Improvements in Folding Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 4th July, 1894-Accepted, 29th Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Photographic Cameras.
We, HENRY HILL of 151 Fentiman Road, Clapham, London, S.W. Manu-
facturer of Electrical, Optical and Mechanical Apparatus and ARTHUR LEWIS
ADAMS of 81 Aldersgate Street, London, Manufacturer of and Dealer in
Photographic Apparatus, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
followe:-
Our invention relates to folding photographic cameras and has for its object to
so arrange and construct such camera that it may be set up for working by a
single movement and may by a reversal of that movement be folded into a small
compass.
Now the manner in which we arrange and construct our folding camera is as
follows:-
On a suitable frame of wood or other suitable material open on one side we
pivot two arms the other ends of which are attached to the ends of a plate (which
latter may carry the shutter and also the lens) this plate-which we will term the
front plate-being in length the width of the camera or thereabouts and the width
of the plate being the depth (or thereabouts) of the camera from back to front and
the length of the arms being the focal length of the lens or thereabouts.
At the upper edge of this front plate we pivot two other arms (i.e. one on each
side) having slots in the direction of their length and travelling or guided on fixed
studs on the aforesaid frame-the length being sufficient to allow the front plate to
be brought forward and downwards until the ends of the slots in the two last-named
pivotted arms come into contact with two said studs inserted in the sides of the
camera or instead of slotting these arms same may travel in a guiding swivel or
equivalent manner.
We now provide a suitable bellows or covering flexible and jointed in such a
manner that it covers in the space between the said frame and the said front plate
thus forming a light tight chamber of the usual description.
The camera thus arranged and constructed can be readily and quickly got ready
for use as by a single movement the front plate is swung through an arc of about
90 degrees (i.e. from its folded position where it lies in a parallel plane (or there-
abouts) with the side of the frame to its position ready for use where its plane is at
right angles or thereabouts to the plane of the side of the aforesaid frame) and
just as it reaches the latter position a spring catch-or other suitable means-
engages and locks each of the said slotted arms (or equivalents) so that same are
held rigid, and in conjunction with the first named pivotted arms hold the bellows
part and front plate in a fixed position to form the camera ready for taking
photographs.
To fold or close the camera-the aforesaid spring or other catches are released
and the front swung in the reverse direction until same lies in a parallel plane (or
thereabouts) and close to one side of the frame the bellows part folding within said
frame the whole camera being thus in one movement reduced to a very small
compass.
Any suitable dark slide or changing backs or reservoir plate or film holders may
be arranged to be used in connection with this camera.
Dated this 4th day of October 1893.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMI LEIM DE BOLTIVATIO
Improvements in Folding Photographic Cameras.
We, HENRY HILL of 151 Fentiman Road, Clapham, London, S.W. Manu-
facturer of Electrical Optical and Mechanical Apparatus and ARTHUR LEWIS
ADAMS of 81 Aldersgate Street, London, Manufacturer of and Dealer in
Photographic Apparatus, 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:-
Our invention relates to folding photographic cameras and has for its object to
so arrange and construct such camera that it may be set up for working by a
single movement and may by a reversal of that movement be folded into a small
compass.
Now the manner in which we arrange and construct our folding camera is as
follows:-
On a suitable frame of wood or other suitable material open on one side we
pivot two arms the other ends of which are attached to the ends of a plate (which
fatter may carry the shutter and also the lens) this plate-which we will term the
front plate-being in length the width of the camera or thereabouts and the width
of the plate being the depth (or thereabouts) of the camera from back to front and
the length of the arms being the focal length of the lens or thereabouts.
At the upper edge of this front plate we pivot two other arms (i.e. one on each
side) having slots in the direction of their length and travelling or guided on fixed
studs on the aforesaid frame-the length being sufficient to allow the front plate to
be brought forward and downwards until the ends of the slots in the two last-named
pivotted arms come into contact with the two said studs inserted in the sides of the
camera or instead of slotting these arms same may travel in a guiding swivel or
equivalent manner.
We now provide a suitable bellows or covering flexible and jointed or collapsible
and expansible in such a manner that it covers in the space between the said
frame and the said front plate thus forming a light tight chamber of the usual
description.
The camera thus arranged and constructed can be readily and quickly got ready
for use as by a single movement the front plate is swung through an arc of about
90 degrees (i.e. from its folded position where it lies in a parallel plane (or there-
abouts) with the side of the frame to its position ready for use where its plane is at
right angles or thereabouts to the plane of the side of the aforesaid frame) and
just as it reaches the latter position a spring catch-or other suitable means-
engages and locks each of the said slotted arms (or equivalents) so that same are
held rigid and in conjunction with the first named pivotted arms hold the bellows
part and front plate in a fixed position to form the camera ready for taking
photographs.
To fold or close the camera-the aforesaid spring or other catches are released
and the front swung in the reverse direction until same lies in a parallel plane
(or thereabouts) and close to one side of the frame the bellows part folding
within said frame-the whole camera being thus in one movement reduced to a
very small compass.
Any suitable dark slide or changing backs or reservoir plate or film holders may
be arranged to be used in connection with this camera.
And in order that our invention may be easily understood and readily carried
into practice we will proceed to fully describe same with reference to the drawings
hereunto annexed.

page_text: Figs & view of the DOLLOM euge or the camera folded .e. looking
direction of the arrow Z.
Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1 i.e. looking in the direction of the arrow Y.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the top of the camera unfolded i.e. a view of the top of the
camera when set up ready for use.
Fig. 4 is a side view of Fig. 3 i.e. looking in the direction of the arrow X.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
a is top, a bottom, a one side and as the other side of the oscillating frame
forming the back of the camera this frame being suitably formed or adapted to
receive any suitable dark slide, changing back, reservoir plate or film holder or
the like (and also the focussing screen) as ordinarily used in or on photographic
cameras or in any other convenient manner.
b bare spring arms to keep such dark slide etc. (and also the removable
focussing screen) "up to register" against the rebate c c all round in this frame.
d is a rigid bar one end of which is pivotted at d¹ to the top part a of this frame
and at the other end thereof is rigidly attached at d to the top edge of the front
or mount f
e is a similar rigid bar one end of which is pivotted at e¹ to the bottom a² of
this frame and at its other end is rigidly affixed to e³ to the bottom edge of said
mount f
fis front plate or mount carrying the lens x (which is adapted to be moved in
and out to focus) view finder y and shutter set by the knob z etc. all of which parts
carried on this front or mount f may be of any suitable construction and form no
part separately of our present invention.
g is a rigid slotted bar pivotted at gl to the top edge of the front and having a
slot g² in said bar in which slot the stud or guide più g³ fixed to a is adapted to
travel.
h is a similar slotted bar pivotted at ¹ to the bottom edge of the front and
having a slot 2 in said bar in which a stud ³ fixed to the bottom part a¹ is adapted
to travel.
i is the light tight bellows or flexible material suitably connected to the front
plate or mount fall round towards the outer edge thereof and also connected all
round to the edge of the back or frame formed by a a¹ a² a³ in a light tight manner
so as to form a complete light tight chamber between the front plate f and the back
frame a a¹ a² a³.
When the said back part a a¹ a' a³ is swung out so as to assume the position
shown in Figs. 3 and 4 this bellows or flexible part i will thus form a light tight
chamber tapering in shape the sides of which diverge from each other from the
front rearwardly i.e. so as to form a chamber of a size and shape not to interfere
with the direct rays of light coming through the lens on to the sensitive surface.
It will be obvious that this light tight chamber of tapering form may be arranged
and mounted between the front plate fand the back frame a a' a² a³ in a variety
of suitable ways for instance as shown in Fig. 3 the part of the chamber i lying
between the side a and the mount f can be formed in two parts telescopically
combined so that the tongue i' attached to the side a³ can draw out of the pocket i*
attached to the mount when the back frame a a¹ a² a is swung in the direction
of the arrows V V₁ to fold the camera as hereinafter explained while forming
a perfectly light tight side to the chamber i when the camera is set up as in
Figs. 3 and 4.
The side of the chamber opposite to this telescopic part is formed to double up
(when the camera is folded) after the manner shown in Fig. 2.
11 are set screws or pinching screws to clamp and hold the dark backs or
changing box in position on the back of the camera.

page_text: The operation is as follows:-
When the camera is closed as in Figs. 1 and 2 the slotted arms and lie close
and parallel or thereabouts to the immovable arms d and e respectively the back
frame a al a² a being swung round upon the pivots or centres d' and e¹ on the
immovable arms e and e respectively (in the direction shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3)
so as to lie in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and in this folded form the camera
is very compact and handy for carrying etc.
To set the camera up for use the back frame a a¹ a² a³ is swung out on the
aforesaid centres d' and e' so that such back frame assumes the position shown in
Figs. 3 and 4 (at which point the bellows or light tight material assumes the
desired form of chamber ) and is there held firmly in position by means of the
spring arms or catches g* and * respectively engaging with fixed pins or studs m
and n mounted in or on the sides a a¹ of the aforesaid frame respectively.
Or if desired instead of these particular catches g* and * any other suitable
catch or retaining device which can be readily released may be arranged and
mounted to prevent the studs 93 and 3 from moving in the slots g² ² respectively
until desired.
Or instead of such automatic spring catches or in addition thereto we may use
any suitable pinching screw or clamping device on each side to firmly hold the
frame a a¹ a² a³ in the position shown in Fig. 3 for instance the studs 9³ h³ may be
formed with enlarged milled heads or as winged nuts and made to screw into the
sides a and a respectively so as to thereby firmly clamp and hold the frame a a' a² a³
in position i.e. either when open or closed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :
1. In a photographic camera of the character described-the combination with
a front plate or mount carrying the shutter mechanism lens and other adjuncts as
desired or any of them of a rigid bar immovably connected to the top and a
similar bar immovably connected to the bottom of said mount and extending
rearwardly therefrom a swinging frame pivotted to and between the rear ends of
the said immovable arms adapted to receive and hold therein a changing back or
any other suitable sensitive surface holder a light tight chamber formed of any
suitable folding and extending flexible material between said frame and said
mount and means to fix and retain said frame in position when the camera is set up
for use.
2. A folding photographic camera consisting essentially of a front plate or
mount carrying the shutter lens and other adjuncts as desired or any of them a
rigid arm immovably connected at one end thereof to the top of said mount and a
second and similar arm immovably connected to the bottom of said mount the other
end of each said arm extending rearwardly an oscillating frame pivotted towards
the rear end of said two arms and between same and adapted to receive and hold
therein a changing back or other suitable sensitive surface holder a slotted arm
pivotted to the top edge of said mount and a second slotted arm pivotted to the
bottom of said mount studs on said frame adapted to operate in the slots of said
slotted arms respectively and a suitable bellows or flexible covering arranged and
mounted between said mount and said frame so as to form a light tight chamber
between same adapted to fold or extend substantially in the manner and for the
purposes hereinbefore set forth.
3. A folding photographic camera consisting of the arrangement and combination
of a front plate or mount such as frigid arins such as d and e respectively fixed
immovably to the top and bottom of said mount a frame such as a a¹ a² a³ pivotted
to and between such arms d and e so as to be free to turn at the points d¹ and e
and adapted to receive any suitable sensitive surface holder a light tight chamber
such as formed of flexible or jointed light tight material adapted to collapse in
folds on one side and expand telescopically on the other and vice versa when folding

page_text: or unfolding the camera respectively slotted arms such as 9 and h pivotted to the
top and bottom of said mount f studs on said frame operating in the slots of said
slotted arms and means to clamp or hold said frame in position by means of said
slotted arms substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
4. The improved folding photographic camera arranged constructed combined
and acting substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 4th day of July 1894.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.