Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Scenic Effects on the Stage.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Loft 7th Don 1006
all
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Scenic Effects on
the Stage.
JOB THOMAS NIBLETT 20 Devonshire Road Greenwich S.E. Electrical
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for producing lighting effects either on
performers, properties, or scenery on the stage, by means of electricity, and also to
a method of producing a combination of colour effects, and altering their intensity,
which can be varied to a very great extent. To produce the desired result,
electric lamps may be covered with translucent petals or leaves of artificial flowers,
so as to represent as nearly as possible a rose, or other desirable flower; or the
lainps may be covered with coloured glasses or other coloured material, so as to
represent precious stones, gems, or similar ornaments, such as are generally worn
on the stage for personal decoration. Or, electric lamps may be so arranged, that
the light coming from them is projected on to flowers or other ornaments, so as to
cause them to become brilliantly illuminated, and to stand out in bold relief.
In either case the electric lamps are so arranged, or are so covered, that the lamps
themselves are hidden from the view of the audience, and only the transmitted or
projected light is visible-thus producing the effect of luminous flowers, or other
ornaments. Any number and variety of different coloured flowers or ornaments
may be used, and these may be fixed to the dresses, properties, or scenery, in any
suitable manner. When the electricity for energizing the lamps is obtained from
a permanent electric light installation, or from any form of fixed electrical plant,
then the current is carried in by means of flexible wires, so that the performer,
property, or scenery, is free to move or be moved, without interfering with the
effect. The flexible wires may be run either from the "flies," back of stage, or
the "wings"; or if more convenient, they may come through an opening in the
stage floor.
If it is not desirable to work the lamps from a permanent electric light
installation, then portable batteries may be used to actuate them. The portable
batteries would be attached to, and would be carried about by the performer, or
other object on which the lamps are fixed. According to this arrangement, lamps
of similar colour are joined up to form one electric circuit. Any number of such
circuits may be employed, by which means any desired combination of coloured
effect can be produced. Each lamp circuit is preferably controlled by a separate
switch and inserted in any couvenient position, and in each such circuit is placed.
a variable resistance or rheostat of such construction that the luminosity of the
lamps can be varied to any extent. The variable resistance or resistances may be
hand worked, or they may be made to work automatically. If worked auto-
matically, then the driving power may be either clockwork, or an electrical driven
motor.
When each set of apparatus is self-contained and portable, that is to say, when
the battery, lamps, resistances, and switches, are all carried by a performer, on a
property, or on a piece of scenery, then the resistances and switches are preferably
made of cylindrical form, and are made to revolve so as to follow music, or any
other prescribed code-much in the same way as a musical box.

page_text: When the apparatus is worked from a permanent electrical installation, the
resistances and switches, together with the operator, are preferably placed so that
they are not seen by the audience; but in cases where the apparatus is used on the
person, and it is thought desirable that the performer should make the changes of
the light himself, or herself, then the switches or resistances, or both, may be
placed in any convenient position on the performer. The switches or resistances,
or both, as used in the circuits, may also be made to actuate fixed lamps on the
stage or elsewhere, and in the event of projected light being required, whether it
be of the electric arc or incandescent form, then the same apparatus may be made
to work the whole of the lights simultaneously.
Dated this 21st day of February 1906
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Scenic Effects on the
Stage.
JOB THOMAS NIBLETT Electrical Engineer 20 Devonshire Road Greenwich
Kent 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 relates to apparatus for producing lighting effects either on
performers, properties, or scenery on the stage, by means of electricity, and also
to a method of producing a combination of colour effects and altering their intensity,
which can be varied to a very great extent.
To produce the desired results, electric lamps may be covered with translucent
petals or leaves of artificial flowers, so as to represent as nearly as possible roses,
or other desirable flowers; or the lamps may be covered with coloured glasses or
other coloured material, so as to represent precious stones, gems, or similar
ornaments, such as are generally worn on the stage for personal decoration or the
decoration of properties or scenery. Or, electric lamps may be so arranged, that
the light coming from them is projected on the flowers or other ornaments, so as
to cause them to become brilliantly illuminated and to stand out in bold relief.
Or, the electric lamps may be coloured, and the light coming through them may
be projected through transparent or translucent material, such as glass, porcelain,
tracing-cloth, gelatine, or similar material.
If desirable, the lamp bulb itself may be made of such shape as to represent a
flower, a fruit, or gem, and it may then be suitably covered so as to give it the
natural appearance of the flower, fruit, or gem. The imitation flower, fruit, or
gem, may or may not be coloured, but in the event of colour being required, then
this may be produced by directly covering the material used for covering the lamp,
or the lamp itself may be coloured in the ordinary or well known mauner, so that
when the lamp is burning, the transmitted coloured light may be made to produce
a corresponding tint on the covering material, thus producing an apparent change
from one colour to another. In either case, the electric lamps are so arranged, or
are so covered, that the lamps themselves are hidden and only the transmitted or
projected light is visible-thus producing the effect of luminous flowers, ornaments,
properties, dresses, or scenery.
Any number and variety of different coloured lamps to represent flowers or
ornaments may be used, and these may be fixed to the dresses, properties, or
scenery, in any desirable manner.
When the electricity for energizing the lamp is obtained from a permanent
electric light installation, or from any form of fixed electrical plant, the current

page_text: for the lamps is carried in by means of flexible wires, so that the performer,.
property, or scenery, is free to move or be moved without interfering with the
effect. The flexible wires may be run either from the "flies," back of the stage,
or the "wings," or if more convenient, they may come through an opening in the
stage floor.
.
If it is not desirable to work the lamps from a permanent electric light installa-
tion, then portable batteries may be used to actuate them. The portable batteries
would preferably be attached to, and would be carried about by the performer, or
other object on which the lamps are fixed. According to this invention, lamps of
similar colour are joined up to form one electric circuit. Any number of such
circuits may be employed, by which means any desired combination of colour
effect can be produced. Each circuit is preferably controlled by a separate switch
inserted in any convenient position, and in each circuit may be placed a variable
resistance or rheostat, of such construction that the luminosity of the lamp, if
desirable, may be varied to any extent. The variable resistances so employed may
be hand-worked, or they may be made to work automatically. If worked auto-
matically, then the driving power may either be clockwork, or an electrically
driven motor.
When each set of apparatus is self-contained and portable, that is to say, when.
the battery, lamps, resistances, (if such are required) and switches, are all carried
by the performer, on the property, or on the piece of scenery, then the resistances
and switches are preferably made of cylindrical form, and are made to revolve so
as to follow music, or any other prescribed code-much in the same way as a
musical-box.
When the apparatus is worked from a permanent electric installation, the
resistances and switches together with the operator, are preferably placed so that
they are not seen by the audience; but in cases where the apparatus is used on
the person, and it is thought desirable that the performer should make the changes
of light himself, or herself, then the switches or resistances, or both, as used in the
circuits, may also be made to actuate fixed lamps on the stage or elsewhere, and in
the event of projected light being required, whether it be of the electric arc or
incandescent form, then the same apparatus may be made to work the whole of the
lights simultaneously.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven--
tion, and in what manner it is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1.) A method of representing flowers, fruits, ornaments, and other decorative
devices, by covering or screening electric lamps by coloured or other medium, in.
the manuer described.
(2.) A method of regulating and varying the intensity of electric lamps, as used
for representing flowers, fruits, gems, or other decoration on the stage, in the
manuer described.
(3.) The arrangement for producing scenic effects by means of the apparatus, as
described.
Dated this 7th day of December 1896.