Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 11th May, 1894-Accepted, 16th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
I, JAMES WILSON, of 153 Tachbrook Street, Pimlico, in the County of
Middlesex, Artist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to Improvements in Photographic Cameras, chiefly of the
kind known as magazine hand cameras, and has reference more particularly to the
construction and arrangement of magazine in which the plates are held, the object
being to provide a couvenient and compact form of camera, and one in which the
plates swing down into position successively for exposure in any given focus. My
invention further relates to means for focussing with quickness and certainty, as
well as to other features hereinafter mentioned.
According to my invention, the magazine consists of a number of light metal
frames or sheaths for holding and carrying the plates, and said frames or sheaths
are of gradually increasing length, and are hinged or jointed to a back plate in such
a manner that when in the camera they lie close together like the leaves of a book.
The camera is formed of two parts, one of which, hereinafter termed the sliding
part, fits telescopically inside the other, and carries the lens, suitable means being
provided for moving this sliding part in and out. The upper rear portion of the
camera is cut away at a suitable angle so as to form an aperture through which the
magazine is inserted, and this aperture is provided with a flap or cover which bears
against the back plate of the magazine; this back plate having an inclination,
When the
when in the camera, corresponding to that of the flap or cover.
magazine is in position, the plates are supported horizontally, the shortest frame or
sheath being at the bottom and resting at its edge upon a shelf or ledge formed in the
sliding part of the camera above the lens, the upper frames or sheaths overlapping
and projecting further and further forward by reason of their increasing length and
the inclination of the back plate. By this arrangement the frames or sheaths can
be caused, by moving the sliding part of the camera outward, to swing down or fall
successively off the shelf or ledge of the said part, and to assume a vertical position
central with the lens, the gradually increasing length of the sheaths compensating
for the inclined position of the back plate, and causing the plates to all come on the
same level.
Suitable means may be provided for holding the sheaths securely after they have
fallen into their vertical position; a convenient arrangement being a plate with a
number of spring tongues pointing rearwardly so that the plates can pass freely
over them in falling, but cannot move in the opposite direction. The plates are
further secured in position by a suitable stem or rod which can be manipulated
from the back of the camera base, to cause a hook or catch on the said stem or rod
to engage the plates and pull them into position. The stem or rod is provided with
numbers corresponding to the plates, so that it discloses the number of the plate
with which its hook is engaged, by exhibiting a corresponding number on the end
of the stem or rod. When not in use this stem or rod can be pushed back into
the base of the camera. A bell or other signal may also be provided to inform
the operator each time a plate has fallen.
To facilitate focussing, a graduated scale is provided on the upper side of the
sliding part of the camera, above which scale is secured, on the body of the camera,
a graduated index or finger. The marks of the scale show the positions of the
sliding part of the camera at which the successive sheaths will fall, each mark
corresponding to one of the sheaths. The marks on the index or finger correspond

page_text: to different focal distances so that after a plate has been allowed to fall it can be
rapidly brought to focus by bringing the corresponding mark of the scale in line
with one or other of the marks on the index or finger.
The forward movement of the lens, with the sliding part of the camera,
compensates for the increasing number of plates which have fallen, so that the same
graduation of the scale and pointer serve for all the plates.
Dated this 1st day of February 1801
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
I, JAMES WILSON, of 153 Tachbrook Street, Pimlico, in the County of
Middlesex, Artist, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My invention relates to photographic cameras, chietly of the kind known as
magazine hand cameras, and has reference more particularly to the construction
and arrangement of magazine in which the plates are held, the object being to
provide a convenient and compact form of camera, and one in which the plates can
swing down into position successively for exposure in any given focus.
My invention further relates to means for focusing with quickness and certainty,
as well as to other features hereinafter described.
And in order that my invention may be readily understood, I will describe the
same fully with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a plan of a camera constructed in accordance therewith.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same, with a portion of one side removed in order
that certain of the internal parts may be clearly seen.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the magazine, removed from the camera.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation of one of the sheaths; and
Fig. 5 shows modified means for holding the sheaths carrying the plates.
The camera is formed of two parts a and b, one of which a, hereinafter termed
the sliding part, carries the lens a¹ and fits telescopically inside the other part b.
Suitable means, such as a rack a², and pinion with button a³, are provided, for
advancing or retiring the sliding part a. The upper rear portion of the camera is
cut away at b, at a suitable angle to form an aperture through which the magazine
is inserted.
The said magazine consists of a number of light metal frames or sheaths C, in
which the plates are held on three sides by lips cx, and these frames or sheaths
are of gradually increasing length, and are pivotted in cheeks c² secured to a back
plate in such a manner that, when in the camera, they lie close together like the
leaves of a book. These frames or sheaths are provided at their upper part with
rods c, forming pivots by which they are hung from the cheeks c².
The aforesaid aperture at 61 is provided with a hinged flap or cover 62 which,
when closed, bears against the back plate c³ of the magazine, and this back plate,
when in the camera, rests on ledges 3, and has an inclination corresponding to that
of the flap or cover.
When the magazine is in position, the frames or sheaths c are supported somewhat
horizontally, in the upper part of the camera, the shortest frame or sheath being
undermost and resting, at its edge upon a shelf or ledge a arranged above the

page_text: lens a¹, and in the sliding part of the camera. The remaining or upper frames or
sheaths overlap and project further and further forward by reason both of their
increasing length and of the inclination of the back plate c³.
By this arrangement, on moving the sliding part a of the camera outward, the
frames or sheaths are caused to swing down or fall successively off the shelf or
ledge a, and to assume a vertical position central with the lens, the gradually
increasing length of the frames or sheaths compensating for the inclined position of
the back plate c³, and causing the plates c¹ to all come on the same level.
Suitable means are provided for securely holding the frames or sheaths after
they have fallen into their vertical position. The arrangement shown in the
drawings, and which is a convenient one, consists of plates d, d, fixed one to each
side of the camera base, and provided with a number of spring tongues d' pointing
rearwardly and upwardly, so that the frames or sheaths can pass freely over them
in falling, but cannot afterwards move in the opposite direction. The tongues of
one plate overlap or break joint with those of the other, so that each tongue serves
to hold a single frame or sheath, and there need only be as many tongues as there
are frames or sheaths.
The plates care further secured in position by a stem or rode which works in
guides e fixed to the camera base, and this stem or rod is drawn out from the back
of the camera to cause a hook or catch e², fixed on said stem, to engage the frames
or sheaths and so pull the said plates e¹ into position. The stem or rod is marked
with numbers corresponding to the plates, and as it can only be drawn out until its
hook or catch strikes against the last plate which has fallen, it indicates the number
of the plate with which its hook is engaged, by exhibiting a number corresponding
with that marked on the frame or sheath of the said plate. When not in use, this
stem or rod is pushed back into the camera, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, so as to
be out of the way.
A bell (or other signal) is also provided to inform the operator each time
a plate has fallen. This bell is secured inside the sliding part a of the camera, and
has a hammer, pivotted at 3, and furnished with a tail piece f³ against which the
frames or sheaths strike in falling off the ledge a', so ringing the bell.
To facilitate focusing, without manipulating the lens, a graduated scale g is
provided on the upper side of the sliding part a of the camera, and above this scale
is a graduated projection, index, or finger h, which is secured to the part 6 of the
camera. Each of the graduations on the scale g corresponds to one of the frames
or sheaths, whilst those on the index or finger represent different focal distances, so
that after a plate has been allowed to fall, it can be rapidly focused by bringing the
corresponding graduation of the scale in line with one or other of those on the index
or finger.
The forward movement of the lens with the sliding part a of the camera,
compensates for the plates coming further and further forward in the camera as they
fall, so that the same graduation of the scale and pointer serves for the whole of the
plates.
When
A pair of guides 64, are provided at the rear of the camera, into which a ground
glass plate may be inserted to permit of focusing in the ordinary way, if it be
desired to employ the camera for studio work, and for this purpose an opening b³,
normally closed by a door or shutter, is provided in the back of the camera.
not required, the ground glass may be removed and a plate substituted therefor,
and the magazine having been placed in position in the camera, the undermost
sheath is then ready to fall into its vertical position when required.
View finders and k are provided in the top and in the side of the sliding part of
the camera.
In the modification shown in Fig. 5, toothed or slotted plates m are arranged one
on each side of the part b, to retain the pivots ct of the sheaths c, instead of employing
a back plate c³. This arrangement is very convenient in some cases, as it enables a
plate to be removed, if necessary, without taking out the whole magazine. A
sliding cover may be employed with this arrangement, and adapted to slide in

page_text: grooves on, and to be retained in place when in position by a spring, or other
suitable device.
A camera such as above described is very suitable for making enlargements by
reason of the facility with which the lens may be adjusted relatively to the negative.
For copying purposes an extension box may be fitted to the camera, in the ordinary
manner, behind the opening 65.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The magazine consisting of a number of frames or sheaths of gradually
increasing length, for receiving the plates, and adapted to be supported, at a
suitable angle, in the upper rear part of the camera, and to be lowered successively
into the vertical position as the sliding part of the camera is moved forward,
substantially as described.
2. In a camera having its body formed in two parts, one sliding within the other,
providing the sliding part with a shelf or ledge for supporting the magazine, and
with a bell, or other signal, for indicating the falling of the plates into position, the
base of the other part of the camera being provided with means for retaining said
plates in their vertical position, substantially as described and shown.
3. In a camera of the kind referred to in the preceding claim, the combination
therewith of the graduated scale on the sliding part of such camera, and of the
graduated index or finger on the other part thereof, for the purpose of facilitating
focusing, without manipulating the lens, substantially as described and shown.
4. In a camera of the kind referred to in the second claim, the combination
therewith of the stem or rod e, having a catch e², and adapted to be worked from
the back of the camera and to engage the frames or sheaths and so pull them, with
their plates, into position when required, said stem or rod being numbered to
correspond with the numbers on the said frames or sheaths, substantially as described
and shown.
5. My improved photographic camera having its parts constructed, arranged, and
operating substantially as herein before described, and as shown with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
344OL Suay of May 1994.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 6, Victoria Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.