Devices for Showing the Changing Positions of a Body or Bodies in Action.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1895-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Devices for Showing the Changing Positions of a Body or Bodies
in Action.
I, HERMAN CASLER, of 208 Geddes Street, in the City of Syracuse, State of
New York, U.S.A., Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of my 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 what I choose to call Mutoscopes, or devices for
showing the changing positions of a body or bodies in action.
My object is to produce a device for exhibiting pictures, photographs or similar
likenesses, so arranged that by successively bringing them into the line of vision
they will show the changing positions of the body or bodies and reproduce to the
eyc the acts of the performers, and to that end my invention consists :-
First In arranging the pictures, which have been specially taken very rapidly
so as to catch each new and changing position of the body, in succession:
Second In providing means for successively and rapidly exposing them to the
line of vision and in the several other new and novel features and combination of
parts hereinafter described, and which are specifically set forth in the claims
hereunto annexed.
It is constructed as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
Fig. 1 is an isometrical elevation of the mutoscope complete, showing it ready
for operation.
Fig. 2 is a side view thereof with the side of the case removed, and edge views
of the pictures and operative mechanism.
Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the centre of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section, just to one side of the arbor, showing the
arbor and a modified form of arranging and securing the pictures thereon.
Fig. 5 are face views of the several cards upon which are printed photographs of
various positions of an arm for illustration.
Fig. 6 is a cross section on line - in Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a modified form showing the pictures arranged upon a spiral spool.
Fig. 8 is an end view thereof from the end upon which the worm is located.
Fig. 9 is a transvertical section through the centre of the view shown in Fig. 8,
Similar letters of reference sbow corresponding parts.
A is the case, constructed preferably rectangular, although I do not limit myself
to any precise form or design of case, as it will be evident that it may be con-
structed in any fanciful form desired; and is provided with a transverse arbor a
suitably mounted, upon which is placed a spool 6 having its inner lateral flanges
dovetailed for the purpose of receiving and retaining cards a", of elastic material,
such as stiff paper, celluloid, metal, etc., to fit and be retained therein and upon
which are arranged in regular order a series of pictures showing the successive
positions of a moving object. c is the worm-gear secured upon the outer end of
the spool; upon the arbor d is a worm mounted longitudinally within the case A
aud adapted to engage with the worm-gear c for the purpose of rotating it, the
worm d being provided with a crank arm d' by which it is operated for the purpose
of rotating the spool upon which the pictures are mounted so as to successively
bring them into the line of vision.
Inasmuch, however, as the pictures are mounted radially upon the spool, it is

page_text: .
necessary to mount a pin e transversely within the case so as to engage with the
upper forward end of the card for the purpose of holding them back so as to break
their radial position and present their face to a substantially vertical view, and at
the same time impart a springing or quick movement to each of the cards as they
are successively released, so that by successively and exceedingly rapidly exposing
the cards to view, produces all the appearances of the body or bodies in action,
owing to the fact that the pictures have heretofore been taken rapidly enough to
catch each successive movement and change of position of the body.
In Fig. 3, I show small bosses e¹ upon the lower ends of the cards, staggering
bosses upon the adjacent cards, so as to slightly separate near the arbor each of
the cards. For the purpose also, of imparting greater elasticity to the bent card,
I may provide the cards with lateral openings and round the lower edge so that
when they are mounted upon the arbor or sleeve upon the arbor they will assume a
slightly curved position, as shown in Fig. 4, they being held in position by flanged
washers g, the inner flanges adapted to engage with the lateral openings f
It will be observed that as these cards upon which the pictures are printed are
of elastic material, when they are held at one end upon the arbor firmly and the
opposite end held back as the arbor is rotated, they will produce a quick springy
motion to produce the desired effect. In Figs. 7, 8 and 9, of the drawings I show
a somewhat modified form of construction, by so adapting the spool that a larger
number of cards may be placed thercon without increasing the periphery of said
spool, constructing the spool spirally as shown in the drawings and removing the
lower right and left hand corner of each successive adjacent card so as to allow
the lower end of the two successive cards to lay substantially in the same plane,
the spiral flanges upon the spool having inwardly extending rims to engage
with the lateral openings upon the cards.
k, is a bracket mounted in a suitable trackway within the case and adapted to
travel transversely within the case so as to engage with the upper ends of the cards
arranged spirally upon the spool. This bracket is adapted to travel transversely
by means of its rearward end or pin upon its rearward end engaging with a screw
mounted transversely within the case, which in turn is rotated by an ordinary
worm gear at one end engaging with a worm upon the operating shaft.
It will be observed that when the arbor is rotated the cards will successively be
brought to view and the bracket & will travel along upon the screw / until it travels
clear across or until the cards have all been exposed.
Should, however, at any time, the operator desire to repeat or go back to review
any of the pictures which have been exhibited, or when the bracket has reached
the opposite side of the case, the cover may be raised, the pin upon the rear end of
the bracket thrown out of engagement with the screw and returned to the opposite
side ready to begin a repetition of the work just described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a mutoscope a picture card having its lower end convex for the purpose
of causing the lower portion to assume a concave-convex position in cross section
when mounted.
2. In a mutoscope, an arbor having cards of pictures arranged radially thereon,
said cards having openings in their edges and their lower end convex, flanged
washers secured upon said arbor, the flanges adapted to engage with the openings
or recesses in the edges of the cards and means for rotating said arbor.
3. In a mutoscope, an arbor having picture cards arranged radially thereon,
means for holding the outer ends rearwardly under tension during a portion of the
revolution for the purpose of exposing the pictures to view, a worm-gear secured to
said arbor and a worm adapted to rotate said gear and arbor.
4. In a mutoscope, an arbor having picture cards arranged radially thereon and
upon a spiral spool, and means for holding the upper ends rearwardly for the

page_text: purpose of exposing the pictures to view, a worm-gear secured to said arbor and a
worm adapted to rotate said gear and arbor.
5. In a mutoscope, an arbor having picture cards arranged radially thereon and
upon a spiral spool, a bracket adapted to travel longitudinally with said spool, as
set forth.
6. A mutoscope, an arbor having a spiral spool mounted thereon, cards arranged
radially thereon, said cards having the adjacent right and left hand corners
removed so as to allow their base ends to lie in the same plane, and a bracket
adapted to travel longitudinally with said spool for the purpose of holding the
upper ends of the cards back so as to give them a quick snapping movement, a
worm-gear secured to said arbor and a worm adapted to rotate said gear, arbor and
spool, as set forth.
7. In a mutoscope, an arbor having elastic picture cards arranged radially
thereon and rigidly attached thereto and means for holding the outer edges of the
cards rearwardly under tension during a portion of the revolution.
Dated this 30th day of July 1805
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97 Newgate Street, London, Patent Agent.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97 Newgate Street, London, Patent Agent.