The weight of
the jawed end of the lever is sufficient to throw the hooked end into its forward
position when the frame D, is entered under the catch.
When a metallic target is required, an iron or steel plate is connected direct to
the frame A, the frames D and E, being dispensed with.
In the case of a canvas target, after it has been lowered, to the position figure 4,
the marker fixes a tin disc on the spot hit, by means of a hook at the back of said
disc which he passes through the shot hole, this disc being removed after the next
shot and a paper patch pasted over the hole. In the case of an iron target, the
target plate being secured direct to the frames A, both at its lower and upper end
does not swing down into the position shewn at figure 4; but when lowered
constitutes a continuation of the roof of the mantelet, the marker painting out on
it the mark of the shot last fired and placing a paper or other disc, on the shot so
painted to indicate to the rifleman the locality of the shot. Under either arrange-
ment, the spot being indicated, the marker again places his foot on the treddle end
of the lever H which, acting on the upper side of the jaw N¹ of the lever N,
releases the hook or catch thereof from the frame D, the target being thereafter
swung into its raised position by means of the lever F and link M, and locked in
that position by the lower part of the frame A, coming under the catch of the
lever H, as before described.
+
To enable the raising of the target to be effected with greater facility the lower
part of the frame A, may be weighted so as to counterbalance or slightly over
balance the upper part carrying the target and in lieu of employing the lever F,
and link M, a rope or chain may be used, one end thereof being secured to the
lower part of the frame A, and from thence conducted under a pulley preferably
situated in direct line below the axis of the frame. From the said pulley the
rope or chain passes over another pulley carried on a pin or stud fixed in the
side of the mantelet the end of the rope or chain hanging down loosely from the
said pulley.
With the arrangement shown on the drawings and also when the target E, is
made of iron and constitutes, when in its lowered position, a roof to the mantelet,
complete protection to the marker is afforded in painting out and otherwise
indicating the value of the shot, but instead of making the mantelet with an open
front it may have a door in front with a window or spy hole to enable the marker
to have the target fully in view. The door, when provided, opens inwards and
whilst firing is going on it is or may be kept closed by a catch carried on a pin or
stud and having an outwardly projecting tail piece on which the target in descending
strikes and releases the catch to enable the door to open which it does of its own
accord being provided with a chain, one end of which is fastened to the door and
the other end, which is weighted, passing over a pulley. In lieu of employing the
lever N, the door may also be provided with another catch, which when the door
is opened projects outwards over the 'target and prevents it from being raised until
the door is again closed,

page_text: 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. The general arrangement and combination of the parts constituting the
improved targets for rifle practice substantially as hereinbefore described, and in
part shown on the accompanying drawings.
2. In targets for rifle practice the combination of the frame A, and apparatus
for locking the same, substantially as described and in part shown on the appended
drawings.
.
3. In targets for rifle practice the combination of the frames A, D and E, sub-
stantially as herein before described, with reference to the drawings annexed.
4. In conjunction with mantelets and targets for rifle practice the use of indicating
discs L, arranged and operating substantially as described.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
Agents,