Improvements in Magic Lanterns.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 27th June, 1889-Accepted, 27th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Magic Lanterns.
I, EDWARD TUCKERMAN POTTER, of Newport, in the County of Newport, and State
of Rhode Island, United States of America, Architect, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows :-
The object of my invention is to obviate the objections to the use of magic
lantern slides heretofore employed, so that a panoramic picture or a long written or
printed article or address may be shewn on a screen by a magic lantern, without
breaks, and may without interruption in the text or picture be seen or read
continuously like a panorama or an ordinary letter or column of print.
To carry out this object, I use with a magic lantern a continuous flexible band
or strip upon which the scenes, figures, or text to be reproduced are painted or
otherwise portrayed. Any transparent or translucent and flexible substance may be
used for the band, such as paper treated in well known ways, or collodion, or other
cellulose compounds. Upon such a band I paint, or in any suitable manner apply
views of whatever kind or character may be desired. I furnish a lantern with two
or more reels or spools and wind off the band from one on to another, drawing the band
through the beam of light in proper position with reference to the lenses, to project or
reflect the views upon the screen.
By the expression "continuous strip," I mean to imply an extended strip or band
capable of being rolled or wound, upon which a series of views, or the text of an
extended article, may be depicted, this in contradistinction to a short sheet plate or
slide such as has commonly been employed.
In order to intensify, and to vary, the effect produced by a magic lantern, I also
stamp or punch out the lotters and numbers and sometimes parts of the figures and
scenes, so as to permit the light rays to pass through the perforations to the screen.
In such cases, where the scenes on the screen are produced in part or whole by the
direct rays of light, it is obvious that an opaque material may be used for the band.
The perforations forming any given character or figure may be connected or may
be a number of small perforations; I employ as a means of impelling the band a
clock mechanism or a source of power controlled by clockwork or its equivalent, so
as to keep up a steady and even motion of the band.
It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to any particular form
of magic lantern nor to any particular device or means for drawing the continuous
band through the same.
1000
E. T. POTTER.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Magic Lanterns.
I, EDWARD TUCKERMAN POTTER, of Newport, in the County of Newport, and
State of Rhode Island, United States of America, Architect, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be perforined, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Heretofore, the views to be projected on a screen by a magic lantern have been
painted, photographed, or similarly portrayed, on separate slides of glass, prepared
paper, or other translucent medium, of sizes which vary according to circumstances
and which must be successively inserted and withdrawn by an attendant. This is a

page_text: somewhat laborious operation, requiring considerable care, skill, and experience, but
the change of views by the substitution of plates produces an unpleasant effect upon
the eye which has heretofore been improved upon only by the employment of a
compound system of lenses in an instrument known as a dissolving view lantern.
The object of my invention is to. remedy this and to render the operation
continuous, so that a panoramic picture, or a long written or printed article or address
may be shewn on a screen by a magic lantern, without breaks and may without
interruption in the text or picture be seen or read continuously like a panorama or
an ordinary letter or column of print.
To carry out this object, I use with a magic lantern a continuous flexible band or
strip upon which the scenes, figures, or text to be reproduced are painted or otherwise
portrayed. Any transparent or translucent and flexible substance may be used for
the band, such as paper, treated in well known ways, or collodion or other cellulose
compounds. Upon such a band I paint, or in any suitable manner apply, views of
whatever kind or character may be desired. I furnish a lantern with two or more
reels or spools, and wind off the band from one on to another drawing the band
through the beam of light in proper position, with reference to the lenses, to project
or reflect the views upon the screen. By the expression "continuous strip," I mean
to imply an extended strip or band, capable of being rolled or wound, upon which a
series of views or the text of an extended article may be depicted, this in contra-
distinction to a short sheet, plate, or slide, such as has commonly been employed.
In order to intensify and to vary the effect produced by a magic lantern, I also stamp
or punch out the letters and numbers and sometimes parts of the figures and scenes
so as to permit the light rays to pass through the perforations to the screen. In
such cases, where the scenes on the screen are produced in part or whole by the direct
rays of light, it is obvious that an opaque material may be used for the band. The
perforations formning any given character or figure may be connected or may be a
number of small perforations, as bereinafter described. I employ as a means of
impelling the band a clock mechanism or a source of power controlled by the clock
work or its equivalent so as to keep up a steady and even motion of the band.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
Specification, in which figure 1 is a perspective view of the entire apparatus, with
my improvement applied; and figure 2 is a section of the flexible band, exhibiting
the perforated letters.
It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to any particular form
of magic lantern, nor to any particular device or means for drawing the continuous
band through the same. So therefore, in illustrating the nature of the invention 1
have selected a typical and convenient form of instrument which embodies the
principle and mode of operation merely of the improvement.
Let A represent the case of an ordinary magic lantern B is the lens tube and
Ca plate to which it is secured and between which and the case A is a passage way
through which the band D is drawn in either a vertical or horizontal direction.
For convenience, the box or case A is provided with the legs E and under the box
is mounted a reel or spool F. The shaft of this spool is provided with means for
turning it. This may be an ordinary handle, but I prefer to use some form of motor,
such as a train of clock work, one member or gear of which G is shewn as
supported in the frame H. The train gears with the shaft or with the wheel G.
A spool or reel K is mounted in bearings above the case A. This spool carries the
hand which is drawn off and reeled on to the lower spool F by the rotation of the
latter.
In figure 2 a section of the band is shewn, in which the letters are made by lines
of perforations. In a similar manner, parts of any view or picture may be cut away
to permit the passage of the rays of light through the paper. The particular manner
of making these perforations is immaterial.
The band, which as I have stated above may be of paper treated with.any of the
many well known substances for rendering it transparent or translucent, is prepared
or printed with the scenes or pictures or text so that the movement of the band will.

page_text: bring the same to view in proper order or succession. When a long article or
address is to be shewn, it will be advisable to print or prepare it in lines running
across the band so that it may be presented by a vertical movement of the band. In
this manner I may exhibit panoramas, addresses, operatic or dramatic scores, sermons,
and the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;
1. As a new article of manufacture, a magic lantern slide consisting of a con-
tinuous flexible strip or band of transparent or translucent material having views,
figures, or text, portrayed thereon.
2. A continuous flexible band or strip, for magic lanterns, having figures or text
formed by perforations through the band or strip, as set forth.
3. The combination, with a magic lantern, of reels or spools carrying a continuous
band or strip of flexible transparent or translucent material upon which the views or
figures are portrayed, and a motor for drawing the band through the lantern from
one wheel to the other as set forth.
Lalcu THIS TE
01 June 2009.
E. T. POTTER.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.