Improvements in Reflectors or Mirrors.
Year: 1889

page_text: e of Application, 27th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reflectors or Mirrors.
I, BENJAMIN WILLCOX of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this Invention, which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Charles Herschel Koyl of Easton in the State of
Pennsylvania in the United States of America.
This Invention has for its object to provide a substitute for the ordinary glass with
a silvered back and the like heretofore used as looking glasses, mirrors, or for
analogous purposes.
A reflector or mirror made according to this Invention consists of transparent
celluloid in sheet form silvered on the back, like the ordinary looking glass or mirror.
In the term "silvered" I of course include any of the usual known ways of coating
or depositing a reflecting film upon the back of a transparent sheet as now practised
in making looking glasses and the like.
The material celluloid is well known by that name and also by the name "xylonite."
An equivalent of this substance for the purposes of this Invention is what is termed
"tamodine" or amorphous celluloid which is described in the Specification of Letters
Patent No. 264,987 for the United States of America which substance is one similar
in a general way to celluloid but it is less inflammable than celluloid.
Celluloid can be prepared and rolled or otherwise formed so as to be a sheet, but
little less transparent than glass. When silvered on the back it serves well as a
reflector for any purpose. Being a tough material it will not break easily as glass does and
when thin it is very pliable and can be bent into a variety of shapes. Thus according
to this Invention there is obtained a tough flexible and pliable reflector or
"looking
glass "which can be made to assume a great variety of shapes. This new article was
devised by my foreign correspondent with a view to using it instead of a glass
reflector in the parabolic semaphore described in the specification of Letters Patent
dated June 5th 1888 No. 8228, and it is for such use that it is more particularly
intended. The smooth thin transparent sheet can have imparted to it the double
corrugated or wave surface described in the Specification of the United States Patent
No. 410,598 by passing it (before silvering it) between properly engraved or corru-
gated rolls. Unlike the glass reflector it does not require to be preliminary cast or
moulded into the parabolical shape; but in the form of a thin pliable or flexible sheet
with a silvered back it can be applied and secured to a semaphore arm or frame made
with a backing of the proper form.
The thin celluloid sheet when applied to this backing, can be fitted and made to
conform to the shape of the latter with great ease.
It furnishes an adequate reflecting
surface, and will not break by the shock to which it is subjected when the semaphore
arm is suddenly dropped as is frequently the case.
It will be understood that reflectors or mirrors made as described can be employed
in any connection where a reflecting surface or mirror is required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is
As a new article of manufacture transparent celluloid (or its equivalent as herein- -
before described) in sheet form having a silvered back as hereinbefore set forth.