In- PROVEMENTS IN STAGE SCENERY AND APPARATUS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer & Patent Agent, for the Invention of "In-
PROVEMENTS IN STAGE SCENERY AND APPARATUS."-A communication from
abroad by Mr. Théophile Foucault, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, in
the Empire of France, Manufacturer.
Sealed the 3rd January 1862, and dated the 15th July 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th
July 1861.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer & Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STAGE SCENERY AND APPARATUS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to the production by means of theatrical scenery of
novel effects and scenes or views closely resembling nature, with a view to.
facilitate the illusion of spectators. For this purpose I dispense with some
of the ordinary parts and arrangements, and represent a sky of a spheroidal
form which may be made to produce the most varied effects of light.
The following are the arrangements of scenery & mechanism, as also the
movable stages or platforms according to this Invention: -The area, that is

page_text: to say, the space comprised between the curtain and the back of the stage, is
limited in front by the line of the proscenium and at back by a curved line,
the platform to the extreme back part of the stage is divided into two parts
by grooves concentric with the curved line of the back part for the purpose
The first part
of advancing the scene frames on the stage on their runners.
of the stage only is used by the actors, at which part the scenery is made the
natural size, it is formed of a movable flooring placed at a higher level than
the back part of the stage. The other or back part of the stage is intended
for producing effects of distance & is furnished with scenery of smaller
dimensions to imitate perspective. The sky at the back of the stage is
formed of a spheroidal cap which commences a little below the horizon and
may be more or less hidden by the scenery. It may be in one piece & fixed
or be formed of various parts combined and set in motion in any suitable
manner. The sky is also formed of several longitudinal sections for the
purpose of applying streaks of clouds or other effects. The floor of the stage
is movable so that it may be made to disappear entirely or in part, either
by running it underneath or placing it above the general level of the platform
to imitate elevations on the stage. The general flooring of the theatre is
thus on a level with that of the actual stage & the movable platform on which
the acting takes place is carried by supports from the general flooring. These
supports are connected together by means of hooks so as to form a rigid
whole, the supports are also more or less raised to represent inequalities in
the ground and inclined planes, the whole being covered with carpet suitable
to represent the objects desired, supports are also attached to oscillating rods
which rise and fall and thus permit of said supports being caused to disappear
or for fixing them while the acting is in progress, traps are fitted in the
general flooring closed by means of counterbalance plates placed at the under
part, which traps allow of the supports dropping below the floor. The plate
for closing the trap receives each row of supports which are placed one below
the other & pass underneath, equilibrium is maintained by means of counter-
balance weights, at each side of the stage are also placed movable hinged
bridges which may be raised or lowered as required, forming inclined planes
over which the actors pass to and from the stage.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office, on
the 14th January 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Clark, Her special license that I, the said William
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said William Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STAGE SCENERY AND APPARATUS," a communication from
abroad by Théophile Foucault, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, in the
Empire of France, Manufacturer, upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said William Clark, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
This Invention relates to the production on the stage of a theatre of scenic
effects closely imitating nature so as to facilitate and increase the illusion of
the spectator. I dispense with the usual drapery slips, single vanishing point,
and the side scenes. I also make the sky of spheroidal form, to which
motion may be imparted, & susceptible of producing the most varied luminous
effects.
The following is a description of the stage arrangements & mechanism for

page_text: shifting the scenery of this Invention, the dimensions of which are regulated
as required:-The space comprised between the curtain and back ground
forming the stage is limited in front by the line of the proscenium and at
back by a curved line, Fig. 1 of the Drawings annexed. The back of the
stage following the same curve terminates at each side behind the side scenes
and as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, the back of the stage also rises
and terminates in a spheroidal cover embracing the area seen in section in
Fig. 3. The platform Fig. 4 is divided into two parts having concentric
grooves for the purpose of advancing the scenery on the stage on their
runners, the part comprised between 1 & 2 only is used by the actors, at
which part the scenery is the natural size, it has also a false movable platform
above the general flooring which is sunk below the front of the stage. The
back part comprised between 2 & 3 is reserved for producing distant effects
and is furnished with scenery of smaller dimensions to imitate perspective.
The back, forming the sky, which commences from below the horizon, see
Fig. 5, may be more or less hidden by the scenery. It may also be of a
single piece and fixed, or of several parts, and have motion imparted by means
of suitable mechanism, I form it of several longitudinal sections which permit
of streaks of clouds or other aërial effects being applied as in Fig. 6.
In the annexed Drawing are represented the above-described arrangements.
Fig. 1 shows a plan of the stage which terminates in front by the line of the
proscenium a, and at back by a line b; Fig. 2 also shows a plan of the stage
showing the whole area exposed by the dotted lines c; Fig. 3 shows a central
vertical section of the stage in a plane perpendicular to the curtain showing
the form of the back part which terminates in the spheroidal curve d; e,
drapery or curtain; f, proscenium; Fig. 4 shows a plan of the stage, showing
the positions assigned for the actors and the scenery; Fig. 5 shows a central
vertical section of the stage in a plane perpendicular to the curtain showing
the strips of sky g, h, and the line of the horizon i; Fig. 6 shows a central
vertical section of the stage with the movable scene framing j, proscenium,
and the general arrangement of the stage 7. The following is a description of
the details of construction of the platform of the stage for the purpose of
rendering it movable and causing it to disappear underneath, either wholly
or in part, or by raising it above the general level in order to utilize it for the
representation of elevations or eminences on the stage:-In this manner as
before mentioned the platform between the proscenium and the extreme back
ground is divided into two parts. The first is that occupied by the actors,
the scenery of which is of the natural size, it is also furnished with a false
movable platform above the general flooring which is sunk below the

page_text: proscenium. The second part is reserved for distant objects, the scenery.
being of smaller dimensions to imitate perspective. The general floor of the:
theatre is on a level with the platform on the actual stage, termed the first
upper one, and the movable platform on which the acting takes place is
carried for each scene by socket bearings placed on the general floor. The
framing is solidly connected together by hooks and is more or less raised to
form inequalities in the ground, and may have also inclined planes placed
thereon, and the whole covered with carpet representing the ground which
may be partially hidden by plantations so as to imitate different levels of
ground. Friction rollers in connection with oscillating rods are employed so
as to shift the platforms on rollers to cause them to disappear with greater
facility, and also to fix them in position while the acting is taking place.
In the general floor are traps closed by means of counterbalance weighted
plates so as to allow of the platforms descending below the general floor.
The plate forming the trap receives each row of platforms which descend one
on the other below the floor, equilibrium is maintained by means of the
counterbalance weights. Movable hinged bridges are placed at each side of
the stage which are raised and lowered on a level with the supports forming
inclined planes over which the actors pass to the stage.
Fig. 7 represents a vertical section of the stage in a plane parallel to the
curtain. A, slips out of view of the spectators; B, general flooring about
six feet below the proscenium; C, first lower platform; D, movable platform
on a level with the proscenium; D', highest position of same; E, hinged
bridges furnished with hand rails which may be lowered on to the general
floor or raised on a level with the movable platforms, when horizontal they are
on a level with the movable platforms in its middle position; F, framing, the
platform of which is in its highest position; G, frame with its platform
brought down on to it, connected to the first mentioned by means of books;
H, platform in readiness for being lowered on the underneath one, having
rollers to render its motion easier; L, platform in its lowest position on the
sliding plate; M, sliding plate carried by cords and pullies N; O, drum
receiving the four cords from the movable platforms and also that with the
counterbalance weights placed thereon at suitable distances apart according
to the height of the platforms; P, counterbalance weight raised; Q, counter-
balance weight at rest.
Having described the nature of this Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is, the arrangement of the movable

page_text: parts of the stage & scenery of theatres as herein-before described and repre-
sented in the Drawing 'annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and. seal, this Thirteenth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
W. G. E. SWINNOCK,
53, Chancery Lane, W: C.
W. CLARK.
(L.S.)