Improvements in Photographic Hand-cameras.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1895
Improvements in Photographic Hand-cameras.
I, THOMAS HENRY ALGATE, of George Lane, South, Plymouth, Photographic
Apparatus Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:―
"
This invention, which relates to photographic hand-cameras, consists in improve-
ments therein as follows. . According to this invention, the camera is provided with a
shutter which is a plate of aluminium, zinc, tin or other suitable metal and is hinged
to the inner and free end of the reflector which latter is of the usual kind and is
hinged in the camera in the usual manner. Behind the inner end of the lens is a
fixed partition having an aperture opposite the lens.
At or about mid-way in the upper edge of the shutter is an aperture extending
along the shutter to a given distance on each side of the centre.
This aperture
may conveniently be termed the exposing slot. A spiral spring attached at one end
to the reflector and at the other to the camera frame tends to keep the reflector out
of focussing position and, the shutter out of exposing position. When it is desired
to adjust the focus and make an exposure, the reflector and the shutter are simul-
taneously drawn down by pulling a cord, or the like, so as to overcome the
resistance of the spiral spring aforesaid. When lowered, the shutter passes into a
recess provided for it. When the reflector, and with it the shutter, have been
adjusted, they are set. When released for the purpose of making the exposure, the
reflector is returned by the spiral spring to its normal position carrying the shutter
with it at a speed depending on the tension of the spiral spring. In the upward
movement of the shutter it passes through a part of a circle and the exposing slot
crosses the field of the lens. The result is that the amount of light thrown upon
the film increases as the shutter ascends, the narrowest opening being at the com-
mencement of the exposure corresponding to the sky or upper portion of the picture,
and the widest at the conclusion which corresponds to the foreground or bottom of
the picture.
The reflector is fitted with a hood. If it be desired to use the camera without
employing the shutter, the latter is turned on its hinges up behind the reflector and
retained in that position by a suitable catch.
Dated this 23rd day of April 1894.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Hand-cameras.
I, THOMAS HENry Algate, of George Lane South, Plymouth, Photographic
Apparatus Maker, 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, which relates to band cameras of the reflecting type, consists in
improvements therein as follows. According to this invention the shutter, which
is a plate of aluminium, zinc, tin or other suitable metal, is hinged to the free end

page_text: as distinguished from the hinged end of the reflector which latter is of the usual
kind and is hinged in the camera in the usual manner. The camera is fitted with
The hood is not com-
a collapsable hood which can be lowered. and covered.
prised as a part of this invention. Between the lens and the exposing chamber
is fixed a partition, of sheet metal, millboard or other suitable material, having
an aperture opposite the lens.
At or about midway in the top of the shutter is an aperture extending along the
shutter to a suitable distance on each side of the centre.
This aperture may conveniently be termed the exposing slot. To the free end,
aforesaid, of the reflector is attached a pair of straps connected to a spring roller
which normally tends to keep the reflector raised out of focussing position and
the shutter out of exposing position.
When it is desired to adjust the focus and make an exposure, the reflector and
shutter are simultaneously drawn down by pulling a cord, or the like, attached to
the reflector. The spring of the roller aforesaid is thus counteracted and the
reflector and shutter descend. The latter passes below a cover provided above the
floor of the camera. By means of a spring bolt the reflector is held in the lowered
position. A focus having been obtained by moving the lens in the usual way,
the apparatus is ready for making an exposure. This is effected by releasing the
reflector from engagement with the spring restraining bolt When this is done the
reflector returns to its normal position carrying the shutter with it. The rate of
ascent depends upon the degree of tension exerted by the spring roller. In the
ascent of the shutter the exposing slot therein crosses the field of the lens and hence
the amount of light thrown upon the film or sensitive plate increases as the
shutter ascends; the narrowest opening being at the commencement of the exposure
corresponding to the sky or upper portion of the picture, and the widest at the
conclusion which corresponds to the foreground or bottom of the picture.
A further advantage is that as the operator loses sight of the image the latter
is being simultaneously thrown on to the film or sensitized plate through the
exposing slot.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings, Fig. 1 represents
a part section and part right-hand side elevation of a camera constructed and
fitted in accordance with my invention. The door at the rear, and the seusitized
plate or film are not shown. The reflector a, which is of the ordinary kind, is
shown lowered into the position which it occupies whilst the operator is focussing
prior to making an exposure. A collapsable hood b with focussing screen
is
fitted to the camera and is shown raised. When not in use the hood is lowered
in guides attached to the cover which may then be closed over the hood.
The hood is not comprised as part of this invention. The shutter c is hinged
to the lower end of the reflector. It is a plate of aluminium, zinc, tin or other
suitable metal and has an aperture c', as seen more particularly at Fig. 2, which
represents a back view of the shutter and a transverse section of the reflector u.
The aperture c' extending, as seen, for a given distance on each side of the centre
of the shutter c, is the exposing slot.
The reflector a is drawn down by the cord, gut filament, or wire d which, being
at the right-hand side of the camera, is diagrammatically indicated, in Fig. 1, by
dotted lines, but is shown more particularly in Fig. 2.
The " pull "d is carried down in a covered groove provided for it in the right-
hand wall of the camera. The reflector a, when fully lowered, is retained in that
position by the spring bolt e fitted in the left-hand wall of the camera.
This bolt
is forced, by contact with the reflector, as it descends, back towards the lens and
when the bottom of the reflector has cleared the bolt, the latter rebounds and,
engaging with a notch in the reflector, holds it and prevents it from being drawn
up by the spring roller f to which the reflector a is connected by the flexible
webs or bands a'. The roller f tends constantly to draw up the reflector.
The rate of speed at which the reflector is drawn up is capable of regulation
by means of the milled-headed ratchet f¹ by which the spiral spring of the roller

page_text: may be tightened or relaxed at will. A spring pawl ƒ³, engaging with the
ratchet holds the spring of the roller at the tension at which it is wound. The
pawl is tilted on its hinge f³ so as to free the milled head when it is
desired to relax the tension of the roller spring. Between the lens and the
exposing chamber is fixed a curved partition 9 in which is an aperture g¹. A
detached rear view of this partition is shown at Fig. 3. Over the rear face of
the partition g the reflector a works in its ascent and descent.
Exposure is made, after focussing, by drawing the spring bolt e, through the
medium of the button e' which extends in a light-tight slot to the exterior of the
left-hand side of the camera, towards the lens. The reflector a, being thus freed,
springs up and draws after it the shutter c which emerges from below the fixed
cover h the front end of which can be turned over on the hinge h¹ when desired.
In the ascent of the shutter e the exposing slot c' crosses the field of the lens and, -
accordingly, the amount of light thrown upon the film or sensitized plate through
tbe exposing slot c' increases as the shutter ascends; the narrowest opening being
at the commencement of the exposure corresponding to the sky or upper portion of
the picture. The widest opening is at the conclusion of the exposure which
corresponds to the foreground, or bottom of the picture. A further advantage is
that as the operator loses sight of the image, the latter is being simultaneously
thrown on to the sensitized surface through the exposing slot c¹ of the shutter c
following the reflector a, whereas, in one-lens reflecting cameras as hitherto con-
structed, the image is wholly lost to the sight of the operator before it is thrown on
to the sensitized surface of the plate or film.
The reflector a on being raised is prevented from rebounding by the flat spring i
which, normally projecting inwards at the top from the left-hand wall of the camera,
is forced back by the reflector in its ascent and, when the reflector has passed up
clear of it, the spring i rebounds and engages below the reflector. The spring i is
withdrawn from below the reflector, when desired, by an outward strain exerted on
the stud or button which extends to the exterior of the left-hand wall of the
camera. A buffer spring j, which may be a piece india-rubber or a spiral spring,
is fixed below the focussing screen b' and receives the impact of the reflector a at
its limit of upward travel.
Behind the reflector a is a pivotted button or clip a' for holding up the shutter c
when the latter is turned up on its hinge, which is done if it be desired to use the
camera as an ordinary camera without a shutter.
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. In a reflecting hand camera, the combination, with the reflector, as an attach-
ment thereto, by hinges or otherwise, and made to travel therewith, of a shutter
such as c with exposing slot such as c'; the reflector and shutter being so arranged
that in transit of the latter through a part of a circle across the field of the lens,
following the reflector, the rays of light pass through the said slot on to the
sensitized plate or film on which the image is being thrown simultaneously with
disappearing from the view of the operator, substantially as herein before described
with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings.
2. In a reflecting band camera, a partition such as g of sheet metal, millboard or
other suitable material, curved concentrically or approximately concentrically with
the shutter c and having an aperture such as g' opposite the lens, substantially as
described and as shown in the accompanying sheet of drawings.
3. In a reflecting hand camera, means for drawing up the combined reflector a
and the shutter c; said means consisting of a spring roller such as of variable
and adjustable tension and constantly exerting an upward strain on the reflector,
straps or bands such as a' attached at one end to the roller and at the other to the
reflector, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying
sheet of drawings.

page_text: 4. The "pull" or cord d for drawing down the combined reflector and shutter,
and the spring bolt e for holding the same in the lowered position, until released by
the operator, as hereinabove described with reference to the appended sheet of
drawings.
Dated this '20th day of February 1805
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.