IMPROVED ALTAMON FOR SUPPLYING SENSITIVE PLATES IN PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Henry Hare and Henry James Dale both of
Little Britain in the city of London for an Invention of IMPROVED
LETTERS PATENT to James Henry Hare and Henry James Dale both of
Little Britain in the city of London for an Invention of IMPROVED
ALTAMON FOR SUPPLYING SENSITIVE PLATES IN PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Henry Hare and
Henry James Dale at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
24th February 1883.
JAMES HENRY HARE and HENRY JAMES DALE both of Little Britain in the
City of London "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING SENSITIVE PLATES IN
PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS "
Our invention relates to means of supplying sensitive plates to a photographic
camera, our object being to have a number of such plates ready to be acted on by
exposure in the camera either in direct succession or in any desired order, and to
retain these plates protected against farther active action until they can be
conveniently developed.
For this purpose we make a box of rectangular form of a depth somewhat more
than double the width of a plate so that it can contain two tiers of plates, the one
tier above the other. Each sensitive plate, if it be transparent, is fitted in a light
frame having an opaque backing which may be a thin plate of metal, and a number
of these frames with the sensitive plates secured in them in each case by a suitable
turn button or catch, are placed in the lower part of the box where they are pressed
forwards towards the front by light springs. Above this lower tier of plates we
place an upper tier which must consist of a number less at least by one than the
number in the lower tier. The front of the box is made with a slide or shutter
such as is usually employed for exposing plates in cameras. The box is fitted to
he back of the camera by tenons sliding in grooves or otherwise. On with-
rawing the shutter, the front plate of the lower tier is exposed, and on closing
he shutter it is protected against farther active action. The box being then
[Price 6d1
•

page_text: removed and turned over and over, this front plate finds its way to a front place in
the upper tier whilst the back plate of the upper tier descends behind the plates
of the lower tier. On replacing the box, the plate which was originally second of
the lower tier can be exposed, or if it should be desired to pass several plates
without exposure the box can be turned over and over several times so as to
change the positions of several of the plates. Thus plate after plate can be
exposed either in direct succession or in any desired order. For convenience of
ascertaining which of a number of plates occupies at any time the position for
exposure, we provide in the shutter a hole fitted with non active glass and we
mark each plate frame with a number or other distinguishing symbol which can
be seen through the glass.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of tho conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Henry Hare and Henry James Dale in the Great Seal.
Patent Office on the 22nd August 1883.
JAMES HENRY HARE and HENRY JAMES DALE both of Little Britain in the
city of London "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING SENSITIVE PLATES IN
PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS
"
Our invention relates to means of supplying sensitive plates to a photographic
camera, our object being to have a number of such plates ready to be acted on by
exposure in the camera either in direct succession or in any desired order, and
to retain these plates protected against farther actinic action until they can be
conveniently developed.
Above
For this purpose, we make a box of rectangular form of a depth somewhat more
than double the width of a plate so that it can it can contain two tiers of plates,
the one tier above the other. Each sensitive plate, if it be transparent, is fitted in
a light frame having an opaque backing which may be a thin plate of metal, and
a number of these frames with the sensitive plates secured in them in each case
by a suitable turn button or catch, are placed in the lower part of the box where
they are pressed forwards towards the front by light springs or screws.
this lower tier of plates we place an upper tier which must consist of a number less
at least by one that the number in the lower tier. The front of the box is made
with a slide or shutter such as is usually employed for exposing plates in cameras.
The box is fitted to the back of the camera by tenons sliding in grooves or
otherwise, On withdrawing the shutter, the front plate of the lower tier is
exposed, and on closing the shutter it is protected against farther actinic action.
The box being then removed and turned over and over, this front plate finds its
way to a front place in the upper tier whilst the back plate of the upper tier
descends behind the plates of the lower tier. On replacing the box the plate
which was originally second of the lower tier can be exposed, or if it should be
desired to pass several plates without exposure, the box can be turned over and
over several times, so as to change the positions of several of the plates. Thus
plate after plate can be exposed either in direct succession or in any desired order.
For convenience of ascertaining which of a number of plates occupies at any
time the position for exposure, we provide in the shutter a hole fitted with non-
actinic glass and we mark each plate frame with a number or other distinguishing
symbol which can be seen through the glass.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a vertical section of a box according to
our invention containing a number of sensitised plates to be acted on successively.
Fig. 2 is a back view and fig. 3 a sectional plan of one of the frames in which a
plate is held. It consists of a light wood filletted frame F in which the plate P is
placed against the fillet, backed, in the case of the plate being transparent, by a plate M
of thin sheet material or stiff card, held in its place by seveveral turn-buckles T.
A number of these frames are placed in the box, in two tiers, one more in the
lower tier (in which seven are shewn in fig 1) than in the upper tier (in which 6
are shewn) The back of the box is provided with two screws S by screwing
which the two tiers of frames F can be pushed forwards towards the front which
is provided with a vertically sliding door of ordinary kind. The front plate of the
lower tier having been exposed by drawing up the door as shewn, the door is slid
down, and the screws S are screwed back. As there is, in the upper part of the
box, room for an additional frame F on turning the box over in the direction of
the arrow, the frame which was the front frame of the lower tier slides into the

page_text: vacant place in the front of the upper tier, and on completing the turn of the box,
the frame which was the hinder one of the upper tier slides into the then vacant
place at the back of the lower tier. Through a small opening O in the front sliding
door when it is drawn up, can be seen the number or mark on the front frame.
For the purpose of filling and emptying the box, the back with its screw S is
made to slide vertically in grooves.
•
Having thus described the nature of our invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, We claim―
The herein described apparatus for supplying sensitive plates in succession in
photographic cameras.
In Witness whereof I the said Henry James Dale have, hereunto set my hand
and seal this twentieth day of August in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight
hundred and eighty-three.
HENRY JAMES DALE (L.S.)