Improved Stereopticon Panorama Apparatus.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Stereopticon Panorama Apparatus.
I, CHARLES ARTHUR CHASE, of No. 176 Madison Street, Chicago, County of
Cook and State of Illinois, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My invention relates to improved stereopticon panorama apparatus adapted to
project on the inner walls of a preferably spherical building whole or partial
horizon views suitably blended.
Figures and 2 are diagrammatic general views; 3, 4 and 5, details of the
carriage; 6, a detail of the stereopticons; 7, a detail of the blender; 8, a partial
view of the entire apparatus; and 9, a view of the picture ring.
A is a building, preferably spherical, though possibly cylindrical; B the
spectators platform; C the guardway; D a canopy; E an apparatus suspended
by wires F F G lines indicating the lines of light; referring to Fig. 8, H is
the lower case which may have an aperture not here shown to admit the operator;
J, operator's platform; K, lower table; K¹, upper annular table; K, supporting
arms; and K³, stereopticons for movable effects. On the table K' is arranged a
series of carriages L mounted on trucks L' whose wheels pass under the over-
hanging upper walls of the table. M is a thumb-screw to lock each carriage ;
Ma vertical shaft with pinion M2 to engage rack M³ on the table K¹. Each
carriage is provided with a slide N resting thereon and racks N¹ to engage the
pinions N on the shaft N3 which is mounted on the slide. Each slide has on it
the stereopticons OO P is the ring in which the transparencies are placed,
having a rack R to be engaged by the pinons R¹ whereby the ring can be rotated.
S and S are are lamps supplied by suitable conductors froin the cables S
preferably laid in the table K and engaged by the brushes T on the carriages L.
U is a binding screw. W is a switch board. X is a case on the forward end of
each stereopticon containing the "blender" placed somewhat in advance of the
pictures and at the opening of the tube X¹. The blender has the slides X'
movable to and fro by the screw rods X*.
Pictures constituting a horizon view when suitably placed in a series of these
stereopticons arranged near the center of the sphere or on the axis of the cylinder,
will produce a horizon picture effect on the walls of the room. The positions of
the several stereopticons about the annular table and on the slides are varied by
means of the several adjusting screws shown. By moving the picture ring of Fig. 9
by means of rack and pinion one space a new complete picture may be projected,
since they are arranged in series of five. By manipulating the lower stereopticons
moving effects of cloud and water may be projected on the picture. If the
stereopticons are lighted by electricity, as shown, the current can be controlled
by the switch, and is supplied from the cables and a single central lamp can
be used.
The blender is used by adjusting its several plates so as to cut off the overlapping
edges of the light projected by each lantern to produce an evenly blended picture.
Otherwise a broad bright streak would be produced at the point where the
pictures overlap.
I can produce the whole or a portion of a horizon view.
Any suitable reproducing or projecting device will do in lieu of a stereopticon

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. A stereopticon apparatus for projecting the whole or a part of a horizon view
on the walls of an enclosing apartment, all substantially as shown and for the
purpose specified.
2. The combination of a polyhedral shaped apartment with a series of
stereopticons grouped near the center, a series of plates one for each stereopticon
and all forming one continuous picture, and means and devices for adjusting the
several parts so as to project the whole or a part of an horizon view on the
apartment wall, as and for the purpose described and shown.
3. The combination of a building or the like A, stereopticons O, annular
table K¹, carriages L, slides N, all as shown and for the purpose described.
4. The blender having slide X2 and controlling screw rods X³, in combination
with stereopticons OO associated side by side so as to throw slightly overlapping
pictures.
Dated this 21st day of August 1895
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.