IMPROVED KALEIDOSCOPE
Year: 1877

page_text: AN
LETTERS PATENT to George William Ambridge, of 2, Myrtle Street, Hoxton,
London, N., Philosophical Instrument Maker, for the Invention of "
IMPROVED KALEIDOSCOPE.”
Sealed the 26th March 1878, and dated the 27th September 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George William Ambridge
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th September 1877.
GEORGE WILLIAM AMBRIDGE, of 2, Myrtle Street, Hoxton, London, N., Philo-
sophical Instrument Maker. AN IMPROVED KALEIDOSCOPE.'
My improved kaleidoscope consists of a tube darkened and fitted with two or
more plane mirrors inclined to each other at a certain angle, and placed in a
particular manner relative to the eye and object. This tube is attached by an arm
piece to a small circular frame or table, on which table rotates on an axis a glass
case or reservoir containing the objects to be viewed through the kaleidoscope.
This improved kaleidoscope does not require to be held in a horizontal direction
towards the light, but is placed vertically on a table, and the user turning the glass
case or reservoir round produces a variety of changes in the objects seen and their
relative positions.
The tube, unlike that of the well-known kaleidoscope, which is closed, is open,
and has a section cut off at the lower end to admit light.
Instead of pieces of glass or other transparent objects used in the ordinary
kaleidoscope, in this improved form opaque objects are employed, such as coloured
cardboard, pencillings, solid objects, metal cuttings, cloth, wood, wool, and a variety
of objects which, under this arrangement, produce similar effects to those observed
in the old kaleidoscope. The glass-case or reservoir at the bottom may be removed
and the objects displayed on a disc or surface of wood, paper, or other materials.
This improved instrument will be found useful for designing patterns for carpet
and similar
purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George William Ambridge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th March 1878.
GEORGE WILLIAM AMBRIDGE, of 2, Myrtle Street, Hoxton, London, N., Philo-
sophical Instrument Maker. "AN IMPROVED KALEIDOSCOPE."
My improved kaleidoscope consists of a tube darkened and fitted with two or
more plane mirrors inclined to each other at a certain angle, and placed in a
particular manner relative to the eye and object.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, and, if desired,
carried into practical effect, I will now proceed to describe the same more particu-
larly, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon.
Figure 1 represents an elevation of my improved kaleidoscope in its most simple
and least expensive form, which is, however, alike suitable as an aid to the artist or
designer, or as an instrument of amusement. It consists of a base piece A formed
of wood, metal, or other suitable material, in which is dovetailed or otherwise
affixed the curved overhanging arm B. This arm extends over the centre of the
base, and its vertically faced edge has affixed to it the conical tube C which forms
the main optical part of the instrument. The tube C is by preference made slightly
conical; the upper extremity is fitted with a plane eye-glass at D, the lower end E
is open, and there is also a vertical opening formed by cutting away a portion of
the tube at the outer part F, at what may be termed the front part of the instrument.
This aperture F serves to admit a flood of light to the angular plane mirrors which
are arranged within the occular tube C. The mirrors are disposed in the usual way
at an aliquot part of a circle divided into 360°. The object holder G in this
instrument consists of a shallow circular tray covered by a plate of glass, and
centred upon a pivot carried in a small block interposed for the convenience of
rotation between the base and the object holder G. The objects to be viewed are
placed loosely in the object holder, and they may be formed of scraps of paper, foil,
beads, natural objects, as moss, ferns, seeds, insects, and indeed anything capable of
reflecting light.
The distinguishing feature of this instrument may be here noted. The design or
figure required or approved of may be kept in the field of view as long as required,
and nothing but a sudden shake or the rotation of the object holder will alter it;
whereas in the ordinary kaleidoscope its objects are contained in a vertical chamber,
and are generally formed of fragments of glass, so that when held in the hand the
slightest tremor disturbs the particles, and the desired image presented to the eye
is lost. And not only that, but a greater amount of light is admitted to the body
of the instrument, and thus reaches the eye, rendering the optical image more
perfect and brilliant in colour. The object holder itself is illuminated by the
rays of light falling directly upon it, thus enabling the user to avail himself of
opaque objects hitherto inadmissable.
The arrangement delineated in Figures 2 to 5 show a wider scope for the useful
application of this instrument. In this modification the instrument affords the
utmost convenience either for copying designs or studying the beautiful geometric
combinations evolved from a few morsels of paper or other convenient materials.
In the elevation, Figure 2, the base H carries the duplex pillars I, in the upper
part of which is pivotted the curved arm K, carrying at its upper extremity the
ocular tube L, and at its lower end the object holder stage M. This stage carries at
its outer rim, upon a pivot, an elliptical sub-stage N, and this again carries a small
circular piece O, in the centre of which the object holder P is retained by a central
pivot.
The rotating object holder consists of a circular shallow tray covered by a disc of
glass; this part of the instrument is shown detached in Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3
is a plan and Figure 4 a transverse section of the tray. The glass disc is enclosed

page_text: by a thin fillet of wood or metal P; this covers the tray Q on which the objects to
he viewed are placed; these are loosely scattered thereon. To form the background
of the design or picture I prefer to cover the bottom of the tray with paper of
different colours, cut to any irregular or random figure, as indicated by the lines R
in Figure 3. Or the background may be divided by regular geometric lines
according to the class of design required.
The body of the instrument is furnished with an eye-piece S and with the
angular reflecting mirrors Ţ, the relative angles of which may be altered as required
by the adjusting screws V, the contraction of the mirrors being aided by the thin
steel spring W. This part of the arrangement, together with the form of the
opening in the tube, is shewn more particularly in the partial front view of the
tube, Figure 5.
The plane mirrors T may be made either of the ordinary blackened glass or
silvered, or of highly polished metal, according to the purpose to which the instru-
ment is to be applied. And so also the bottom of the object holder may be made
transparent for the purpose of viewing objects by transmitted light; this may be
done by inserting therein a plate of glass, mica, or other suitable transparent
material, the plate being made with a central aperture to admit the pivot on which
the holder rotates. In this manner and with the aid of these improvements the
kaleidoscope is rendered a far more useful and practical instrument in its application
to the various branches of decorative art, as well as in its use as a source of amuse-
ment and instruction.
.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same may be used and carried into practical effect, I wish it to be
understood that what I believe to be new and useful, and therefore claim under the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly. Arranging and constructing the tubular part or body of the kaleidoscope
with an open end and lateral opening for the free admission of light to the reflecting
mirrors, and thus improving the illumination of the image or picture presented to the
eye, the said tube or body being affixed either to a stationary or a movable arm,
substantially as herein-before described, and shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. Arranging and constructing the kaleidoscope with a stage or object
holder arranged below the body, and moveable about its axis in such manner that
the light falls unimpeded on the objects contained in the holder, so as to permit of
the use of opaque colored bodies, and of retaining the picture or design as long as
may be required, substantially as herein-before described, and shewn in the accom-
panying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George William Ambridge, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.