Improvements in Photographic Cameras and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 27th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 29th Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras and the like.
I JAMES COLE, Licensed Victualler, of Farleigh Hotel, Amhurst Road, Stoke
Newington, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention for improvements in photographic cameras and the like has for its
object to provide the camera with a rising and falling front whereby the lens or
lenses can be placed while focussing at the extreme top edge of any plate or film
so that the principal object in the photograph can be produced on any desired part
of the sensitized plate or film and the greatest possible advantages secured in
photographing high buildings and the like.
Hitherto in cameras with rising and falling fronts the lens has been attached to
a front sliding in grooves in the end of the camera body so that the rising and
falling motion of the lens was comparatively small.
Now in a camera constructed according to this invention, the lens is attached to
a flexible front consisting preferably of a number of flat slats mounted on a flexible
back and sliding in grooves at the sides of the camera body and extending from top
to bottom of the front end of the body and some distance backwards. The front is
of such size that when the lens is at the top the lower edge of the flexible front
is at the bottom of the camera body and when the lens is at the bottom the top
edge of the flexible front is at the top of the camera body. When moving the
front its ends being guided by the grooves pass over the top or under the bottom as
the case may be so as to leave no vertical projections.
The sliding front is preferably operated by rack and pinion mechanism. A shaft
carrying two pinions is attached to the front just above or below the lens and racks
are attached to the front of the body at its two sides so as to gear with the two
pinions.
Dand thin 14th do- of March 1901
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras and the like.
I, JAMES COLE, Licensed Victualler, of Farleigh Hotel, Amhurst Road, Stoke
Newington, in the County of Middlesex 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 :-
This invention, for improvements in photographic cameras and the like, has for
its object to provide the camera with a rising and falling front, whereby the lens,.
or lenses, can be placed, while focussing, opposite the extreme top or bottom edge
or part of the sensitised plate or surface so that the principal or selected object in
the photograph can be produced on any desired part of the sensitised surface,
and the greatest possible advantage secured in photographing high buildings or
objects.

page_text: Hitherto in cameras provided with rising and falling fronts the lens has been
attached to a rigid front sliding in grooves in the end of the camera body, and the
rising and falling motion of the lens was comparatively small.
According to my present invention the lens (or lenses) is attached to a flexible
front consisting, preferably, of a number of flat, or partly flat, slats or strips
mounted on a flexible back and sliding in grooves at the sides of the camera body,
and extending from top and bottom of the lens board over the top and bottom
of the camera front and some distance backwards. This flexible front is of such
size that when the lens is moved upwards to its highest position the lower edge
of the flexible front is at the bottom of the camera body, and when the lens is
placed at its lowest position, the top edge of the flexible front is at the top of the
camera body.
When moving this front its ends, being guided by the grooves, pass over the.
top, or under the bottom of the camera body, as the case may be, thus avoiding any
vertical projections.
A
The flexible front is preferably operated by rack and pinion mechanism
shaft carrying two pinions, or formed as one long pinion, is attached to the lens
board or solid front, above or below the lens, and racks are attached to the front
of the camera body at its two sides, so as to gear with the pinion shaft.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a front elevation of a camera with my flexible front applied.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same; and
Figure 3 is a plan view, showing the flexible front extended partly over the top
of the camera.
a represents the front of the camera body, provided with a large central opening.
On either side of this front is a vertical strip c, which forms a grooved for the
flexible front f³ to work in, the strips and grooves extending a short distance
on the top and under sides of the camera body in order that the flexible front in its
movements may conform to the shape of the camera body, and not project vertically
above or below, so as to be inconvenient or in danger of damage.
The flexible front shown consists of a central lens board f', (here shown with
⚫ a central opening, and groove f f to receive a cross front to which the lens is
.attached) preferably just wide enough to take the lens (or lenses if a stereoscopic
camera is used) or cross front, and attached to and forming top and bottom
extensions of, this front are provided flexible parts f³, consisting, preferably, of
a continuous series of horizontally arranged slats or strips f" firmly attached to a
flexible backing, which may be of cloth, leather or other flexible opaque material.
This front is grooved, or cut away, at either side, as at f,f, in order that it may
engage with the corresponding grooves d on the camera front.
Attached to the lens board is a toothed pinion g, the teeth g₁ of which engage
with the racks h, h¹, secured to the front sides of the camera body, so that by
turning the pinion g by means of the milled heads m, m, the lens board is caused to
rise or fall, and with it the attached flexible extensions.
By extending these flexible parts over the top and bottom of the camera, it is
possible to raise or lower the lens to its extreme limit without producing any
vertically projecting parts, or admitting light either under or over the front-owing
to the extra length of the flexible front.
A metal strip o may be attached to the top of the camera to support and assist
the flexible front f' in its movements.
I do not wish to confine myself to the use of continuous horizontal slats or strips
attached to a flexible backing-as shown in the drawings-as in some cases I may
use a suitable flexible material, such as waterproof cloth or other fabric, provided
at each side with short strips or slats engaging in the grooves of the camera front,
or I may use a series of connected rollers over a suitable flexible light tight backing,
or I may use a suitable flexible metal or composition.

page_text: 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
1. In a photographic camera a flexible rising and falling front, substantially as
described.
2. In a photographic camera a rising and falling front consisting of a lens board.
or carrier having flexible top and bottom extensions, said front being operated by
means of rack and pinion mechanism, substantially as described.
Dated the 27th day of November 1894.
JAMES COLE,
By Stanley G. S. Dicker,
Agent for Applicant.