An Improved Apparatus applicable for Controlling Light in Out-door Portraiture, and as an Umbrella or Sunshade.
Year: 1896

page_text: An Improved Apparatus applicable for Controlling Light in Out-door
Portraiture, and as an Umbrella or Sunshade.
WILL WATSON Black and White Portrait Artist 130 West Graham Street,
Garnethill Glasgow do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an improved apparatus applicable for controlling light
in out-door portraiture, whereby any desired effect of light & shade can be obtained
out of doors, with that perfection, which, otherwise can only be secured in a well-
lit studio. The apparatus consists of a shade, after the principal of an umbrella,
mounted on suitable supports of wood or metal, & jointed in such a manner, that
when required for use, it can be adjusted to any elevation, inclined or tilted
to any desired angle, being also provided with a rotary motion. In the various
ways of constructing the apparatus, I prefer having it made in any of the following,
viz. :-
(a.) The shade may be made circular or oblong in form, the framework of
which may be of wood or metal, made to fold or collapse.
(b.) The covering may be made of any suitable material, having a combination
of colours, i.e.-parts of the shade having seperate colours.
(.) The covering may be made of material all of one colour, with or without a
movable part or parts having different colours. I may here explain my object in
having the shade composed of different colours.
The apparatus having been suitably adjusted, it being of no consequence what
colour the outside of the shade may be, as it simply serves to throw off the strong
rays or direct sunlight, while the inside performs all the requirements of a reflector,
but in reality to reflect a shadow if I may use the term, so that if made as described
at (6), & having a rotary motion, any one of the different colours can be brought
to bear on the person or persons being photographed. The same effect being
produced if made as described at (c). It will be obvious therefore, what a range
& depth of shadow is under command with a variety of reflecting surfaces composed
of suitable colours. There are various ways in which the shade may be supported,
viz. :-
(d.) By supporting the shade on jointed rods resting on a small form of tripod,
a universal joint connecting the aforementioned rods with the inside centre of
shade.
(e.) The shade may be suspended from the outside with jointed arm & rods as
berein mentioned.
(f.) The shade may be held in suspension by a framework having more than one
direct support. I also provide adaptors, the use of which gives still greater
facility in lighting, they are made of a light framework of steel, covered with the
same material as the shade, they can be adjusted instantly to any part of the edge
or base of the shade forming an extension as it were, & while so attached, the
other extremity may be fixed at any elevation, thus serving to cut off any stray
ight where it is not wanted. I also make provision for a background to be
ttached when required. The shade as herein described, can be used for all the

page_text: ordinary purposes of an umbrella or sunshade, the small tripod may be dispensed
with in which case, the end of support is provided with a small clamp arrangement,
whereby it can be attached to the back of a chair, the side of a pleasure
boat, prambulator or other vehicle, or on anything where a hold may be obtained
for it. When required to be attached to a bicycle, a spring & socket is provided
to lessen the vibration.
An Improved Apparatus applicable for Controlling Light in Out-door
Portraiture, and as an Umbrella or Sunshade.
I, WILL WATSON, 130 West Graham Street, Garnethill, Glasgow, N.B. 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved apparatus applicable for controlling light
in out-door portraiture whereby any desired effect of light and shade can be
obtained out of doors, with that perfection, which, otherwise, can only be secured in
a well lit studio. The apparatus consists of a shade after the principle of an
umbrella, mounted on suitable supports of wood or metal, and jointed in such a
manner, that, when required for use, it can be adjusted to any elevation aud
inclined or tilted to any desired angle and it is also capable of a rotary motion. In
the various ways of constructing the apparatus, I prefer having it made in any of
the following, viz.
(a) The shade may be made circular or oblong in form, the framework of which
may be wood or metal made to fold or collapse.
(6) The covering may be made of any suitable material having a combination of
colours, i.e., parts of the shade having separate colours.
(c) The covering may be made of material all of one colour, with or without a
movable part or parts having different colours. I may here explain my object in
having the shade composed of different colours.
The apparatus having been suitably adjusted, it being of no consequence what
colour the outside of the shade may be, as it simply serves to throw off the strong
rays or direct sunlight, while the inside performs all the requirements of a reflector,
but in reality to reflect a shadow if I may use the term, so that, if made as described
at (b), and having a rotary motion, any one of the different colours can be brought
to bear on the person or persons being photographed. The same effect is produced
if made as described at (c). It will be obvious therefore, what a range and depth
of shadow is under command with a variety of reflecting surfaces composed
of suitable colours. There are various ways in which the shade may be
supported viz.:
(d) By supporting the shade on jointed rods resting ou a small form of tripod,
a universal joint connecting the aforementioned rods with the inside centre of
shade.
(e) The shade may be suspended from the outside with jointed arm and rods as
hereinmentioned.
(1) The shade may be held in suspension by a framework having more than one
direct support. I also provide adaptors, the use of which gives still greater facility
in lighting, they are made of a light framework of steel, covered with the same
material as the shade, they can be adjusted instantly to any part of the edge or
base of the shadé forming an extension as it were, and while so attached, the other

page_text: extremity may be fixed at any elevation, thus serving to cut off any stray light
where it is not wanted. I also make provision for a background to be attached
when required. The shade as herein described, can be usel for all the ordinary
purposes of an umbrella or sunshade, and the small tripod may be dispensed with
in which case the end of the support is provided with a small clamp arrangement
whereby it can be attached to the back of a chair, the side of a pleasure boat,
perambulator, or other vehicle, or on anything where a hold may be obtained for
When required to be attached to a bicycle, a spring and socket is provided to
lessen the vibration.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have
hereunto appended four explanatory sheets of drawings, which show, by way of
example, a convenient method of carrying my invention into effect or practice.
On the drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a view of 'the apparatus as adapted for out door portraiture.
Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are detail side and front views of one of the joints of the
apparatus,
Figs. 5 and 6 are side and plan views of another joint of the apparatus.
Fig. 7 shows the apparatus adapted to a perambulator.
Fig. 8 shows the apparatus adapted as a tent.
Fig. 9 shows a method of securing the apparatus as an umbrella attachment for a
biercle.
Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13 show modifications of the apparatus.
Referring to the drawings.
The device consists of a stand a with collapsible feet constructed in the same
manner as those of a collapsible music stand. Fitted telescopically in the stand a
is a tube & which is secured in the adjusted position by a pinching screw a'. Fitted
telescopically in the tube is a smaller tube c which is capable of being secured
in the adjusted position by a pinching screw . Secured to this tube e by a
joint is a bar d to which there is secured by the joint g a socket o somewhat
similar to the runner of an umbrella. Capable of being fitted into this socket
and locked by a spring catch e is a stick e which carries the umbrella or
sunshade h.
The joint g enables the umbrella to be set or adjusted to any angle so as to
serve us, a reflector for photographie purposes. The joint enables the umbrella
to be raised or lowered or held at an angle to the support a, b, c.
as
The joint which is shown at Figs. 2, 3 and 4, consists of a dise i provided with
teeth, secured to the end of the bar d. This dise is pivotted by means of a pinj
in the jaw k at the upper end of the tube c. The dise may be locked in the
adjusted position by means of a sliding block. I provided with teeth which are
capable of meshing with the teeth of the disc. This block is moved in and out so
as to lock or unlock the disc by means of a lever n, pivotted at n' which actuates
a pin m projecting from the side of the block L. The dotted lines Fig. 4 show the
block moved out so as to unlock the disc.
The joint which is shown at Figs. 5 and 6 consists of a curved and slotted
bar p which is secured by a clamping screw q to the end of the bar d, pl is the slot
in the bar p. The socket o is capable of being clamped in any position on the
slotted bar p by means of the clamping screw of which passes through the elot pl
and euters the base a' of the socket.
The screw a may be dispensed with, the curved plate p being notched on one,
or both sides or edges, at dotted lines, to admit of a spring catch which is fastened
to the end of the runner, or to the end of the stick.
When it is desired to open out the umbrella or sunshade h all that is necessary
is to pull down the stick e and lock it in the socket o by means of the spring
catch e' which passes through the hole o in the socket. By disengaging the
spring catch e the umbrella h can be collapsed. In Figs. 1, 5 and 6 the stick e is
shown as locked in the socket o.
Fig. 7 shows the device adapted to a go-cart or perambulator. The bar e is

page_text: secured in a socket on the body of the perambulator. For perambulators etc. an
adaptor may be used, which is fastened to the shade by means of hooks and eyes
or other well known means, the bottom of which is fastened to the body of the
carriage, preferably, by spring hooks, suspended from a small piece of elastic
which is fastened to the cloth around the bottom, having corresponding eyes on the
upper part of the carriage. The adaptor may take the form of curtains or
drapery, as individual taste may dictate. To protect against rain, the shade may
be supplied with a slip in the form of an over-all having the top and sides in one.
The shade may be oblong in form, if so desired.
Fig. 8 shows the device as at Fig. 1, adapted as a bathing tent. The cloths is
attached to the umbrella by means of hooks and eyes or other well known device.
i is a rope for staying the tent.
is
Fig. 9 shows the pillar and handle bar of a bicycle. r is the handle bar to
which two arms, 73, are jointed. At the junction of the arms a socket
fitted in which the bar b of the device can be fitted and secured by a pinching
screw or such like. is a spring stay.
Fig. 10 shows an arrangement wherein the shade is suspended from the bar d
by means of the joint g. The screw o' as will be seen, is entered into the top of
the stick e.
Fig. 11 shows another arrangement wherein the shade is suspended from the
bar d by means of a ball and socket joint consisting of a socket y which is screwed
into a cup ring d formed on the end of the bar d. The ball y' which has an
extension y screwed into the stick e, is held in place between the cup ring d and
the socket y. The joint can be tightened by screwing up the socket y.
Fig. 12 shows a suspended arrangement wherein the stick is made bollow and
has a bar e in it. This bar, has a ball at its upper end resting in a cup ring d.
By tightening up a screw on the bottom of the bar e the shade can be locked in
any adjusted position."
Fig. 13 shows a similar arrangement with the exception that the screw is at
the top of the bar e and the ball w at the bottom. This ball works in a socket d'
at the end of the bar d.
In Figs. 10, 11 and 13 the shade is adjusted from the outside.
Figs. 14 and 15 shew a modified form of the ball and socket joint wherein the
stick e is made solid; the ball which is attached to the bottom of the runner
resting in a socket y at the end of the bar d where a recess is formed at f wherein
a bar or lever g is brought to bear on the ball with sufficient pressure as to keep
the umbrella in a sufficiently rigid position. By this arrangement the fixing of the
umbrella is manipulated from the inside.
Fig. 15 explains the working of the ball joint more distinctly, is a small
pinion working in suitable bearings, the teeth of the said pinion acting on corre-
sponding teeth on the bar g which slides in the recess f whereby sufficient pressure
is given to the sectional plate H as to keep the ball, bearing the stick e which
carries the shade, in a sufficiently rigid position. The pin J which is fixed to the
side of the pinion gives the desired motion to the sliding bar g. When the pin J
is depressed it is caught in a notch and held by a spring at j.
Fig. 16 shows another simple form of supporting the shade. The upper stick e
and the arm d may have the ordinary plate joint or they may be simply hinged
together, having a bracket as at E. The stick e may be detachable from the arm A
being fixed in position by a screw which goes into the end of the stick, or it may
be kept in position by a spring or other simple manner, all of which keep the stick e
carrying the umbrella or sunshade in a rigid upright position. The saine principle
applies also to the horizontal arm supporting the shade from the outside, in regard
to the shade being held in a rigid perpendicular position, by a screw, the stick e
being cut away immediately underneath the runner when it is caught by the spring.
The stick being fastened to the arm by a screw, spring or plate having a bevel slot,
or other simple manner. The shade may thus be fixed or detached instantly from
- the arm.

page_text: Figs. 17, 18 and 19 show the shade having two direct supports, fitted to the
handle bar of a bicycle. As shewn, the nods A are jointed together at the top a.
M M are light metal rods provided with clips m at the ends for fastening them to
the handle bar, and are held parallel by the binding rod N. O is a stay rod.
supported from the upright bar of the machine. Part of the rod O may be in the
form of a spring, the upper part being flat and having a slot o to allow the screw o¹,
for securing it to the binding rod N, to travel. Part of the parallel rods M mav
take the form of a spring at the end nearest the handle bar, the remaining part of
their length having a slot or guide m to allow the sockets which support the
upright rods A to slide therein. The clips m may be of the ordinary metal forn,.
rubber lined or they may be of leather with metal mountings. The frame or shade
support when detached from the machine, being jointed at the ends, can be folded
nently together when not in use.
Fig. 20 shews another method of supporting the shade on a bicycle in which the
upright rod A rests in a socket or fastener provided with a clip for attaching it to
the front of the machine. The clip with fastener may have a spring to lessen the-
vibration and may also have a joint in the form as shewn in Figs. 2 and 3 to allow
the upright rod to move in the direction of the dotted lines. The upright rod
may also be fastened by a clip to either end or other part of the handle bar.
Fig. 21 is an enlarged view of the clip shewn in Fig. 19. P is the collar for
passing round the pillar of the cycle which is tightened by the thumb screw p..
R is a projection having a circular concave surface, diametrically toothed or
grooved into which is fitted a corresponding convex surface ou the upright rod A ;.
both being brought and held together by the screw r. The rod can thus be given
a back and forward motion and consequently alter the angle of the shade.
The cycle shade may also be provided with an adaptor, to further protect the
rider from the rain etc. it is fastened to the shade as herein described with reference
to Fig. 8. The dotted lines c c show it in position. The adaptor may be made of
any suitable material. If to protect from the rain, part of it may be made of a
transparent fabric, which will allow of the rider having an uninterrupted view;.
and if to protect from flies etc. the inaterial may be of such an open texture as will.
admit of an open view to the rider. The shade may be oblong in form thus giving
less resistance to the wind.
Fig. 22 shews the apparatus described with reference to Fig. 1 with the shade
set at an angle and provided with an adaptor which is secured to the shade in a
similar manner to that described in attaching the cloth to the tent Fig. 8.
It is to be understood that the construction of the device shown are merely a.
preferred form and that it, the device, can be further modified and altered without
departing from the invention.
The device can be applied not only for photographie purposes but for any
purpose where a shade, umbrella or reflector of the nature hereinbefore set forth is
applicable.
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 device for photographic purposes consisting of a shade or reflector with
adaptor the inside of which is composed of various colours, more or less of a non-
actinic quality, to give artistic effects in light and shade in out-door portraiture,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. A device consisting of a reflector, umbrella or shade such as h, jointed, by
means of an articulating joint, to a horizontal bar which latter is jointed, by means
of an articulating joint, to an upright stand or support, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
3. A device consisting of a reflector, umbrella, or shade h provided with a
stick e which is capable of being jointed to a socket o connected by means of a
joint g or its equivalent with a bar d which latter is jointed by means of a joint f

page_text: or its equivalent to a telescopic or other stand or support, substantially as herein-
before described with reference to the drawings annexed.
4. A device consisting of an umbrella or shade, with or without an adaptor for
use on cycles and the like and adjustably supported thereto, as described with
reference to Figs. 9, 17, 18, 19 and 20 of the accompanying drawings.
5. A device for use in perambulators and the like, consisting of a shade provided
with a removable waterproof overall or cover to take the place of a hood,
substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 25th day of January 1897.
JOHNSONS,
115 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.