ovements in or Connected with Projecting Lanterns, Reflecting
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 2nd Feb.. 1889
[Communicated from abroad by M. PINCOFFS and ALBERT KOROLANYI, Manufacturers,
of 9, Lichtensteinstrasse, Vienna, Austria-Hungary.]
ovements in or Connected with Projecting Lanterns, Reflecting
I, FREDERICK CRANE, Manufacturing Chemist, of Short Hills, New Jersey, United
States, and temporarily of 433, Strand, London, Middlesex do hereby declare the
nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for projecting light and shadows on screens,
walls and other surfaces by means of a concave mirror, and consists chicfiy in
using the mirror not only as a reflector but also as a clock-dial or other image-
bearer, the design or image being engraved or otherwise formed on the concave side
of the mirror itself.
Such a lantern may be employed for various purposes, but preferably in com-
bination with clock-work for projecting on a screen or other surface a clock dial
and the hands which move over the same.
The lantern may have the shape of an ordinary lantern or of an ornamental
clock and be constructed as follows:
In the middle of the base is secured a small oil or other lamp, in one of the
sides a concave mirror and in the opposite side an adjustable lens, the axes of the
lens and of the dial being preferably inclined upward and intersecting each other
in the centre of the lantern (immediately above the flame). The hands of the
clock are dark and mounted on an axle passing through the centre of the dial,
being driven by clockwork situated behind the same. The clockwork may be
situated in a tube passing through the side of the lantern and carrying outside an
ordinary watch-dial. The lens is axially adjustable on a tube passing through the
opposite side of the lantern, and the tube may be pivoted near its inner end, so as to
vary the angle of the lens to the horizon.

page_text: If the shapes and relative positions of the various parts are properly adjusted the
lens will cast an image of the dial and hands more or less magnified, on a screen or
wall near which the lantern is placed. If desired, the rays from the lens may be
deflected downward by a plane mirror placed outside the lantern. The lantern is
provided with a chimney, and with a glass door, and instead of the lamp, a candle or
night-light may be employed.
Dated this 3rd day of February 1888.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with Projecting Lanterns, Reflecting
Surfaces, and Time-pieces.
I, FREDERICK CRANE, Manufacturing Chemist, of Short Hills New Jersey, United
States, and temporarily of 433, Strand, London, Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to apparatus for projecting light and shadows on screens,
walls and other surfaces by means of a concave mirror which serves not only as a
reflector, but also as an image bearer, the design or image to be projected, being
engraved or otherwise formed on the concave side of the reflector itself.
In addition to the said design on the reflector, I may employ a clock-hand or other
dark object, adapted to move in front of the reflecting surface by hand or by clock-
work or other mechanical means.
Such a lantern may be employed for various purposes, for instance, as an advertising
medium, in which case the stationary or the movable part of the design or both,
would consist of words or combinations of words, or of a suitable picture, or as a
night clocks, in which case the reflector would be provided with a dial and hands set
in motion by clock-work.
In the further description of this invention, reference will be made to the accom-
panying drawing,.which is a vertical section of a combined projecting lantern and
clock, embodying the invention.
In a base of the lantern a is secured a candle 6 situated in a casing provided' with
a spring band a screw cap 62 or with other automatic means for raising the candle
in proportion as it burns off; or a lamp, adapted to maintain the light at a constant
level, may be employed.

page_text: Two opposite sides of the lantern are perforated for the reception of tubular
casings d and d², the casing d' containing a clock work and the casing a lens g
or a system of lenses. The outer face of the casing is provided with an ordinary
clock dial e and hands, while the inner face forms a concave reflector f, on which a
non-luminous clock dial is formed by engraving or other suitable methods, so that the
numerals and lines constituting the dial appear as dark or non-reflecting portions on a
polished reflecting surface. The hands and 2 are moved by the clock-work,
which also sets in motion the hands for the outer dial e. A stem winder / similar to
those employed in watches, may be applied to the casing d¹ near the bottom of the
outer dial and connected with the clock-work in such a manner, that it may be
employed either for winding the main spring or for setting simultaneously the hands
of the inner and of the outer dial.
The tube d² containing the lens or lenses, is rendered axially adjustable, according
to the distance of the receiving screen or wall from the lantern, and the tube may
be pivoted near its inner end, so as to place the axis of the lens at the desired angle,
without materially changing the position of the focus.
As shown, the casings d and d² are situated above the source of light and slightly
inclined, so that the flame will cause the least obstruction. e is a chimney situated
vertically above the candle or lamp, as in other lanterns.
One side of the lamp (or two opposite sides) is provided with a slide or door for
introducing and removing the lamp, when required. This door, or slide, is preferably
made of coloured glass which allows the light to be seen from the side.
If the shape and relative position of the reflector f, lens g and of the screen are
suitably chosen according to well-known optic laws, the lens (or set of lenses) will
cast on the screen an enlarged shadow of the dial or other design, and of the
hands for other moving object, a part of the original or design and of the
shadow being thus stationary, while another part is movable or variable.
If it is desired, to project the image on a table, instead of receiving it on a
vertical screen, I employ a plane mirror s, so as to deflect downward the rays
proceeding from the lens.
The hollow reflector may be caused to revolve by hand or by clock work, while
a hand or other surface covering a part of the reflector and forming or containing a
design or advertisement remains stationary; or two hollow reflectors may be placed
close upon each other, and a clock work or other means provided for imparting to
one of them or to both a rotary motion on its axis, the outer reflector having recesses
or blanks to render portions of the inner reflector visible.
Instead of a candle secured to the base of the lantern, I may employ two side
doors, each of which has a candle holder and candle secured to its inner face.
Having now particularly described the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same may be performed, I declare that I claim:
1. In a projecting lantern, the combination of a concave reflector adapted to serve
at the same time as a design or image bearer, with a lamp or candle adapted to illuminate
the reflecting surface, but situated outside the optical axis of the same, and a projecting
lens, substantially as described.
2. In a projecting lantern, the combination of a concave reflector serving also as a
design or image bearer, with a lamp or candle, a projecting lens, and automatic means
for maintaining the light at a constant height, substantially as described.
3. In a projecting lantern, the combination of a concave reflector serving also as a
design or image bearer, with a lens and its mounting adapted to regulate the angle
between the axis of the lens and that of the reflector, and a source of light adapted to
illuminate the reflector, substantially as described.
4. In a projecting lantern, the combination of a concave reflector serving also as a
design bearer, with a source of light adapted to illuminate the reflecting surface, a
projecting lens receiving rays from the reflector, and an external mirror adapted to
deflect the rays proceeding from the lens, substantially as described.

page_text: 5. In a projecting lantern of the type described, the combination of a concave,
reflector having on its reflecting surface dark or non-reflecting portions shaped so as to
form a design, figures, or letters, with a dark or non-reflecting object adapted to move
across the said reflecting surface.
6. In a projecting lantern of the type described, the combination of the reflector,
with means for turning the said reflector on its optical axis, and with or without a
hand or index arm situated in front of the said reflector..
7. In a projecting lantern of the type described, the combination of a hollow
reflector serving as design or image bearer and composed of two hollow discs placed
one over the other, the outer discs having recesses or blanks, and one or both discs
being provided with a design, letters or figures, with means for turning one disc or
both on the optical axis of the reflector.
8. In a projecting lantern of the type described, the combination of a reflector
having a dial formed in dark lines or figures on a luminous or reflecting ground, with
a clock hand and clock work for moving the same.
Dated thin 21 dav of No. 1000