A New or Improved Appliance for Holding Photographic Prints whilst they are being Trimmed.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1897.
Complete Specification Left, 28th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 26th Feb.,
1898
A New or Improved Appliance for Holding Photographic Prints
whilst they are being Trimmed.
I, ALBERT EDWARD HANCOCK, of 105, Finch Road, Handsworth, in the County
of Stafford, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention consists of the herein described new or improved appliance for
holding photographic prints whilst they are being trimmed.
At the present time when trimming photographic prints to a required size it is
customary to lay the photographic print upon a flat surface and to hold the print
by the pressure of the operator's fingers on a glass plate or template of the same
size and shape as that to which the photographic print is to be trimmed and then
to cut round this glass plate with a knife. It is rather difficult to cut round all
four sides of the glass template without moving the same and when many photo-
graphs have to be cut it is very tiring to the hand of the person pressing upon the
glass plate.
The object of my invention is to provide an appliance which will effectually hold
and press the glass template and photographic print upon the table or cutting
board and prevent the glass template moving relatively to the print and also allow
of the template and table and print being turned round to bring all four sides of
the print in position for trimming. Thus by my invention the trimming of photo-
graphic prints is simplified and a person is enabled to trim a larger number in a
given time than is possible when my improved appliance is not used.
In carrying out my invention I provide a suitable table which is somewhat larger
than the photographic print which is to be trimmed. This table is carried by a central
pin underneath or is otherwise carried so that it can be turned about its centre.
The said table has a smooth top surface and may be made of metal or wood or may
Above the
have a glass plate let into it for cutting on or be otherwise constructed.
said table I provide a platten or pressure plate which is somewhat smaller than is
the glass template to be used. The underside of this platten or pressure plate is by
preference covered with indiarubber to bear upon the glass template and prevent
the same from slipping. The said platten or pressure plate has a central upwardly
projecting stem immediately over the centre on which the table turns, this stem
being supported by a vertical bearing in a suitable frame or stand the base of which
also carries the base of the said table. provide suitable means for pressing down
the pressure plate on to the glass template such for instance as a coiled wire spring
contained in the bearing in which the stem moves and acts between a cap or collar
on the bearing and the collar on the stem and thus tends to force the platten or
pressure plate against the table. I also provide suitable means for acting upon
the stem of the pressure plate or platten to lift the same off the glass plate when
required. What prefer to provide is a forked lever which embraces and is jointed
to the top of the stem by a cross pin the said lever being shaped as a cam to bear
against the top of the bearing so that when the lever is turned in one direction the

page_text: cam portions of the lever act upon the top of the bearing and lift the spindle and
platten or pressure plate and when the lever is turned in the other direction the
shape of the cam portions of the lever allow the spring to act upon the pressure
plate and force the same towards the table.
In using the appliance above described the platten or pressure plate has first to
be raised a short distance from the table which is done by turning down the said
cam lever. The untrimmed photograph with the glass template upon it are then
placed in position on the table underneath the platten or pressure plate which latter
is then caused to descend on to the glass plate or template by raising the cam lever
so that the spring acts upon it. The untrimmed photographic print will now be
held firmly on the table by the glass template which is pressed by the platten or
pressure plate and will not be liable to move. The edges of the photographic
print which project beyond the glass template are now trimmed off
by a knife in the usual way the table with the photographic print and
the glass template and the pressure plate or platten pressing upon it being turned
round as may be required to bring the sides of the photograph in position to be
trimmed.
In a modification of my invention the table is provided with means for pressing
the glass template against the platten or pressure plate instead of the latter being
made to be pressed against the table as in the arrangement above described.
Dated this 23rd dox of Mona 1907.
A New or Improved Appliance for Holding Photographic Prints
whilst they are being Trimmed.
I, ALBERT EDWARD HANCOCK, of 105, Finch Road, Handsworth, in the County
of Stafford, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention consists of the herein described new or improved appliance for
holding photographic prints whilst they are being trimmed.
At the present time when trimming photographic prints to a required size it is
customary to lay the photographic print upon a flat surface and to hold the print
by the pressure of the operator's fingers on a glass plate or template of the same
size and shape as that to which the photographic print is to be trimmed and then
to cut round this glass plate with a knife. It is rather difficult to cut round all
four sides of the glass template without moving the same and when many photo-
graphs have to be cut it is very tiring to the hand of the person pressing upon the
glass plate.
The object of my invention is to provide an appliance which will effectually hold
and press the glass template and photographic print upon the table or cutting
board and prevent the glass template moving relatively to the print and also allow
of the template and table and print being turned round to bring all four sides of
the print in position for trimming. Thus by my invention the trimming of photo-
graphic prints is simplified and a person is enabled to trim a larger number in a
given time than is possible when my improved appliance is not used.
I will describe my invention by referring to the accompanying drawing on which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan of the same and Fig. 3

page_text: is a side elevation partly in section of the same, and Fig. 4 shews an alternative
form of bearing for the table of the same.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
In carrying out my invention I provide a table A which is by preference of
circular form as shewn or it may be of any other shape and is
somewhat larger than the largest photographic print which is, to be
trimmed by the appliance. This table A is provided with a central vertical
pin a¹ underneath which fits and turns in a hole in the boss of the base B of the
appliance so that the table A can revolve about this pin a', or the table A may be
otherwise suitably arranged so that it will revolve about its centre. The table A
has a smooth top surface and may be made of metal or wood of may have a glass
plate let into it for cutting on or be otherwise constructed. Above the table A I
provide a platten or pressure plate C which is also by preference of circular form
and is somewhat smaller than the smallest size glass template E which is to be
used. The underside c¹ of this platten or pressure plate Cis by preference covered
with leather or with indiarubber to bear upon the glass template D) and prevent
the same from slipping. The platten or pressure plate C can turn freely on the
upwardly projecting stem or spindle E which is immediately over the centre of the
pin a¹ on which the table A turns this stem A being supported in a vertical
bearing 62 in the arm or stand 63 which is formed with the base B. I provide suit-
able means for bringing down the pressure plate C on to the glass template D such
for instance as the coiled wire spring F contained in the bearing 62 in which the
stem E moves and which spring acts between a cap or collar G fixed in the top of
the bearing and the enlarged collar part el of the stem E and thus tends to force
the platten or pressure plate C against the table A. I also provide suitable means
for acting upon the stem E of the pressure plate or platten to lift the same off the
template D when required. What I prefer to provide is a lever H which embraces
and is jointed to the top of the stem E by the cross pin the said lever being
shaped as a cam at 72 so as to bear against the top of the bearing b² so that the lever H
is turned in the direction shewn in Fig. 3 the cam portions 2 of the lever H act
upon the top of the bearing 62 and lift the spindle E and platten or pressure plate C
and when the lever H is turned in the other direction as represented in Figs. 1
and 2 the shape of the cam portions 2 of the lever H allow the spring F to act upon
the pressure plate C and force the same down towards the table A. The pressure
plate C is free to turn about the spindle E and is connected thereto by the pegs ¹²
which engage in the groove & turned in the lower part of the spindle E.
In using the appliance above described the platten or pressure plate C has first
to be raised a short distance from the table A as shewn which is done by turning
the cam lever up as represented in Fig. 3. The untrimmed photographic print J
with the glass template 1) upon it are then placed in position on the table A as
shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 underneath the platten or pressure plate C which latter is
then, by turning the lever H to the position shewn in Fig. 1, caused to descend on
to the glass template D. The untrimmed photographic print J will now be held
firmly on the table A by the glass template D which is pressed down by the platten
or pressure plate C and will not be liable to move. The edges of the photographic
print J which project beyond the glass template D can now be trimmed off by a
knife in the usual way the table Å with the photographic print J and the glass
template D and the pressure plate or platten C pressing upon it being turned round
as may be required to bring the sides of the photographic print J in position to be
trimmed. The glass plate D and the trimmed photographic print are free to be
removed as soon as the platten or pressure plate C has been raised by turning up
the lever H to the position shewn in Fig 3.
In order to reduce friction the table A may be arranged to turn on a ball bearing
the balls K being introduced in a ball race turned in the top of the boss b¹ (Fig. 4)
so that the boss a² of the table will rest and turn on the balls. In order to prevent
the table rising and the balls getting out of place the stem a² may have a groove a³
turned in it with which a peg L in the boss b¹ engages.
ว

page_text: 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:
1. In an appliance for holding photographic prints whilst they are being trimmed,
the combination of a stand, a rotative flat table carried thereby on which the print
and template can be laid, a platten or pressure plate carried by a vertical spindle
above said table and adapted to revolve with it and means for pressing said platten
or pressure plate on to the template on the table and for lifting the platten or
pressure plate off the template, all substantially as set forth.
2. In an appliance for holding photographic prints, whilst they are being trimmed,
the combination of the stand, the rotative flat table A carried thereby and adapted
to revolve, the platten or pressure plate C arranged to revolve with the table and
carried by the vertical spindle E adapted to move up and down in the frame, the
spring Farranged to press the spindle E and pressure plate C downwardly, the
lever H jointed to the top of said spindle and so arranged that when turned in
one direction the spindle and pressure plate are raised and the spring is com-
pressed and when the lever is turned in the other direction the spindle and pressure
plate press against the template on the table, all substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. The improved appliance for holding photographic prints whilst they are being
trimmed constructed arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
1007
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.