IMPROVEMENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS
Year: 1885

page_text: I JAMES THOMSON of No 21 High Park Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Photographer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS " to be as follows:-
My present invention is more particularly applicable to a certain make of Camera
known as the Kenncar Camera but may also be used in connection with other
Cameras. It is important that all Cameras be as strongly made as possible and also
fold up in the smallest possible space, and the Kennear Camera has always been
considered more portable than any other make, but when made in its most portable
form it has three defects which I claim to have remedied by my invention. My
first improvement is that of a handle attached to the focussing screw that propels
the bellows backwards or forwards; which handle is so jointed that when not in
use it can be straightened out at right angles to the focussing screw and be entirely
hidden from view in the wooden frame that forms the back and bottom of the
Camera. When it is required to use the handle it is moved outwards from its recess
in the frame and the joint that connects the handle with the focussing screw is
covered and made perfectly rigid by a thin sliding tube. The other two joints
being connected together in any suitable way. I thus form a fixed and perfect
handle that cannot be lost or mislaid as is frequently the case with handles that
are detached from the focussing screw when not in use.
A further part of my invention is that of preventing the top part of the bellows
of the camera (when the swing back is being used more especially in taking archi-
tectural views) from obstructing the light between the lens and the prepared plate
in the back of the Camera-the tendency of the bellows to sink down being one
of the great defects of the Kennear and other Cameras. To remedy this I take a
small metal tube with a rod inside; the forward end of the rod I put in a small
catch in the inside frame of the Camera over the lens and the further end of the
tube has a small knob hook or equivalent attachment that is fastened to a small
catch over the prepared plate in the back frame of the Camera and thus the bellows
are kept up in a straight line and will slide backwards and forwards as required
without obstructing the light or view which is obviously of great importance in the
use of the Camera.
I further improve the Kennear Camera by providing means for lengthening the
focus to a greater extent than has been possible heretofore. I do this by providing

page_text: an extra loose length of focussing screw which can be applied at will to the ordinary
focussing screw. I give rigid support to the forward portion of the Camera bearing
the lens when the larger focus is required by fitting additional movable guides on
the sides of ordinary stationary and movable frames. In action the movable frame
is pushed forward by the focussing screw and takes hold by means of catches of the
additional pieces and carries them the required distance for giving the necessary
support. After use when the lengthened focus is not required the additional pieces
are carried back again to their former place.
Another modification of appliances for admitting of great elongation of Camera
consists of loose grooved pieces which on being fitted into sockets in the stationary
frame support the sliding frame and the parts over it.

page_text: I JAMES THOMSON of 21 High Park Street Liverpool in the County of Lancaster
Photographer, 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 present invention is more particularly applicable to a certain make of Camera
known as the Kennear Camera, but may also be used in connection with other
cameras. It is important that all Cameras be as strongly made as possible, and
also fold up in the smallest possible space, and the Kennear Camera has always been
considered more portable than any other make, but when made in its most portable
form it has three defects which I claim to have remedied by my invention. My
first improvement is that of a handle attached to the focussing screw that propels
the bellows backwards or forwards, which handle is so jointed that when not in
use it can be straightened out at right angles to the focussing screw and be entirely
hidden from view in the wooden frame that forms the back and bottom of the
Camera. When it is required to use the handle it is moved outwards from its
recess in the frame and the joint that connects the handle with the focussing screw
is covered and made perfectly rigid by a thin sliding tube. The other two joints
being connected together in any suitable way. I thus form a fixed and perfect
handle that cannot be lost or mislaid as is frequently the case with handles that
are detached from the focussing screw when not in use.
A further part of. my invention is that of preventing the top part of the bellows
of the Camera (when the swing back is being used more especially in taking archi-
tectural views) from obstructing the light between the lens and the prepared plate
in the back of the Camera, the tendency of the bellows to sink down being one of
the great defects of the Kennear and other Cameras. To remedy this I take a
small metal tube with a rod inside, the forward end of the rod I put in a small catch
in the inside frame of the Camera over the lens and the further end of the tube has
a small knob hook or equivalent attachment that is fastened to a small catch over
the prepared plate in the back frame of the Camera, and thus the bellows are kept
up in a straight line and will slide backwards and forwards as required without
obstructing the light or view which is obviously of great importance in the use of
the Camera
I further improve the Kinnear Camera by providing means for lengthening the
focus to a greater extent than it has been possible heretofore. I do this by pro-
viding an extra loose length of focussing screw which can be applied at will to the
ordinary focussing screw. I give the required support to the forward portion of
the Camera bearing the lens when the larger focus is required by fitting movable
guides on the sides of the ordinary stationary and movable frames, in action the
movable frame is pushed forward by the focussing screw, and taken hold by means
of catches of the additional pieces and carries them the required distance for giving
the necessary support. After use when the lengthened focus is not required the
additional pieces are carried back again to their former place. Another modification

page_text: of appliances for admitting of great elongation of Camera consists of loose grooved
pieces which on being fitted into sockets in the stationary frame support the sliding
fraine, and the parts over it.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, and fig. 2 a plan of so much of a photographic
camera as is necessary to illustrate the method of carrying my improvements into
effect. 1 Camera frame, 2 back of Camera, 3 inside frame or lense carrier, 4 bellows,
5 focussing screw, 6 and 7 slides. The first part of my improvements is illustrated
by the construction of the focussing screw handle which is made in three parts
8. 9. and 10 pivotted together and held in the position shown in fig. 1 when in use
or in the position shown in fig. 2 when the Camera is to be packed by means of the
sliding ferrule 11.
The second part of my invention is illustrated by the telescopic tube and
rod 12. 13 which is fitted to catches 14. 15 on the inside frame or lense carrier 3
over the lens, and the back frame 2.
The Camera may be shortened or lengthened whilst the telescopic support is in
place, and the bellows are thereby prevented from hanging downward obstructing
the sight.
The third part of my invention is illustrated by the construction of the focussing
screw 5 in two parts 5. 5* the latter of which is made with a screw piece at its end
which fits into the screw 5, and form a continuation thereof. The frame 1 is also
made with the slides 6. 7 to allow of it being lengthened sufficiently.
A further modification of my invention is illustrated by the plan fig. 3 where
instead of two slides 6. 7 a single slide 16 and lengthening pieces 17 are used. The
pieces 17 are made with dowels which fit into sockets in the frame.
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
I claim is
First. Constructing the focussing screws of Photographic Cameras with jointed
handles and retaining ferrule or equivalent substantially as setforth.
Second. Combining with Photographic Cameras telescopic bellows supports sub-
stantially as setforth.
Third. Constructing Photographic Cameras with an additional attachable and
detachable focussing screw, and focussing appliances substantially as setforth.
Dated this 24th day of October 1885.