A New or Improved Day-and-Night Sign, chiefly applicable for Shop Front and like Fascia.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Aug., 1898-Accepted, 24th Sept., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Day-and-Night Sign, chiefly applicable for Shop
Front and like Fascia.
We, SAMUEL LAWN and JOHN THOMAS HOWARTH, both of 2A, St. Mary's
Parsonage, Blackfriars Street, Manchester, Shop Front Fitters, do hereby declare
the nature of our said invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates chiefly to shop front signs, and has for its object to enable
such signs to have an ordinary appearance in the day time, i.c. appear like
ordinary gilded or other carved sunk letter signs, and at night time be capable
of illumination, with plain or colored, stationary or moving effects. Hitherto,
in attempting to obtain the same results the appearance of the sign in the day
time has been spoilt by the presence of lamps or burners on the front of the
sign or in the grooving of the letters.
In accordance with our invention, we form the letters or other matter of the
sign in a wooden; or other board in the usual way, and gild or otherwise decorate
them for producing the usual day sign effects. This board we place in a box or
casing, forming the sign fixture, and so hinge or mount the board that it is
capable of moving towards, or away from a glass front of the aforesaid casing,
and thus by lying against such front to shew through, or when moved back to
retire out of sight. Also in the said casing, we mount a transparent screen, made
of silk, or other suitable material, colored or plain, and by preference, designed
to lie in roll form and in small compass upon a spring roller.
The glazed front of the casing is printed in correspondence with the blank portions
of the sign board, hence, when the board lies against it the lettering only can be
seen, and when removed the plain unpainted parts of the glazed front shew the
forms of letters.
Within the casing we also arrange a series of gas jets, or a series of incandescent
electric glow lamps.
It will now be seen that with the gilded sign board lying against the glazed
front of the casing, it will have the ordinary gilded sign appearance, suitable for
use in the daytime, and that by moving it back, and causing the transparent screen
to unroll and come between the glazed front and the sign board, and by arrang-
ing the light to shew through the screen, we obtain a sign which is suitable for
use at night-time.
For effecting such change, we employ a rod, operating under the pull of a cord
or handle, and by the aid of pulleys and cords serving to simultaneously lower
the screen, and retire the board, and by a return movement allowing the parts to
resume their former position under the pull or action of weights or springs, or
gravity.

page_text: For curved or bent signs we may work the screen from one end and we may
otherwise operate the parts according to the make of sign.
Whilst chiefly intended for shop facia, we may apply our invention to other
facia, and for general display purposes.
Dal L
RAL L
11007
SAMUEL LAWN,
JOHN THOMAS HOWARTH.
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.
A New or Improved Day-and-Night Sign, chiefly applicable for Shop
Front and like Facia.
We, SAMUEL LAWN and JOHN THOMAS HOWARTHI, both of 2A, St. Mary's
Parsonage, Blackfriars Street, Manchester, Shop Front Fitters, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates chiefly to shop front signs, and has for its object to enable
such signs to have an ordinary appearance in the day time, i.e. appear like
ordinary gilded or other carved sunk letter signs, and at night time be capable
of illumination, with plain or coloured, stationary or moving effects. Hitherto,
in attempting to obtain the same results the appearance of the sign in the day
time has been spoilt by the presence of lamps or burners on the front of the
sign or in the grooving of the letters.
In accordance with our invention, we form the letters or other matter of the
sign in a wooden, or other board in the usual way, and gild or otherwise decorate
them for producing the usual day-sign effects. This board we place in a box or
casing, forming the sign fixture, and so hinge or mount the board that it is
capable of moving towards, or away from, a glass front of the aforesaid casing,
and thus by lying against such front to shew through, or when moved back to
retire out of sight. Also in the said casing, we mount a transparent screen, made
of silk, or other suitable material, coloured or plain, and, by preference, designed
to lie in roll form and in small compass upon a spring roller.
The glazed front of the casing is painted in correspondence with the blank portions
of the sign-board, hence, when the board lies against it the lettering only can be
seen, and when removed the plain unpainted parts of the glazed front show the
forms of letters.
Within the casing we also arrange a series of gas jets, or a series of incandescent
electric glow lamps.
It will now be seen that with the gilded sign-board lying against the glazed
front of the casing, it will have the ordinary gilded sign appearance, suitable for
use in the daytime, and that by moving it back, and causing the transparent screen
to unroll and come between the glazed front and the sign-board, and by arrang-
ing the light to shew through the screen, we obtain a sign' which is suitable for
use at night-time.
For effecting such change, we employ a rod; operating under the pull of a cord
or handle, and by the aid of pulleys and cords serving to simultaneously lower
the screen, and retire the board, and by a return movement allowing the parts to
resume the former position under the pull or action of weights, or springs, or
gravity.
:.

page_text: On the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a part front view, and Figs. 2 & 3
transverse sectional views of a shop-front sign, the position of the parts for day
use being shown on Fig. 2, and the position of the parts for night use being shown
in Fig. 3. In accordance with our invention, (A) is the casing or frame of the
sign, with sloping front to suit the line of sight. (B) is the glass front, rigidly
fixed to the casing, or hinged. Within and extending (by preference) the whole
length of the casing is the board (C), hinged at the lower edge to the back of the
casing by hinges (D). Upon, or in, such board the letters, or figures, of the sign
are formed, or carved, (see Fig. 1) which are designed to come opposite-and in
register with, the corresponding figures or letters on the glass front (B). These
letters are produced by the glass being painted or otherwise rendered opaque except
the parts which come opposite the letters in the board.
With the board (C) in the position shewn in Fig. 2, the letters or figures
therein (which are, by preference of the usual sunk and gilded form) shew through,
and form the background of the lettering on the glass, and thus give the ordinary
(gilded) sign effect for use in the day time, without any disfigurement.
At night time the sign would not be noticeable if left in the same condition. in
which it is used in the day time, hence to render the sign observable by day or
night, we cause the board (C) to retire to the rear part of the casing, as shewn in
Fig. 3, and in its place lower a transparent or semi-transparent screen (E). We
also arrange a row or series of electric lamps (F) in the upper part of the casing
which, when the board (C) is in the position shewn in Fig. 3, throw the light
down between board and screen and thus illuminate the latter and the letters in
the glass front and make them observable at night time.
To effect the throwing back of the board (C), and enable the screen (E) to be
simultaneously lowered, or vice versa, we mount the screen on a roller (G) and
mount such roller in bearings (H) immediately above the glass front (B). We
also form such roller with a toothed pinion (I), and cord race or pulley (J), with
cord (K) wrapped around the latter under the tension of the roller spring. Upon
a bearing bracket (L) we mount a toothed wheel (M) gearing with the toothed
pinion (I), as shewn in all the views.
We also employ a rod or lever (N) mounted loosely upon a fixed fulcrum (N¹)
pivoted at one end to the board (C) and at the other end adapted to take into a
notch (0) in the periphery of a disc (1) attached to, or forming part of, wheel (M).
With the board (C) in the position shewn in Fig. 2, and the desired change
being required for night use, the cord (K) (which may pass over carrier pulleys
into the shop) is pulled in the direction of arrow (*), thereby rotating roller (Ġ)
and uncoiling the screen, which same operation causes the wheel (I) to rotate
wheel (M) and with it disc (P) in the direction of arrow (**), and thereby move
the lever or rod (N) to the position shewn in Fig. 3, and retire the board (C) to
the rear of the frame, the full traverse of wheel (M) or disc (P) being about four
to one of pinion (I) in order to give the full drop of the screen.
With the parts as shewn in Fig. 3, the lamps (F) fitted in the upper part of
the sign fixture, then throw their light through the screen, which forms the back-
ground to the letters in the glass front (B) and with the screen of varying color,
pattern, or character, the night appearance of the sign is very distinctive, and
lends itself to effective advertising.
By employing lamps of different coloured glass and alternately switching them
on the effect may be still further enhanced.
When it is required to change the parts back to the position for day use, the
cord (K) is relaxed and the recoil of the spring roller (G) recoils the screen, reverses
the motion of the wheels (I), (M) and disc (P) until the notch (0) engages with
the lever or rod (N) and operating thereon moves it into the position shewn in
Fig. 2, thereby bringing board (C) behind the glass front as desired.
In signs of considerable length we may provide the gear wheels, disc, lever
and cord at both ends.
In lieu of a spring roller we may use cords and weights, or springs externally

page_text: applied, but for compactness we prefer the spring roller. To assist the board in
falling forward we may provide one or more springs upon the rear face of the
casing; and to prevent the wheel (M) overrunning the allotted distance we may
provide a bracket on the casing, and a pin on the wheel, as shewn in dotted lines
in Fig. 2.
Although chiefly for shop front signs, we may apply our invention to other
facia requiring a day-and-night effect, or to be illuminated or non-illuminated,
and in conclusion we would point out that the important advantage of our inven-
tion is the presentment of a sign having the ordinary appearance in the day time,
and capable of being illuminated at night without external evidence of mechanical
fittings. In signs not formed with inclined frontage we may provide runners or
guides to direct the screen.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our, said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: -
•
1. In signs or like facia, the use of a casing or frame fitted with moveable board,
and a light penetrating screen, adapted to alternately form the background of
lettering or other like matter, substantially as set forth.
2. In signs or like facia, the use of a hinged board carrying letters, figures or
like matter, and adapted to form the background of lettering or like matter on
a glass frame, and retire out of sight under the action of notched dise and lever,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. In signs and like facia, the use of a spring roller carrying a light penetrating
screen, adapted to form the background of lettering or like matter, in combination
with lamps for illuminating the lettering, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
4. In signs or like facia, the use of spring roller with cord and pulley, spur
pinion gearing with larger wheel, connected to notched disc, and a lever or rod
engaging with such disc, as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 8th dovt of Ironst
1800
SAMUEL LAWN.
JOHN THOMAS HOWARTH.
By J. G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.