IMPROVE- :MENTS IN THE MODE OF MOUNTING TARGETS FOR RIFLE RANGES, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MARKERS' SCREENS AND SIGNALS. DESIGNED FOR USE WITH THE SAME
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Soper, of Friar Street, Reading, in the
County of Berks, Gun Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
:MENTS IN THE MODE OF MOUNTING TARGETS FOR RIFLE RANGES, AND IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF MARKERS' SCREENS AND SIGNALS. DESIGNED FOR USE WITH
THE SAME."
Sealed the 24th October 1866, and dated the 27th April 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Soper at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th April 1866.
'I, WILLIAM SOPER, of Friar Street, Reading, in the County of Berks,
Gun Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS, IN THE MODE OF MOUNTING TARGETS FOR RIFLE RANGES, AND
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MARKERS' SCREENS AND SIGNALS DESIGNED FOR USE WITH.
THE. SAME," to be as follows:-
The said improvements consist chiefly in providing the target plates or
shutters with friction wheels or rollers, by which the said plates are supported
upon suitable framing in such a manner as to be readily moved to any required
position thereon to allow the plates to be placed separately or a number of

page_text: them together, according to the range of firing. The said improvements also
consist in the means for protecting the markers when in the act of marking
and signalling; also in the construction of the signal for indicating the
position of the shots on the target, and the danger signal employed to stop the
firing.
The friction wheels or rollers are carried in brackets, cast or otherwise
secured upon the back of the target plates, by preference at or near the top
thereof. These rollers are flanged on each side, and are fitted to run upon a
horizontal bar which extends across the top of the framing. The said
horizontal bar is by preference either of a flat or T-shaped section, and is
supported upon upright cast-iron columns of a triangular sectional form.
These columns are arranged with one corner facing the line of fire so as to
present the least surface to the shots. The target plates may be supported
with their surfaces lying in an inclined position, their upper edges being thrown
back, and they are kept in this position by a flat bar extending the whole
length of the framing behind the target plates and supported by the upright
columns. The friction between this bar and the plates also serves to
prevent any accidental change of position of the said plates upon the
framing.
The iron plate forming the screen for protecting the markers while per-
forming the operations of marking and signalling is placed at the side of the
butts, and is provided with a vertical aperture through which the signals are
exhibited. This aperture is protected by a double flange arranged in such a
position as to prevent the marker being injured by the spray or pieces of shot
rebounding from the target. The said opening is enlarged at the bottom, and
this enlarged part is protected by a self-acting trap-door. This door is pressed
open by the marker when exhibiting the signal and marking the target, and
closes itself when the signal is withdrawn.
66
The signal for indicating the position of the shots consists of three discs
arranged in a triangular form upon the top of a rod or pole. Each of these
discs is painted a different color, the usual colors being white, red, and black,
to represent a "bull's-eye," a centre," and an "outer." The triangular
arrangement of these discs allows the face of one to be exhibited while the
other two faces are concealed. The brushes for marking over or restoring the
colour of the target after each shot are also fixed on these discs. The said
brushes are dipped in paint or other coloring matter, one being dipped in black
and the other two in white paint or color, the black brush to be secured
opposite to the white disc, or that one representing the "bull's-eye," the
white brushes being fixed opposite to the black and red discs. By this

page_text: arrangement of the brushes the marker is enabled to mark over any part
of the target while exhibiting the corresponding face of the signal. This
signal may also be constructed by placing a cross or star-shaped plate over the
face of a disc. This plate is painted white with a red centre. A red star
or cross of corresponding size and form is painted upon the surface of the
disc, the remaining portion of the said surface being white. The reverse side
of the disc is painted black. The star-shaped plate is supported so as to
revolve upon its centre. To indicate a bull's-eye the said plate is adjusted to
cover the red star painted on the disc, thereby exhibiting a white surface with
a red centre. By turning the plate about one-eighth part of a revolution the
red cross painted on the disc is exposed, which indicates a "centre." An
"outer" is signalled by exhibiting the black face of the disc. A brush is
attached to each side of the disc (one brush holding black and the other
holding white) color, and arranged opposite to the correspondingly colored
disc, as already described. The rod or pole upon which the discs are carried
is furnished with a collar or shield to protect the marker when the signal
is being exhibited through the aperture covered by the trap-door in the
screen.
The danger signal consists of a flat plate of iron hinged or pivotted at its
lower edge upon suitable supports on the top of the marker's butt. The said
plate is provided with a handle and a balance weight by which it can be
turned upon the said hinges and retained in either of its required positions..
The front surface of the said plate is painted red, and when the firing is to
be stopped the plate is turned on its hinges so that this face is exposed to
the firing party, when the plate is lowered the firing may be continued.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Soper in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th
October 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
SOPER, of Friar Street, Reading, in the County of Berks, Gun Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Soper, Her special licence that I, the said William

page_text: Soper, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said William Soper, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MODE OF MOUNTING TARGETS FOR RIFLE RANGES, AND IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF MARKERS' SCREENS AND SIGNALS DESIGNED FOR USE WITH THE
SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Soper, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 Soper, do hereby declare the
nature of my 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 accompanying Drawings forming part
of this Specification.
The said improvements consist chiefly in providing the target plates or
shutters with friction wheels or rollers, by which the said plates are supported
upon suitable framing in such a manner as to be readily moved to any
required position thereon to allow the said plates to be arranged separately or
in sets of any desired number according to the range of the firing. The said
improvements also consist in the means for protecting the markers when in
the act of marking and signalling. Also in the construction of the signals for
indicating the position of the shots on the target and the danger signal
employed to stop the firing.

page_text: The upper bar A is by preference of a flat or T-shaped section, though it:
may be made of any other convenient sectional form. The said bars are
firmly attached by bolts, screws, or other suitable fastenings to the uprights B ;;
these uprights are by preference constructed of cast iron of a triangular:
sectional form, and are arranged with one corner facing the line of fire, as
shown in Figure 1, to present the least possible surface to the shots. The.
feet or stands represented in Figure 6 may be employed to support the.
uprights B, instead of securing the said uprights to the baulk of timber A³, as
shown in Figure 1. The friction wheels or rollers C are supported to turn:
freely upon the pins a, carried by the brackets D, the said brackets being
cast or otherwise firmly secured upon the back of the target plates or shutters.
E, by preference at or near the top thereof. These rollers are flanged on:
each side, and are fitted to run along the top of the horizontal bar A.. The
target plates E are preferably supported in an inclined position, their upper.
edges being thrown back as represented in Figure 3. They are kept in this.
position by the flat bar A¹, which extends the entire length of the framing:
behind the target plates. The friction between this bar and the plates E also
serves to prevent any accidental change of position of the latter upon the
framing. The iron plates G, Figure 8, and G, Figures 7 and 10, forming the.
butt and screen for protecting the markers while performing the operations of
marking and signalling are placed at the side at right angles to and in front
of the targets. The said screen is provided with a vertical aperture H,
through which the signals are exhibited. This aperture is protected by the
flanges I, which are arranged in such a position as to prevent the marker
being injured by the spray or pieces of shot rebounding from the target. The
aperture or opening H is enlarged at its lower end H¹, and this enlarged part
is protected by the self-acting trap-door J, which is supported upon the
fulcrum pin b, and provided with a counterbalance c. The said screen is also
provided with a plate of glass R, as seen in Figures 7 and 10, through which
the marker is enabled to see the whole of the target. The signal employed
for indicating the position of the shots upon the target consists of three discs,
arranged in a triangular form upon the top of a rod or pole. Each of these
discs is painted a different color to represent a "bull's-eye," a "centre,"
and an "outer." The triangular arrangement of these discs allows the face
of one of them to be exhibited while the other two faces are concealed. The
brushes for marking over or restoring the color of the target after each shot
are also fixed on these discs. The said brushes are dipped in paint or other
coloring matter, one being dipped in black and the other two in white paint
or colur. The black brush is secured opposite to the white disc, or that one

page_text: representing the "bull's-eye," the white brushes being fixed opposite to the
black and red discs. By this arrangement the marker is enabled to mark
over any division or part of the target while exhibiting the corresponding
signal. This signal may also be constructed by placing a cross or star shaped
plate over the face of a disc. This plate is painted white with a red centre.
A red star or cross of corresponding size and form is painted upon the surface
of the disc, the remaining portion of the latter being white. The reverse
side of the disc is painted black. The star-shaped plate is supported so as
to revolve upon its centre. To indicate a "bull's-eye" the said plate is
adjusted to cover the red star painted on the disc, thereby exhibiting a white
surface with a red centre. By turning the plate about one-eighth part of a
revolution the red cross painted on the disc is exposed, which indicates a
"centre." An "outer" is signalled by exhibiting the black face of the disc.
A brush is attached to each side of the disc, one brush holding black and the
other holding white color, the said brushes being arranged opposite to the cor-
respondingly colored discs. The rod or pole upon which the discs are carried
is furnished with a collar or shield, to protect the marker when the signal is
being exhibited through the aperture H. The danger signal consists of a
flat iron plate K, strengthened by the bars L and pivotted thereby to turn in
the bearings M, which are secured to the top of the butt. Instead of these
bearings other suitable supports may be employed, the plate K being hinged
thereto in any convenient manner. The plate K is provided with the
handle N, and by it can be turned in the bearings M. The said plate is also
provided with the balance weight O, which facilitates its adjustment and
allows it to be retained in either of its required positions. The front surface
of the plate K is painted red, and when the firing is to be stopped the plate
is turned on its bearings or hinges into the position shown in Figures 8 and 9.
The plate when lowered to indicate that the firing may be continued lies flat
upon the top of the marker's butt in the position represented in dotted lines
in Figure 9. The target plates E are arranged two, three, or four together
in the ordinary manner according to the range of the firing. The mode herein
described of supporting the said plates upon the framing allows their adjust-
ment to be easily and conveniently accomplished, while the construction of
the screen and mode of operating the signals enables the marker to perform
his various duties with ease and safety.
Having thus fully described my Invention, and shewn how the same may
be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I wish it under-
stood that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein described, but
I claim,-

page_text: First, providing the target plates or shutters E with the friction wheels or
rollers C, by which the said plates are supported so as to move freely along
the horizontal bar A, for the purpose and substantially in the manner set
forth.
Second, the construction of a marker's screen, having the flanges I, and
the aperture H, and trap-door J, for the purposes and substantially in the
manner set forth.
Third, the danger signal constructed, arranged, and operating substantially
in the manner set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Soper, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
WILLIAM
SOPER. (...)