Improvements in the Construction of Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 31st May, 1889-Accepted, 31st Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Photographic Cameras.
I, WILLIAM SOORER, of North Street, Havant, in the County of Hampshire,
Watchmaker and Jeweller, do hereby declaro the nature of this invention to be as.
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in photographic cameras and consists of a
device for the easy adjustment of the swing back and the easy closing of the camera
with the focussing glass which is protected by the lower part of the said camera.
By means of my invention, a camera is capable of being easily fixed in position
while its rigidity and the safety of the focussing glass are thereby ensured.
In carrying my invention into practice, I make a folding and sliding base or frame
upon which is fixed the back and front of the camera carrying the bellows, this
camera being either square or conical in shape.
The central part of this base or frame which carries a support resting upon the
tripod stand, is provided either with a tongue or groove on which the outer portion
slides and which can be moved away from the lens with the back. The said tripod-
stand can be fixed in an ordinary manner or provided with a toothed circular turn-
table actuated by a pinion. To the front part of this frame is hinged another part of
sufficient width to carry the whole of the camera when closed, and provided with a
suitable clamp thereunder by means of which it is firmly fixed to the said front part,
enabling the camera to be opened or closed with facility.
This second part is of suitable length and thickness to correspond exactly when
open with the outer portion of the sliding frame which is provided at its lower
part with a groove, in which slides a metal piece. Upon this piece pivots the back of
the camera which can be thus extended and clamped in position, and can be made
to swing backward, forward and sideways. Upon the frame constituting the back of
the camera is screwed another metal piece, and the former pivots upon the metal
piece before mentioned, which slides under the frame and is clamped in position by
means of a suitable clip. The said motaltic piece carrying the back of the camera
can he made in one piece or in the case of large cameras, in two pieces connected
when the camera is open by a strip of metal, being secured in position by one or
more milled head screws.
The camera frame is also furnished with a screw for separating the sliding portions
thereof and is used for focussing after a rough adjustment by means of the above
mentioned sliding piece.
1 1000
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Photographic Cameras.
I, WILLIAM SCORER of North Street Havant in the County of Hampshire,
Watchmaker & Jeweller, 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 :-
My Invention relates to Improvements in the construction of photographic cameras
and consists of an arrangement of parts for the easy adjustment of the swing back
and the easy closing and folding of the whole camera into a sinall, compaci and
portable apparatus the focussing glass being protected by the base of the camera

page_text: when closed. The said base consists of three parts arranged in the manner herein-
after described and of a revolving disc or turn table fixed thereto.
These three principal parts are made up of a number of separate pieces of wood
& metal or other suitable material and of "convenient sizes for rendering the camera
thoroughly compact.
And in order that my Invention may be more fully understood I have shewn the
same in the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is an underside view of the base of my photographic apparatus with the
bellows partly extended. Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus fully extended,
Fig. is a side view of the apparatus closed, Fig. 4 is a front view of the same, and
Fig. 5 is a detail.
The sliding base or first part A, Fig. 1 is provided with a tongue a¹ at both sides,
and slides within a frame or second part B, accurately fitted to the base A and pro-
vided with a screw operating through the cross bar of the frame B and longi-
tudinally through the thickness of the sliding base A which can thus be moved to and
fro. This sliding base is further secured to the frame B by a cross bar of brass 6" or
other suitable metal shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and fixed within the same to the
longitudinal guiding bars. This screw is preferably placed excentrically so as to
avoid the tapped hole c into which is inserted a screw serving to clamp the said base to
an ordinary tripod stand or other means of support when the camera is required
for use.
The third part C is of such a height as to be flush with the frame B when the
base A is screwed up. The latter is joined to the part C by means of two or more
hinges fixed in such a manner as to allow both the base A and the frame B to be folded
at right angles to C, (Fig. 8). The frame C is also provided with one or more
screws e, to clamp the base A tightly thereto when the instrument is in use. This
screw works through a nut f firmly fixed to the base A and is provided with a small
stop, and a washer g, through which the screw passes, so as to prevent its being
unscrewed entirely out of its path when not in use. The screw is also furnished with
a milled head. The two parts A and C may also be united by one or more clips
placed thereunder, when a swing is required for the front of the camera, and another
for the back, but I prefer, however, making use of the above arrangement.
The base A is also provided upon its under surface with a turn table as before
mentioned which consists of a flat metal disc laid in a recess formed in the under
surface of the base A as shewn in Fig. 1 and provided with a rabbett on its outer
edge, this disc being fixed by any convenient number of screws. This rabbett fits
over that of a second and lowermost flat disc 1, likewise placed in the said recess
so as to allow it to revolve freely. This disc is toothed on its outer edge and gears
with a small pinion m, provided with a head which conceals it, in turning which the
upper portion of the camera is caused to turn on the disc in either direction
according as desired. Thus the operator is enabled to impart a steady revolving
motion to the camera when he desires to follow a moving object and hence to shift
the camera to the right or to the left without moving the legs of the tripod carrying
the latter. The head of the pinion m, Fig. 1, has a square shank, (Fig. 4) passing
through the same and is fixed in its place by means of a metal plate n arranged over
it in a similar manner to the larger disc. This shank is provented from falling out by
means of a screw fixed therein inside the frame. The toothed disc is provided with
six dovetailed keyhole slots S as shewn in Fig. 1 used as means of attachment to the
tripod stand, which is fitted with central studs 2, two to each leg, as shewn in Fig. 5.
These studs 2, which pivot on a pin 1 passed through them and vertical bars 3, planted
in each leg of the tripod, enter the above slots, being fixed therein 'by reason of
the pressure exerted by the bar to keep the two top branches of the tripod legs
apart as clearly shewn in fig. 5. These tripod legs are of ordinary construction and
well known to every photographer. The before mentioned revolving support may be
also provided with a suitable bolt or clamping screw, to prevent its turning when so
required.

page_text: The two side pieces 62, 3, of the frame B, form on the top a slotted path, with the
aid of two brass pieces o², p², this path is continued through the sides of the frame C,
and is thus made continuous when the latter frame is set up. In this path travels a
sledge D, formed of a longitudinal bar h' and two T bars j¹, fixed thereto. Upon
the bar is fixed a central screw w upon which moves a screw cap m° furnished with
a milled head and secured to the screw to by another screw, a washer being inter-
posed between the screw w and the shank of the screw cap m°.
To the outer extremity of the T bar; is fixed the upper cut out end of the plate E
secured bodily by screws to the side of the frame y, which is of ordinary con-
struction and forins the back of the camera, being provided with the focussing glass
and the usual slides carrying the plates. The outer end of the T bar j' is connected
by a screw to one end of the bar F, whose other end is slotted to allow sufficient
play to the frame y, and passes over a tapped tubular_screw
r fixed upon
the plate E, a washer being interposed between the two. Upon this screw turns
a screw cap 4 secured to the tapped screw by another screw. The bellows Tº,
which are fixed to the front of the frame g at one end, and to the front of
the camera at the other, are extended or collapsed by moving the sledges D D
to and from the frame B, and are firmly held in any suitable position by screwing tho
caps m° and 4 (Figs. 2, 3 & 4). The frame C has a leather handle V fixed thereto
by the screwed plates n° n', this handle enabling the camera to be conveniently carried
when folded. The front, which may be of any suitable form, is securely attached at
right angles to the frame C, by any suitable means.
When closed, the camera is held together by means of a small hook secured to a pin
and placed in any convenient position as shewn at Hº, fig. 3.
Having thus particularly described my invention and in what manner the saine
is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :—
1. In a photographic camera, the frames B & C in combination with the sliding
base A, the revolving disc l, actuated by the pinion m and the screw & for moving the
said sliding base A substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn.
2. In a photographic camera, the backframe y in combination with the bellows T°,
the plate E, bar F, screw cap 4, slotted path formed by the side pieces 6, of the
frame B, and the brass pieces o², p' and the sledge D for extending or collapsing the
bellows, substantially as and for the purpose described & shewn.
3. In a photographic camera, the mode of fixing the tripod legs to the underpart of
the camera, by means of the studs 2, pivoting upon pin 1, passing through a bar 3,
placed centrally in the top of a tripod leg, these studs fitting into keyhole slots S,
and being tightly secured therein by means of the bar v, substantially as and for
the purpose described and shewn.
1000
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.