IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE PHOTO-
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Tiator at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th August 1878.
JOSEPH TIATOR, of Colmar, in Alsace.
GRAPHIC APPARATUS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE PHOTO-
The greatest difficulty hitherto experienced in making the best use of the land-
scape photograph consists in carrying the necessary apparatus.
Now my Invention has for its object an improved portable photographic
laboratory and apparatus, combining extreme compactness and lightness with a
minimum amount of space.
When being carried, this improved apparatus presents the form of a hand trunk
about 21 inches in length, 12 inches in breadth, and 12 inches in height (more or
less). In this state, when folded together, two spaces or rooms are formed inside
the trunk.
The first space or packing room is intended to take in a silver dish, a small chest
with partitions for holding the chemicals, the flask with the silver bath, the flask with
the developing bath, the flask with the fixing acid, the flask with the strengthening
fluid, the developing and strengthening handles which are formed like brandy
glasses, the one placed into the other, the distilling handle, and a small funnel.
The second space or room is intended for taking in a reservoir capable of holding
about 1.98 gallons of water (more or less), and furnished with straps, the box for
holding the plates, a small box to hold the dusting pencil, cleaning rag, silver hook,
filtering basin, blinds, and other trifles.
To ensure the retention of the contents of the flasks, and locking of the stoppers
as much as possible, every flask is covered or shod with two longitudinal gum bands
and two gum rings crossing them at intervals round the flask. The longitudinal
gum bands are split or divided where the neck of the flask occurs, one part
being placed to the right side and the other to the left of the neck. When the

page_text: flask is closed, both parts of the band are taken off from the neck and laid over the
stopper.
The trunk is held together by straps with handles. When required for use, the
straps are loosened and the contents of the trunk taken out. Three posts or legs
are fixed to the bottom of the trunk, which is then opened out and adjusted
for use.
The two packing spaces or rooms before mentioned are separated by a wooden
partition wall consisting of separate parts; the one viewed from the flask room will
be like a casket with sliders, this room being fixed on the sides, but the other
part, viewed from the reservoir, will be like the object glass plate of a camera or
dark chamber, which can be slid backwards and forwards. This movement is
obtained by turning a screw arranged in the other room immediately before the
cassette.
To exclude the light from the intermediate space necessary for the backward and
forward motion of the object glass plate, the walls and the said plate are stuffed on
all sides and on the ledges with plush, the hairs of which exclude the light, whilst
at the same time the parts can give way to themselves. The flap on the front side
of this camera opening inwards is now only serviceable for keeping off the light in
favour of the object glass, a horizontal position being given to the said flap by a
small bolt.
The flask packing room, of which only the bottom will now be in its former
place, is composed of two halves opening out one above the other; the lower half is
also composed of three parts, viz., the fixed bottom jointed to the feet, the right
and left side walls hinged or jointed to the bottom, and which, by a drawing clamp
placed underneath, will be brought into such a horizontal position as to be
serviceable for an enlargement of the breadth of the bottom and to form a point of
support.
As regards the upper half of this packing room, the half upper side walls are not
only jointed and turned up similar to the lower, but additional front pieces are
further jointed to them and double over on to the others, thus the upper half or
cover is of the same breadth, but nearly as deep again as the lower half or bottom,
so that it can be lifted up at the place where the operator stands to a considerable
height above the bottom. Jointed bearers suitably arranged support the upper half
or cover when raised into its required position.
The black cloth is fixed by nails or otherwise, first to the framework of the
casette, so as to form a squared embrasure or cutting out, after which the fixing is
continued on the outer outlines of the upper half or cover, and on the bottom to the
long three-membered bearer of the cover entirely on the bottom, but only to the
doubling respective lengthening pieces of the cover.
To let the necessary light into the laboratory, the black cloth is cut out on the
cover as far as it is nailed on the side walls, and its place filled with a yellow cloth
(or silk). On the cut of the framework of the cover is nailed again black and
yellow cloth. As for the rest, towards the operator, the cloth is borne only by the
lengthening of the cover without being fixed on it, and extends forwards beyond
the laboratory towards the operator in the shape of a bag, the corresponding part
being also fixed upon the bottom of the work room.
The bottom of the laboratory is protected from the penetration of light by a
waterproof stuff (oil-cloth or skin) in lieu of cloth. The disengaged end of the
black cloth is supplied with a slide, wherein a very elastic material, such as a
strong and efficient gum band, is stuck.
On account of the black cloth enlarging itself the further it extends from the
casette, it is at last spaceous enough to admit at first the right arm and afterwards
the head into the elastic locking, and renders possible by it a direct view and a
commodious manipulation in the inside, without permitting too soon the entrance
of the light. The gum band presses the cloth so closely to the body of the operator
from the left shoulder, over the breast, and back to the right arm, that light cannot
come into the inside. The left hand, which is less occupied and cannot catch on this

page_text: side because of the confined space, is admitted on the left side of the laboratory by
a small sleeve hole.
The washing apparatus is situated at the end of the laboratory, in front
of the operator, and is fixed inside the room above the black cloth at full
breadth. It consists of that stuff similar to skin which is used to preserve sponges
in a moist condition. The breadth decreases towards the operator, and the stuff is
here fixed on two slides, movable in the bottom of the work room.
If the photographer purposes to develop, fix, or strengthen, he must draw out the
two slides, which will draw the stuff into a tray-formed cavity, the slides being
held firm by two projecting springs, and a pipe being fastened into the lowest point
of the cavity.
When the washing apparatus has been used, the two slides are pushed back, and
the stuff laid up inside the packing room.
The three stand posts or legs fixed into corresponding mortises under the bottom
of the apparatus are made in the form of segments of an iron tube or gas pipe, and
are nearly 4 feet in length. In consequence of their shape and material, they have
a great capacity for bearing, as they do not spring or bend.
The object board, with its glass, is regulated by a rack geared into by a toothed
wheel, which is operated by a combination of levers, ratchets, and pawls, and screws,
in such a manner that the object board may be moved or fixed in any desired
position.
The cassette is fixed in the walls. One half of the slide pushes from the right the
other from the left hand of the laboratory. It is placed behind the board and
stands in the place of the overlap.
The springs adjusting the frame, plate, and object glass are fixed on the cassetto,
and may be turned round their fastening points, being thereby enabled to hold the
frame and object glass in any desired position.
The box for the plates consists of a rectangular wooden case, the cover of which
is supplied with two springs. Beneath it is laid a sheet of vellum having exactly
the form of a frame of the cassette, and the size of the plate box (inside). Small
triangular pieces of woollen rag are pasted over this in the corners of the box, and
on this enclosing a plate is laid. On the plate a second enclosing, and so on until
the box is filled. Numerous holes in the sides and cover of the box allow the mois-
ture and vapours to escape.
The water reservoir is made of irou plate, with straps, having the appearance of
a knapsack; it is filled with water through a funnel-shaped cavity on the top,
which can be stopped by a plug; if empty, it is placed in the room of the camera
obscura, but, when filled, on the back of the photographer.
The gum cord of the black cloth on the laboratory describes thereupon a line,
which grazes the upper right cant of the reservoir from the left side of the back,
without touching the reservoir at first on the right side.
The elastic pipe put into the reservoir from the right side is conducted into the
inside of the laboratory, the right hand seizing the pipe before coming into the dark
place.
The gum pipe is located with its self-acting locking arrangement in a deepened
space or recess of the reservoir.
The whole apparatus does not weigh 6 kilogrammes, the walls being only com-
posed of framework, the spaces of which are covered with well tentered linen cloth,
and black and yellow cloth lying under that.
The bottoin of the laboratory is overlaid with wax cloth inside, which guards
the rack and other parts from dirtying by silver, and prevents the light from
penetrating into the camera.
The walls of the latter room are made of solid wood, such as mahogany, which is
strong and durable.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Tiator in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th February
1879.
JOSEPH TIATOR, of Colmar, in Alsace. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE PHOTO-
GRAPHIC APPARATUS."
The greatest difficulty hitherto experienced in making the best use of the land-
scape photograph consists in carrying the necessary apparatus.
Now my Invention has for its object an improved portable photographic labor-
tory and apparatus combining extreme compactness and lightness with a minimum
amount of space.
When being carried this improved apparatus presents the form of a hand trunk,
about 21 inches in length, 12 inches in breadth, and 12" in height (more or
less). In this state, when folded together, two packing spaces or rooms are formed
inside the trunk, in which spaces are stowed away the necessary utensils.
The trunk is held together by straps with handles, which are loosened and the
contents of the trunk taken out when the apparatus is required for use.
Three posts
or legs are fixed to the bottom of the trunk, which is then opened out and adjusted
for use.
And in order that the said Invention may be well understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, reference being made to the accom-
panying Drawing, like letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
Figures.
The first packing space or room a contains, 1, a silver dish; 2, a little chest with
partitions to hold the weighted chemicals, the space remaining above being drawn
off by a black cloth, hereafter described, and still sufficiently large for taking in;
3, the flask with the silver bath; 4, the flask with the developing bath; 5, the flask
with the fixing-on acid; 6, the flask with the strengthening fluid; 7, the developing
handle; 8, the strengthening handles, the two last being formed like brandy glasses,
one placed within the other; 9, the distilling handle; 10, a small funnel.
The second packing space or room b is intended for taking in, 1, a reservoir of
water (with straps), holding about gallons of water; 2, the box for the plates,
say, 1 dozen; 3, a small box to hold the dusting pencil, the cleaning clout or rag,
the silver hook, the filtering basin, blinds, and other trifles.
To ensure the retention of the contents of the flasks and the locking of the
stoppers as much as possible, every flask is covered or shod with two longitudinal
elastic bands (Figs. 2 and 3) and two transverse elastic bands, having a split on
the part where the neck of the flask occurs, one part of the split band being
placed to the right side and the other to the left side of the neck. When the flask
is closed both parts of the band are taken off the neck and laid over the stopper, as
seen in Figure 2.
The trunk is lield by straps with handles, its external appearance giving no indi-
cation of its contents. When required for use the straps are loosened and the
contents taken out. Three bearers, forming parts of a staff hereafter described, are
fixed in position on the bottom. The movable parts of the trunk are turned up
and joined without trouble, all the members thereof being adjusted to one
another.
The two packing rooms before mentioned are separated by a wooden partition
wall consisting of separate parts. The one viewed from the bottle, or flask packing
room will appear like a casket with sliders in layers and springs, this room being
fixed on the sides; but the other part, viewed from the reservoir, becomes similar to
the object glass plate of a camera or dark chamber, which can be slid backwards
and forwards by turning the screw, which is provided for that purpose in the other
packing room immediately before the cassette.
The arrangement of the packing room serviceable for the camera obscura is
bounded by the cassette, the object glass plate, and the walls of the packing room.

page_text: To exclude the light from the intermediate space necessary for the motion back-
wards and forwards of the object glass plate, the walls and the plate are stuffed on
all sides and on the ledges with plush, innumerable hairs, thus filling the inter-
mediate spaces, thereby excluding the light, but allowing the parts to give way to
themselves.
A far greater change has taken place in the packing room of the flasks, the
bottom only being in its former place. This room is made in halves, one above the
other. The lower part of the room is also composed of three parts, 1, the bottom;
2 and 3, the left and right side walls, hinged or jointed to the bottom, and brought
by a drawing clamp placed underneath into such a horizontal position as to increase
the breadth of the bottom and form a point of support.
As regards the upper part of the packing room the half upper side walls are
jointed and turned up similar to the bottom, and to each is further jointed an
additional front piece doubling over on the inside, an arrangement which gives
double the depth, that is to say, the upper part of the packing room is of the same
breadth but nearly as deep again as the lower part (the bottom). This doubling of
the upper part admits of lifting it up, at the place where the operator stands, to a
convenient height above the bottom of the laboratory, where it is supported at its
outer ends by the jointed bearers of square wood a, b, a¹, b', Figure 5, and slopes
downwards towards the cassette, where it is also supported at the outer ends by
simple bearers c, d. The laboratory formed in this way has a suitable breadth,
depth, and height near the operator, where it projects above and in front of the
bearers. This projection, which is of a bow shape, bulges over the operator, so that
his head is not inconvenienced by the black cloth while working.
The black cloth is first nailed on the framework of the cassette, so as to form a
squared embrasure or cutting out, after which the fixing is continued along the
outlines of the cover or top part of packing room, along the bearers, and entirely on
the bottom.
To admit the necessary light into the laboratory the black cloth is cut out on the
cover as far as it is nailed on the side walls, and its place filled by a yellow cloth
(silk is preferable). Towards the operator the cloth is borne only by the lengthening
of the cover, without being fixed, and extends forwards beyond the laboratory in
the shape of a bag, the corresponding part of which is also fixed upon the bottom of
the workroom.
The bottom of the laboratory is protected from the penetration of light by a
waterproof stuff (cloth or skin) in lieu of the cloth described. The disengaged
end of the black cloth is formed or supplied with an elastic locking opening, and
as the black cloth enlarges itself the further it is from the cassette, it is at last
spacious enough to admit at first the right arm and afterwards the head through
the elastic locking, and enable a direct view and commodious manipulation to
be made in the inside without permitting the entrance of the light. The elastic
locking presses the cloth closely to the body of the operator from the left shoulder,
over breast and back, to the right arm, so that light cannot pass to the inside.
The left hand, which is less occupied, and cannot be put in from this side because
of the confined space, is admitted on the left side of the laboratory by a small
sleeve hole.
In Figure 4 a, a, are the doublings of the upper side walls of the flask packing
room; b, the doubling of the front side; c, the front wall or door; d, d', the upper
half side walls; e, e¹, the lower half side walls; f, the cover or top part; g, the
cassette with camera; x, the bottom. The outside and inside joints shewn by dotted
and full lines respectively are:-m. m, joining part a with the horizontal cover over
the head; h, h', part f with the camera g; i, i', the side part & with f; k, k¹, the
lengthening of the side part with d; 1, 1, part c with part f; n, n', part c of the
same part; o, o¹, the horizontal cover with the bulging above the head of the
operator; p, p, part x with part e, e¹; q', ql, are the side clamps before described,
coupling parts a an c; r, r, similar clamps coupling the horizontal cover and its

page_text: bulging; u, u, the slides of the washing apparatus. Coarse linen is extended over
the black and yellow cloth, according to the external appearance of the trunk.
The washing apparatus, which is intended to hold at first the rincing water, and
after to allow the same to escape, is located at the end of the laboratory before
the operator, and fixed inside the workroom, above the black cloth. It consists of
that stuff similar to skin, which is used to preserve sponges in a humid condition.
The breadth becomes less towards the operator, where the stuff is fixed on two
lides u, u, movable in the bottom of the workroom.
If the operator purposes to develop, fix on, strengthen, or otherwise, he draws
out the two slides u into the position of u¹, u', in which they will be kept firm by
means of two projecting rings. The cloth beneath the slides will thereby form a
tray-shaped cavity, having its deepest point in v, where an india-rubber (or other)
pipe is inserted and fastened. This fastening is very simple, a short metal tube
being stuck in the pipe to stiffen its sides. The pipe is then put through the black
cloth and through the stuff with which it is joined or made water-tight by winding
it round with a cord.
When the washing apparatus has been used, the two slides are thrown back, and
the apparatus being thereby raked up together, can be stowed away in the packing
room.
When
To form a support to the above trunk or portable photographic apparatus, I use a
foot, which is appariently nothing more than a cane, but consists of an iron gas pipe
furnished at the head with a handle, and at the lower end with a ferrule.
these end parts are removed by unscrewing them, the cane or pipe separates longi-
tudinally into three equal parts, forming three posts or legs, which are mortised into
the corresponding parts on the bottom of the trunk, and screwed fast thereat. These
posts or legs are nearly 4 feet in length.
The separate parts have a great capacity for bearing in consequence of their
material and form; they do not spring, and cannot be bent without considerable
force.
It now remains to describe the manner in which this arrangement is practically
worked and utilised.
The apparatus is adjusted by the screw x upon the cassette (see Figures 60 and 6b).
This screw carries a tooth wheel gearing into a rack attached to the board of the
object glass. The screw x also actuates two balance wheels (right and left handed)
a and b, into which gear respectively two corresponding springs & and e, between
which in the middle is located a lever f, whereby the springs d and e can be brought
simultaneously into (or out of) gear with the balance wheels a and b.
After having adjusted the apparatus the lever f will be turned parallel to or clear
of the springs d and e (Fig. 6b), the pawls i and biting on the right and left side
of the balance wheels a and b, so that the object board cannot be moved backwards
or forwards until the lever f is brought at right angles to or in contact with the
springs d and e, as shewn in full lines. Even the cassette differs from the usual
construction. This construction is trimmed and fixed in the walls, and cannot be
moved at any time.
In Figures 7, 7b, 7º, a, a, is the fastened cassette; b, b, the frame; c, c, the
springs c, cl, in a changed position; d, d, the two slides drawn out; e, e, the two
pairs of over-hanging lists on the slides to regulate the motion in f; g, g, the two
bearers of the cover or top part of packing room; h, the rack and list of the motion;
¿, its joining point to the object glass board; k, the adjusting screw; 1, the object
glass board movable up and down in m; n, the object glass; o, the cover or top
part; p, the bottom (of the laboratory).
The slide d is in halves, one half pushed from the right, the other from the left
hand of the laboratory. It has also its place, not in front, but behind the board,
and stands in the place of the overlap. The springs putting the frame plate and
glass of sight in their right positions are also different in form and position. They
are not stationed at the slide, but fixed on the cassette, and may be turned round

page_text: its fastening point, being thereby able to hold at any time the frames with the plate.
and glass of sight in the desired position. The two springs have their points of
torsion at the right and left side to protect them from damage by the nitrate of
silver underneath.
If the sensibilized plate is in the cassette the two slides d, d, are closed, and
coming closely together at their line of meeting or contact in the middle, they per-
fectly guard the plate in case the light should penetrate into the laboratory while
the operator is going out of it.
It is of great advantage to the travelling operator if the varnishing of the plate
can be done afterwards at home, to accomplish which the plates must be made so
that no plate touches another by means of grooves or slits, into which the plates are
fitted, a construction which entails considerable waste of space.
My box for the plates is composed of a rectangular wooden case exactly the size
in the clear of the plates.
The cover is supplied with two springs, their ends crossing one another in the
middle. The four ends strike the four joints or corners of the plate box. Beneath
it is laid a big sheet of vellum having exactly the form of a frame of the cassette,
and the inside size of the plate box; a small triangular piece of woollen rag is pasted
on the two sides of the four joints by means of hard sealing-wax or other substance
insoluble in water. These little rags answer the points of regression in the cassette,
and do not hurt any part of the image. On this enclosing a plate is laid, on this
plate a second enclosing, and so on until the plate box is filled. The first plate lays
inwards, and the four springs meet with the plates at a point where they are best
kept from breaking. Numerous holes may be made in the walls and in the bottom
and cover for letting out any water and steam that may accumulate.
The water reservoir, if empty, is always placed in the camera room.
After being
filled the reservoir is placed on the back of the photographer or his assistant. The
elastic pipe from the right side of the reservoir is conducted into the inside of the
laboratory by holding it with the right hand before coming into the dark space.
The reservoir illustrated by the perspective view, Figure 8, is made of galvanized
iron or other metal plate, presenting externally the appearance of a knapsack. Its
top or cover cannot be taken off, the water being poured into the reservoir through
a round cavity d like a funnel, which is stopped by a plug.
a, a, is the back of the water reservoir; b, b, the side touching on transport the
right shoulder; c, c, the two straps; d, the cavity similar to a funnel in the top;
e, the plug; f, the door of sheet metal movable by the turning joint g and closed
on h; i, a rectangular cavity in the reservoir closed by the slide of sheet metal k.
Fig. 9 represents,―
a, a, and b, b, two double arms or levers, which do not cross themselves, but have
a common centre of motion in c; d, d, a strong springs to keep the longer arms of
the two levers apart and the shorter arms together; e, e, two forks or wedge-like
pieces projecting from the levers, their dulled edges fronting one another; f, f, two
metal boxes on the lever b, serving as guides to the elastic pipe. The elastic pipe
of the reservoir is located at the same time with its self-acting locking in a deepened
space i of the water reservoir, which is closed by a slide k (Fig. 8). The funnel at
the top is closed by a door f of sheet metal.
The object glass will be borne in a covering of leather by means of shoulder straps
like a telescope on the side.
Relative to the camera obscura,—
Notwithstanding the hermetical locking before described it is to be expected that
a partial wearing of the plush will take place, and that the influence of heat and
humidity would be disturbing. To anticipate these difficulties I have constructed a
shed (or shield), consisting of an hermetical stuff of the same length and breadth as
the four walls at this part; one side being long, is furnished with a slot, in which
a cord is allowed to pass; the two short sides are sewn together, and the other long
side is nailed on the head of the four side walls of the chamber. Already the side
of the slide was supplied with a cutting-out, archwise, having the object glass at

page_text: its centre, now follows the slide itself. If the cloth is now packed inside, the shelter
of plush has on every side a hanging, but if one works the object glass in the
midst of the locking, the object board being pushed before the object glass fastened
on it.
To come undisturbed to the blind the slide behind it is fixed with the cord. In
this way it is impossible for the light to enter the special room of the camera.
The whole trunk with all its appendages is of very trifling weight, the walls being
only composed of framework, the spaces of which are covered with well-tentered linen
cloth, and black and yellow cloth under that. The bottom of the laboratory is over-
laid with wax cloth, inside which guards the rack and gear from dirtying by silver,
and prevents also the light from penetrating into the camera. Only the walls of the
camera room are made of solid wood.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and therefore
claim as my Invention, is,-
1. The entire construction, combination, and arrangement of portable photo-
graphic apparatus, substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated by the
accompanying Drawing.
2. The method of locking or securing the stoppers of the flasks, substantially as
herein before described, and illustrated by the accompanying Drawing.
3. The construction and use of the posts or legs in combination with the portable
photographic apparatus, substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated by
the accompanying Drawing.
4. The construction and use of the plate box, substantially as herein-before
described.
5. The construction and use of the water reservoir, substantially as herein-before
described, and illustrated by the accompanying Drawing,
6. The method and appliances for locking the elastic pipe of the water reservoir,
substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawing.
7. The application and use of the shed in combination with the camera obscura;
substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Tiator, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
JOSEPH TIATOR. (L.S.)