IMPROVEMENTS IN KALEIDOSCOPES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Stowell Adams, of the City of Boston, in
the State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KALEIDOSCOPES."-A commu-
nication from John Collicatt. residing at Boston.
Sealed the 21st July 1874, and dated the 26th January 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Stowell Adams at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 26th January 1874.
I, JOHN STOWELL ADAMS, of the City of Boston, in the State of Mas-
sachusetts, in the United States of America, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN KALEIDOSCOPES," a
communication, to be as follows:-
In these kaleidoscopes a greater range of blended forms, shapes, colours,
and patterns is provided than is found in the ordinary kaleidoscope and
their value as an article of amusement, and also as an aid in arts of

page_text: design is proportionately greater than that of the kaleidoscope now in
general use.
The following is a brief description of my Invention:-A box or case
encloses what is usually termed clockwork machinery. At one end of
the said box a standard is erected which supports an ordinary kaleido-
scope tube. This standard is detachable both from the box and the said
tube, fitting into sockets in both. This tube is perpendicular and
arranged with the opening for the eye at its upper end. Under the
kaleidoscope tube is a rotating flat table, circular in shape.
is highly ornamented, so as to produce a pleasing view when seen
through the tube. Various discs of all shapes, colors, and designs may
be placed upon this rotating table in order to vary the views. The table
rotates by means of an arbor projecting through the said box or case
from the clockwork.
This table
The clockwork machinery is operated as usual, is wound up with a
key, is started, checked, and stopped by a regulator or brake, and is
entirely out of sight, nothing being visible but the regulator or
brake.
At a short distance from the said table and in about the centre of the
device is a hub projecting up through the box, and actuated by the 2
clockwork within. Projecting from this hub are four arms or spokes,
which support four glass chambers containing bits of colored glass,
tinsel, and the like. The said hub is placed at such a distance from the
table that the revolving chambers with each revolution around the said
hub cross the surface of the rotating table, and may be seen through the 2
kaleidoscope tube.
In order to shake or agitate the contents of the chambers (which are
placed over staples fitting loosely upon the said spokes) spiral springs
passing from the stopples to the spokes connect them together and a
dragging rod projecting from each stopple drags and falls with each 3
revolution over a little bridge placed in its path, thus shaking up the
contents of the glass chambers fitting upon the said stopples.
It will be obvious that the rotating table, the discs upon it, and at
intervals the revolving glass chambers, are all seen through the kaleido-
scope tube, automatically appearing until the clockwork runs down.
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page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said John Stowell Adams in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th July 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
STOWELL ADAMS, of the City of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts,
in the United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in
the thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said John Stowell Adams, Her
special licence that I, the said John Stowell Adams, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Stowell
Adams, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN KALEIDOSCOPES," a communication to me
from John Collicatt, a person resident at the said Boston, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Stowell Adams, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Stowell Adams, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings forming a part of this Specification:-
By means of this Invention a greater range of blended forms, shapes,
colors, etc., is provided than is found in the ordinary kaleidoscope, and
its value as an article of amusement and also as an aid in arts of design.
is proportionately greater than the kaleidoscope now in general use.

page_text: The nature of my improvement is fully described below.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure One is a side elevation of my
improved kaleidoscope with a small portion represented as broken out in
order to show the method of starting and stopping the clockwork
machinery within.

page_text: This table is ornamented with various colors and devices calculated to
delight the eye when viewed through the tube d.
The stopples t
Various colored discs, either plain or ornamental, as in Figure Four, are
placed one or more at a time upon different parts of the table m when it
is rotating, and produce pleasing effects. p is a hub and socket fitting
upon an arbor proceeding from the clockwork within the box a. Pro-
jecting from the hub are four spokes or arms 8. Fitting loosely upon
these arms & are four stopples t, which hold and carry four glass tubes or
chambers u, containing bits of colored glass, tinsel, etc.
and arms & are attached to each other by spiral springs v. A short rod w
projects from each stopple and drags upon the upper surface of the
As the stopplet and glass chamber reach the table m the rod w
strikes the bridge y, over which it rides, and when dropping upon the
other side shakes up the contents of the chamber u, so as to present a
new view each time it passes under the tube d.
box a.
Figure Three, which is a vertical section cut through the arms and
bridge y well illustrates the operation of the spring and rod was the
latter is passing over the bridge y. Of course I do not confine myself
to any particular number of glass chambers.
It will readily be seen that upon drawing out the regulator g and
catching it upon the box a the clockwork starts and causes the chambers u
to revolve and the table m to rotate.
The table m having more or less discs upon it pleases the eye until a
chamber passes over the surface, when an entirely different view is
presented, which owing to the shaking it receives as it passes over the
bridge y is never repeated. Thus an indefinite number of views
beautifully blended may be produced, all appearing automatically.
Having thus fully described the nature and operation of the Invention,
what is claimed as new is,-
First. The rotating table m actuated by ordinary clockwork machinery
and placed under the kaleidoscope tube d, constructed and arranged
substantially as described.
Second. The combination with the table m and box a of the rest c,
standard b, socket c, and tube d, arranged substantially as above specified.

page_text: Third. The arrangement with the hub p and arms 8 of the stopples t
and glass chambers u, all actuated by the clockwork machinery within
the box a as above described.
Fourth. The combination and arrangement of the stopples attached
to the arms & by the spiral springs with the rods to and bridge y, 5
substantially as herein specified.
Fifth. The arrangement of the revolving chambers u with the rotating
table m, both automatically moving as above set forth.
Sixth. The combination of the regulator attached to the box as
described, and provided with the notch g¹, with the pin or screw h, and 1
lantern wheel k, substantially as herein-before specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Stowell Adams, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of June, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
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