Improvements in Means or Devices for Producing Optical Illusions.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Aug., 1892-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Devices for Producing Optical Illusions.
We GUSTAV VON PRITTWITZ-PALM Artist, of 297 Vauxhall Bridge Road,
LAWRENCE ABRAHAM SOMERS, Theatrical Agent, of 92 Clapham Road, and
JACOB SOMERS, Theatrical Agent of 49 Stockwell Road, all in the County of
London, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to means or devices for producing optical illusions. In
accordance with this invention we provide a series of passages or chambers the
walls whereof are lined with mirrors. The passages lead one into the other and
are decorated in suitable designs of regular geometrical patterns so that when the
reflected image of one passage is seen side by side with a substantial portion of
another the eye will perceive no break and no difference. Each passage a right
angle with the one communicating therewith. We prefer to have one set of
passages forming as it were a principal gallery. These passages form three sides
of an equilateral quadrangle and in the space enclosed by these are provided other
passages parallel to the principal gallery.
Now a spectator looking along any one of the passages sees before him numerous
reflections of the passage in which he is and therefore is led to believe that the
space is of very considerable length. In some positions he sees reflections of two
passages and even of three and each reflection is multiplied many fold so that every
person or object in these passages appears like a multitude. When standing at the
intersection of one portion of the inner gallery with the corresponding portion of
the outer gallery even the sense of direction is disturbed as it is impossible to the
eye to distinguish between the actual and the reflected passages.
Now in order to afford greater variety we add the following arrangement.
In a suitable part of the gallery we provide a plate of glass silvered at its upper
part but not at the lower, behind the lower unsilvered part is placed one mirror
making an angle with the plate of glass the top of the mirror touching the line
where the silvering ends. At the bottom (between the inclined mirror and the
partly silvered glass plate) is placed a horizontal mirror. We prefer to silver the
said plate of glass above a line which is about level with a man's shoulders. A
person standing in front of this arrangement will see his head reflected in the
mirror but not the body so that the head apparently floats freely in the air, the
illusion is all the more perfect as even the sense of touch shows an apparently
perfect sheet of looking glass.
We may also cause the appearance of a headless body by silvering the bottom of
the sheet of glass, leaving the top clear and placing behind the unsilvered part two
mirrors forming an angle that opens horizontally whilst if the two mirrors open
vertically they cause the appearance to be that of a body with two heads.
Dated this 30th of September 1891.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Devices for Producing Optical Illusions.
We, GUSTAV VON PRITTWITZ-PALM Artist of 297 Vauxhall Bridge Road
LAWRENCE ABRAHAM SOMERS, Theatrical Agent of 92 Clapham Road, S.E.
and JACOB SOMERS, Theatrical Agent of 49 Stockwell Road, S.E. 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 relates to what may be called a mirror maze in which a passage
is provided for a person to walk through the maze but the reflecting mirrors are so
arranged as to confuse and mislead him so as to make it difficult to find the right
passage.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Figure 1 is a plan of a maze constructed according to this invention, and
Figures 2 to 6 are views of illusory devices which may be used in conjunction
therewith;
Figures 2 and 3 are vertical sections,
Figure 4 a perspective view looking from the back and
Figures 5 and 6 horizontal sections on lines 5-5 and 6-6 respectively of
Figure 4.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
As will be seen from the drawing the apparatus consists of a tortuous passage so
arranged that when the person passing through the maze endeavours to proceed in
a straight line he is constantly brought up by finding himself face to face with n
mirror through which he cannot pass. The apparatus is of any suitable shape,
size, and ornamentation and is composed of walls A. the inner and in some cases
both faces of which are lined with mirrors B each mirror, except perhaps the first
and last being parallel and opposite to some other mirror so that a large number of
reflections are obtained. The visitor enters at C and confronts the mirror which
we will call No. 1. Turning to the right he passes between mirrors 2 and 3 and
ultimately arrives opposite mirror 4, where he has to stop. There is a passage way
for him by turning to the left between the pillars 6 and 7 though it is difficult to
recognise this at first on account of the reflections seen in mirror 8 which then
faces hin. However, passing between pillars 6 and 7 he is brought up by mirror 8
and turning again to the left he passes between pillars 6 and 9 and 10 and 11 and
ultimately is brought up by mirror 12 unless he has descried the passage between
pillars 9 and 11. Having reached mirror 12 he must retrace his steps and pass
again between pillars 10 and 11 when by turning to the left or the right according
to the direction in which he comes, he will be able to pass between pillars 9 and 11
when he will find himself in another cul-de-sac and will be brought up by mirror 13
unless as before he has found the passage between pillars 9 and 14. In this way
he gradually traces bis course around the maze as indicated by the arrows till he
eventually reaches again the vestibule by which he entered. The pillars serve for
ornamentation and as a framing in which the mirrors are held.
Now in order to afford greater variety we add the following arrangement.
In a suitable part D of the gallery we provide a plate of glass G silvered at its
upper part 9 Figure 2 but not at the lower part 9; behind the lower unsilvered
part we place one mirror H making an angle with the plate of glass G the top of the
mirror H touching the line where the silvering ends. At the bottom (between
the inclined mirror H and the partly silvered glass plate G) is placed a horizontal
mirror H¹ Figure 2. We prefer to silver the plate of glass G above a line o
which is about level with a man's shoulders. A person standing in front of this
arrangement will see his head reflected in the mirror g but not the body so that the

page_text: head apparently floats freely in the air, the illusion is all the more perfect as even
the sense of touch shows G to be an apparently perfect sheet of looking glass.
We may also if desired in this same chamber D as shown in Figure 1 cause the
appearance of a headless body by silvering the bottom part i Figures 4 and 6 of a
sheet of glass I, leaving the top part Figures 4 and 5 clear and placing behind
the unsilvered part two mirrors JK forming an angle that opens horizontally
whilst if two mirrors F F open vertically behind the upper part e of a sheet of
glass E whose lower part e¹ only is silvered they cause the appearance to be that of
a body with two heads.
The apparatus is thus, as it were, made up of a number of square blocks with the
pillars 6, 9 10 &c. at the angles or divisions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A mirror maze constructed and arranged substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. A mirror maze the plan of which would represent a number of squares some
of the sides of which are formed by mirrors while some are only imaginary lines
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a mirror maze such as described the combination with a tortuous passage
such as represented in the drawing of a special illusion chamber such as D provided
with extra mirrors substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this
day of
1892.
BERNHARD DUKES,
226, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.