Improvements in Signs or Advertising Devices
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Signs or Advertising Devices:
DONALD SUTHERLAND MCKAY, 54, Beatrice Road, Bermondsey, S.E., Clerk,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
An automatic sign or poster in which lettering in a script style is produced
on a blank ground by means of a stencil, of any material, of any wording, and
slips of any material, strung on wire cables or running in sockets, or both
methods, actuated by clockwork or other motor, behind the stencil in such
manner, as alternately to hide & expose a background of a different colour to
the stencil.
T.
Wahm 1900
Improvements in sigas or Advertising Devices.
I, DONALD SUTHERLAND MCKAY, of 190, High Road, Kilburn, in the County
of Middlesex, late of 54, Beatrice Road, Bermondsey, Clerk, 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 for improvements in signs and advertising devices has for its
object to produce mechanically the effect of a person writing upon a blank
signboard and consists of a stencil containing the required wording and a band
at the back of the stencil having a ground of the same colour as the stencil
and on which a design of a different colour so arranged that as the band is
moved over the back of the stencil the colour will be gradually exposed to give
the required effect.
In the preferred form of apparatus two endless bands are used one behind the
other and travelling in opposite directions, the front band being arranged to
produce say the down strokes, and the rear band the up strokes, the front band
being suitably cut away to show the colour on the rear band when required.
The bands pass over rollers provided preferably with pegs gearing into holes
in the sides of the bands and the driving rollers being geared together so that
the bands will always register. One of the driving rollers is driven by hand,
clockwork or other suitable power.
In the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation
of an advertising device constructed according to this invention and Fig. 2

page_text: is a cross section of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are developments of the traversing
bands.
The stencil a is fixed in the front of the frame b and as shown consists of the
word "Bovril." Mounted in the top of the frame at the back of the stencil
are the rollers c c and d d³, the rollers d d being below the rollers c c and
slightly behind. As shown there are also two pairs of guide rollers &² ², d² ²
at the bottom of the frame. The rollers c and d are each provided with equi-
distant pegs e at or near their ends. The front endless band f is mounted on
the rollers c c c² and the rear endless band g is mounted on the rollers d d d²,
the edges of both bands being provided with perforations that correspond with
the pegs e. The designs on the front band f consist of the black part indicated
in Fig. 1 by the cross hatching and showing black through the opening in the
stencil a, and of the openings . The design in the rear band consists of the
black parts m indicated by the cross hatching in Fig. 1. As shown the back
band writes" the up strokes n of the word "Bovril," the front band "writing"
the other or down strokes.
The two driving rollers c d are geared together to rotate in opposite directions
by the wheels o and are arranged to be driven from an external source of
power through the shaft p.
It will readily be understood that the endless bands may be replaced by
reciprocating slides but in this case on the reverse stroke the word "Bovril
would be rubbed out" or disappear in the reverse manner to that in which
it appeared.
_ Also if desired only one band may be used, and a somewhat similar effect can
be produced by arranging the band to traverse the stencil at an angle-of-45°-
and instead of having the steps inclining or tapering off these parts.
It will also be seen that if the ground of the stencil is dark, and the designs
on the bands consist of openings, that an illuminated advertisement will be
produced by placing a light within the part marked A. This device can also
be used in an optical lantern or projecting apparatus to project an advertisement
on to a screen or the like.
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 improved advertising device consisting of a stencil, and a traversing
band at the back of the stencil on which is arranged a design for the purpose
set forth.
2. The improved advertising device consisting of a stencil, a front traversing
band at the back of the stencil, having a design and a back traversing band also
having a design working in conjunction with the design on the front part for
the purpose set forth.
3. The improved advertising device substantially as described with reference
to the drawings.
Tate this Olot day of November 1800
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.