Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
I, JOSEPH ZION, of 7 Rue de Jony, Paris, in the Republic of France
Optician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved hand-camera called the "Simili-Jumelle "
to be used in the same manner as those cameras which imitate more or less the
form of opera glasses; but it may also be fixed upon a stand. The same is
provided with a finder camera formed by a prismatic plane-convex lens, which
returns the images. In combination with this first mentioned finder camera a
second may be arranged upon the camera; in this case the latter which effects ar
automatic focussing will be formed by an object-glass identical to that of the object
glass of the camera.
The apparatus is composed of a camera obscura proper, at the back of which a
magazine containing 12 plates is arranged; at the front a rectilinear object glass
is arranged rigid with the movable carriage. The focussing of this object glass is
obtained by the displacement of the carriage, by means of a manipulating knob in
connection with two pinions and two rack-bars.
Leather bellows unite the rear portion of the carriage with the magazine and
thus allow of avoiding the entering of light that may pass around the movable
carriage.
A finder camera returning the images is arranged at one side of the apparatus.
This finder camera is composed of a tube carrying in front a prismatic plane-convex
lens; at the back of the same tube a convex-lens is arranged. In order to allow
of a rapid focussing of the object glass of the chamber I arrange at another side of
the apparatus an adjustable hand, which is in direct relation with the movable
carriage of the object glass by the intermission of a pinion and of the rack bar.
When required for use it is sufficient to pass the extremity of the hand, by means
of a knob, upon the metric division of a graduated arc, which corresponds to the
exact distance. of the objects to be taken.
The obturator is placed in front of the movable carriage; this obturator, upon
which the two parts of the object glass are fixed, allows of taking instantaneous
views or otherwise, while remaining continually closed during the operation of.
setting.
The said obturator is composed of two very thin steel obturator blades sliding
in a frame; at one of the blades a pulling device is fixed. These two blades are
moreover subjected to the action of two springs and can further be clasped and
held in that position, which corresponds to the instantaneous view or to the posture
to be taken; this clasping is effected by the aid of a ratchet.
Its function is as follows:
By drawing the pulling device both blades are carried forth simultaneously ;
on releasing the pulling device the ratchet engages one of the blades and
releases the other which returns to its starting point by the action of a spring.
In its first movement the one blade has stopped the circular orifice of the other
blade and has thus enabled the obturator to be set without permitting any
light to enter the camera. By exerting a pressure upon the ratchet, one of the
obturator blades is released and the object glass-device opened.

page_text: .
A graduated button arranged at the side of the obturator allows of varying the
tension of one of the obturator springs and consequently of varying the speed of the
obturation of the respective blade.
In the magazine arranged at the back of the camera 12 plates are located and
pressed against one another by means of two springs. The magazine is of the
removable kind and the impressed plates are cleared out into an appropriate bag
through a movable screen by the intermission of two small hooks which
arrangement causes the plate carrier of the magazine to pass into the said bag
when the screen is operated. In order to prevent the foremost plate in the
magazine, which is exposed to the light, from untimely sliding into the bag,
and to further prevent the plates lying behind, from being spoiled owing to the
light that may reach them during their displacement I provide the orifice with
a hinged cover; this cover is always kept closed by a spring which only yields
when the plate is lifted under the action of the movable screen.
When an
impressed plate has been pushed into the hag, the same is caused to pass into
an appropriate slit situated at the back of the camera and is with the hand of the
operator forced down until it has completely disappeared in the magazine. A
movable lid placed over the camera, guards the bag against deteriorations.
.
A red glass arranged upon the centre of the shutter allows of ascertaining the
number of plates impressed; the introduction of the plates into the magazine is
effected by lifting the movable shutter at the back of the magazine.
In
The first mentioned finder camera may be accompanied by a second finder camera
of roughened glass, effecting the automatic focussing of the " simili-jumelle."
this case the two finder cameras can be adjusted according to the distance of the
eyes of the operator. This combination on the one hand permits, by looking with
the left eye along the one finder, of an automatical focussing of the object glass of
the camera, namely of the focussing of the said finder camera and to thus obtain
absolutely correct plates as regard the focussing, irrespective of the distance of the
objects to be photographed and on the other hand, by looking with the right eye
along the second finder camera, it allows of seeing the identical image of the picture
photographed upon the plate, namely owing to the prismatic form of the plane-
convex lens.
The roughened glass finder camera is composed of a fixed tube, connected to the
camera obscura by means of three screws, at the front of which a movable slide is
arranged inside the said tube, and which is fixed by two screws to the movable
carriage of the camera obscura.
The object glass of the finder, similar to that of the camera obscura is placed in
the axis of the movable slide aforesaid. In the interior of the said tube and at a
distance from the object glass equal to that of the focus of the camera, a second
movable slide is arranged, behind which the roughened glass is fixed; a small set
screw allows of exactly focussing this glass. At the back of the tube in question a
convex-lens is provided, to be used for short and far-sighted eyes.
Instead of arranging the two finder cameras in the manner afore described they
may also be placed one above the other at the side of the apparatus. This
improved hand-camera is provided with a magazine chamber of the detective kind
but may also be constructed with removable screen frames of the ordinary kind, or
with roller frames. The same may also be arranged so as to receive removable
slides containing a number of non-exposed plates serving to be substituted for an
identical slide, the plates of which are all exposed to the light; in order to allow
of effecting the change of the plates even in the open light. This camera may also
be arranged for the use of pellicles or films.
Dated this 9th dow of T
1005
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicaut.

page_text: I, JOSEPH ZION, of 7 Rue de Jony, Paris, in the Republic of France; Optician,
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 :-
"
This invention relates to an improved hand-camera called the "Simili-Jumelle
to be used in the same manner as those which imitate more or less the form of
opera glasses; but it may also be fixed upon a stand. The same is provided with
a finder formed by a prismatic plano-concave lens, which reflects the images. In
combination with this first mentioned finder a second may be arranged upon the
camera; in this case the latter which effects an automatic focussing will be formed
by an object-glass identical to that of the object glass of the camera.
In the accompanying drawings

page_text: Its operation is as follows:
By drawing the device P¹ both plates N N' are moved simultaneously; on
releasing the said device the pawl R¹ engages the plate N and releases the
plate N' which returns to its starting point by the action of a spring Q2. In its
first movement the plate N' covers the circular orifice of the plate N and thus
allows of the setting of the shutter without permitting any light to enter the
.camera. By exerting a pressure upon the pawl R the shutter plate N is released
and the plate exposed.
A notched button S arranged at the side of the shutter allows of varying the
tension of the spring Q' and consequently of varying the speed of closing of the
plate and the time of exposure.
In the modification shown in Figures 12 to 15 the disengaging lever is provided
with a prolongation carrying a flexible finger, the combination of which with a
movable bridge permits of setting the apparatus at will; the speed of the apparatus
is moreover regulated by an air cylinder.
It is composed as previously of two thin shutter plates N N' of steel sliding in
the frame ; to the blade N¹ is fixed the pulling rod P.
These blades are dependent upon the action of the two springs QQ' and they
may moreover be thrown into gear for the instantaneous or for the setting or
fixing operation by the aid of the pawl R.
As will be seen from Figure 14, the pawl R is prolonged by an arm R' carrying
a flattened portion n, on which an indiarubber air-chest is arranged which latter is
actuated by the indiarubber bulb for the pneumatic disengagement.
The arm R¹ terminates in a pivoted fingers which engages with a bridgę k
mounted upon the axis terminating on the other side in a movable hand m serving
to cause the two positions, indicated in Figure 14, to be taken by the bridge.
It is the position of this bridge that causes the engagement or prevents the
engagement of the fingers with the hook t carried by the plate N connected
moreover to a prolongation o fixed to a rod p terminating in a piston q. This
piston moves in a cylinder q', the front part of which, pierced with a hole for the
introduction of air, is covered by a plug valve or cock v pierced with holes of
different sections, enabling the speed of the shutting operation to be regulated,
according as it is a large or a small hole that allows the air to escape which air
has been sucked into the cylinder, when the shutter has been set.
For taking the photograph, the position indicated in dotted lines, (Figure 14,)
is imparted to the bridge k and the shutter is set by acting upon the pulling rod P,
whereby the shutter blade N is thrown into gear.
On disengaging by acting upon the pawl R, the fingers rises entirely straight
and, in placing itself before the hook t, stops the plate N half way, thus uncovering
the object glass; on ceasing to act upon the pawl the fingers leaves the hook and
the plate covers the object glass.
In order to take an instantaneous photograph the bridge k occupies the position
indicated in full lines; in this position the finger s is compelled to turn and cannot
reach the hook t on its passage, when the shutter is disengaged.
The speed of the shutter is regulated by the size of the hole of the stopper v
which is placed in communication with the cylinder q'; the greater the hole of the
stopper, the greater is the speed of the shutting operation since the air contained
in the cylinder escapes therefrom more rapidly. In the example represented the
shutter can be worked with four different speeds.
In the magazine B arranged at the back of the camera the 12 plates are pressed
one against the other by means of two springs. In the accompanying drawing the
magazine is of the removable kind and the exposed plates are cleared out into an
appropriate bag U through a movable screen H by the intermission of two small
hooks T (Figures 2 and 3), which arrangement causes the plate carrier of the
magazine B to pass into the said bag V (Figures 18 and 19) when the screen is
operated. In order to prevent the foremost plate in the magazine which is exposed
to the light from untimely sliding into the bag U, and to further prevent the

page_text: plates, lying behind, from being spoiled owing to the light that may reach them
during their displacement I provide the orifice u with a hinged cover V; this cover
is always kept closed by a spring which only yields when the plate is lifted under
the action of the movable screen H. When an exposed plate has been pushed into
the bag U, the same is caused to pass into an appropriate slot u' situated at the,
back of the camera and is with the hand of the operator forced down until it has
completely disappeared in the magazine B. A movable lid. Y placed over the
camera guards the bag U against deteriorations.
A red glass arranged upon the centre of the shutter X allows of ascertaining
the number of plates exposed; the introduction of the plates into the magazine B
is effected by lifting the movable shutter X at the back of the magazine.
The first mentioned finder J may be accompanied as shown in dotted lines in
Figure 4 and in the horizontal section in Figure 20, by a second finder of roughened
glass effecting the automatic focussing of the "simili-jumelle." In this case the
two finders can be adjusted according to the distance of the eyes of the operator..
This combination on the one hand permits, by looking with the left eye across the
first finder, of automatically focussing the object glass of the camera, by the aid of.
that of the finder and to thus obtain absolutely correct plates as regards the:
focussing, irrespective of the distance of the objects to be photographed and on the
other hand, by looking with the right eye across the second finder, it allows of
observing the identical image of that photographed upon the plate, namely owing
to the prismatic form of the plano-convex lens. The double finder shown in.
Fig. 20 may be used for all ordinary or hand cameras, and especially for
stereoscopic cameras.
The roughened glass finder is composed (Figure 20) of a fixed tube a, connected to
the camera by means of three screws, at the front of which a movable slide bis
arranged inside the said tube a and which is fixed by two screws to the movable
carriage D of the camera.
The object glass of the finder, similar to that of the camera is placed axially to
the movable slide b. In the interior of the said tube a' and at a distance from the
object glass equal to that of the focus of the camera, a second movable slide fis
arranged, behind which the roughened glass g is fixed; a small set screw allows
of exactly focussing this glass. At the back of the tube a a convex-lensi is provided,
to be used for short and far sighted eyes.
Instead of arranging the two finders in the manner indicated in Figures 4 and 20
they may also be placed one above the other at the side of the apparatus as
illustrated in Figure 21. This improved hand-camera is provided with a magazine
chamber of the detective kind but may also be constructed with removable screen
frames of the ordinary kind, or with roller frames. The same may also be arranged
so as to receive removable slides containing a number of non-exposed plates serving
to replace an identical slide, the plates of which have been exposed to the light;
in order to allow of effecting the change of these plates even in the open light.
This camera may also be arranged for the use of films.
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. The improved camera which may be used as a hand camera or on a fixed
stand this camera carrying a finder formed by a prismatic plano-concave lens to
reflect the images and allowing of the image seen in the finder to exactly coincide
with that which is reproduced on the plate.
2. The arrangement of the shutter carrying the object glass and which consists
principally in the actuation of the two plates by means of two separate springs.
3. The arrangement of the movable screen serving to pass the plates from the
magazine into the bag after their exposure to the light, in combination with a spring
actuated shutter for closing the front opening of the magazine, serving for the

page_text: passage of the plates, and preventing the light from spoiling the plates placed in
continuation of the first exposed plate.
4. The use of this shutter for all detective magazines, provided with a bag, or
with rigid slides for removing the plates, these. magazines being removable from,
or in joint connection with, the plates.
5. The use of two finders, one placed sideways of the other at a suitable distance
for the eyes of the operator or one.above the other upon the side of the camera,
the first finder being formed by an object glass identical with that of the dark
chamber or by an object glass having, with the object glass of the camera, a focus
being in equal relation to that existing between the surface of the roughened glass
plate of the finder camera and that of the plate, the second finder being formed by
a prismatic plano-convex lens.
6. The use of the two finders for all ordinary or hand cameras and principally.
for stereoscopic cameras, also the use of the prismatic finder only, for cameras as
hereinbefore indicated.
7. For the rapid focussing of the object glass of the dark chamber the
arrangement of an indicating hand in direct relation with the movable carriage,
this hand moving on an arc of a circle with metric graduation.
Dated this 0th day of March 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.