Improvements in Apparatus for Producing an Instantaneous "Flash" Light for Photographio Purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 7th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 7th Mar,
1896
Improvements in Apparatus for Producing an Instantaneous "Flash"
Light for Photographio Purposes.
1, CHARLES AMBROSE M°Evoy, of 69 Victoria Street, Westminster, in the
County of Middlesex, Engiucci, do hereby declare the nature of thus invention to
be as follows:-
Various ways are now adopted for producing a "flash" of light for photographic
purposes by projecting magnesium powder through the flame of a lamp but all
have attendant disadvantages.
By my invention provide apparatus for obtaining a flash light in this way
which is not only certain in its action but 18 also cleanly and readily and quickly
prepared for use.
I form the apparatus of a base plate having at one of its ends a spring chip oi
holder to carry a short candle having two, three or more wicks 'a line and at a
distance apart from one another so as when ignited to produce a broad sheet of
flame through which I cause magnesium powder to be projected-the candles may
conveniently be made up of three or moio short lengths of candle of small diameter
stuck together side by side The candle will burn for a sufficient length of time
and when one has been burnt out another can readily be put in its place
The magnesium powder to be projected through the flame 1 place into a tubular
holder which is directed towards the flame and which can be slidden eudwise to
and fro within a cylinder fixed to the base plate. At the back of the tubular holder
I place a coiled spring which tends to throw the holder forwards towards the flame.
I also provide the holder with a stem projecting backwards from it by which it
can be drawn back and also provide a spring catch for retaining the stem when
drawn back. When the tubulai holder is held back in this way the requisite
quantity of magnesium powder can be poured into it-and if the candle has been
lighted the "flash" can at any time be produced by releasing the spring catch
either by depressing it by the finger or by pulling a cord or other wise-the coiled
spring then throws the tubular holder quickly forwards and the powder by its
momentum is projected through the flame. The apparatus can either be held in
the hand or rest on a table or be fixed to a pole or otherwise and can be held
either horizontally or vertically without interfering with its action.
In place of employing a powder holder which 18 thrown forwards to project the
powder into the flame a fixed holder might be used formed with a passage pro-
jecting forwards for a distance from its rear end and leading to a nozzle having a
Bexible pipe extending from it to an elastic ball by quickly compressing which a
blast of air may be directed into the rear end of the powder holder and the powder
be thereby blown forwards into the flame.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Producing an Instantaneous "Flash"
Light for Photographic Purposes.
I, CHARLES AMBROSE McEvoy, of 69 Victoria Street, Westminster, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, 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:-
Various ways are now adopted for producing a "flash" of light for photographic
purposes by projecting magnesium powder though the flame of a lamp but all have
attendant disadvantages.
By my invention I provide apparatus for obtaining a flush light in this way
which is not only certain in its action but is also cleanly and readily and quickly
prepared for use.
I form the apparatus of a base plate having at one of its ends a spring clip or
holder to carry two three or more wax tapers or matches or a short candle having
two, three or more wicks in a line and at a distance apart from one another so as
when ignited to produce a broad sheet of flame though which I cause magnesium
powder to be projected-the candles may conveniently be made up of three or more
The candle
short lengths of candle of small diameter stuck together side by side
will burn for a sufficient length of time and when one has been buint out another
can readily be put in its place.
"
The magnesium ponder to be projected through the flame I place into a tubular
holder which 15 dnected towards the flame and which can be slidden entwise to and
fro within a cylinder fixed to the base plate. At the back of the tubular holder
I place a coiled sping which tends to thow the holder for wards towards the Hame.
I also provide the holder with a stem projecting backwards from it by which it can
be drawn back and also provide a sping catch for retaining the stem when diawn
back A piston fitting within the cylinder may be substituted for the tubular
holder. When the tubular holder or piston is held back in this way the requisite
quantity of magnesium powder can be poured into the cylinder and if the caudle
lias been lighted the "flash can at any time be produced by releasing the spring
catch either by dopressing it by the finger or by pulling a cold or otherwise-the
coiled sping then throws the tubulai holder or piston quickly forwards and the
The apparatus can
powder by its momentum 19 projected through the flame
either be held in the hand on est on a table or be fixed to a pole or otherwise and
can be held either horizontally or vertically without interfering with its action.
In place of employing a powder holder which is thrown for wards to project the
powder into the flame a fixed holder might be used and the powder be blown from
it by quickly compressing an elastic ball and thereby directing a blast of air into
the rear end of the powder holder.
In the diawing annexed I have shewn two oxamples of apparatus constructed
according to my invention―
Figure 1 is a vertical section and Figure 2 a plan of one example and Figures 3
and 4 are similar views of the other.
Figure 5 is an end view of the tubular holder of the apparatus shewn i0
Figure 3.
In Figures 1 and 2 A is the base plate with holders A' at one end to carry
three or other number of wax matches or tapers B. C is the cylinder secured to
the base plate by a support C. D is a piston or it might be a hollow tubular
holder fitting within the cylinder D' is a stem projecting backwards from the
piston and extending through the rear end of the cylinder. E is a nut screwed on
to the rear end of the stem D'. F 18 a coiled spring surrounding the stem and
bearing at its ends against the piston and rear end of the cylinder. When the

page_text: piston D is drawn back within the cylinder by drawing back the nut E into the
position shewn by dotted lines in Figure 1 the coiled spring 18 compressed and a
projection on the spring catch G comes in front of the nut and holds back the
piston. By pressing upon the rear end of the spring G the nut can be released
and the piston will then be thrown forwards by the coiled spring F.
In the apparatus shewn at Figures 3, 4 and 5 A is the base plate A' the holders
for tapers or matches and C the fixed cylinder-at its rear end the cylinder 18 tapered
as shewn so as to form a nozzle. G is a hollow elastic ball carried by the nozzle.
His a partition fixed across the cylinder near its rear end and closing this ond
with the exception of a narrow opening between its lower end and the cylinder.
I is a small ball serving as a valve to close the passage through the nozzle when
the apparatus is turned into a vertical position with the front end of the cylinder
uppermost.
When the apparatus is turned into this position the requisite quantity of
magnesium powder can be poured in the cylinder the ball valve I then preventing
the powder from entering the clastic ball G. The apparatus can then be placed
into a horizontal or other position and the powder be ejected from the holder
whenever required by quickly compressing the elastic ball and thereby blowing
the powder forwards
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 18:
1. Apparatus constructed substantially as herembefore described and illustrated
at Figures 1 and 2 for producing an instantaneous flash light.
2. Apparatus constructed substantially as bei einbefore described and illustrated
at Figures 3, 4 and 5 for producing an instantaneous flash light.
Dated this 6th day of February 1896.
C. A. M°EVOY.