IMPROVEMENTS IN TRANSPORTABLE BUILDINGS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM HENRY DUNCAN, of Coalbrookdale, in the County of Shropshire,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
TRANSPORTABLE BUILDINGS, to be as follows:-
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My Invention has for its object, the making of Halls adapted for holding a largo
number of people,-portable. These Halls 1 use chiefly for exhibiting, and for
Music, on the sands, at the Sea Side. When used for Dissolving View Exhibitions,
these Halls are to be darkened, by the means here provided.
The Halls are composed of a number of separate structures, each being carried
on its own set of wheels, so that, it can be moved about, independently of the
others. When the Hall is required to stand entire, for exhibition, the separate
structures, composing the building, are drawn in position, and connected together
to form a complete room.
This room is to be darkened, when required, in the following manner.
A set of sliding Shutters, working in grooves, over rollers, and connected
together by Rods, are to be slided over the Windows, by a shaft, fitted with
Levers.
By these means, all the Windows are closed together, and all opened together, as
may be required.
The Halls, are to be kept stationary, and strengthened to resist Wind pressure,
by Ropes or Chains, connected to the Hall, and carried to holdfasts, screwed into
the shore.
Refering to my Drawings, Fig. 1, is an elevation, part in section, Fig. 2, is a
transverse section, and Fig. 3, is a sectional Plan.
The Letters are alike in each of the Views.
A. A 1. A 2. A 3. A 4 and A5 are the Wheel Base Frame B. B 1. B2 and B3.
aro four of the wheels. C. C1 C2 and C3 are separate portions of the Hall.
Dis the Rod worked by the Link D 1. and connecting the sliding shutters D 2.
D3. and D. and E. is the Rod, connecting these shutters, on the opposite side
of the fall. F and F are the Levers, connected together by the over-head
shaft G. H and H 1 are Handles.
By moving either of the Handles H. or H 1. all the shutters are slided over the
Rollers I. I. I. I. in front of the Windows.

page_text: Having now particularly described the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner, the same is, to be carried out, I wish it to be understood, that I do not
confine myself, to exact details, but what I claim as new, are,
First These arrangements of means, of giving pleasure, and instruction on the
Sands, at the Sea Side, by the construction of Halls, raised on Wheels,
and rendered portable, and suitable for, exhibitions, and for Music, over the
Water and on the Land.
Second. The darkening of these Halls, for Dissolving View Exhibitions, by
sliding Shutters, connected together and worked simultaneously by Levers
and Rods, or worked separately.

page_text: I, WILLIAM HENRY DUNCAN, of Coalbrookdale, in the County of Shropshire,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
TRANSPORTABLE BUILDINGS, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My Invention has for its object, tho making Buildings, adapted for holding a
large number of people, portable. These Halls, or buildings, I use chiefly for
exhibitions and for Music on the sands, at the sea side; and also, on the sloping
Shores. When these buildings are used for Dissolving View Exhibitions, or
for Dissolving View Advertising, they are to be darkened, by the means here
provided.
The buildings are composed of a number of separate parts, or structures, each
structure being carried on its own set of Wheels, so that it can be moved about,
independently of the others. When the building is required to stand entire, for
use, the separate parts, composing it, are drawn, or placed in position, and connected
together, to form a complete room.
For places, where the Sea Shore is steep, and the Land slopes much, I omit the
Wheels, and make these buildings transportable, by forming them in segments,
and dowelling, or otherwise connecting, these seginents together. These separate
portions, which I call segments, I place on a slanting Frame, which forms a Base,
for the building, and this slanting frame, is made to agree with the slope of the
Shore.
The form of the building thus made, with a slanting base, fitting the steep
sloping land, suits the requirements of Dissolving View Exhibitions, for which
purpose, these buildings are chiefly intended; and the seats, placed on the basement,
give a good view of the Screen.
These Buildings, I make dark, when required, in the following manner.
A set of sliding Shutters, working in grooves, (with, or without friction rollers,)
and these shutters, connected together by rods, are to be slided over the window
openings, by a shaft, fitted with Levers, or the shutters, may be worked by Handles,
or by wheel work.
By these means, the room can quickly be made dark; and when required, the
light can readily be admitted.
These Buildings, are to be retained in position, and strengthened to resist
Wind pressure, by Ropes, or Chains, connected to the buildings, and made fast
to the Shore.
Referring to my Drawings, Fig 1. is an Elevation, of the front. Fig. 2 is an
End view in section of the transportable building, suitable for the level sands, of
the Sea Shore,
Fig. 3 is a side Elevation, and Fig. 4 is an end Elevation, of the arrangement
of transportable building; suitable for standing on, and fitting the slant of a steep
sloping shore,
Referring to fig. 1 and 2. whose Letters are alike, in each view, A. A' A' and A³
are the Wheel Base frames. B. B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 and B7 are some of the Wheels.
C. CCC are separate portions of the Building. D. is the shutter Rod, worked
by the link D¹ and Lever F, for sliding the shutters D2 D3 and D* over the
Windows. E. is the rod for connecting the shutters on the opposite side of the
building; and is worked by the Lever F and over-head shaft G. which carry
the motion across the room, from the Lever F. H. and H' are Handles, connected

page_text: to the levers F. and F. By moving either of the Handles H. or Hall the shutters
are slided over the rollers 1. I. I. in front of the Windows. F is the disc of light,
from the dissolving View Apparatus.
Referring to fig. 3. and fig 4. A, is the slanting base frame. B, is the room, or
Hall, made in pieces, and dowelled on the sloping base. C. C¹ C² C³ and C³ are
the sliding shutters, for darkening the room. These Shutters, are connected
together by the rod D, and are moved by the Handle E, or by Wheel work.
F is the disc of light, from the Dissolving View Apparatus.
Having now, particularly described, and ascertained the nature, of my said
Invention, and in what manner, the same, is to be performed, I declare, what
I claim, is,
First The construction of transportable Buildings, as before described, raised on
wheels, and built in separate portions, and made suitable for Exhibitions,
and for dissolving view advertising, and for Music.
Second. The construction of Transportable Buildings, with slanting basements,
adapted to be placed on steep sloping Shores, at the Sea Side, and either
provided with Screens, for the exhibition of Dissolving Views, or not, or
made suitable for the performance of Music.
Third The method of darkening the buildings by sliding Shutters, connected
together by rods, and worked simultaneously by Levers, or wheelwork, as
herein before described.
Dated this 4th day of October 1881