AN IMPROVED TARGET FOR SHOOTING SALOONS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I EDWARD HANDSLIP of 52 Coronation Street South Shields in the County of
Durham, General Dealer, do. hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN
IMPROVED TARGET FOR SHOOTING SALOONS to be as follows :-
. It consists of a target in the shape of an iron figure and is fixed at a distance
from the shooter either at the end of a long tube or otherwise. When the person
shoots and hits the "Bull's eye" which is in front of the figure a catch and spring
are released and then the figure advances to the person shooting and presents, him
an article as a prize. The figure is made to run upon wheels down an incline.
A cord is attached to the figure by which it is wound back to the place occupied
before it was hit, where it again locks itself. The wheels have grooves in their
rims to keep them on the tram, which tram of round iron with the tube is made in
lengths properly jointed.
Dated this fourteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighty
I EDWARD HANDSLIP of 52 Coronation Street South Shields in the County of
Durhain General Dealer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN
IMPROVED TARGET AND TUBE FOR SHOOTING SALOONS, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
A person standing at the mouth of the tube, throwing a ball or firing a gun, the
ball or the discharge from the gun striking the centre of the target connected to
the figure A, the projectile entering at B passes through and strikes against the
plate C, which is suspended on a pivot, and the action disconnects the figure A, by

page_text: raising the catch D, thus allowing the figure A, which is mounted on a carriage, to
proceed down the tramway E (which is on a descent) to the person at the front,
who discharged the projectile.
On the figure A reaching the front the spring F. contained in the carriage which
supports the figure A coming in contact with the front, works the lever; passing up
through the inside of the figure, A thereby making a box held in the hand of the
figure A containing à present to project, thus presenting the person who discharged
the projectile with its contents.
In the front is concealed a spring, which being pressed by the action of the
spring F striking it works a lever which sets in motion the musical arrangement
contained in the box above.
To put the figure A into position again, it is drawn up the tube by a cord passing
down the side in an iron tube, leverage being obtained by a small hand winch
which is placed at the front as shown, when the figure A reaches the back it
fastens itself by the catch D.
The figure A is made of cast steel having in front the target, it is mounted on a
stand of the same material, and then fastened on to the carriage, which is mounted
on two wheels of brass.
In front of the stand is an iron tray to keep the discharges from stopping the
progress of the figure A when in motion, and also acts as a cover for protecting the
spring, which projects the box held in the hand of the figure A containing the
present.
The tube is built of sheet iron fastened down to the body by angle irons.
The body is built of wood, all parts exposed to the firing inside being covered with
sheet iron, with the exception of the slides G, which are of steel; The whole
being mounted on tressels, having an ornamental front. The supports of the slides
are in lengths connected together as shown on the elevation and also as per separate
sketch. The tramway is enclosed by wood boards covered with sheet iron.
At the back of the figure A is a safety plate for fear the projectiles should miss
the target, on the back of which is fastened a wood box for the protection of the
disconnecting gear.
:
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) Alay figure serving as a target, which is mounted upon a trolley and
advances when struck by a projectile, down an incline, towards the marksman
substantially as shewn and described.
(2) The appliances which cause the release of the figure from its fixed position,
substantially as shewn and described.
Dated this twenty second day of November one thousand eight hundred and