AN IMPROVED PANORAMIC PHOTOGRAPH CAMERA
Year: 1884

page_text: DE EVIFICATION,
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
PANORAMIC PHOTOGRAPH CAMERA," a communication to me from abroad by Paul
Moussard of 11 Boulevard Magenta Paris, France Captain of Engineers to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved panoramic camera for producing in
mathematically correct cylindrical perspective, the photographic image of a
panorama landscape or other view comprised within a wide angle, and consists
essentially of a camera having a semi-cylindrical dark slide or holder containing a
sensitized film bent to the same form, its radius of curvature corresponding to the
focal length of the lens which is situated concentrically therewith and is mounted
to rotate upon a vertical axis about its optical centre, so that by turning the lens
through the entire are comprised between the ends of the camera the whole of the
film may be progressively impressed with the image of the whole of the landscape
or other view which has been brought within the field of the lens.
The Invention also comprises certain arrangements for facilitating the working
of the camera and particularly one whereby the operator can ascertain exactly
what extent of the landscape is being depicted on the sensitized surface, and also
another combined therewith for measuring by a kind of audible signal, the time of
exposure required for any given parts of the landscape or other panoramic view,
according as they are of lighter or darker color or situated at a greater or less
distance.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood I will proceed to
describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings in which figure 1 is a
front elevation of the camera, figure 2 a horizontal section in the plane of the focal
axis of the lens; figure 3 is a top plan, and figure 4 is a vertical section on line CD
figure 3. Figure 5 is a vertical section of the back of the camera, figures 6 and 7
show details of the mode of mounting the lens and figures 8 and 9 show the stop
or diaphragm, figures 5 to 9 being drawn to a larger scale. The camera is of nearly
semi-cylindrical form, the front of which is closed by frames a a carrying opaque
panels bb and a central sliding frame c covered with a loose screen of opaque
fabric d which completely excludes the light from the camera except through the
lens tube g which is carried in a ring having pivots e mounted in bearings in the

page_text: top and bottom bars of the frame c, said tube being fitted at its inner end in a
flange to which are attached by hooks and eyes i j the opaque plates or wings
forming a prolongation of the lens tube. The curved back of the camera is
rebated at m to support the top p to which it is connected by bolts, hooks, or
catches no&°.
The sensitized film q is contained in a holder provided with a dark shutter r
(made of glazed cardboard for example) fitted to run in grooves at top and bottom.
The shutter r may be operated in many ways, and I do not limit myself to that
shown which is preferred on account of its simplicity and rapidity. It consists in
mounting the screen on a reel or roller a provided with guide flanges & figures 1, 2,
and 3 pivoted at the front of the camera at one side as shown. The end of
shutter r is inserted in a groove v nade in the roller, and secured in any suitable
manner, so that by turning the handle v the screen can be coiled on the roller or
uncoiled, the shutter having sufficient rigidity to travel freely in its grooves.
Figures 3, 6 and 7 show details of the method of mounting and rotating the lens.
Upon the squared upper end of the lens pivot e is keyed a bar by which the lens
is rotated by hand to bring it opposite the different points of the landscape to be
photograped.
To indicate the exact portion of the landscape which is at any time in the field
of the lens the bar a is provided with two sight vanes y, binged thereto shown in
the raised position in figures 4 and 6 and folded down in figures 3 and 7. The
operator is thus enabled to judge according to the lighting or distance of any
portion of the landscape of the length of exposure necessary for that portion.
In order to regulate the time of exposure I attach a spring to the underside of
the bar which strikes against studs disposed circularly and at equal intervals on
the top of the camera whereby a succession of audible sounds will be produced
during the rotation of the lens, which is moved so as to produce a greater or less
number of these sounds per second according to the length of exposure necessary.
The lens has such a focal length that objects at any distance may be photo-
graphed but for photographing very near objects it is focussed by means of a rack
and pinion adjustment 1, 2, whereby the lens carrying frame c to which the racks
are connected is moved to or fro.
The frame e may also be adjusted vertically in order to ruise or lower the horizon
line in the picture as desired.
As it is indispensable to the mathematically exact cylindrical perspective desired
that the dark slide and film carried by it should be truly vertical, a level 3
(preferably spherical) is attached to the camera so as to show when it is in the
desired position.
To render the exposure as nearly instantaneous as possible, I use a diaphragm
or stop having a slit of the form shown at 4 figure 8 and 5 in figure 9 carried
between the screens kk.
The camera may be provided with all the usual accessories, such as for instance
with means for uncapping the lens mechanically operated either by hand or by the
motion of the bar x.
The camera is used as follows. Supposing it to be placed in position and
perfectly horizontal the lens is first moved completely towards one side the
shutter r is drawn out and the lens uncapped whereupon the image of that portion
of the landscape which is in the field of the lens is impressed on the end portion of
the film y comprised between the screens kand by then imparting more or less
rapid continuous motion to the lens successive images of every part of the landscape
to which the lens is turned are then impressed on the film.
1004

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of 53,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
PANORAMIC PHOTOGRAPH CAMERA" (a communication to me from abroad by Paul
Moässard of Paris, France,) 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 a panoramic camera for producing in relatively correct
cylindrical perspective, the photographic imago of a panorama landscape or other
view comprised within a wide angle and at any distance. The camera is semi
cylindrical and the lens is mounted to rotate upon a vertical axis, so that by turning
it through the entire are comprised by the camera the whole of the film which is
bent to a curvature corresponding to that of the back of the camera may be
progressively impressed with the image of the landscape or other view which has
been brought within the field of the lens.
The improvements relate more particularly to the construction of the camera in
parts so hinged as to fold together for transport and to the arrangement of the
cylindrical frame which forms during the exposure the opaque back of the camera
and also to the mode of working the shutter which covers the sensitized film a
separate dark slide being dispensed with.
These improvements are illustrated in the drawings in which figure 1 is a front
view and figure 2 a plan of the camera. Figure 3 is a vertical section passing.
through the axis of the lens and perpendicular to the front of the camera. Figure 4
is a front view of the camera folded up. Figure 5 shows the dark back and
figure 6 the shutter for same. Figure 7 is a front view of the camera in which the
dark back is made in two parts and the shutters drawn out at each side. The
same letters of reference represent the same parts in all the figures. The top and
bottom plates a, b, are semi circular, and have a brass flange caround their curved
edges, and are hinged in front to a rectangular open frame d, filled by an opaque
screen of flexible material e, attached to the lens mount, and which completely
excludes the light, except through the lens. f are vertical axes pivoted in bearings,
in the top and bottom bars of frame d, said axes being connected to a brass plate g,
having a central opening h, for the lens tube. This plate is connected to the wood
front i, on which the lens tube is mounted by four screws j, having squared en'ls
which turn without advancing in the brass plate, and thus enable the distance,
between g and i to be varied, while preserving their parallelism and consequently
permitting of the horizontal adjustinent of the lens, relatively to the axis of
rotation Indexes movable with the screws should be parallel when g and i ara
parallel. At the rear of the front are hinged two wings or screens k, of thin
sheet iron, blackened; the varying space between which limits the field of the
lens. At the back of the camera at bottom is hinged a tie rod l, which when in a
vertical position is received at its upper end in a slot m, in a plate m³, fixed to the
top of the camera, and secured by a binding screw n, so as to hold, all the parts
rigidly together. When the camera is folded up as. in figure 4, the wings k, are
opened completely and folded back against the wood front i, the top is turned down
in front, and the bottom in rear of the lens carrier, and the rod l is folded against
the bottom.

page_text: The frame which during exposure, forms the semicircular back of the camera
consists of a rectangular frame o of flexible material, such as celluloid for example,
upon which is stretched an opaque caoutchouced fabric p. Grooves are made along
the edges of the top and bottom of frame a to receive the shutter q. which is made
of thin pasteboard covered with muslin and provided with a wooden end piece s
for moving it by. The ends of the frame are stiffened by metal strips the necessary
space being left at one end for the passage of the shutter and a recess at the other
end in which the end of the shutter is received, so as to completely exclude the
light. The sensitive film is placed within the frame or dark back o p and is covered
by the shutter and during transport the frame is flat but when placed in position
for exposure it is bent to a cylindrical form and placed within the flanges c of the
top and bottom a b against which flanges they are held by inclined blocks t t. The
ends of the frames are received in vertical grooves in the frame d of the camera
front the shutter passing through a slot therein. A brass clip serves to fix the
hinged portion d' of the said frame in position, it having been slightly drawn back
to admit the dark shutter. The shutter is drawn out in the ordinary way for
exposure. The operation is performed in the manner described in my provisional
specification, after which, the shutter is pushed in by slight successive movements,
made with the two hands, at top and bottom of the camera. A level is preferably
placed upon a projection of the camera bottom, at one side of the vertical rod 7.
On the other side of the centre at x, it is proposed to place a small compass, having
a graduated movable limb, by which to regulate the position of the camera.
order to further facilitate the transport of the apparatus, and reduce the size of the
films, and of the developing trays, as well as to permit of the use of lenses having
a focal length of 40 centimetres, the dark. back before described, may be divided
into two equal and exactly similar parts, each constructed and provided with a
shutter like the one before described which are carried separate and united to form
the dark back of the camera, the two parts being connected together by a series of
alternate brass tongues.
In
The frame d of the camera front, would in that case, be provided on each side
with a hinged piece d', and fastening u, to admit of drawing out the shutter. For
exposing, the two shutters would be drawn out, to right and left from the two half
frames, which are hooked together at back. The remainder of the operation would
be the same as that before described. The rod 1, may also carry a cover for the
joint between the two half frames, to exclude all light. The rotation of the lens
may be effected by clockwork, in order to ensure perfect regularity of movement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1st A folding panoramic camera in combination with a compass having a
movable graduated limb for adjusting the position of the camera as described.
2nd A panoramic camera, constructed of a semicircular top and bottoin a b,
frame d, and flexible front, axis f carrying an apertured plate, the hooks and
hinges connecting the frames, the whole as described in reference to the annexed
drawings.
3rd In a panoramic camera the means of adjusting the lens, consisting of the
screws j actuating the lens carrier i as shown and described.