Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 28th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
I, LODEWYK JAN RUTGER HOLST, Managing Director of the Reflex
Compagnie, No. 259, Heerengracht, Amsterdam, in the Kingdom of Holland,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to photographic cameras of the kind in which a view
finder is arranged which shews the view of the full size of the picture, and the
object of the present invention is to provide means whereby the camera can be
focussed from a position level with the eye and in which the eye looks at the
picture with the face towards the view or object being photographed instead of
at right angles thereto as has heretofore been necessary.
According to the said invention I combine with the mirror, inside the camera,
a second mirror fitted on the inside of the hood covering the ground glass screen
on which the image is thrown, the said second mirror thus serving, when the
hood is turned to the desired angle, to shew a reflection of the picture which is
upon the screen.
It will be obvious that my improved full sized view finder is equally applicable
for use whether the camera is arranged with the plate vertical or horizontal.
My improvements can be applied to cameras generally baving full sized view
finders and they may also be applied to a camera known as the twin camera in
which a second lens similar to the working lens is used to produce an image on the
finder.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
. Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
I, LODEWYK JAN RUTGER HOLST, Managing Director of the Reflex
Compagnie, No. 259, Heerengracht, Amsterdam, in the Kingdom of Holland, 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 :-
My invention relates to photographic cameras of the kind in which a view finder
is arranged which shews the view of the full size of the picture to be produced
upon a screen fixed in the top of the camera. In cameras of this kind there is a
certain amount of difficulty in focussing when the camera is placed at the height of
the eyes, and when making. an upright picture the operator stands facing in a
direction at right angles to the direction of the object to be photographed.
The object of the present invention is to provide means whereby the camera

page_text: can be focussed from a position level with the eyes and in which the operator
always looks at the picture with the face towards the object being photographed.
According to my invention I use a mirror inside the camera and also the ground
glass screen on which the image is thrown as hitherto, but I combine with the lid
which serves to cover the ground glass screen a mirror upon which the image
thrown upon the screen can be reflected.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper part of a camera having my
improvements applied thereto; and,
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same:
Figure 3 is a view shewing the position of the parts when using my invention.
a is the camera box of ordinary construction, & is the ground glass screen in the
top of the said box upon which the image is reflected in the usual manner, and c is
the lid or cover which serves to close the opening in which the ground glass
screen bis mounted.
d is the mirror arranged according to my invention and which I fix on the inner
side of the lid e in such a manner that when the said lid is turned up to the desired
angle and the mirror is uncovered the image cast upon the screen 6 will be
reflected on to it. e is a cover (preferably made of metal) which is hinged at el to
the lid c and which closes down on to the mirror d to cover the same when it is not
required for use, as shewn in Figures 1 and 2. fis an india-rubber band or spring
attached at one end to the cover e at g (for a purpose hereinafter described) and at
the other end to the camera box at h, the said spring when the lid c is closed down
over the screen being in tension, whereby when the lid is lifted it will be retained
in position by the said spring.
is a wire frame having at its ends springs i, coiled around the pin of the
hinge e in such a manner that whilst on the one hand the 'frame i can be turned
down to lie flat upon the cover e, on the other hand the normal tendency of the
said springs will be to move the said frame away from the said cover in order that
when the lid e is opened upwards, as shewn in Figure 1, the said spring frame will
stretch taut pieces of fabric j, j which at their upper edges are secured to the sides
of the frame i and at their lower edges fixed to the top of the camera box by
strips k, k.
To the rear part of the frame i is attached another piece of fabric I which hangs
like a curtain to close the opening between the two side pieces of fabric i, j, the
said curtain having at its lower edge a bar or rod the ends of which are designed
to be inserted into eyes or staples , to retain the said curtain in position.
These pieces of fabric j, j and I and the cover e form with the lid e the hood which
serves to cut off the light from the screen when focussing, and it is to be under-
stood that when the camera is not in use these parts together with the spring
frame i are turned down so as to lie in a recess formed between the lid c and the
screen b a suitable catch being provided for holding the said hood down against
the pull of the said spring f. When it is desired to use the camera the said catch
is released so that the spring fraises the lid c and at the same time the spring
frame i rises to stretch the pieces of fabric j, j and I, that is to say, the parts move
to the position shewn in Figure 1 which is the position of the parts when the
: camera is to be focussed by the direct inspection of the picture reflected on to the
screen b in the usual manner. If, however, it is desired to focus by the inspection
of the picture on the mirror d the rod of the curtain is disconnected from the
eyes, and the said curtain is thrown back over the top of the hood, as shewn in
Figure 3, and a small turnbuckle e on the lid e is turned so as to allow the
spring f, which, as before stated is connected to the cover e, to pull the said cover
to a horizontal position also as shewn in Figure 3. When the parts are in this
position it will be obvious that the image produced upon the screen 6 will be seen
reflected upon the mirror d which reflection can be seen whether the photographic
plate is to be used for a horizontal or a vertical picture.

page_text: It is obvious that the elastic band can be replaced by a spring inserted in the
hinge of the lid c. In this case a second spring is arranged at the top of the lid c
to raise the metal inner lid e Figure 3.
Although I have described my invention as applied to a camera in which the
view finder is arranged in conjunction with the ordinary camera box it is to be
understood that my invention is also applicable to a camera known as a twin
camera in which a second lens similar to the working leus is used to produce an
image on the finder for focussing purposes.
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 a photographic camera with either a large or full sized finder, the
combination with the lid which normally covers the said finder of a mirror adapted
to reflect in a horizontal direction the image produced upon the ground glass,
the said mirror being provided with an independent cover, substantially as, and
for the purpose, described.
2. In a photographic camera provided with a screen in the top upon which
large or full sized images of the pictures to be produced are shewn and wherein
a lid which covers the said screen is provided with a mirror for reflecting the
image upon the screen horizontally the combination with the said lid of a hood
attached to a spring frame arranged upon the lid and of a cover which normally
conceals the mirror, substantially as described.
Dated the 28th day of December 1896.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.