Improvements in the Construction of Portable Photographic Cameras and Stands.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 10th July, 1894-Accepted, 8th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Portable Photographic
Cameras and Stands.
WILLIAM JAMES SPURRIER, Manufacturer and Publisher, 3 Queenswood Road,
Moseley, Birmingham, in the County of Worcester, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
To produce portable photographic cameras and stands of extreme completness,
compactness and lightness.
For this purpose the cameras are made of a series of aluminium sliding tubes,
with springs for expanding same, the sensitive surfaces or films or plates with their
Lacking pieces being stored in a box or magazine, also of aluminium, which is
provided with grippers &c. for releasing them, or in dark slides. The tubes I
preferably construct of a square or similar shape, the connecting edges of any two
tubes, being respectively turned inwards and outwards so that they over-lap each
other at their junction when drawn out, the said edges being covered by a textile
material. The expanding springs are placed at the sides of the larger tubes, to
which one end of the said springs are fixed, the other ends being attached to the
inner flange of the smaller tube or tubes. Outside at the bottom of the largest
tube, is a screw-plate, or a taper groove is made with a spring catch, for holding
the camera onto the stand. The shutter is composed of two equal sized segmental
plates perforated with the necessary apertures & mounted upon a pivot somewhat
after the manner of a pair of scissors, closed by a pair of springs & opened by
pressure being applied to the ends which project past the pivot.
The magazine consists of a box, mounted on pivots, made out of a sheet of
aluminium, cut into such a shape that the sides & ends with ears, only have to be
turned up at right-angles to at once form a box, to which there is a frame or lid
with the centre cut out, with a spring & release peg to hold in the films &c. and
into the said ears at each end, are hinged a pair of grippers. These grippers are
bent at an obtuse angle of about one hundred & sixty degrees, so that when the
magazine is swung on the pivots, two projecting points on the inside of the camera
come into contact with the inclined plains of the grippers, which are thus opened
and closed. Upon further swinging the magazine, an elongation of the frame,
catches against a peg & opens the frame. Upon the pivot connected to the
actuating thumb-piece is fixed a see-saw which drives apart the two ends of levers
extending to the front of the camera, for the purpose of setting the shutter. Upon
the other side of the magazine is fixed an arm which extends to the back of the
lens, over which is pivoted a cover, which is bent at an acute angle, so that the
arm lifts the cover.
Upon one of the magazine pivots revolvs a register dial, to indicate the number
of exposures made. The edge of the dial is serrated in such a manner that in
its movements the gripper comes in contact with a serration & turns the dial, to
exhibit the various numbers in succession. By imparting a slight movement to
the thumb-piece which is outside the camera, but connected to the magazine in
which the sensitive surfaces &c. are stored, the grippers & frame are opened and
one of the sensitive surfaces with its backing card, (which card is of smaller dimension
than the film or sensitive surface, to permit the grippers to hold the next following
one) falls into a well in the bottom of the camera, where it is held by a spring
attached to the bottom of the magazine. This same action closes the lens cover,
sets the shutter & registers the number of exposures, simultaneously by the means
described

page_text: The magazine & its component parts may be used for the purpose of delivering
other than sensitive surfaces such as films. A spirit level is placed on the top of
the magazine, under a ruby window in the camera. A series of lenses of various
foci, is mounted on a pivoted segmental plate. For the purpose of making the stand
of extreme lightness, a consummation so much desired, the whole is constructed of
sheet or wire aluminium, the head being of triangular form, the edges are flanged
downwards & inwards, for the purpose of fitting into the grooved camera fitting.
In these flanges are holes to receive the pegs on the stand legs. The legs are
either made the full length with stretcher pieces, or of crescent or angled strips
with one or more double joints in each. The said joints being formed by a headed
pivot mounted on a spring, the pivot passing through a hole some inches from the
end of each strip.
Dated this Eighth day of September 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Portable Photographic
Cameras and Stands.
WILLIAM JAMES SPURRIER, Manufacturer and Publisher, 3 Queenswood Road,
Moseley, Birmingham, in the County of Worcester, 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 portable photographic cameras for use either in the
hand or on a stand or tripod. The cameras are made of a series of tubes,
preferably of aluminium, and square or rectangular in shape, the said tubes being
extended by springs attached to their respective inner edges. The magazine for
carrying a store of the sensitive surfaces known as plates or films hereinafter
called plates is provided with fittings, being grippers and a frame for holding the
films flat for the discharge of one plate, with its smaller backing card, at a time.
These fittings are actuated either by the swinging of the magazine or the swinging
of a thumb piece only. The shutter is composed of two similarly shaped pieces
with a third piece to act as a cover. When the magazine and shutter are used in
that form, known as a box camera, the shutter is set or closed by the pressure of
levers, the said pressure being caused by the expanding action of projections fixed
in connection with the thumb piece. The stand is constructed of sheet or strip
aluminium.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents in vertical section a portable
camera, expanded, constructed and arranged according to my said invention.
Figure 2 represents, also in vertical section, the said camera closed.
a, is the main tube or frame of the camera, a 1, a 2, a 3, are further tubes sliding
into the main one. Upon each of these tubes there are flanges b, b1, 62, 63, 64, 65,
which overlap each other, and b, 63, and 65, are padded with textile material as a
further preventive against the inlet of light. c, c1, c2, and c3, are the expanding
springs jointed to their respective tubes. d. and d 1, are catches to hold the tubes
in, when closed, they are actuated by the connecting rod e, which has a knob
projecting through the camera. The same letters refer to the same parts in the
various figures. The padded flange b, is removeable for the insertion of tube a 1.
Figure 3 shows the shape or configuration of the metal blank out of which the
magazine is formed. It is turned up at right angles at f, f1, 2. Lugs or ears
are provided at g, 91, 9 2, and 93, and flanges at h, 1, for joining it together.
is the bottom and the edges j1, j2, are turned inwards some sixteenth of
an inch.
Figure 4 shows a side elevation of the magazine with fittings ready for fixing

page_text: inside a camera. K is the thumb piece which projects through a hole in the side
of the camera, is an elongation, spring or connecting bar, jointed to the
elongation or arm 13 of the frame 1. On the thumb-piece k is a peg or
projection 2 which acts upon the pegs n and n1 on the connecting bar m 2.
A spring m6 is also provided for closing the grippers m. m 1. 12 is the spring
coming to the bottom of the magazine for the purpose of holding down the exposed
plates, and being actuated by the frame 1.
Operation. Having charged the magazine with the desired number of unexposed
plates or films in the necessary possition or with their respective backing, in the
manner as shown in Figures 11, 12, 13, 14 or 20, the changing of the plates or
films is effected as follows.-Assuming that the gripper or grippers are closed, that
is, are holding the plates in the magazine, first give the thumb-piece k, a sufficient
movement backwards, to allow a plate or film to pass free of the grippers of either
form, m, m 1, m 3, in each case the action is the same, the edge of the gripper is
introduced into the recess which is formed between the plates and grips or holds
all the plates or films in the magazine and behind the one to be released. As the
changing is brought about in the same way in either of the modifications set forth,
I will describe same in reference to Figure 4. k 2 which is a part of or fixed to
the thumb-piece k, lifts the peg n on the connecting bar in 2 which opens the
grippers m, m 1, and a plate or film is released from the magazine with its non-
actinic backing, then as k, is turned forwards as far as it will go, the peg n 1, and
the spring m 6, acting through the bar m 2, upon the grippers m. and m 1, which
are thereby closed. When the grippers are closed and not before, 1 pushes open
the frame l, which also lifts the spring 12, and by giving the camera a slight tilt
the plate or film with its backing is freed to fall into the bottom of the camera,
then turn backwards the full extent of its movement, and simultaneously the
frame 1. the spring 12 are closed and the grippers are opened for the next plate or
film to be released into position for exposure in the camera. In Figures 7
and 8 thumb-piece k is attached directly to the connecting bar m 2, also in
Figures 10, 18, 19 and 20 the thumb-piece is in direct communication. In
Figures 9, 10 it is only necessary to actuate the bottom gripper m. when used with
flexable films.
Figure 5. shows a front elevation of the magazine with the frame / removed.
Figures 5A, 5B show a plan and end view of the corrugated grippers m and m 1..
Figure 4.
Figure 6. is an end elevation of the frame 1. with the top gripper m 3. attached
to the back thereof, so that the opening of the frame closes the gripper.
Figure 7. represents the plan of the grippers arranged for plates only, which
being perfectly flat do not require the addition of the frame.
Figure 8. is a vertical elevation of same. kis the thumb-piece m, m 1. the
grippers which are swung upon their bearings by the pegs acted upon by the
movement of the thumb piece k. which slides through a slot in the top of
the camera.
Figure 9 represents a further form in which I construct the bottom gripper.
k is the thumb piece acting direct onto the gripper m. The upper gripper being
similar to that shown in Figure 6 which is actuated in same manner as described
under Figure 4. when used with flexable films.
Figure 10 is a vertical elevation and vertical section upon the dotted lines A. B.
of the bottom gripper m. Figure 9. as used with flexable films, and smaller
backing cards.
Figure 11, shows the plan of arranging the films or plates with a backing card of
smaller dimensions placed thereon. O is the backing card, P. the film or plate.
A simelar and equallant result is attained with backing cards of larger
dimensions.
Figure 12. shows the plan of arrangement of the smaller backing card for the
plates as used with the grippers as set forth in Figures 7 and 8. 18 & 19 or thinner
backing cards may be used when they are larger than the plates.

page_text: Figure 13 is an end elevation of a small pack of films and cards Figure 11. when
the backing cards are of larger size. o. would be the film & p. the card.
Figure 14 is an elevation of a pack of plates arranged as shown in Figure 12.
the letters o. and p. indicating either plates or cards as the case may be. The
magazine is adapted to carry 50 films or 12 plates or other number as may be
desired.
Figure 15 represents a plan of the shutter and lens cover and other cognate
fittinge. and q 1, are two simelarly shaped plates provided with apertures for
making the exposure and to allow of passing the release peg t. is the lens cover
so bent or shaped that it works free of the release peg t. but catches over the
end 9 2 of shutter plate q. These three pieces are mounted upon a pivot s. the
said pivot being fixed into a suitable bed, plate or case, either on the camera or
lens. U is a spiral spring attached at one end near to q2. and at the other to the
bed plate or case, and w 1 is also a spiral spring, one end being attached to 93 and
the other end to the lens cover r. The release peg t. is mounted on a spring and
has a catch on one side to spring into notches in shutter blades, & is actuated by
pressure from the photographer's finger.
Figure 16 shows my shutter arranged in a case, with the front cover removed,
the ends 2, and 3 project beyond the pivot in front of the case and connected to
the plates, by short tubes one working over the other in a simelar manner to
that known for fixing the hands on a clock. The springs u and u 1 are attached
to the case at one end and their other ends to q and 1 respectively. Assuming
that the shutter plates are in their normal position, held back by the springs, by
applying pressure to their extremities q2 93 and closing same together, the said
plates are closed or set and held in there by the release peg t. The shutter 'in
either form may be set by the levers shown in Figure 17, or by the fingers of the
photographer.
Figure 17 shows the levers and the "see saw" for setting the shutter. V and V 1
are the levers pivotted at V 2 V 3, and k is the thumb piece with the "see saw,"
at k 3, k 4., the free ends of the levers being brought to bear upon the ends of the
shutter plates 9 2. 93. These levers are brought into action by twisting the
thumb piece k so that the levers are driven apart at k 3. k 4. and therefore closed
at the free ends, which exert pressure upon the shutter at q2, q3 and set the same
ready for making an exposure in the camera. The effect is equally efficient when
one lever and one shutter plate are used. The thumb-piece k is the same as used
for changing the plates.
Figure 18 represents a plan of the grippers as shown in Figures 7 and 8 the
backs of which are formed into inclined planes m 4, m 5 set at about an angle of
130° degrees and into which project pegs k 5, k 6, in connection with the thumb
piece k, by swinging the said the pegs cause the grippers m 4, m 5 to osilate in
their bearings.
Figure 19 is an elevation showing the thumbpiece k and the pegs 5 and k 6.
Figure 20, of the accompanying drawings represents partly in vertical elevation
and partly in section a further arrangement for the plates to be separated by a
gripper of the form shown in Figures 9 and 10. The plates are placed at an angle
of about 45° degrees and the bottom of the magazine upon which they are placed,
slopes downwards towards the gripper. The front plate is shown as entering into
the gripper which raises it against the framel. The plates used may be coated
at their backs with some of the known nonactinic mixtures. The form of the
magazine is modified to suit this position of the plates.
Figure 21 represents in perspective a camera stand constructed and arranged
according to my invention. W is the triangular top, 1, 2, and 3 are the
legs. At 2 and 3 is shown the reason why they are crossed, by which means
great strength is obtained. Each top end of the legs is provided with a peg
projecting outwardly, the peg of entering a hole at to 1 in the stand head,
1 at 2, and, a 2 and 3 fitting at 3 and 4, with the remaining two legs
simelarly crossed at the remaining corner of the stand head.

page_text: Figure 22 shows the plan constructing the stand head. A piece of sheet
aluminium or other metal of the shape shown is cut out, and perforated with six
holes. The three longer sides are then turned downwards and inwards at an
angle of about 45° degrees as indicated by the dotted lines and shown in
Figure 23.
Figure 23 is an end elevation of the stand head.
Figure 24 is an end elevation partly in section of the camera attachment.
c represents the bottom of the camera. W is a circular recess inclosed in which
is the outer edge of the fitment Y, which receives the stand head to. The two
portions W and Y fit freely so that the camera may be turned as on a turntable.
Y1 is a spring catch to hold the stand head into the fitment Y.
Figure 25 is an underside plan of the camera attachment. Ws is the circular
recess, is the fitment showing the taper or wedge shape of the grooves into which
the standhead fits, Y 1 is the spring catch.
Figure 26 represents the joints and stretcher. The legs are constructed of
crescent or other suitable shape strips of aluminium, and the joints z, and z 1 are
formed by pegs which are fixed into one part of the leg and passed through a hole
in the other part of each leg. 3 is the stretcher which is brought into operation
when the leg pegs have been inserted into their respective holes in the stand head.
The pegs may be fitted with springs to press the two parts of the joint in each
leg together. Each leg is double and firmly connected at the bottom as shown in
Figure 21.
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 :-.
First. In portable photographic cameras, constructing the same, of sliding tubes,
with expanding springs, and retaining catches, substantially as described and set
forth.
Secondly. In a magazine photographic camera, providing same with a magazine
baving grippers and a frame for the separate delivery of one plate or film and its
nonactinic smaller or larger backing, at a time, substantially as described and set
forth in Figures 3. 4. 5. 6 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. and 20.
Thirdly. In a magazine photographic camera in providing the magazine with
grippers acting in unison, and without a frame for delivering one plate with its
maller or larger backing at a time substantially as described and set forth in
Figures 7. 8. 18 and 19.
Fourthly. In a magazine photographic camera arranging the plates in the
magazine in such a manner, that the edges of the said plates, are placed under the.
action of the gripper, without the intervention of a separate backing piece,
substantially as described and set forth in Figure 20.
Fifthly. In a photographic camera shutter, as described and set forth in
Figures 15 and 16.
Sixthly. In a photographic camera in the means of operating the shutter as
described and set forth in Figure 17.
Seventhly. In stands or tripods for, photographic cameras, and the attachment of
same to the camera substantially as described and set forth in Fig. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.
& 26.
Dated this Ninth day of June 1894.
WILLIAM JAMES SPURRIER.