An Improved Photographic Printing Frame, and Accessories Applied thereto.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 19th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Photographic Printing Frame, and Accessories Applied
thereto.
GEORGE HOUGHTON 89 High Holborn W.C. Photographic Dealer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention includes several modifications and improvements in what is known
as photographic printing frames and fittings applied to same.
The objects are,
1st. To provide a ready means of opening and closing frame.
2nd. To obtain as full a view of photograph when printing as practicable.
3rd. To apply an effective pressure on all parts of the negative ensuring the
perfect contact between the sensitive paper and the negative.
4th. To ensure against the possibility of moving the paper when examining the
print.
5th. To provide a screen or mask of suitable material and construction for the
purpose of producing vignetted photographs.
6th. To provide a simple and ready means of attatching and detatching the said
screen or mask to or from the printing frame.
7th. To supply a device known as an actinometer to form a part of such printing
frame.
I shall now proceed to describe the method of construction of the various parts.
The frame itself (not including the back) is preferably made of wood in the
well known form with the exception that a space about an inch wide is cleared in
each longitudinal strip which is fixed along the frame at the back these spaces are
intended to receive the ends of another strip of about one inch in width which
forms the lower part of a loose back, to which the upper part of same is hinged..
When in use this strip is held down by a pivoted pressure spring which is caught
at its ends by loops, or studs fixed to the frame opposite the spaces referred to
above.
Another pressure spring is attatched to the middle of the upper part of back close
to the hinged joint, running at right angles to the pivoted spring and extending a
little above the top end of back where it is slightly curved upwards for the purpose
of throwing over a flat spring or spring wire catch when pressure is applied just
below the curved end this spring catch which is fixed to the top piece of frame
returning to its original position when the pressure spring is sufficiently depressed
thereby forming an automatic catch in closing the frame.
To open same it is only necessary to push the spring catch slightly away and the
pressure spring rises.
The screen or mask for vignetting is made of vulcanized fibre linoleum or other
suitable material in the following manner, a hole of the desired shape is cut in the
centre of a piece of suitable size which should be rather longer but narrower than
the front of printing frame on which it is to be used, around the edge of this
hole I make a series of saw cuts to a certain depth which allows a small quantity
of light to pass through, thereby assisting to soften the vignette which may still
further be accomplished by lifting pieces (formed by saw cuts) upwards away from
the negative. Vulcanized fibre or similar material admits of this being done
repeatedly without danger of breaking the said pieces which is so liable to occur

page_text: when cardboard is used. The vignetting screen is attatched to the printing frame
by slipping each end under a wire holder that is permanently fixed to the printing
frame and made as follows.
I form a quadrangular frame of spring wire soldered where the ends meet of
such dimensions that when fixed the end pieces lie on the top and bottom strip of
printing frame in front, whilst the two sides of wire frame are pulled down the sides
of printing frame where they are held by wire staples thereby exerting a constant
tension on the two ends that lie on front of frame and also on the vignetting screen
when it is slipped underneath, whilst it allows of the necessary adjustment of the
latter. A modification of the vignette holder is a long wire staple (fixed across
the frame at either end) exerting a downward pressure towards the middle.
The actinometer is a well known device for determining the depth of the print
where the action of light does not make the necessary change in the appearance of
the sensitive paper and which have hitherto been supplied seperately.
My method is to make a slot in one of the sides of the front of printing frame to
receive a strip of the sensitive paper usually used for this purpose, it being kept in
position by a strip of wood hinged at one extremity of the slot, the other end being
provided with a small window, a part of which is suitably painted to form a guide
as to depth in the process of printing.
Dated this 21st day of December 1895.
An Improved Photographic Printing Frame, and Accessories Applied
thereto.
GEORGE HOUGHTON 89 High Holborn London Photographic Dealer and
Manufacturer. 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 includes several modifications and improvements in what is known
as photographic printing frames and fittings applied to same and are as follows
1st. The frame itself, not including the back, is preferably made of wood in the
well-known form with the exception that a space about an inch wide is cleared in
each longitudinal strip which is fixed to back part of frame. These spaces, which
are about of an inch deep, are intended to receive the extended ends of a strip
of about one inch in width, which forms the lower part of a loose back, and to
which the upper part of same is hinged.
When in use this strip is held down by a pivoted pressure spring, the ends of
which are caught under studs or loops attached to the aforesaid longitudinal strips
and opposite the spaces in same.
Another pressure spring is attached to the upper part of back and close to the
hinged joint. This spring is fixed at a right angle to the bottom strip of back and
extends upwards a little above the top line of back where it is slightly curved
upwards for the purpose of throwing over a spring wire catch on which it strikes
when pressure is applied just below the curved end. This spring catch, which is
fixed to top strip of frame, returning to its original position when the pressure
spring is sufficiently depressed, thereby forming an automatic catch in closing the
frome. To open same it is only necessary to push the spring catch slightly away
and the pressure spring rises.
A reference to the accompanying drawings will help to make the foregoing
clear.
Fig. 1. 1. 2. 3. 4 represents the frame, 5 & 6 the top and bottom of back.
7 pivoted spring. 8 fixed spring. 9 and 10 spaces to receive the ends of strip 6.

page_text: 13 wire spring fixed, at a, and swinging on staples b, and c.
or staples which engage the ends of pivoted spring 7.
11 and 12 are loop:
2nd. I provide a screen or mask for the purpose of producing vignetted
photographs, and which is made as follows. I take a piece of vulcanized fibre or
other suitable material large enough to cover the front opening of frame and to
allow of adjustment. I then cut a suitable shape opening in the centre and a series
of saw cuts are made, by means of a fret saw or other device, around the edge of
this opening. These saw cuts allow a certain amount of light to pass through
when the photograph is printing, thereby producing a nicely graduated vignette,
which may still further be accomplished by lifting divisions (formed by sw cuts)
upwards away from the negative. The use of vulcanized fibre admits of this being
done repeatedly without the danger of breaking off the divisions which is so liable
to occur when cardboard is used. Fig. 4 represents a vignetting mask. a" the
opening made in various shapes and sizes. 6 saw cuts.
3rd. The third feature of my invention consists of a spring wire holder to be
attached to printing frames, for the purpose of holding and adjusting the afore-
mentioned vignetting masks. It is made in the form of a quadrangular frame with
a telescopic joint top and bottom, for the purpose of adjusting to slight variations
in the sizes of printing frames, shown at AB Fig. 2. The top and bottom of the
said wire frame lie on the top and bottom strips on the front of printing frame.
The two sides of same are pulled down the sides of printing frame and fixed by
means of staples. Or, preferably the sides of wire frame are looped downwards in
the middle, these loops engaging on the heads of screws inserted in the side of
printing frame as shown in Fig. 3.
The two sides of wire frame being pulled down the sides of printing frame
imparts a constant tension on the ends lying on the front of printing frame and
on the vignetting mask when it is slipped underneath, whilst it allows of the
necessary adjustment of the latter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is,
1. A photographic printing frame with a pressure spring fixed to top section
of hinged back and at right angles to hinged joint substantially as described.
2. A photographic printing frame with a pressure spring fixed to top section
of back and at right angles to hinged joint, and engaging in a spring wire catch
substantially as described.
3. A vignetting screen or mask made of vulcanized fibre or the like, having a
series of saw cuts around a central opening substantially as described.
4. A vignette holder consisting of a spring wire frame with telescopic joints
for adjustment, and downward loops for fixing to printing frame substantially as
described.
Dated this 19th day of September 1896.
GEORGE HOUGHTON.