Improved Means for Producing Theatrical Effects.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1897-Accepted, 24th July, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Producing Theatrical Effects.
1 AUSTIN WALTERS, of 35 Dorset Street, Hulme, Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, 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: -
The principal object of this invention is to produce upon the stage of a theatre or
music hall, with the aid of the usual lime or electric lights and colors, a most artistic
and realistic bird effect; and the invention consists in providing the artiste upon
the stage with a suitable costume and a pair of wings of special construction.
The main feature of these wings is that they are so made that each can be moved
from back to front, and that they can be raised and lowered and brought over the
body like the wings of a bird at rest, a suitable loop or tag or its equivalent (or
more than one) being provided so that the artiste can move these wings up or fold
them down in a very realistic manner; and it will be readily understood that by
the aid of various lights projected upon the figure and the wings, most artistic
effects can be produced.
As the essential part of my invention consists in the arrangement of the wings,
and as the costume with which they are combined and the exact shape and size of
the wings themselves may vary according to taste and requirements, I will limit
my illustration to one application or mechanical form of the working and con-
struction of these wings.
On Sheet 1 of the annexed drawings, Fig. 1 shews a back view of the upper part
of a suitable costume with the wings raised. Fig. 2 shews a side view of the same
with the wings pulled down.
being
On Sheet 2, Fig. 3 is a face view of the back plate and part of the wings, Fig. 4
is a side view thereof, and Fig. 5 is a plan of the same, Figs. 3, 4, and
drawn to a larger scale.
In a suitable position about level with the shoulder blades at the back of the
artiste I fix to the costume by strong sewing or otherwise a suitable plate a, (see
Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5) carrying two pairs or sets of eyes bb or the like through each
of which a pivot or pin ( and c' respectively) preferably removable, can be passed
in order to fix the wings in place, the eyes bb' are so arranged that the two pivots c
and c¹ are vertical or nearly so when the artiste stands upright. A shoulder strap
spring or wire d is fixed at one end to the plate a, and as the costume is fastened
at the back as seen at Fig. 1, a second shoulder strap spring or wire d is fixed to a
second plate a' fastened to the plate a by two eyes or staples passing through the
latter and secured by a locking pin e, see Fig. 3, 4 and 5. The other ends of these
springs or wires d di are passed under the arms of the artiste and secured by a tape,
hook or otherwise to the plate.
The wings ff' are made chiefly of any suitable material, say silk, and are
preferably white, they are provided with wire or other springs (seen dotted
g, h, g, h, Fig. 1) and vary in length as shewn. The wires or springs shewn at g
are the strongest and are themselves of varying strengths; for example at the
point 1 they are stronger than the point 2 and decrease in strength as they near the

page_text: .
end 3. I prefer to produce this variation in strength by increasing the number
of wires or rods forming the spring as the strength is required to be increased.
The wiresh and h¹ decrease in length as shewn and to a suitable part of the wing
(say about at arms length of the wearer) are fastened the loops or tags i i¹ (Fig. 1)
for manipulating the wings f. and f¹ respectively.
The silk and the springs of each wing terminate in a metal plate k k¹ see Fig. 3
from which the springs radiate suitably and each plate k or is made with a tube
or loop or loops at the part marked through which the pin or pivot c or c¹ passes
to fasten the wing to the plate a.
The springs m m normally hold the wing plates k k¹ when in place in a plane at
or about right angles to the plate a, as seen at & Figs. 3 and 5, stops n n being
provided to prevent the wings f fi from clashing together behind the artiste ;
and when the tags or loops are free, the wings owing to the action of the
springs m m 9 g₁ and h h are raised and curve from a plane at or about right
angles to the plate a.
As soon however as the artiste catches the loops in his or her hands the wing-
plates kk can be brought round parallel or nearly so with the plate a as seen at k¹
Figs. 3 and 5, or be bent downwards at an angle with the pivot or even brought
right over the shoulders and down in front of the artiste (see Fig. 2); or in fact
pulled into almost any position to imitate the effect of a bird at rest or moving its
wings, and the motion of the wings in combination with the various lights projected
upon the artiste either in single or combined colors will give a very brilliant
effect.
In order to take the strain from the plates and a when the wire springs
g, h, g, h, are bent I form or provide projecting flat springs or plates at which
extend down to the waist of the artiste, inside and below a waist band o or its
equivalent (see Figs. 3 and 4).
I would remark in conclusion that I do not limit myself to the exact mechanism
described and illustrated for moving and folding the wings, as such may vary,
and that I do not limit myself to the bird effect as an imitation of other winged
creatures such as a moth or the like can be produced by varying the costume and
the form of the wings.
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 combination with a suitable costume of wings adapted to move in a
backwards or forwards or up and down and be folded over the body at the will of
the wearer.
2. The improved wings and mechanism for operating the same constructed
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the annexed drawings.
Dated this 17th day of June 1897.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.