Improvements in Apparatus for use in Developing Photographic Plates or Films.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 14th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for use in Developing Photographic
Plates or Films.
EDGAR FAIRWEATHER, 218, Devonshire Road, Forest Hill, in the County of
Kent, Commercial Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
It consists of a dish with a transparent non-actinic bottom and top, the top
removable so as to allow of the plate being taken in and out of the dish & when
in position to be proof against white light.
At the side, or otherwise if preferred, I place a funnel, or more than one if
convenient of suitable shape and size, communicating with the inside of the dish by
means of a pipe and tap, I also place a cover on the funnel to prevent white light
penetrating to the inside of the dish.
A waste pipe is also fitted to the bottom of the dish to allow of its being
emptied.
:
To develop a plate is placed in the dish in a dark bag or box and the lid placed
in position, the dish may then be taken into daylight.
Solutions or water can be introduced into the dish by means of the funnel or
funnels, & extracted by means of the waste pipe.
Development is watched through the coloured glass in the lid.
If a piece of looking glass is placed under the bottom of the dish at an angle,
development can also be regulated from that point.
Dated this 15th day of April 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for use in Developing Photographic
Plates or Films.
I, EDGAR FAIRWEATHER, of 218, Devonshire Road, Forest Hill, in the County
of Kent, 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 relates to an apparatus for the development of photographic plates
or films without a dark room, and consists of a dish with transparent non-actinic
bottom and top, the top removable, so as to allow the plate to be taken in and out
of the dish, and when in position, to be proof against white light.
At the side or otherwise if preferred I place a funnel or more than one if
convenient, of suitable shape and size, communicating with the inside of the dish by
means of a pipe and tap. I also place a cover on the funnel, to prevent white light
penetrating to the inside of the dish. A waste pipe is also fitted to the bottom of
the dish, to allow of its being emptied.
To develope, a plate is placed in the dish by means of a dark bag or. box, and
the lid placed in position, the dish may then be taken into daylight.
Solutions or water can then be introduced into the dish by means of the funnel or
funnels, and extracted by means of the waste pipe. Development is watched through
the transparent non-actinic top. If a piece of looking glass is placed under the
bottom of the dish at an angle development can also be regulated from that point,

page_text: And in order that my said invention may be the better understood, I will proceed
to explain the same with reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is side elevation of apparatus constructed according to my invention.
Fig. 2. end elevation.
Fig. 3, plan, the top and cover of the dish being opened.
The same letters denote the same parts in all the figures.
A is the dish, with transparent non-actinic botton (K) Fig. 3, and top (I Fig. 3).
B. B. funnels through which by way of pipes D. D. solutions or water are intro-
duced into the dish A.
C. C. covers on top of funnels D. D. to prevent white light from penetrating to
the inside of the dish. E. waste pipe, fitted with a cock or tap E', to allow of the
dish A being emptied when required.
When a plate or film is to be developed, it is placed in the dish A, by means of a
dark bag or box, or in a dark room, the top I and cover N are then closed, and the.
dish may be taken into daylight.
The cover N is made of metal or other non-transparent material, and is secured
by hinge or similar fastening to the top I of the dish A.
In Fig. 3, the cover N is secured to the top I by wire M, upon which it is free to
turn.
The top I and bottom K of the dish are of transparent non-actinic substance,
preferably ruby glass, or glass of other colour, which will not allow white light to
enter the dish.
The top I may be composed of glass or transparent material, of a different colour
from the bottom K, for instance, yellow, if required, to facilitate accurate inspection
of the process of development.
If the top I is made of yellow glass, which I prefer, as development is more easily
watched through yellow than ruby glass, I have found it necessary, in order to
prevent "fogging" of the plate from excess of light, to add the opaque cover N.
The pipes D. D. from the funnels terminate in branches L. L. (see Fig. 3) the
solutions or water passing into the dish through the said branches, which prevent
the entrance of white light. The apparatus may be mounted on a suitable stand.
In Figs. 1 and 2, the standards F. F. are provided with bearings at the top to
support the dish. In order to give the requisite motion to the dish during the time
the plates or films are developing, the pendulum H, suspended by cord G, is attached
to the dish, and being set in motion, obviates the necessity of the operator remaining
to manipulate the dish, the rocking movement being given to it by the pendulum.
To ascertain the progress of the development, the cover N may be raised,
rendering the plate or film visible through the transparent top I.
A piece of looking glass or other reflecting surface may be placed at a suitable
angle under the bottom K of the dish, to facilitate inspection of the plates or films
during development.
The bottom of the dish may be of yellow glass, and, a plate of ruby glass may be
arranged to slide underneath it, or may be mounted in a suitable frame hinged to
the bottom of the dish, so that yellow light may be substituted for red, when the
plate is nearly developed, if desired.
An opaque plate may be fitted to the bottom of the dish, by hinges or other
suitable means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(I.) In an apparatus for developing photographic plates or other substances
carrying a sensitive film, the use of a dish having a transparent non-actinic top and
bottom, and provided with a means of admitting to and drawing off therefrom
solutions or water, without exposing the plate under development to any injurious
light, substantially as described.

page_text: (II.) The improved apparatus for developing photographic plates or other
substances, carrying a sensitive film, substantially as described and shown.
Dated the 13th day of February 1891.
ERNEST SALAMAN,
Registered Patent Agent,
65 & 66, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.