IMPROVEMENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Edwards, of 6, The Grove, Hackney, in
the County of Middlesex, Photographer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS."
Scaled the 9th November 1877, and dated the 15th May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph Edwards
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th May 1877.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH EDWARDS, of 6, The Grove, Hackney, in the County of
Middlesex, Photographer. IMPROVEMENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS."
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus used for copying or repro-
ducing by means of photography pictures, drawings, photographs, or designs. It is
especially intended to facilitate the production and ensure the accuracy of such
copies or reproductions, whether they are required enlarged or reduced in size, or of
the same dimensions as the originals.
This apparatus consists of a board or frame, of convenient length and width,
arranged to carry or support another frame or board sliding upon, or under and
parallel to the same, this sliding board being worked by an extending screw fixed
to the other or principal frame, and worked by a handle, the nut of the screw being
fixed to the sliding board or frame which carries an upright piece, frame, or board
to which is affixed the picture or drawing to be copied.
When the picture to be copied consists of a transparent positive or negative
photograph, I use a reflector of white paper, glass, or other suitable material, placed
at an angle a few inches behind the transparent picture, and I also use an adjustable
hood or shade, to cut off all light from between the transparency and lens of the
camera.
The camera may be a separate instrument, or the necessary parts thereof may be
attached or fitted to the principal frame, but not so as to interfere with the working
of the screw or the sliding frame which carries the object to be copied, and which

page_text: object is brought into the focus of the lens and adjusted by means of the screw
before described.
The upright frame, or board carrying the drawing to be copied, is made to slide
both vertically and horizontally at right angles to the sliding frame in order that it
may easily be adjusted to the proper position.
In order to allow a large amount of light from the sky to fall upon the picture
to be copied, or upon the reflector, I raise one end of the apparatus and support it
by a foot or strut at a suitable angle; by this means I considerably reduce or
shorten the time of exposure necessary to produce the photographic impression.
By means of the apparatus above described, and especially by means of the screw
which adjusts the position or focus of the object to be copied, great facility and
accuracy with economy is obtained in the photographic reproduction or enlargement
of drawings, photographs, or designs.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Benjamin Joseph Edwards in the Great Scal Patent Office on the
15th November 1877.
BENJAMIN JOSEPII EDWARDS, of 6, The Grove, Hackney, in the County of
Middlesex, Photographer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS."
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus used for copying or repro-
ducing, by means of photography, pictures, drawings, photographs, or designs. It is
especially intended to facilitate the production and ensure the accuracy of such
copies or reproductions, whether they are required enlarged or reduced in size, or of
the same dimensions as the originals.
This apparatus consists of a board or frame, of convenient length and width,
arranged to carry or support another frame or board sliding upon or under, and
parallel to the same, this sliding board being worked by an extending screw fixed
to the other or principal frame, and worked by a handle, the nut of the screw being
fixed to the sliding board or frame which carries an upright piece, frame, or board
to which is affixed the picture or drawing to be copied.
When the picture to be copied consists of a transparent positive or negative
photograph, I use a reflector of white paper, glass, or other suitable material, placed
at an angle a few inches behind the transparent picture, and I also use an adjustable
hood or shade to cut off all light from between the transparency and lens of the
camera.
The camera may be a seperate instrument, or the necessary parts thereof may be
attached or fitted to the principal frame, but not so as to interfere with the working
of the screw or the sliding frame which carries the object to be copied, and which
object is brought into the focus of the lens, and adjustable by means of the screw
before described.
The upright frame or board carrying the drawing to be copied is made to slide
both vertically and horizontally, at right angles to the sliding frame, in order that
it may easily be adjusted to the proper position.
In order to allow a large amount of light from the sky to fall upon the picture to
be copied, or upon the reflector, 1 raise one end of the apparatus and support it by
a foot or strut at a suitable angle; by this means I considerably reduce or shorten
the time of exposure necessary to produce the photographic impression..

page_text: By means of the apparatus above described, and especially by means of the screw
which adjusts the position or focus of the object to be copied, great facility and
accuracy with economy is obtained in the photographic reproduction or enlargement
of drawings, photographs, or designs.
And in order to explain this Invention more fully I will now proceed to describe
the means whereby it may be put into practical effect, reference being had to the
illustrative Sheet of Drawing accompanying these Presents, and to the numeral
figures and letters of reference marked thercon respectively as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 shows a side view of an apparatus for copying or reproducing by means
of photography pictures, drawings, photographs, or designs specially intended to
facilitate the production and ensure the accuracy of such copies or reproduction,
whether they are required enlarged or reduced in size, or of the same dimensions as
the originals.
A is a base board or frame of convenient length and width, arranged to carry
a movable frame or board B sliding upon or under and parallel to frame A.
This sliding board is moved by means of an extending screw S fixed to the
frame A, and worked by a handle H. The end of the said screw is fixed to
the board B, which carries an adjustable upright frame or board E, on which
is affixed the picture or drawing to be copied.
When the picture cousists of a transparent positive or negative photograph I
replace the board E by the sliding frame or frames I which carry the trans-
parency, and I make use of a reflector R of white paper, glass, or other suitable
material, placed at an angle a few inches behind the transparent picture, and I
also employ an adjustable hood or shade D to cut off all the light between the
transparency and the lens of the camera C. The camera is attached to the baso
board A by means of the clamps g, which slide in grooves, so that the said camera
may be drawn out to the required length when it is kept in position by means of
the screws attached to the clamps g, the whole being arranged not to interfere with
the working of the screw S on the sliding frame E, which carries the object to be
copied, and which is brought into the focus of the lens by means of the adjusting
screw S.
The frame is made to slide vertically and parallel to the sliding frame E, which
is also made to slide across the board or frame B, in order that the object to be
copied may be easily adjusted to the proper position.
In order to allow a strong light to fall upon the picture to be copied, or upon tho
reflector R, I raise one end of the above described apparatus by means of a support F
so as to place it at a suitable angle. By this means I considerably reduce the time
of exposure necessary to produce the photographic impression.
When it is desired to make reversed negatives, as used for various photo-
mechanical printing, I make use of an apparatus similar to the one above described,
but arranged as shown at Figure 2. In this case the sliding board E carrying the
drawing is made to move vertically by means of the screw S worked from the side
by mitre wheels or other suitable mechanical arrangements, and I make use of a
reversing prism or mirror M, the camera C being at right angle to the drawing.
By the use of the apparatus above described, and especially of the screw S, which
adjust the position or focus of the object to be copied, greater facility, accuracy, and
economy are obtained than heretofore.
Having now described and set forth the nature and object of this Invention for
"Improvements in Photographic Apparatus," and the means whereby it may be
effected, I would remark in conclusion that what I claim as my Invention and
desire to secure by the herein in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. A bed or frame capable of being placed at an angle, on which is made to
slide (by means of a screw) a movable upright frame, which carries the object to be
copied, and having at the back a reflector; the above parts being, in combination

page_text: with a camera, furnished with a hood or shade to cut off all light between the
transparency and the lens of the said camera for the purpose set forth, substantially
as described and represented in Figure 1.
Secondly. The movable frame, sliding vertically, and adjusted by means of a
screw in combination with a camera and lens fitted with a reversing prism or
mirrow, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described and represented in
Figure 2.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Edwards, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
B. J. EDWARDS. (L.S.)