Year: 1886

page_text: I ALFRED WRENCH trading as John Wrench and Son of 39 Grays Inn Road in
the County of Middlesex Optician do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :—
This invention relates chiefly to the class of Magic Lanterns the bodies of which
are usually made of thin sheet iron and have curved or arched tops and has for its
chief objects greater compactness, and general stability, the prevention of breakages
through irregular heating, of the glasses at the front or rear or both ends of the
lamp chamber and an improved mode of mounting the said glass or glasses as well
as the reflector, affording facility for removal and replacement of the same.
I prefer to make the body of my improved Magic Lantern, which embraces
various improvements, of Russian iron plate. I solder or braze the stage and front
tube containing the sliding "O, G, tube" to a metal casting forming a pedestal or
base which with the entire stage and tubes slides longitudinally between inwardly
inclined lateral guides on the surface of the front foot of the Lantern. I make the
front tube of "triblet" drawn tubing. The front foot forms a chamber of sufficient
depth and capacity to contain the lamp chimney when dismounted and packed, it
being retained in position therein by the hinge of the toe plate. To the door of
the Lantern I attach a spring catch having an inner projection which with the
door acts as a transverse support or stay to the sides of the Lantern body thereby
increasing the general stability of the same when closed. A cross partition is
provided between the said chamber in the front foot and the body of the Lantern
in which the lamp is placed in order to form a stop to the lamp and ensure its
proper position in the Lantern whilst preventing also the light from showing
To the
through the front foot when the chimney is removed therefrom and in use.
bottom of the lamp chamber at both ends thereof I hinge transversely thereto a
grooved or channelled support serving to contain the lower edge of the front and
rear glasses or, which I prefer, talc, when applied to the rear end of the lamp
chamber. The sides and upper or rounded edge of the said glasses or talc are
contained in a channelled or grooved frame or holder enclosing the same said frame
or holder being pivotted at one side to one end of the said transverse grooved or
channelled binge piece the latter being further provided with a catch which admits

page_text: of the grooved frame or holder containing the glass or tale being not only turned
downwards and outwards upon the hinge so as to open the front or rear end of the
lamp chamber but also enables the frame or holder to be turned to one side to
afford facility for removing and replacing the contained glass or tale. By being
thus enclosed all round in a metal frame or holder the glass when used is less
liable to be broken by heat its edges being protected from the direct action of the
heated air currents inside the chamber of the lamp by the said enclosing frame.
The beforementioned door at the back of the Lantern body is provided with the
usual spy hole closed by preference with coloured glass to permit of the condition
of the lamp flame being inspected from the outside. In order to facilitate the
fixing of the Lanterns in their proper adjusted position on the box or stand when
a pair of lanterns are employed for dissolving views, I provide a transverse slot in
the rear end of the bottom of each of the two lanterns through which and through
the stand pass tightening thumb screws which fix the positions of the two lanterns
the lateral adjustment of which is allowed for by the elongated slot in each. To
enable the Lantern to be firmly held down upon the top of its box or casing
I provide the said casing on the inner side of the top thereof with a pair of
longitudinal sliding and swivelling rods hooked or bent back at their outer ends so
that when the Lantern is placed on its stand it may be held down firmly by
engaging the hooked ends of the said sliding rods with the rear end of the bottom
of the Lantern the hooked rods being slid inside the casing when not in use.

page_text: improvements in or appertaining to agio Lanterns and Lamps
to be Used therewith..
I ALFRED WRENCH trading as John Wrench and Son of 39 Gray's Inn Road in
the County of Middlesex Optician 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:-
This invention relates chiefly to the class of Magic Lanterns the bodies of which
are usually made of thin sheet iron curved or arched at the top and provided with
a longitudinal slot or opening to allow of the lamp and lamp chamber with its
projecting socket for the chimney being slid into position and has for its chief
objects greater compactness and general stability of the entire lantern with
increased facility for holding and adjusting the same on its stand when being
exhibited.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a side view (one half the full size) of
iny improved Magic Lantern complete as packed for transport with a portion of
the body broken away to show the lamp and lamp chamber in position therein and
the general internal arrangement of the lantern.
Figure 2 is a corresponding front view of the same.
The rest of the figures are full sized detail views hereinafter fully referred to..
The same letters of reference indicate like parts throughout all the figures..
As regards the body A of the Lantern. I prefer to make it of Russian iron plate
the bottom or base B of which may be extended to form the bottom of the front
foot C which according to my invention constitutes a chamber or receptacle for the
telescopic lamp chimney D when dismounted and packed. The chimney is retained
in position in the chamber of the front foot by the raised projection of the hinge a
of the usual toe plate b. To the hinged door E of the lantern (shown in detail
horizontal section at figure 3) I attach the usual outside spring catch c with which.
I combine an inner, projection d which is by preference slightly tapered towards
its inner end for facility of closing the door and which projection bears against the
inside of the body when the door is closed and in conjunction with the catch and
door acts as a transverse support or stay to the sides of the lantern body thereby
increasing the general stability of the same. This door is provided with the usual
spy hole at e closed by preference with coloured glass to permit of the condition of
the lamp flame being inspected from the outside as is well understood. A cross.
partition is provided between the chamber in the front foot containing the
dismounted chimney and that part of the body of the lantern in which the Lamp
is placed in order to strengthen the body at that part and form a stop to the lamp.
ao as to ensure its proper position in the Lantern whilst at the same time
preventing the light from showing through the front foot when the chimney.
is removed therefrom and in use. I solder or braze the stage and front. tube
:

page_text: containing the usual sliding “OG" tube to a metal casting G which in company
with the stage and front tube slides longitudinally between inwardly inclined
lateral guides g g on the top of the front foot of the lantern as shown clearly in
figures 1 and 2. The front tube F I prefer to make of "triblet" drawn tubing.
The lamp H may be provided with the usual lamp chamber K containing the
socket piece K¹ for the chimney, which chamber may be hinged as heretofore to
the front end of the body of the lamp itself in order that by lifting one end of the
chamber free access to the wicks can be obtained. I prefer to mount the end glass
or glasses and reflector in grooved or channelled supports k k hinged to each end
of the lamp chamber and having grooved frames pivotted thereto for receiving
the sides and top of the glass or tale m and reflector n as shown in detail front
elevation plan and vertical section, at figures 4, 5, and 6.
By pivotting the frames at o to the channelled supports k or k¹ they can be
conveniently turned into the position shown by dotted lines in figure 4 and thus
afford facility for removing and replacing the contained glass or talc and reflector
as the case may be. A spring catch and pin p fitted to each grooved or channelled
support kork serves to lock the corresponding pivotted frame or holder in position
the pin passing through a hole p¹ therein shown at figure 4 for that purpose in
which condition the whole is free to be turned outwards and downwards on the
hinge of the channelled support as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 6 so as to
open the front or rear end of the lamp chamber as required. The said frames are
maintained in their closed positions in rebates or recesses formed in each end of
the lamp chamber by spring catches q q¹-By enclosing the glasses in hinged metal
frames or holders they are less liable to be broken by the heat of the lamp as they
are protected at the edges from the direct action of the heated air currents inside
the lamp chamber whilst facility is afforded for opening or closing either end of
the chamber without dismounting the glasses.
In order to facilitate the adjustment of the lanterns and the fixing of the same
in their adjusted positions on the stand when a pair of lanterns are employed for
dissolving effects I provide according to my invention a transverse slot r (figures 1
and 3) in the rear end of the bottom B of each lantern through which slots and
through the stand are passed thumb screws which serve to fix the two lanterns in
their proper adjusted positions the lateral adjustment round the usual thumb screws
in the toe plates being allowed for by the said slots.
Figure 7 is a sectional elevation showing my peculiar arrangement for holding
down firmly the rear end of a magic lantern upon the top of its containing box or
case when used as a stand or support for the lantern during its exhibition. A is a
portion of the rear end of the lantern body and L is a portion of the case or box
on which it is mounted for exhibition. On the inner side of the top of the said
case I provide at any convenient distance apart a pair of longitudinal sliding and
swivelling rods & hooked or bent back at their outer ends as shown at t so that
when the lantern is placed on the top of its case it can be held down firmly by
engaging the hooked ends t of the sliding rods 8 (mounted in sockets inside the
case) with the rear end of the bottom of the lantern as shown. The hooked rods
can be readily slid inside the case as indicated by the dotted lines when the lantern
is dismounted and are consequently always ready for use without offering any
obstruction to the introduction of the lantern into its case.
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. Making the front foot of a magic lantern to constitute a receptacle for the
chimney of the lamp when packed as specified.
2. The application and use of a cross partition or diaphragm between the
aforesaid hollow front foot and the rear part or body of the lantern for the purpose
specified.

page_text: 3. The combination with the lantern door and outside catch of an inner projection
bearing against the inside of the lantern body when the door is closed as and for
the purpose specified.
4. Soldering or brazing the stage and front tube of the lantern to a cast metal
foot or support sliding between guides on the top of the front foot as specified.
5. Providing the rear ends of the base plates or bottoms of magic lanterns with
transverse slots for facilitating the lateral adjustment of the lanterns round thumb
screws or pivots in their toe plates when a pair of lanterns is employed mounted
side by side for dissolving views as specified.
6. The combination with the inside of the top of a magic lantern case or holder,
of hooks having a combined sliding and swivelling motion for holding down the
rear end, of the lantern body when mounted upon its case for exhibition as
specified.