A Photographic Hand Camera
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Oct., 1893-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Photographic Hand Camera.
HARRY GAMWELL Clock Maker 37 Wavertree Road Edge Hill Liverpool
CHARLES GAMWELL Clock Maker 46 Low Hill Liverpool. We do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A photographic hand camera provided with one or more light tight sheaths so
constructed that the camera and sheaths in combination with each other, the
one i.e. the sheaths can he opened and shut by means of a double lever or other
suitable mechanism part of which is on the outside of the camera the other part
acting inside in conjunction with the sheaths which can be opened and shut during
which process the whole of the inside of the camera is in darkness, thus enabling
the manipulater to remove and replace the sheaths in the brightest sunlight.
The camera and sheath are constructed in the following manner: The sheath
is made of suitable metal and of such size as to enable a sensitive glass to be
placed inside two flanges, which form a groove which stands just above the surface
of the glass into which the other half of the sheath engages with one flange thus
shutting out the light. The sheath is hinged at the bottom and is provided with
a lip on the top which acts in a slot in the top of the double lever.
This double lever is constructed in the following manner: At the bottom is a
spindle with two sizes, or three shoulders. The larger size, or centre of the
spindle fits in a bole which is drilled through the camera and is of the same length
as the thickness of the camera-side. On the inside shoulder is rivetted a straight
piece of metal with a slot at the top and on the third shoulder which projects
through the side of the camera is rivetted or shouldered a suitable handle. At
the top of this handle which is made of such a thickness that it will spring a
little, is a small projection, which when it comes into position drops slightly into a
hole, which is drilled one at the top and the other at the bottom of a half circular.
shield of brass which is screwed onto the side of the camera.
Dated this 16th day of January 1893.
HARRY GAMWELL,
CHARLES GAMWELL.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Photographic Hand Camera.
We, HARRY GAMWELL, of 37, Wavertree Road, and CHARLES GAMWELL,
of 46, Low Hill, both in Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Clock-makers,
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 :-
A photographic hand camera according to this invention is provided with one or
more light-tight sheaths so constructed that the sheath can be opened and shut by
means of a double lever, or other suitable mechanism, part of which is on the
outside of the camera, the other part acting inside in conjunction with the sheaths
which can be opened and closed, during which process the whole of the inside
of the camera is in darkness, thus enabling the operator to remove and replace
sheath in the brightest sunlight.
In the drawings illustrating our invention, we shew the camera provided with
the improvements the nature of which is above described. In these drawings

page_text: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation illustrating the interior of the back
of a camera without the sheath.
Figure 2 is an outside view, viewed from the opposite side of the camera shewing
the external operating device.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the camera taken at the line A A Figure 1,
and looking towards the back end.
Figure 4 is a plan shewing the back of the camera and the sheath in position.
Figure 5 is a transverse section of the sheath shewing the plate or film carrier
in position therein, with the door open, and Figure 6 is a front view of same
shewing its internal construction, also with the door open.
Referring to the drawings, a designates the body of the camera; 6 is a door at
the back end of same, hinged at to the body a, and provided at the top, where
it has a horizontal position, with any known suitable kind of catch (not shewn in
the drawings) for keeping it closed; c is a front register-against which the sheath
comes when in position-consisting of an internally projecting ledge. dare arms,
mounted on the horizontally disposed spindle d' across the bottom of the camera,
and e is an external actuating arin fixed on the outer end of the shaft d', which
projects through the camera side. In the drawings, two arms d are shewn, one on
either side of the camera. If desired, however, one only,-namely that preferably
nearest the arm e-need be employed, in which case of course, that at the other
side shewn in the drawings would not exist. f is a plate mounted on the side of
the camera body, and against which a projecting part el on the inside of the arm e
bears and works, constituting a frictional retaining device by which the position of
the arm or arme d can be retained in any desired position.
A designates generally the sheath. It is made of thin metal-say for instance of
about 24 Birmingham metal gauge-as shewn in the drawings, and is constructed
mainly of two parts hinged together at the bottom by a hinge or joint pin , one part
being or constituting the back h³, and enclosing sides ³, and the other, /^, the door
by which it is opened and closed; closed normally when not in the camera, and
operated, and afterwards shut, before and after exposing the sensitive plate or
film within it. The sides ³ are double, and create a space between them all
round the sheath; whilst the door is provided with a ledge ' all round on the
inner side of same, which, when the door ht is closed, fits in the space between the
double sides h, so rendering the sheath light tight when closed.
Within the sheath there is provided at the top, a spring i, and at the lower part
projecting supports j, inclined preferably in its upper surface as shewn to afford
better retention of the plate in position, and on which the lower edge of the plate
or film carrier or film (marked t in the drawings) will rest when in position, the
spring at the top being adapted to press the plate or film carrier downwards onto
the supports j, and so keep it steady and in the correct position within the sheath.
The supports, as is shewn in the drawings, are so disposed-i.e. some distance
above the inner of the lower sides -as to leave a space below the plate or film,
when in position, by which the finger or thumb can be placed against and under it
for withdrawing same, or when placing it in the sheath, and rendering these
operations readily performed. By this construction of the sheath and the mode of
fixing the plate in it, the whole of the sensitive plate is exposed to the action of
the light, thereby shewing a larger proportion of view than with ordinary sheaths.
To keep the door of the sheath closed against or upon the edge of the sides,
an automatic catch such as a frictional catch is provided, which, while keeping the
sheath closed or shut up so that the door will not of itself open at any time, will
permit of its being easily opened and closed by a slight pressure thus rendering it
easy of operation through the actuating arm or lever e. The device shewn in the
drawings for effecting this consists of one or more metallic bars or projecting
parts m, secured or formed on the upper part of the door h', and adapted when
closed to press with a slight but sufficient pressure preferably upon the upper
surface of the upper side being of such thickness of metal as will give the
amount of spring and friction desired; and the tip of the bar or bars m being

page_text: tapered or rounded as shewn, to enable the bars, when the door is being closed, to
ride onto the said upper side h. If the sheath is operated from both sides, a bar m
may be used at each end, but if it is operated only from one side, then one bar m
only need be used at the end nearest the arm.
The above described construction by which the whole of the surface of a plate
or like sensitive media is exposed to the action of light during exposure, and the
mode of or means for holding it in the sheath, and also the automatic locking of
the sheaths, and yet enabling them to be easily operated from outside as described,
form part of an invention and the subject matter of an application for Letters
Patent made by us and left contemporaneously herewith (No. 19,914 of 1893), and
therefore we make no claim to same as part of or under this invention and
application for patent.
The back of the sheath is provided with projecting ledges or flanges k which
come against the front registers c when the sheath is placed in position; the
retention of which against such registers may be effected by a suitable spring in
any known way.
The door is provided with a projecting lug at each side. One of these-or
both as the case may be is or are adapted to fit into the end of the arm or arms d
which is or are bifurcated or slotted as shewn to receive it or them; and when the
sheath is placed in position in the camera, this will be the position of the lug or
lugs. By this engagement of the lug or lugs by the arm or arms d, the door *
is caused to be opened, i.e. moved down, and lifted up and shut, by the actuation
down and up of the lever e.
In the camera shewn in the drawings, the sheath is placed in it when the door b
is opened; and it is provided with a tab n at the top by which it can be held, and
when placed in the camera, the lugs can be dropped or placed in the slots in the
arms and
are withdrawn therefrom, with facility. To afford. facilities of
manipulation, the upper part of the door b when closed, forms the upper part of the
camera directly above the sheath and the arm or arms d.
In operation a closed sheath containing a photographic plate, film, or other
sensitive media, is placed in position in the camera, that is, with its lugs or lug
in the bifurcated end or ends of the arm or arms d, and the ledges & bearing against
the front registers ; when the door is closed. Then, at any time, say when one
is about to expose the plate or film, the door of the sheath is opened, that is
moved down, by pressing the actuating lever e forward and down until it takes or
approaches the horizontal position, or sufficiently removes the door as not to
interfere with the rays of light getting to the sensitive media from the lens. When
this is done the exposure may be made in any of the ordinary ways. After the
exposure is made, the door is moved up, by bringing back the lever e, and the
sheath is closed, when the door 6 can be opened, and the sheath removed.
In the camera shewn in the drawings, the door of the sheath and that of the
camera are illustrated as having their hinges or axis at the lower horizontal plane,
these however and the actuating arms and fittings may be arranged to lie and
work in the upper horizontal plane or in the vertical plane at either side.
In some cases if desired the sheaths may be made of double construction, i.e.,
with two sensitive plates or the like therein back to back with a partition, namely,
the part ³, between them.
As suitable mechanisms for actuating the door of the sheath, two have been
described with reference to the sheath in the drawings, but it is to be understood
that the invention is not restricted to these as specifically set forth, since the
modifications or equivalents thereof for use in conjunction with the sheath
described, may be used without departing from the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. A photographic hand camera adapted to contain a closed sheath and to be

page_text: placed in the rear part of the camera and consisting of a metallic receptacle.
comprising back and sides and a movable-i.e. falling and rising-hinged door; in
combination with a mechanism for opening said door, said mechanism being
adapted to engage with a projecting part or parts of the sheath door operated upon
by such mechanical device, and a door at the back of the camera by which the
sheath can be put in and taken out, substantially as herein set forth.
2. In a photographic camera, the combination of an outer arm or lever and an
inner arm or arms and a closed sheath having a door adapted to open and close, and
having a projection on one or both sides of the door adapted to engage with the.
end of said inner arm or arms, and to be operated thereby (viz. opened and closed)
said sheath being placed and registered in the camera as described; substantially
as herein set forth and shewn in the drawings hereto annexed.
3. In a photographic camera, the construction and combination of parts
consisting of an outer actuating arm e; an inner arm or arms d operated by e and
having a bifurcated upper end or ends; a door b; and a metallic sheath having
projections & adapted to be registered against a front register c, and having lugs l
adapted to engage in the bifurcated upper end or ends of said arm or arms d, as
set forth with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings.
4. In or for a photographic camera the herein described construction of sheath,
consisting of a metallic case comprising a back having double sides thereon,
registering flanges k, and a door h* having an inner ledge, and a lug or lugs
thereon by which it is operated mechanically when in the camera.
11
001 1
.
1000
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Patent Agents.