IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING OPTICAL ILLUSIONS
Year: 1863

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Munro at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd August
1863.
I, JOHN MUNRO, generally known as John Munro Graham, of No. 13,
Melton Street, Euston Square, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR PRODUCING OPTICAL ILLUSIONS," to be as follows:-
My Invention has reference to that description of optical illusions in which
a human figure or other object is caused to appear to be situated in a locality
in which it really is not by the same being situated out of sight of the
spectators, and illuminated by a strong light, and its image thrown upon a
sheet of unsilvered glass (herein-after called a glass curtain) placed before the
spectators upon the platform or stage, whence such image is reflected towards
the spectators in such a manner as to produce the appearance as though the
reflected image were the figure or object in reality.
One part of my present Invention consists in providing the lens or opening
in the lantern or box from which the light, whether lime light, electric light,
or ordinary light is thrown on to the figure or object, with a series of glass
dises, slides, or mediums of different colour, or of different shades of the same
colour, which are in succession placed before the lens or opening through
which the light passes, and thus impart to the figure or object, or to any part
of the same, and consequently also to its reflected image, a corresponding
colour or hue, or a gradually deepening shade of the same colour, until the light

page_text: is entirely intercepted, by which the apparent effect of the gradual fading away
of the reflected image would be produced.
Another part of my Invention consists in covering the lens or opening with
a cap of opaque material, having an aperture or apertures of a corresponding
form to that of the figure or figures or objects to be reflected (in such cases
when the same is or are not required to make any considerable movement), so
that the light is more or less entirely confined to the surface of such figure or
figures or objects, and is prevented from being thrown on to surrounding
objects, the image of which it is not desired to have thrown upon and reflected
from the glass curtain; such opening or openings may be provided with slides
or flaps for intercepting the light at pleasure from any particular part of the
figure or object.
Another part of my Invention consists in constructing the box or lantern
containing the light with a number of lenses, either of a large or of a small
size, instead of only with one lens as heretofore, whereby I am enabled to
illuminate separately different parts of the figure or object to be reflected,
and by providing such lenses with caps, slides, or flap, I am enabled to
intercept the light from any one or more of the parts, so as to make them
appear to vanish suddenly.
Another part of my Invention consists in placing the lantern box or apparatus
containing the light upon a frame carried by wheels, rendered noiseless by
being covered with india-rubber or other suitable material, and arranged to
run in grooves in any required direction, and also attaching the lantern to its
frame by means of a pivot or universal joint, so as to enable its being readily
moved about in every direction to follow the motion of the figure or object to
be reflected.
Another part of my Invention consists in arranging a series or combination
of two or more screens, curtains, or blinds, formed of suitable black or dark
material, and made to run upon noiseless wheels, between which screens the
figure or figures or objects to be reflected is or are situated, and has or have
the light thrown upon it or them sideways, either from one end or from both
ends of the screens. The screens are provided with apertures of any suitable
form corresponding with the form of the figure or figures, which apertures
may be opened or closed in any suitable manner by means of slides or flaps,
and which on being opened allow the image of the illuminated figure or
figures, or of any part of the same, to be thrown upon the glass curtain, and
by closing any portion of the apertures by means of slides or flaps, the reflection
of a corresponding part of the figure may be intercepted, and the appearance
given as though such part had been severed from the figure. In like manner

page_text: only such an opening or openings may be formed in the screen that will allow
the image of only one or more members of the figure or figures to be thrown
on to the glass curtain, and thus give the appearance of such member existing
or moving about without the other part of the body.
.... Another part of my Invention has reference to the arrangement where a
mirror is employed for reflecting the image of the figure on to the glass curtain.
Heretofore such mirror has been made stationary and of a size corresponding
with the greatest extent of motion which the figure or figures is or are required
to have, whereby such mirror is rendered large and expensive, and may reflet
objects or figures which it is desired should not be seen. My Invention
consists in making such mirror of a size corresponding with the figures or
objects to be reflected, and hanging the same in such a manner upon a frame
running on noiseless wheels that the mirror can be moved and turned into any
required position to follow the motion of the figure, whereby also it will be
seen that by turning such mirror quickly or slowly in one direction or the
other, the reflected image may be made to move with more or less velocity
either across or up and down, the glass curtain without the. figure actually
'moving at all..
Also, either in combination with the just described arrangement, or in those
cases where the reflecting mirror is not made use of, but where the figure or
object is placed at an angle beneath the platform, floor, or stage, and where
the glass curtain is also placed at an angle with the stage to receive and reflect
the image in a proper manner, I attach hinges in such a manner to the glass
curtain that it may be more or less raised to or lowered from the vertical
position, thereby giving the reflected image the appearance of ascending and
'descending in space; and I support the glass curtain in its inclined position
by means of adjustable hinged stays, or in any other suitable manner..
Another part of my Invention, consists in placing over the reflecting mirror,
when such is made use of, a sheet of glass of any particular colour, by which
any required huc may be imparted to the figure or object reflected by it.
Another part of my Invention consists in the employment of two or more
reflecting nirrors instead of only one, so that by the repeated reflection from.
such mirrors of the figure or object before its image is thrown upon the glass-
curtain the apparent distance of such figure or object may be increased to any
required extent.
Another part of my Invention consists in so supporting the figure to be
reflected, when required to be in a slanting position, as above described, by
means of a frame running on noiseless wheels, to which it is attached in: any
-convenient manner, so that it is enabled freely to move its inembers and to

page_text: perform with its legs tho motion of walking whilst it is being carried along by
the moveable frame; and I also make suitable provision in such frame for
enabling the figure to be raised or lowered upon the same. The frame is
hidden behind a black or dark screen, placed between it and the figure, in
which screen suitable slots are made, through which the part to which the
figure is attached passes, so as to enable it to be moved up and down or back-
wards and forwards in front of the screen. And in some cases, where it is
required that the reflected image upon the glass curtain should move in an
upward or downward direction to a greater extent than obtained by the raising
or lowering of the glass curtain and the vertical motion of the figure or figures
upon the frame, I arrange such frame, as also the screen, to be capable by any
known mechanical contrivance of gradually altering the angular position of the
figure, and, if necessary, of bringing it down into a horizontal position.
Another part of my Invention consists in constructing a screen or blind of
suitable flexible black or dark material, and of any required height, the top
and bottom of such screen or blind being attached to revolving rollers carried
by a framing, round which rollers a certain quantity of the screen is wound,
as in an ordinary roller blind, so that the screen is capable of moving up and
down to any required extent. At the back of this screen I place an apparatus
of any suitable construction for raising and lowering objects, a portion or
portions of which apparatus passes or pass through small apertures made in the
screen, and carry in front of the latter suitably formed rests for carrying the
figure or groups of figures to be reflected from the glass curtain ; thus when
the figure or figures is or are moved up and down by the apparatus, the screen
or blind is made to move up and down with the same, rendering the formation
of slots in the screen unnecessary. Both the frame carrying the screen and
that carrying the figures may be made to move in any direction upon noiseless
wheels, so as to be capable not only of raising and lowering the figures, but of
moving them in any other direction.
Another part of my Invention consists in placing the glass curtain in a
vertical position on the stage, platform, or floor, and at an angle to the front
of the stage, instead of placing the same in an inclined position and parallel
with the front of the stage, as lias heretofore been done, and instead of placing
the figure to be reflected at a corresponding inclination below the stage or
platform, I place the same upon the latter in such a position at the side that
it is not seen by the spectators, by which arrangement such figure does not
require to be placed in a slanting position, and can consequently move about
in a natural manner without a reflecting mirror being requisite for that
purpose, as is the case where the figure is below the stage.
In some cases,

page_text: however, where the effect of a greater distance is required than can be attained
by the direct reflection of the figure, I also employ the reflecting mirror, either
fixed or of the construction herein-before described for effecting the double
reflection.
In some cases I place two vertical glass curtains forming an angle with
each other upon the stage or platform; so as to reflect figures or objects
situated on either side of the stage, instead of only on one side, and in some
cases I employ a third glass curtain in combination with the two above
mentioned, placed parallel with the stage or platform, and inclined so as to
reflect figures or objects from below or above.
Another part of my Invention refers to the employment of duplicate objects,
the one situated upon the stage or platform, and the other in a position whence.
its image is so reflected from the glass curtain that such reflected image and
the real duplicate upon the stage appear as one and the same object. My
improvement has for its object the ensuring the accurate corresponding position
of such two objects for producing the above described effect, and more
particularly where such objects are small and require to have the appearance
of being handed from the real person upon the stage to the reflected image of
another person. For this purpose I place the object to be reflected upon a
support or shelf, which is made black, and of a slight nature, so as not to be
perceptible in the reflection, and may be attached to the dark screen before
described, where the person to be reflected is standing, and at the exact spot
where it is requisite that the duplicate object upon the stage or platform should
be held, in order that the apparent position of the reflected object should
exactly coincide with it. I cause a thin rod or wire to be raised at the proper
time through a small hole in the platform or stage to the exact requisite height,
so that the person upon the stage may know the exact spot where to hold the
object. The person whose figure is reflected then takes the duplicate object
that is reflected, whilst the person upon the stage, by sleight of hand, causes
the real object to disappear at the same time, thereby making the illusion
perfect. And in some cases, where it is required that the reflected figure
should appear to move some material object upon the stage, I cause at the
proper time the object to be raised or moved from its position by means of
suitable supports not perceptible to the spectators, and to be moved by such
supports in the exact manner in which it is required that the reflected figure
shall appear to be moving.
In some cases, in order to avoid the difficulty of accurately placing duplicate
objects, such as a chair, table, or other support upon which either the reflected
person is required to appear to be setting, or upon which another duplicate

page_text: object is placed, I sometimes dispense with the chair, table, or other support
to be reflected, and employ in place of the same a support of such a nature
that its image is not reflected from the glass curtain. And in some cases
I cause both in the position or place where the reflected figure appears upon
the stage, and also in the position or place at the screen corresponding with
the position of the living individual upon the stage, supports to be placed in
such a manner and of such a colour and form that they shall not be perceptible
to the spectators, and shall make it appear as though either the reflected form
mado use of the individual upon the stage as a support, or that he actually laid
hold of the same in laying hold of such support, and vice versa.
In some cases where it is required that the reflected figure should appear to
pass into or behind a box or other receptacle or object, or through a window,
door, or other opening situated upon the stage, instead of employing a duplicate
object to be reflected, as has heretofore been done, I employ dark screens, of
such a form and so placed as to correspond in contour exactly with the object
upon upon the stage behind, into, or through which the figure is required to
appear to pass, so that such figure in passing behind such screen imparts the
exact required appearance to the reflected image of disappearing upon the
stage behind, into, or through the aforesaid object or aperture.