Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Enlarged Copies of Photographs.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 7th June, 1892-Accepted, 20th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Enlarged Copies of
Photographs.
EDGAR CLIFTON, 108, Regent Street, London, County of Middlesex,
Photographer. I do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
An improved photographic enlarging apparatus, consisting of a baseboard of
sufficient length which may be of wood, metal, or other suitable material, and
divided into two or more sections attached to each other by means of hinges, pivots,
or other suitable contrivance so as to permit of its being easily folded. Upon the
centre division I erect a stage or frame for the purpose of carrying the condensing
lenses as generally used; in this frame in front of the condensing lens is an aperture
or recess to carry the negative to be enlarged which may be placed in without any
other fitting or preferably in the special frame or carrier hereinafter described. In
front of this again I attach a camera body of the ordinary form and of suitable
dimensions; this may be constructed either of wooden boxes sliding in each other
or may be made of wooden frames at each end attached to each other by means of a
folding bellows of leather, Indian rubber, cloth, paper, or other suitable material.
The front portion of this camera body being made to slide out upon the front
section of the baseboard when in use. Focussing may be effected by a rack and
pinion, screw, lever, slide, or any method in common use by photographers. To the
back part of the frame carrying the condenser I attach a sliding body which may
be made of metal, asbestos, millboard, or other suitable material so arranged as to
allow the posterior portion to be approached to or withdrawn from the back surface
of the condensing lens by sliding upon the rear section of the baseboard without
permitting the egress or admission of light except through an aperture in the end.
For greater security I prefer to furnish the front portion with an inner lining between
which and the outer cover the back portion is allowed to slide.
To the aperture at the back of the sliding box I attach a lamp, gas burner, or
other suitable source of light; such lamp being protected and covered by a metal
chimney or sheath, so that no light can escape except in one place, which is placed
opposite the aperture in the back of the lantern body, while the apparatus is in use;
when not in use the lamp and its chimney or sheath are to be packed inside the
sliding body of the lantern which is made of such form and dimensions as will
permit of containing it when closed; such body being fitted with suitable springs
or fastenings so as to hold the lamp and its sheath chimney or cover firmly in
position thereby preventing injury when travelling. Another part of my invention
relates to an improved frame or carrier for holding photographic plates in the
aforesaid or other photographic enlarging apparatus.
I make two frames of wood, metal, papier maché or other suitable material, having
an opening in each of the size of the plate or portion of plate from which it is desired
to enlarge. These two frames are hinged together along one edge and are
provided with a suitable clasp or fastening, so that they shut and clasp in the same
way as a book.
The inner surface of one of the frames may if desired be
faced with cloth, and the inner surface of the other is fitted with a number
of cushions, pads, or suckers of Indian rubber, leather or other elastic material,
arranged round the opening so that the photographic plate may be held firmly
in any position when laid thereon and the frames closed and clamped.
Or I may substitute a continuous strip of rubber or leather placed round the

page_text: aperture in the carrier in the place of the separate pads or suckers aforesaid. The
carrier or frame is preferably made larger than the plate for which it is designed
to allow of adjustment in a lateral or vertical direction.
Dated this Ninth day of September 1891.
Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Enlarged Copies of
Photographs.
I, EDGAR CLIFTON, of 108 Regent Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Photographer, 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 is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus in position for use.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of same.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus closed for convenience of transport.
Fig. 4 is an end view, one end of the baseboard being let down and the sliding
box removed, so as to show how the lamp and its chimney or sheath can be packed
inside for transport.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of the special carrier I may employ, same being shown
opened out, and
Fig. 6 is a transverse section of same when closed.
My invention relates to an improved photographic enlarging apparatus, consisting
in a baseboard A of sufficient length which may be of wood, metal or other suitable
material, and which is divided into two or more sections a, b, c, attached to each other
by means of hinges, pivots or other suitable contrivance, so as to permit of its being
easily folded. Upon the centre division 6 1 erect a stage or frame B for the purpose
of carrying the condensing lenses C as generally used. In this frame B, in front
of the condensing lens C, is an aperture or recess D to carry the negative or plate to
be enlarged, which may be placed in directly without any other fitting, but is prefer-
ably introduced in the special frame or carrier hereinafter described. In front of
this again I attach a camera body E of the ordinary form and of suitable dimensions;
this may be constructed either of wooden boxes sliding in each other, or (as shown)
may be made of wooden frames at each end attached to each other by means of a
folding bellows F of leather, india rubber, cloth, paper, or other suitable material.
The front portion of this camera body E being made to slide out upon the front
section c of the baseboard when in use, focussing may be effected by a rack and
pinion, screw, lever, slide or other suitable means.
To the back part of the frame B carrying the condenser C. I attach a sliding
body G which may be made of metal, asbestos millboard or other suitable material,
so arranged as to allow the posterior portion to be approached to or withdrawn from
the back surface of the condensing lens C by sliding upon the rear section a of the
baseboard A, without permitting the egress or admission of light except through an
aperture g in the end. For greater security I prefer to furnish the front portion
with an inner lining H between which and the outer cover I the back portion G is
allowed to slide. To the aperture g at the back of the sliding box GI attach a
lamp, gas burner or other suitable source of light J, such lamp being protected and
covered by a metal chimney or sheath K, so that no light can escape except at one
point, which is opposite the aperture in the back of the lantern body when the
apparatus is in use. When not in use, the lamp J and its chimney or sheath K are
to be packed inside the sliding body G of the lantern, as shown in Fig. 4, this being
made of such form and dimensions as will permit of containing it when closed, such
body being if necessary fitted with suitable springs or fastenings so as to hold the

page_text: lamp and its sheath, chimney or cover, firmly in position, thereby preventing injury
during transport. If preferred the lamp J may be fixed on a board of a size which
will fit within the body of the apparatus when closed.
Another part of my invention relates to an improved frame or carrier for holding
photographic plates in the aforesaid or other photographic enlarging apparatus.
I make two frames L, L', of wood, metal, papier maché, or other suitable
material, having an opening M, M', in each of the size of the plate or portion of
plate from which it is desired to enlarge. These two frames are hinged together along
one edge at N, and are provided with a suitable clasp or fastening, so that they
shut and hold the plate between them. The inner surface of one of the frames may
if desired be faced with cloth, and the inner surface of the other is fitted with a
number of cushions, pads or suckers O, of india rubber, leather or other elastic
material, arranged round the opening, so that the photographic plate may be held
firmly in any position when laid thereon and the frames closed and clamped. Or I
may substitute a continuous strip of rubber or leather placed round the aperture in
the carrier, in the place of the separate pads or suckers aforesaid. Instead of facing
one of the frames with cloth I may (as shown in Figs. 5 and 6), fit the inner surface
of each of such frames with cushions, pads or suckers O. The carrier or frame is
preferably made larger than the plate for which it is designed, to allow of adjustment
in a lateral or vertical direction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The construction of portable photographic enlarging apparatus so that the
body of same is capable of being closed in order to enable same to occupy a minimum
amount of space when not in use, and which closed body can receive and hold the
lamp or other source of light, such lamp being capable of being readily fixed to the
body in the position for use when required, substantially as specified.
2. The improved carrier for photographic plates for enlargements consisting in a
frame having two leaves which fold in relation to each other, and are provided
with pads or cushions to bear on the plate which is held between them, in com-
bination with means for clamping or holding the leaves together, substantially as
specified.
Dated this 3rd day of June 1892.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.