Improvements in Tables, Refreshment Bar Counters, and the like, for the Display of Advertisements.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1892-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tables, Refreshment Bar Counters, and the like,
for the Display of Advertisements.
We, ARTHUR JOSEPH NEEDHAM, HORACE CANNING NEEDHAM and
WILLIAM HENDY, all of 11 Southampton Row, London, W.C. in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturers, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to display advertisements by the help of tables,
refreshment bar counters and the like by causing advertisements to appear under
transparent places in the tops of such tables, counters or the like to remain
sufficiently long to enable them to be read and then to give place to others.
The table top or counter is made with transparent places either formed by
openings made therein and covered with glass or by making the whole of glass
silvered or otherwise rendered opaque at places other than those at which the
advertisements are to appear. The advertisements are placed on cards or tablets
which are intermittently revolved or moved beneath the aforesaid table tops or
counters so that the advertisements appear at the transparent places therein and
remain for a short time at each opening before giving place to others.
In the annexed drawing
Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of a circular table constructed according to
this invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the operating mechanism.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation thereof and
Fig. 5 a detail view, these Figs. 3 to 5 being on a larger scale.
A is the table the top B of which is here provided with three transparent circular
portions Cequally spaced from one another and at equal distances from the centre
of the table. Under this table top is the circular disk D which is provided with
the advertisements which are to appear at the windows C. This disk is secured to
the metal plate E on the spindle F. The spindle F carries the wheel G which is
provided with six recesses in its rim to mesh with the single tooth on the wheel H
the periphery of the wheel G intermediate of the said recesses being curved in the
shape of re-entrant arcs of equal radius with the plain portion of the periphery of
the wheel H. The wheel H is driven by a train of wheels from the spring
barrel J the train being also continued to the rotary vane K by which the move-
ment of the train is controlled. The wheel H revolving with a continuous
movement at each revolution moves the wheel G through one-sixth of a revolution
holding it still in the intervals between the successive impulsions of the tooth on
the wheel H.
A lamp or lamps of any suitable form may be used to illuminate the table top
either from above or below in which latter case the advertisement disk is also made
transparent or translucent where provided with the advertisements.
An electric motor may be used to revolve the advertisement disk instead of the
above spring and train of wheels. For counter-tops several such rotary disks may
be employed, or an endless band with a similar intermittently operating gear.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. A table or counter top having transparent portions in combination with
mechanism adapted to display moving or changing advertisements at such

page_text: 2. A table, counter top or similar surface having a series of windows or trans-
parent portions equi-distant from a central spot in combination with a rotary disk
carrying advertisements and revolved intermittently by a prime motor through
intervention of wheels H, G or equivalent gear for the purpose described.
3. The combination of a table, counter top or similar surface having a series of
windows or transparent portions and an intermittently movable advertisement disk
of a lamp or lamps arranged substantially as set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1892.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.