IM- PROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL SIGNS FOR ADVERTISING PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Luther Blackmer, of the City of Boston, and State
of Massachusetts, in the United States of America, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL SIGNS FOR ADVERTISING PURPOSES."
Sealed the 13th December 1878, and dated the 23rd September 1878.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said James Luther Blackmer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd September 1878.
JAMES LUTHER BLACKMER, of the City of Boston, and State of Massachusetts,
in the United States of America. IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL SIGNS FOR
ADVERTISING PURPOSES."
«
This Invention relates to improvements whereby advertising signs may be
made more attractive and ornamental, so as to induce persons passing by to stop
and examine the goods that may be displayed in a show window where such signs
are employed.
In carrying out my Invention I construct the body of the sign of sheet zinc or
other suitable material, and form openings through the bodies of the letters,
characters, or figures composing the sign, and suspend within such openings
pendants of any desired form or size, and of any suitable material.
Such sign is suspended by pivots within a suitable frame or support, to which
is connected in any suitable inanner an electro-magnet with a small battery, so as
to communicate to the sign body a slight vibration, which will cause the pendants
in the body of the letters to swing or vibrate, thereby reflecting the light in such
a manner as to cause the sign to be observed at a long distance.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood I will proceed to describe
the same more in detail by aid of the accompanying Drawings, in which,-
Figure 1 represents a front elevation.
Figure 2 represents a vertical section at the point indicated by dotted line Z.

page_text: Figure 3 represents a rear perspective view of the sign with an electro-magnet
attached.
A is the outer frame or support for the sign body B, which is preferably con-
structed of sheet metal, and has traced upon it the letters, characters, or figures of
the sign.
Each of these letters C has made through it a series of openings D of any
desired form or sign, and following the form of the letter. Within these openings
are suspended pendants E by means of small wire rings F. These pendants may
be of any form or size smaller than the openings, so as to permit them to vibrate
freely, but preferably of the same form as the openings, and concave on their front
faces.
The body C of the letters may be painted or gilded, and the pendants E may be
made of metal, or any suitable material; but it is desirable that they should have
a bright or polished surface, so as to reflect the light when vibrated. The sign
body being thus constructed is secured to the frame K, which is suspended within the
frame A by suitable pivots L, L, which permit a slight vibration to be imparted to
it by an electro-magnet P, P, which is secured to the bracket or shelf G connected to
the rear bottom portion of the frame A, as shown in Fig. 3. To this shelf G is also
secured the vertical,standard H, which is provided with a set screw R, that may
be adjusted by a milled head and check nut S, so as to regulate the distance or
vibrating movement of the sign body B and its frame K; which has secured
thereto by screws through its ends J the curved, bent, or rectangular armaturo I,
to which is secured the vertical vibrating tongue Q.
In order to better control the vibrations of the sign body B I attach to the bottom
of the frame K a flat iron bar or weight M, which gives momentum to the sign in
its vibrations; and in order to reduce the number of vibrations to about 250 per
minute I connect, spiral check springs O and O¹ with the vibrating frame K and
shelf G in such manner that the movement of the sign in one direction acts upon
the spring O, and in the opposite direction upon the spring O¹. The tension or
force of these springs are regulated by turning the thumbscrews T, T', which are
connected with the springs 0, 0¹, by small cords, which may be wound more or
less about the screws T, as desired.
N, N, represent the usual copper conducting wires connected with the electro-
magnet, and leading to a battery of usual construction.
)
I would state that although in the Drawing I have only shown the application
of an electro-magnet as a motor power for imparting the vibrations to the sign
body I contemplate other means, such as clockwork run by the aid of weights or
springs to produce the desired result.
In the construction of the sign body and pendants I contemplate several modi-
fications which will produce substantially the same effect, among which I will
mention that the sign body described as being made of sheet metal, with openings
through the body of the letters to attach the pendants, may have substituted there-
for a thick board, having cavities formed in its front surface and. the pendants
suspended therein; or the surface of the sign body may be lettered as usual, and
the pendants suspended in front of the letters at such distance as to allow them
to vibrate freely when the sign body is moved as above described.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I claim,―
1. A sign body having pendants adapted to vibrate by the movement of such
sign, substantially as herein described.
2. A vibrating sign having pendants operated by means of an electro-magnet
arranged with the frame and support for the sign to vibrate within, as and for the
purposes set forth.
3. In combination with the sign body B, pivoted to its frame A and provided

page_text: with pendants E, the curved, bent, or rectangular armature I, spiral springs O, O',
and weight M, adapted to vibrate, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Luther Blackmer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
DELAR
JAMES LUTHER BLACKMER.