IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC TARGETS FOR RIFLE AND GUN PRACTICE
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT
to Frederic Newton Gisborne, of No. 3, Adelaide
Place, London Bridge, in the City of London, Engineer and Electrician,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC
TARGETS FOR RIFLE AND GUN PRACTICE."
Sealed the 12th November 1861, and dated the 16th May 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederic Newton Gisborne
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, n
the 16th May 1861.
I, FREDERIC NEWTON GISBORNE, of No. 3, Adelaide Place, London Bridge,
in the City of London, Engineer and Electrician, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
TARGETS FOR RIFLE AND GUN PRACTICE," to be as follows:-
ELECTRIC
I use in some cases a metal target so constructed with surface divisions or
ridges that the shots which strike it may be deflected, so as to impinge or act
on, certain metal pins or bolts described in my Provisional Specification of the
Twenty-fourth day of April, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
No. 1023. In other cases the metal target which I use is made of metal of
sufficient elasticity to admit of a percussive action (when struck by a pro-
jectile) on spring hammers suitably arranged bearing on the back surface of
the target.
The synchronous djal machinery which in some instances I use for recording

page_text: the effect of a shot, is acted upon and acts in the following manner, or nearly
so-Wires from open spring key connections attached to each surface division
of the target are connected at the back of such target in circuit with a local
battery and a corresponding number of small electro-magnets or galvano-
meters. The electro-magnets or galvanometers are arranged under the disc
of an instrument upon which a hand is moving synchronously with a second
hand and movement at the firing stand. In the disc of the target clockwork
are a number of slots or apertures (one over each electro-magnet or galva-
nometer), and in which. are suspended a number of armatures, so arranged
that when the circuit is closed by a projectile hitting the target, such armatures
are attracted or deflected, and project from the upper surface of the disc, and
so remain until released. On such release electric connection is made through
one or more wires to the second synchronous movement at the firing stand,
thence to corresponding conductors on the dial face, thence through the pre-
pared paper to the corresponding printing points, thence to main battery, and
thence to earth or return wire, thus completing main circuit. For convenience
in some cases, I place my electro-magnets or galvanometers in a double
circle, and complete two circuits through the synchronous hands of my clock
movements.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederic Newton Gisborne in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 16th November 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERIC
NEWTON GISBORNE, of No. 3, Adelaide Place, London Bridge, in the City of
London, Engineer and Electrician, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Frederic Newton Gisborne, Her special license that I, the said Frederic
Newton Gisborne, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Frederick Newton Gisborne, 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,

page_text: an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC TARGETS
FOR RIFLE AND GUN PRACTICE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Frederic Newton Gisborne, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly 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 Frederic Newton Gisborne, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same"
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say):-
My Invention of "Improvements in the Construction of Electric Targets
for Rifle and Gun Practice" is shewn in the accompanying Drawings, and
may be said to consist of three principal parts, viz.:-First, the target or
apparatus which it is intended the bullets or projectiles shall strike when fired
from the rifle or gun; second, an electro-galvanic apparatus, whereby the
blow of a bullet or projectile on any part of the target is made to set in action
certain apparatus, and transmit to another apparatus signals indicating that
the projectile has struck the target; third, an apparatus indicating not only
that the target has been struck, but also pointing out the particular part of
the target that has been struck. In connection with this part of the Inven-
tion there is also a contrivance for recording or printing on paper or other
substance the hits that the marksman makes, and the particular part of the
target that has been hit at every shot.
In Sheet I. of the Drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one of my improved
targets; Fig. 2 is a side or edge view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a plan or top
edge view. The face of the target is divided into seventeen compartments,
but any greater or lesser number may be adopted. The middle part of the
target is occupied by a large circular disc, which is divided radially into four
parts a, a, a, a, and is also provided with a bull's-eye A in the centre.
The rest of the target is subdivided into twelve compartments of convenient
size and shape, as shewn in Fig. 1, but the face of the target may be divided
into any other number of parts or sections. It will be seen, on referring to
Figures 2 and 3, that the plates a, a, of which the face of the target is com-
posed are perfectly distinct and separate from each other, being suspended
from the main framing by separate bolts or pins c, c. All the plates, moreover,
stand in different vertical planes, and are suspended from or supported at their

page_text: central part by the bolts c, which extend back through the framing and projects
beyond the same. These bolts c pass through loose cylinders or tubes, which
will prevent the bolt from being driven through the framing B. Cross pieces
b, b, also form points of resistance for the plates a. Immediately in rear of
each of these boits c, there is a tube d constructed of vulcanite, wood, or other
non-conductor of electricity. This tube is mounted in brackets d', secured to
the upright standards B of the framing, and is provided with an adjusting
screw, whereby the tube may be supported in an inclined position, as shewn
in the Drawing.
In order to avoid complexity in the Drawing, I have in Fig. 2 only shewn
one tube d, and its appendages as connected with the central plate A, or bull's-
eye of the target; but it will of course be understood that each of the target
plates will be provided with a similar contrivance; the description of one will
therefore answer for all. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of this part of the
target drawn upon an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section
of one of the tubes d; and Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the same, all drawn
upon an enlarged scale. In the tube d is placed a loose metal ball e, which
owing to the inclined position of the tube will always rest against the blunt
point of the bolt c. Inside the tube d there are two metal wires e¹, e², one of
which is connected with an electric, galvanic, or other battery, and the other
by means of a spring key-plate hereafter described, with an electro-magnet or
temporary magnet of an apparatus which will be described under the second
head of the Invention. The two wires e, e, are secured to a plate of vulcanite f,
on the lower side of which is a binding screw f'. The plate with the wire
thereon is inserted in the tube d, the binding screw f being allowed to run in
a slot cut in the under side of the tube d. By this means I am enabled to
adjust the position of the wires e, e, in the tube, and secure them by the
binding screw in any given position.
The operation of the various parts just described will be as follows:-Upon
a bullet or projectile striking any plate of the target (say, the bull's-eye for
instance) the blow on the plate will be transmitted through the bolt e to the
metal ball e in the tube d. The bali e will thereupon rebound and run up the
tube d, and on to the two wires e and e² of the vulcanite plate f. The electric
circuit being thus completed by the contact of the metal ball with the two
wires, a current of electricity will pass from the battery through the ball e and
wires e¹, e², to the apparatus shewn in Sheet II. of the Drawings, or direct to a
printing or recording apparatus by means of a compound cable consisting of as
many wires as there are plates or divisions in the target. The ball e having
completed the metallic circuit will run down the tube d back again to its original

page_text: position, and will rest against the rear end of the bolts c, until that particular
plate of the target is again struck by a bullet, when the ball will rebound as
before, and thereby complete the electric circuit a second time, and so on
according to the particular plate that is hit. In order to prevent the ball from
being shot out of the tube d when the bolt c, or its plate A or a, is struck by a
projectile, a vertical or horizontal bar is placed across the end of the tube.
It has been said that each of the seventeen plates of the target is provided
with a bolt c and tube d, with its metallic ball e and conducting wires e¹ and e³;
the whole of the wires e are properly insulated or covered with some non-
conducting material, and they are separately attached to metallic pins or studs
secured to the vulcanite plate of what I denominate a spring connection. This
arrangement is simply a matter of convenience, whereby the ends of the electric
conductors are brought together, so that the wire of any particular plate may
be found with facility, so as to be enabled to establish connection simultaneously
between all the plates of the target and the other apparatus. A corresponding
series of conducting wires connects the metallic studs or pins of this plate with
correspondings pins or studs belonging to an exactly similar plate that forms part
of the apparatus or machine shewn in Sheet II., in which the loose rope of
wires E represents the assemblage of wires e coming from the target.
.
In Sheet II., Fig. 6 represents a plan view of the machine which forms
the second head of the Invention; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the same, and
Fig. 8 an under side view of the top plate. The ends of the wires e³ of
which the loose rope E, Figures 6 and 7, is composed, are connected (in any
convenient manner, whereby clectric contact is ensured) to metal studs g, fixed
in the vulcanite plate F. The studs g, g, pass through the plate F as shown by
dots in Fig. 7, and bear against a corresponding series of coiled springs h, h,
which are soldered to the heads of the pins i, i, . The pins i, i, are fixed in
the stationary block G, and another series of conducting wires e, e, connect
these pins through the springs e', e, with the enveloping coils of a series of
electro-magnets i, j, attached to the under side of a circular plate or disc H.
The soft iron cores of the electro-magnets i, i, are screwed into the plate or
disc H, as shewn by dots in Fig. 7, and their ends project a little above the
upper surface of the plate. A series of vibrating iron armatures k, h, of
peculiar form, as shewn in Fig. 7, and corresponding in number to the electro-
magnets below are mounted on studs in bearings k¹, k', fixed on the top of
the plate or disc h. A hand or pointer I is mounted in the centre of the disc
or plate H, and has a horizontal motion communicated to it by means of a
vibrating magnet arrangement placed on the under side of the plate H, as seen
in the under side view of the plate at Fig. 8; J is the temporary or electro-

page_text: magnet which is in communication with a local battery provided for the pur-
pose; L is an armature attached to a vibrating lever M, provided at one end
with a click which takes into the ratchet N, on the lower end of the vertical
shaft or pin which carries the hand or pointer I, Figures 6 and 7, above the
plate II. The vulcanite hand or pointer I is provided with two metallic side
pieces,, Fig. 6, one of which is connected by means of a pendant wire
with an insulated metallic ring and the other is connected in a similar
manner to another insulated metallic ring . The operation of these parts is
as follows: Upon a bullet striking any plates a of the target, the bolt c,
Figures 1 and 2, will cause the ball e to rebound and complete the circuit
between the wires e¹ and e, as before described; the soft iron core of one of
the electro-magnets i, Fig. 7, will thus be made to attract its armature k, and
when the hand I comes round its metallic side will come against the arma-
ture, and thereby cause a current of electricity to pass along the arm I
down through the ring along a metallic bar on the under side of the disc H
as shewn by dots in Fig. 6, to the pinching screw or terminal m, and out
of the apparatus to the wires of another disc of similar construction, and
through which it passes to the printing or recording apparatus at the firing
place. This second disc and apparatus is shewn in Sheet III., in which
Fig. 9 is a plan view, and Fig. 10 a side elevation thereof. This second
apparatus is provided with a similar index or pointer 1, which moves
round over or above the face of the disc H precisely as the hand I of
the apparatus shewn at Figures 5, 7, and 8, moves over the plate or
disc H. The hand or pointer 1" is mounted on a vertical spindle or shaft,
and is actuated by a chronometer or clockwork movement enclosed within
the case K, and the hand or pointer I, in Figures 6 and 7, is made to
move synchronously with the hand 1* of the other apparatus. It will
therefore be understood that when the two instruments shewn in Sheets II.
and III. are adjusted so that their hands or pointers I and 1° respec-
tively are always above corresponding points on their respective discs, and
the two hands are made to move synchronously together, then whenever the
pointer I of the disc H comes in contact with one of the armatures h,
that has been drawn down by its electro-magnet ; the local circuit having by
this means been completed the electric current will pass from the apparatus
shewn in Figures 6 and 7, through the disc H* of Figures 9 and 10
to the printing or recording apparatus hereafter described.
It will be seen, on referring to the plan view, Fig. 9, of this instrument, that
the disc H* has a number of metal studs p, p, let into it, and each of these
studs communicates by means of a conducting wire e with the pins of the

page_text: spring connection F, G, which is identical in construction with that shewn
at F and G, Fig. 7, Sheet II., and therefore need not be more particularly
described. It will now be understood that the effect of the shot on the
target completes the local circuit between the battery and one or other of
the small coils i beneath the small permanent magnets or armatures h, k,
thereby attracting the particular permanent magnet or armature which has
been acted upon, and which will be retained in position by its own magnet-
ism until the synchronous, hand I, moving round, comes in contact with it and
releases it. At the same time the main circuit is completed through the
synchronous instrument shewn in Sheet III., which is at the firing stand, and
through the printing apparatus hereafter described, to an earth plate or return
wire to the battery. The synchronous instruments are made synchronous at
the start by completing the circuit at the firing stand between the instrument
and the main battery.
In the instrument shewn in Figures 6, 7, and 8, Sheet II., and Figures 9 &
10, Sheet III., there are a greater number of magnets, armatures, and conduct-
ing wires and corresponding parts than there are target plates and wires in the
apparatus shewn in Sheet 1:; it must, however, be understood that only the
same number of wires, armatures, and magnets are absolutely required in the
synchronous or clockwork apparatus shewn in Sheets II. and III. as there
are plates in the target, but it is convenient to construct the apparatus shewn
in Sheets II. and III. with a large number of magnets and corresponding
parts, so that they may be used with a target that is divided into a larger
number of compartments than that shewn at Figures 1 and 2. The electric
current, after passing through the synchronous instruments above described,
is conducted to the printing and recording instrument shewn in Sheet IV.; but,
if desired, the electric current may be passed direct from the target along a
compound cable to the printing and recording instrument. This compound
cable will consist of a number of wires not less in number than there are
sections or plates in the target. By the employment of such a compound
cable the use of the synchronous instruments may be dispensed with, the
object of using these instruments being to transmit the electric current from
all the plates through one wire to the printing and recording instrument at
the firing stand.
The machine or apparatus for printing or recording on paper the hits
that have been made on the target is shewn in Sheet IV., in which Fig. 11
is a longitudinal vertical section of the machine or apparatus, and Fig. 12 is a
plan view of the back of the same, with the cover or back plates removed
in order that the arrangement of the conducting wires and the printing or

page_text: marking instruments may be more clearly seen; E is a loose rope composed
of the conducting wires e of the target apparatus, Figures 1, 2, 4, and 5, Sheet I.
This rope is attached to a vulcanite plate P, shewn detached at Figures 13 and
14; Figure 13 represents a back view of this plate; and Figure 14, a view of
the under side or face. It will be seen that seventeen metal studs s, s, s, are
let into the plate P, and one of the electric wire conductors e, of which the
rope E is composed, is connected with cach of these studs, as shewn by dots
in the Figure. When the plate P is secured in its place in the apparatus, as
shewn in Figure 11, each of the studs S will bear against a small coiled metal
spring e, e, e', Figures 11 and 12, and the other ends e of these springs are
connected to a series of metal studs t, t, t, t, fixed in the stationary plate Qof
the instrument. Each of these studs t, t, is provided with an iron screw u, u,
which is tapped into the stud, and may be adjusted therein with facility by
means of a screwdriver. A metallic plate S, shewn detached in plan at
Figure 15, is adopted to a door T, which is mounted on hinges 1, 1; so that
it raised or lowered with facility. The plate S is held in its place against
the projecting points of the screws u, u, by means of a spring catch 2, which
is adopted to the upper part of the hinged door T. The plate S is rebated on
its face to receive a sheet of prepared paper, which, when placed on the plate
and the door T closed, will be pressed in contact with the points of the iron
screws u, u, the several parts being in the position shewn at Figure 11 in the
Drawing. The operation of the apparatus will be as follows:-Upon a bullet or
projectile striking a particular plate in the target, say, the centre plate A,
Figures 1 and 2, or bull's-eye, the electric circuit will be completed by the
ball e running up the tube d on to the wires e¹, e, as already mentioned, and a
current of electricity will pass along the conductor in the rope E, and through
the two synchronous instruments shewn in Sheets II. and III., and into
the rope e of Figure 11, Sheet IV. From thence it will pass along that
particular conductor which is in connection with the bull's-eye plate of the
target, and will run through the central stud S', Figure 14, to the central
coiled spring e, Figure 12, and from thence along the wire e to the central or
bull's-eye stud A, then along the iron screw u, and through the prepared paper
in the plate S to the metallic surfaces of this plate and the door T, which
being in metallic contact through its spring catch 2 with the terminal 3, by
means of the block 4 and wire 5, will conduct the electric current to earth
or to the return wire. It should be understood that the sheet of paper which
is placed in the plate S against the screwed pins u, u, is prepared with some
chemical substance, which it is well known will discolour the paper upon a
current of electricity being passed through it, such, for instance, as the prus-

page_text: siate of potash, ammonia, or other well-known agent, which is employed in
printing signals by electricity. As it is one of the features of my Invention to
record on paper the hits that have been made, and to indicate and record the
particular plates that have been struck, I print on the paper in the ordinary
It will
way a counterpart or diagram of the target, as shewn at Fig. 16.
therefore be evident that if the paper is pressed in contact with the iron
points u, a black or colored mark will be made on that part of the paper cor-
responding to the plate struck on the target. Supposing that a squad of
several men are required to fire in succession, the paper must be changed after
every shot, and each man may have a paper marked with his name, so that he
may keep a record of his hits; and in order that duplicates of the practice
may be obtained, a double set of studs and printing or marking points, and
other necessary accessories with duplicate plates S and diagrams, are arranged
on each side of coiled spring conductors, as seen at Fig. 12. This duplicate
arrangement is, however, merely a matter of convenience, and is not absolutely
necessary.
As a marksman may hit the same plate (say, the bull's eye,) twice in
succession, and as the second mark on the paper would come precisely over
the first, and consequently would not be visible, provision must be made for
shifting the prepared paper either longitudinally or laterally, so that before
every shot the marking or printing points u, u, may be opposite to or in contact
with an undiscolored part of the paper. This is effected by enabling the
plate S to be adjusted by means of an ordinary adjusting screw v, Fig. 15.
It will be evident that by simply turning the screw the position of the paper
relative to the points u, u, will be altered, and there will be no risk of the
paper being marked twice in the same place.
.I would here remark that although I have shewn and described the most
convenient arrangement of parts for effecting the objects of my Invention,
I do not mean or intend to confine myself rigidly to the precise arrangement,
construction, and operation of parts herein set forth, as the same may be
varied without departing from the nature and object of my Invention; for
instance, instead of operating upon the synchronous instruments or the
printing and recording apparatus when the ball e completes the electric circnit
by forming metallic contact between the wires e¹ and e³ in the incline tube d,
the same object may be effected by breaking the circuit, and adapting the
mechanical and electrical arrangements to the altered circumstances of the
case.
Having now described my Invention of improvements in the construction
of electric targets for rifle and gun practice, and having explained the

page_text: manner of carrying the same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured
to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid,-
First, the mode herein set forth of constructing targets, I claim particularly
arranging the plates of which the face of the target is composed in different
vertical planes, for the purpose herein set forth.
Second, I claim the application to electric targets of the synchronous
instruments above described, or any mere modification thereof.
Third, I claim the mode herein set forth of printing or recording the hits
made on the target, and also the apparatus above described, or any mere
modification thereof, whereby this object may be effected.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Newton Gisborne, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Sixteenth day of November, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-one.
F. N. GISBORNE, C.E. (L.S.)