SCIOPTICON MANUAL. 



147 



Fig. 33. 



ent disk, covered with figures in varied positions, is 

 revolved with less rapidity in the opposite direction. 



Our improvement consists in 

 having the distance of the crank 

 wheel adjustable, and in having 

 only one band doubled back to 

 run both wheels, so that the ten- 

 sion of the band can be regulated, 

 while both effect wheels are sub- 

 ject to a band of like tension. 



Four adjustable disks of figures, 

 viz. : the Fishers, the Skaters, the 

 Giant's Ladder, and the Bottle Imp, are now included 

 in this new apparatus; each, when used, being held in 

 place by a wire ring sprung into a surrounding groove. 



THE DANCING SKELETON. This effect is produced by 

 having, say six transparencies of a skeleton, in as many 

 different postures, set in a large disk, 

 as shown in Fig. 34. Giving this wheel 

 i of a revolution at a time, brings the 

 figures one by one into position to be 

 projected upon the screen, while a re- 

 volving opaque disk hides the passing 

 off of one, and the coming on of another, 

 making it appear as if the same figure 

 were keeping time to the accompanying music, by strik- 

 ing grotesque attitudes. 



The thousands who witnessed this striking feature of 

 Prof. Pepper's late American lecture tour, seemed fully 

 to enjoy the worth of their money. 



It is but fair, however, to observe that the machine is 

 complicated and cumbersome, and that it doubtless fas- 

 cinates more for its novelty than for its intrinsic value 



34. 



