IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE DARK TENTS OR CHAMBERS FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Willis, of Stocksbridge Works, near Sheffield,
in the County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE DARK TENTS OR CHAMBERS FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Willis at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th July
1865.
I, JAMES WILLIS, of Stocksbridge Works, near Sheffield, in the County of
York, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE DARK TENTS OR CHAMBERS FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS,'
to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of
portable dark tents or chambers for photographers. For these purposes a
number of ribs, by preference of steel, are used, at the upper ends they are
attached to the top notch of a tube capable of sliding on a rod or stick. The
lower ends of these ribs are pin jointed to the outer ends of stretchers, the
inner ends of which are attached to a notched ring fixed on a tube or runner,
which is capable of being moved up and down freely on the stick or rod, so
that when this tube is slid upwards the stretchers and ribs will come towards
the stick or rod, and when the tube is at its highest position the stretchers
and ribs will lie against the stick or rod. At the upper end of the stick or

page_text: rod is fixed a top notch, in which the ends of suspending wires are attached
in like manner to that in which the ends of the ribs of umbrellas are attached
to the top notch of an umbrella, or these suspending wires may be otherwise
attached. These suspending wires are at their other ends pin jointed to the
ribs at some distance from where the upper ends of the ribs are attached to
the upper sliding tube, hence when such tube (to which the upper ends of
the ribs are attached, yet so as to move freely) is slid down a short distance,
and the lower tube to which the inner ends of the stretchers are attached is
slid to its lowest position, the ribs will be suspended from the top of the stick
or rod, and will take a curved form like the ribs of an umbrella. In this
manner may the frame of a dark chamber or tent be formed, which will fold
into a small compass, and be comparatively light. It is preferred that a tent
should not exceed from a quarter to one half of the circle. The stretchers
form when opened out a horizontal frame, which being covered forms a
surface on which a sink and other vessels may be placed. The frame is
covered with a fabric lined with black cotton, velvet, or other fabric capable
of preventing the passage of light into the interior of the tent or chamber.
An apron is formed to the tent suitable for surrounding the person, as has
heretofore been the case with other forms of portable tents or dark rooms or
chambers. Light is let into the tent through yellow cloth or fabric inserted
at suitable parts of the tent, as has heretofore been the case.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Willis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
January 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
WILLIS, of Stocksbridge Works, near Sheffield, in the County of York, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Willis, Her special licence that I, the said James Willis, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Willis, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully.might make, use, exercise,. and.

page_text: "
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF PORTABLE DARK TENTS OR CHAMBERS FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Willis, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Willis, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of
portable dark tents or chambers for photographers. For these purposes a
number of ribs, by preference of steel, are used, at the upper ends they are
attached to the top notch of a tube capable of sliding on a rod or stick. The
lower ends of these ribs are pin jointed to the outer ends of stretchers, the
inner ends of which are attached to a notched ring fixed on a tube or runner,
which is capable of being moved up and down freely on the stick or rod, so
that when this tube is slid upwards the stretchers and ribs will come towards
the stick or rod, and when the tube is at its highest position the stretchers
and ribs will lie against the stick or rod. At the upper end of the stick or
rod is fixed a top notch, in which the ends of suspending wires are attached
in like manner to that in which the ends of the ribs of umbrellas are attached
to the top notch of an umbrella, or these suspending wires may be otherwise
attached. These suspending wires are at their other ends pin jointed to the
ribs at some distance from where the upper ends of the ribs are attached to
the upper sliding tube, hence when such tube (to which the upper ends of the
ribs are attached, yet so as to move freely) is slid down a short distance, and
the lower tube to which the inner ends of the stretchers are attached is slid
to its lowest position, the ribs will be suspended from the top of the stick or
rod, and will take a curved form like the ribs of an umbrella. In this
manner may the frame of a dark chamber or tent be formed, which will fold
into a small compass, and be comparatively light. It is preferred that a tent
should not exceed from a quarter to one half of the circle. The stretchers form
when opened out a horizontal frame, which being covered forms a surface on
which a sink and other vessels may be placed. The frame is covered with a

page_text: formed to the tent suitable for surrounding the person, as has heretofore been
the case with other forms of portable tents, or dark rooms or chambers.
Light is let into the tent through yellow cloth or fabric inserted at suitable
parts of the tent, as has heretofore been the case.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the principal parts of the frame of a
portable dark tent or chamber for photographers as when in use constructed
according to my Invention; Figure 2 shows some of the parts when out of
use and in a condition to be transported.
I have not thought it necessary to show the frame covered with fabric such
as is ordinarily used in the construction of dark tents, as the manner of
forming and fixing the covering and also the apron or cover for the person in
front of the tent will be readily understood by a workman acquainted with
such work, aided by the description herein given, and he will readily make
and apply the same to a frame constructed according to my Invention. The
form of the frame may in carrying out my Invention be to some extent varied,
but it essentially consists of ribs, stretchers, and upright or pole combined
together, so as to fold closely together when out of use, and to expand when
for use. The Drawing shows a very convenient arrangement and form of a
dark tent or chamber according to my Invention.
a is a strong upright or pole, which at its lower end is to be formed with
three legs, or to be capable of being readily driven into and fixed in or other-
wise secured on the ground; b, b, b, are ribs, which should be of elastic
naterial which will bend and again assume the straight form. It is preferred
that these ribs should be of steel, and of sections such as are used in making ribs
for umbrellas, but of greater substance than is usually employed in proportion
to the sizes of dark tents desired to be made according to my Invention. The
ipper ends of these ribs are attached to a moveable runner c, similar to those
used in umbrellas. The upper parts of the ribs are suspended by suspending
wires or rods d, d, to a fixed top notch or other suitable instrument on the top of
the pole or stick a. The runner c is upheld when up by a spring stop similar to
those used in umbrellas, but other forms of supports may be employed for this
purpose; e, e, e, are stretchers, oue to cach rib. The inuer end of each stretcher e
is attached to a runner f, which when the frame is expanded for use is supported

page_text: by a spring or other suitable stop or support. On these stretchers e, e, a
fabric of flexible covering is fixed, and thus is a horizontal platform or table
produced to receive a sink, baths, and chemicals used in dark tents in the
process of photography. The ribs and upper parts of the frame are to be
covered with suitable fabric, as when covering an umbrella, using fabrics
which will shut out the light, at the same time a small window or windows of
suitable color is or are to be formed in the covering fabrics. The covering
fabrics applied to the stretchers in order to form a table or surface, as above
mentioned, are to be such as to exclude the light. When the tent is used, in
order to give firmness to the horizontal frame or table, and at the same time
to keep the lower ends of the ribs from approaching each other when the
tent is expanded, I use a piece of stiff tubing or rod, so that the stretchers may
rest on it, and the two outermost ribs and stretchers be fastened to the ends
of the said tube or rod. In front of the tent the horizontal table or surface
of which it is preferred should not exceed half a circle, there is to be formed
an apron, such as has before been applied in other constructions of portable
dark tents.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Willis, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
JAMES WILLIS. (LS.)