Improvements relating to Dresses and Apparatus for use in Theatrical Performances.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1899-Accepted, 6th May, 1899
Improvements relating to Dresses and Apparatus for use in
Theatrical Performances.
I, PAUL BRAUN CINQUEVALLI, of 5, Mostyn Road, Brixton, London, S.W., Profes-
sional Juggler, 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:-
ho
My invention relates to dresses and apparatus to be used in the performance of
certain theatrical tricks, sketches or plays of a farcical character and which I propose
to call the useful man" trick from the fact that the dress of one of the per-
formers or actors, who appears in the character of a servant or the like, is so
contrived as to contain a variety of articles, useful or otherwise, which are produced
and used at the will of the other performer.
The sketches in which my new dress and apparatus are used are particularly
adapted for performance in pantomimes and other humorous productions
and one such sketch may briefly be described as follows:-
"
"
The scene is supposed to be laid in some desert or other uninhabited situation
and the two performers appear alone upon the stage, one in the character of a
servant or useful man attired as a footman or the like, whilst the other who is
the principal, takes the part of the master. In the course of the business, the
principal wishes to write a letter and thereupon draws out from the back of his
assistant a writing desk and stationery cabinet and desiring a seat on which to sit
whilst he writes, he seizes the man's hat and turns it upside down, when three
legs fall out of the top and form a stool. The letter being written, it has to be
scaled for which a light is required and the principal extracts a match from his
man's trouser leg. strikes it and applies it to crown of the man's
head, from which a flame appears to issue and by its aid the letter may be sealed.
This done, the letter has to be posted and for this purpose a letter-box is made
to appear at the back of the servant. Then the master requires to wash and he
obtains out of his man, a wash bowl with water tap, towel and towel rail, brush and
comb, mirror and other articles with which he performs his toilet. He may also
refresh himself from a flask and tumbler obtained from another part of his useful
man's person and whilst so engaged a telephone call bell may ring, which the
master answers through an instrument discovered in another part of the man and
after the supposed conversation has been completed, the ringing off is performed.
Being now somewhat fatigued, the master desires to rest and for this purpose he
draws from his man a bed frame, mattress, pillow and awning from which he
makes up a lounge or hammock and proceeds to repose thereon, to smoke a cigar
obtained from a box extracted from his man and reads a book which he has also
obtained from the same unfailing source. Whilst the master is thus resting a
number of cannibals or savages may appear on the scene and the man further
demonstrates his general utility by opening fire upon them with mysteriously
produced revolvers or other repeating fire arms, to their complete discomforture.

page_text: The foregoing sketch may of course be varied in respect of the character of the
articles produced and the nature of the tricks performed, as these may be adapted
to suit the requirements of the piece being performed or otherwise altered at the
will of the players.
I will now proceed to describe, with reference to the drawings annexed, the
dress and apparatus by which such tricks as before referred to are performed.
They consist, first, of a coat jacket or like garment provided with a number of
screened or concealed compartments containing the various articles and instruments
or imitations thereof, which are produced in the performance of the sketch;
secondly, of a wig containing a concealed lamp; thirdly, a collapsible bed lounge
or like frame, with mattress and awning or other accessories concealed underneath
parts of the coat or garment; fourthly, a tall hat provided with a series of con-
cealed and telescopic or shut-up legs and if necessary, a concealed com-
partment for containing one or more articles; and fifthly a box or hold-
all which is carried by one of the performers and may contain a secretly
operated bell, together with other appurtenances to the performance.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a back elevation of a coat or
like garment made according to one form of my invention. It shows one of the
secret compartments 6, located in the middle of the back, containing letter writing
requisites 6 and having double doors c, d, the former of which is covered on the
outside with the same material as that from which the coat is made and fits tightly
into the open front of the compartment whilst the latter is painted on the outside
to represent a letter box. The dotted lines in this figure represent the collapsed
lounge frame which, as hereinafter more fully described, is suspended from a strap
or other support from the body of the performer, also the rollers upon which the
mattress length and the awning are wrapped, the former being carried on the
collapsed frame and hidden by the skirts a, of the coat, whilst the latter may be
mounted upon the shoulders and concealed underneath a cape a. The doors are
retained in their closed positions by small catches such as d¹.
Figure 2 represents the concealed doors in the back turned down to form a
writing table and revealing the stationery cabinet.
Figure 3 shows only the outermost door turned down showing how the other
door is got up to imitate a letter box.
Figure 4 represents the front of the coat, which is provided with two concealed
receptacles e, f, respectively closed by doors e, f, which are rendered normally
invisible by being covered with the material of the coat and with the former
containing a collapsible imitation wash bowl c, an imitation tap e, hinged to fold
against the back of the compartment and a telescopic and hinged rode, which
forms a towel rail on which the towel e³, is hung. The compartment f, which may
come under the front of the cape a², contains a brush and comb f, f, or other
article as may be required.
Figure 6 represents an elevation of one side of the jacket, the sleeve a³, of which
is fitted with a mirror concealed behind an invisible door or cover g, whilst located
within a compartment h, provided in the side of the jacket and normally closed
by a hinged lid h¹, is an imitation clock face h² with its key h³, which are repre-
sented in the figure by dotted lines and are used by the performer in the course
of the sketch as or when may be required. By the side of this is a small recess h*,
closed by a lid 5, and of sufficient size to contain a book or the like.
Figure is a view showing the other side of the garment. The sleeve a, is
fitted with a compartment i, enclosed by a covered lid , (which is shown turned
down in this view) and containing property imitations of a telephone receiver
and transmitter, with a bell , which the performer may ring by means of a
pull in order to "ring off." Another concealed compartment or recess is
provided in the side of the coat and this may contain a real or imitation flask j¹
and tumbler, or any other analogous article which the performer may wish to
introduce.
Figure 8 represents a section of the tall hat which is normally placed on the

page_text: head of the person wearing the costume, but at other times may be used as a
stool by inverting it and causing the three telescopic or collapsible legs k, contained
within it, to fall out, as shown in Figure 9. The interior of the hat is divided off
by a partition, to form a compartment, accessible through a hole ³, made
in the crown and closed by a hinged lid . This compartment is adapted to receive
a folded towel es, used in the hand washing part of the business.
Figure 10 is an elevation of the wig to be placed on the head of the assistant who
wears the trick suit. The crown of it is fitted with a small oil lamp m, and
burner m², which is concealed as much as possible by the hair of the wig, so that
when the lamp is lit, the flame has the appearance of issuing from the assistant's
head.
Figure 11 represents an edge view of the collapsible framing which is extended
to form a lounge or bed and showing the waist strap by which it is suspended from
the assistant's body, being at such time concealed by the tails or skirts a³, of the
coat, as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the said lounge frame with its "mattress
and canopy all extended as when in use, and with the pillow in position.
"
The collapsible framing n, is made of a number of sections 10, 12, 130, capable
of sliding or closing up to lie one over the other when not in use and in which
position they are retained by a tie-up strap n², made fast at one end to that frame
section which is fixed to the attachment belt 3, whilst the other end is provided
with a ring or loop n', or with a hook or the like adapted to engage with a part
of the end sliding section. When in use, one end of the extended frame is
supported by the assistant's body (see Figure 12) and the other end rests on the
stage, whilst an intermediate support is provided by placing the useful man's
"holdall "o, underneath or behind it. The mattress or covering, of the frame
is wound around a spring roller 8, mounted upon the frame near to its attach-
ment with the body and when drawn out for use, it is retained by a ring n³, upon
it being engaged over a projection 8 at the foot end of the frame. The awning
or sun-blind" n, is wound upon a separate spring roller, mounted in fit-
tings n", secured to the shoulders of the jacket and concealed by the cape thereof
and when drawn out over the lounge, it is secured by passing a ring n¹³, carried by
it over the upper end of a stick n¹³, the foot end of which is stepped into a socket
in the projection 8. The pillow ", when not in use, is carried in the hold-all
and has a concealed hook, which is passed over one of the bars of the collapsible
frame to secure it in position. The frame may also be provided with folding
legs to support it in a position parallel or nearly so with the stage.
"
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the particular form of
collapsible structure above described, as any other arrangement of shut-up frame
work for various purposes may be connected to the performers person and con-
cealed under the costume for use in the course of the performance as may be desired.
Figure 13 represents a topside edge view of the hold-all and Figure 14 a plan
of the same when opened out. It is divided interiorly into a series of compartments
such as o, 03, 03, adapted to contain various accessories to the trick and within one
of them is a mechanically rung bell o, operated by a lever o³, and an invisible
cord of which is secretly pulled by one of the performers on obtaining his "
to do so in order to ring the bell in imitation of a telephone call.
'cue"
Figure 15 is a front elevation and Figure 16 a side view of the repeating fire
arms which may be used in the performance of the sketch. They consist of a pair
of ordinary revolvers p, with the barrels shortened or removed to make them
smaller and their stocks are secured to a plate p', having a pair of clips 7³, by
which they are attached to the belt. These revolvers may be carried onto the
stage in the hold-all and are secretly taken out by the principal performer and
handed by him to the man, who attaches them, unobserved by the audience, to his
belt and fires them off at the proper moment.
In addition to the apparatus described, the "useful man
"
has in his trousers,
one or more small receptacles with spring lids to contain matches or the like.

page_text: whilst concealed within the top of one of the pair of high boots worn by him is
a collapsible box made up to represent a box of cigais and having springs in the inside
by which it is automatically extended when withdrawn from the boot. The other
boot may contain a pair of "property" field glasses, or other similar article which
is made in a collapsible form and is opened when taken out for use.
The garment fitted with the concealed compartments may be made in the form
of any article of wearing apparel made in any style in character with the nature
of the sketch or piece being performed and the hat also may be of any pattern,
whilst with regard to the compartments, these are in the form of shallow boxes let
into place with their edges and corners rounded off to effectively conceal the same
or render them invisible to the audience until the lids are opened, and the decep-
tion is further heightened by suitably padding or stuffing out the garment at
parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
First A coat, jacket or other article of wearing apparel for use in the per-
formance of stage plays, tricks and the like, having concealed compartments or
recesses closed by secret doors and adapted to contain articles to be used in such
performances.
Secondly: A coat, jacket or other article of wearing apparel for use in the
performance of stage plays, tricks and the like, having a number of compart-
ments or recesses adapted to contain various articles to be used in such per-
formances and provided with doors or flaps covered with the same material as
that from which the garment is made and thereby concealed or rendered invisible
to the audience when closed.
Thirdly: A garment or article of wearing apparel, for theatrical purposes,
having a series of concealed compartments such as referred to in the second claim,
located in the back, front, sides and sleeves thereof, and adapted to contain respec-
tively a stationery cabinet, washing and toilet appliances, drinking vessels, an
imitation telephone with ringing bell, a clock face and other articles or imitations
thereof for use in the performance of stage plays tricks and the like, substantially
as herein described and set forth.
Fourthly: A wig for use in the performance of stage plays, tricks and the
like, provided with an oil or like lamp and burner screened from view by the hair
of the said wig, substantially as herein described and set forth.
Fifthly A hat for theatrical purposes having concealed within it a series of
telescopic or collapsible legs, adapted, when the hat is inverted, to fall out or extend
substantially as and for the purpose described and set forth.
Sixthly: An apparatus to be used in the performance of stage plays, tricks
and the like, consisting of a collapsible and extensible frame which is secured to
the body of a performer and when not in use, is collapsed and concealed under-
neath his garments, but, when drawn out, is adapted to be used as a lounge or
similar article, substantially in the way and for the purpose described and set
forth.
Seventhly In apparatus to be used in the performance of stage plays, tricks
and the like, the employment in conjunction with a collapsible and extensible
framing as referred to in the preceding claims, of lengths of material wound
upon concealed spring rollers carried upon the framing or upon the person of the
performer to which the frame is attached and retained in their drawn out positions
by the means and for the purpose substantially as described and set forth.
:
Eighthly A box or hold-all adapted for use in connection with the dress and
apparatus referred to in the preceding claims and to contain various accessories
thereto, and provided with a bell adapted to be rung when a secret cord is pulled,
substantially as herein described and set forth.
Ninthly: An arrangement of repeater fire arms adapted for use in theatrical

page_text: performances consisting of revolvers screwed or attached to a plate which is pro-
vided with clips, hooks or like means for securing the same to a strap or belt,
substantially as herein described and set forth.
PAUL BRAUN
CINQUEVALLI.
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham,
Agent for Applicant.