An Improved Apparatus for Balancing-feats.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th. Apr., 1897-Accepted, 19th June, 1897
An Improved Apparatus for Balancing-feats.
I, SEVERUS SCHÄFFER temporarily residing at the Circus Schumann, Ghent in the
Kingdom of Belgium, Artiste, 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 has for its object an improved apparatus for use in balancing-feats,
which consists of a carriage of normal size and of any suitable shape but so constructed
as to be capable of ordinary use and yet be so light as to be adapted for stage
effects, that is to say, for feats of equilibrium.
In order to attain this object, the carriage, whilst being sufficiently strongly
constructed, must be built in such a way as to appear heavy and yet be of little
weight.
As shown in the accompanying drawing, this object is attained according to the
present invention by making the body a of the carriage of network, for instance
wicker work, or the like; the springs b on which the carriage body rests of aluminium ;
and the wheels c in their most important parts of aluminium, the less important parts
being formed of cork in order to give a solid or massive appearance. The shafts d
are of bamboo cane and the lamps e of compressed paper. The seat and the linings
are formed of indiarubber cushions inflated with air.
:
Of course in place of the said materials, other materials may be employed which
have a light weight whilst possessing sufficient strength. In a similar manner the
construction and outer form of the carriage is of itself immaterial; for instance, the
carriage body may rest directly on the wheel axle, the springs being omitted.
The essential feature of the invention consists in the carriage being made sufficiently
strong to be capable of being drawn on the stage by a horse, and of carrying one or
two persons, and yet, by the choice of as simple a form as possible and as light and
yet resistant material as possible, for the separate parts, have a total weight which
allows the artiste to raise the carriage and balance it by means of the shaft on the
head or in other suitable manner.
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. An apparatus for use in balancing-feats, consisting of a carriage of any suitable
form and normal size so constructed as to have a massive or weighty appearance
whilst being actually sufficiently light to adapt it for being lifted and balanced by
a performer, and sufficiently strong to enable it to be drawn in the ordinary manner
by a horse and to carry one or two persons substantially as herein before described.
2. A carriage of normal size for stage or artiste purposes, characterised by the
carriage body being made of wickerwork or the like, the parts which are apparently
of iron or steel (such for instance as the carriage springs) of aluminium; the wheels
of aluminium and cork; the shafts of bamboo, and the seats and linings of indiarubber
cushions inflated with air; with the object of reducing the total weight of the
carriage by the employment of as light and yet resistant materials as possible for the
separate parts to such an extent that in spite of the massive appearance of

page_text: the carriage it is possible for the artiste to balance the same by the shaft on his
head or in other suitable manner, substantially as described.
Dated_this_24th day of April 1897.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.