IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THEATRICAL OR GYMNASTIC PERFORMANCES.
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Leonard Hunt, of 123, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MEANS AND APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THEATRICAL OR GYMNASTIC
PERFORMANCES.'
"
Sealed the 3rd March 1876, and dated the 18th December 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Leonard
Hunt at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 18th December 1875.
I, WILLIAM LEONARD HUNT, of 123, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THEATRICAL OR
GYMNASTIC PERFORMANCES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to apparatus to be employed in a novel and
extraordinary gymnastic performance, consisting in the shooting of the
performer from a cannon so arranged and actuated by springs as to
effect the desired object.

page_text: I construct the apparatus as follows: -A tube or cylinder containing
a sufficient quantity of powder is placed in such manner and position
with relation to the catch or lock which retains or holds the actuating
springs stretched or extended as that when the powder is ignited or
discharged by means of match, percussion, or electricity, the catch or
lock will be forced open to release the springs, which will propel the
performer from the cannon, and at the same time give a loud report,
thereby creating a belief that a real cannon is employed, and the motive
power is powder.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Leonard Hunt in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 17th June 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
LEONARD HUNT, of 123, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in
the thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said William Leonard Hunt,
Her special licence, that I, the said William Leonard Hunt, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Leonard Hunt, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time, and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN
THEATRICAL OR GYMNASTIC PERFORMANCES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Leonard Hunt, my executors or admini-
strators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent.

page_text: of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Leonard Hunt, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
5 is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement and accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
reference being had to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to
say :—
This Invention relates to apparatus to be employed in a novel and
extraordinary gymnastic performance, consisting in the shooting or
propelling of the performer from a cannon so arranged and actuated by
springs as to effect the desired object.
I construct the apparatus as follows:-A tube containing a sufficient
quantity of powder is placed in such manner and position with relation
to the catch or lock which retains or holds the actuating springs
stretched or extended as that when the powder is ignited or discharged
by means of match, percussion, or electricity, the catch or lock will be
forced open to release the springs, which will propel the performer from
the cannon, and at the same time give a loud report, thereby creating
a belief that a real cannon is employed, and the motive power is
powder.
The accompanying Drawings illustrate the application of the Inven-
tion, Fig. 1 being a plan of the apparatus; Fig. 2 an end view of the
catch or lock; Fig: 3, side view of detached part; and Fig. 4 a repre-
sentation of the exterior of the "cannon". or apparatus.
The base or breech plate of the gun is indicated by the broken lines A,
upon which plate the working parts of the lock are secured. At B in
broken lines is indicated the foot plate, upon which the performer or
object to be propelled will stand or rest, and upon the under side of said
foot plate is secured a bar or arms C, which are connected with other
arms curved to fit and working in the case of the gun, and to which
curved arms the actuating rubber springs are attached. Below the foot
plate and in the centre thereof a lug D channelled or grooved as shown
at D₁ is bolted or rivetted, into which channels or grooves the hinged
jaws E take. F is a lever pivoted at G, and provided with a dish plate
or cup H at its opposite extremity, and having hinged thereto a

page_text: spanner I. K is the tube or cylinder for the powder or explosive, said
tube being supported in the bracket L. When this apparatus is to be
used the springs are removed from off the arms C, and the foot plate B
is taken back to the base plate, so that the lug D'may be clutched by
the jaws E, which jaws will be clutched and held by the spanner I, and
the dished plate H will then cover the mouth of the tube K, said tube
having been previously filled with explosive or detonating composition.
The actuating springs are then attached to the arms in connection with
the foot plate, and the apparatus will be ready for use. When the
explosive in the tube K-has been discharged the lever F will be thrown
back, and the spanner be lifted off the hinged jaws E to release them
from the lug D, as indicated in broken lines F¹, Fig. 1, thus leaving the
foot plate free to be drawn up forcibly by the springs, and so propel the
performer or object from the gun at the same time or immediately
following the report of the explosive.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention
in such manner that it may be carried into practical effect, I claim, the
improvements in means and apparatus to be employed in theatrical or
gymnastic performances substantially as described and illustrated by the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Leonard Hunt, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of May,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.