RENDERING MORE CONVENIENT OUT-DOOR MANIPULATIONS IN PHOTOGRAPHY, BY MEANS OF AN IMPROVED PORTABLE PHOTOGRAPHIC TENT AND TENT CAMERA.
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Jeffery, of Eastgate Street, Gloucester, for
the Invention of "RENDERING MORE CONVENIENT OUT-DOOR MANIPULATIONS
IN PHOTOGRAPHY, BY MEANS OF AN IMPROVED PORTABLE PHOTOGRAPHIC TENT
AND TENT CAMERA.'
Sealed the 4th November 1859, and dated the 7th May 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Jeffery at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th
May 1859.
I, WALTER JEFFERY, of Eastgate Street, Gloucester, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "RENDERING MORE CONVENIENT OUT-DOOR
MANIPULATIONS IN PHOTOGRAPHY, BY MEANS OF AN IMPROVED PORTABLE PHOTO-
GRAPHIC TENT AND TENT CAMERA," to be as follows:-
It consists of a manipulating chamber formed by a base a, a, Fig. 1, which
folds in two towards the under side, the sides b, b, Fig. 1, being formed of
folding frames, which when shut up fall towards the base. The sides of this
chamber are kept open by means of two rods extending across from each top
corner filling into notches; the whole being covered by some textile fabric of
a black colour. When opened for use, the manipulating chamber is kept
rigid by means of two slips of wood or iron c, c, Fig. 2, fastened on to the
under side by means of thumbscrews d, d, d, d, Fig. 2. The cross pieces c, c,
Fig. 2, have three pieces of wood or metal e, e, e, Fig. 2, formed at an angle of
60 degrees, to which the tripod legs on which the chamber is supported are

page_text: attached as in Fig. 2.
To the manipulating chamber is added, when required
as a tent camera, a piece of wood fitted to receive a lens in front, and a
square frame fitted to carry the sensitive surface is added behind; each
being made to fold inwards when not in use, and capable, by means of
suitable pieces of wood or metal (also folding), of being fixed upright at right
angles to the base. In this way a large lens for large pictures can be fitted
on one side of the base, and a small stereoscopic lens or lenses on the other
side of the base. The whole of this apparatus is covered with a waterproof
and light-tight material of suitable character.
The parts of this contrivance which are claimed as new are,-
First, the peculiar folding of the manipulating chamber.
Second, the making the folding base perfectly firm and rigid by the cross
pieces and thumbscrews.
Third, the adaptation of the tripod legs to the cross pieces, without the
necessity of a separate top (as is usual with tripod stands) and in such a way
as to give great firmness, Fig. 2.
Fourth, the introduction of one or two camera backs and corresponding
lense carriers into the tent and forming a part of the tent, yet arranged to fold
into the same space as the tent alone, thereby obviating the necessity of
distinct cameras and tripods in out-door photographic manipulations, Fig. 1,
ffff
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Walter Jeffery in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
November 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WALTER
JEFFERY, of Eastgate Street, Gloucester, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the
year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Walter Jeffery, Her special licence that I, the said Walter
Jeffery, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Walter Jeffery, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and

page_text: "
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "RENDERING
MORE CONVENIENT OUT-DOOR MANIPULATIONS IN PHOTOGRAPHY, BY MEANS OF AN
IMPROVED PORTABLE PHOTOGRAPHIC TENT AND TENT CAMERA," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Walter Jeffery, my executors or admini-
strators, by an instrument in writing under or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain 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 Walter Jeffery, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in a peculiar manipulating portable photographic
tent and tent camera formed by the base A, A, Fig. 1 (Sheet A), which
folds in two towards the under side. The sides B, B, are formed of folding
frames, and covered first with stout cartridge paper, and then with an
American cloth or other approved light-tight material, to prevent the light
from penetrating into the chamber, as seen at the sectional view C, Fig. 2.
These sides, when shut up, fall towards the base, thus the whole folds into a
space of half the surface of the base A, A. The sides of this chamber are
kept open and rigid by means of a double framework D, D, Fig. 1. This
frame is hinged at either end to the folding sides B, B, and kept rigid by
means of hooks and eyes, as seen at E.
Fig. 3 (Sheet B) represents the under side of another form of frame-
work; this is hinged to one of the sides only, the opposite end resting upon
the blocks F, attached to the other side. This framework is hinged in
the centre, and, when folded, closes with the side B. Tacked to the front of
the base A, A, sides and top of sides B, B, is a dark fabric G, in the centre
of which is shewn a square of yellow material admitting yellow light only, as
yellow calico or oiled silk.
When the manipulating chamber is opened, the base is kept rigid by
means of two battens or slips, either of wood or metal, H, H, Fig. 4,
(Sheet B), and fastened to the under side of the base by means of thumb-
screws and sockets, as seen at I, I, I, I, Fig. 4. These cross pieces H, H,
have screwed upon them three angular pieces of metal K, K, K, Fig. 4, to
which the tripod legs are attached for supporting the whole. The legs are
kept secure to hese angle pieces by means of pins (their places shewn

page_text: by dotted lines,) which are inserted through holes in the angle pieces, and
corresponding ones in the tripod legs to keep them in their places. To this
manipulating chamber is added, when required to be used as a camera, a
piece of wood L, Figs. 1 and 2, similar to an ordinary camera front, with an
opening for the lens. A square frame M, fitted to carry the sensitive plates,
is placed behind. The front is hinged at bottom to the base A, and is a
fixture; the back is hinged to a sliding piece of wood N, Fig. 1. When not
in use the front and back fall inwards upon the base A. When required for
use they are kept upright in their proper position by means of the folding
brackets O, O, Fig. 2. The sliding piece N, carrying the back or frame M,
is for the purpose of focussing or adjusting the pictures upon a ground glass
screen or sensitive plate. This sliding back is kept in its position and working
in angular grooves formed by two slips of wood P, P, Figs. 1 and 2. Upon
the opposite side is placed a sterioscopic camera of a similar construction, as
shewn at R, Fig. 1. S, Fig. 4, represents an opening for the bath containing
the sensitive solution. Fastened to this opening is a bag for holding the bath
and excluding the light,
When the tent is fixed for use, the whole of the upper part is covered by
a double thickness of calico, which is reaved in on the under side by means
of a tape running in rings, leaving only the front loose. To this front and to
a curtain fastened to the front of the base is affixed, by means of hooks and
eyes, or buttons and button holes, an apron, which reaches to the ground,
forming a complete covering to the manipulator when in the chamber, and
thoroughly excluding light. Fastened to the front of the coverings are bags
or pockets with elastic rings sewn in them, by which the lenses are covered,
and the light prevented from entering the openings. The lenses, for the
convenience of the operator, can be opened or shut from the interior at will,
thereby preventing the necessity of an attendant.
Fastened in approved places in the tent are some ventilators T, T, T,
Figs. 5, 6, 7, for the purpose of admitting fresh air, and allowing the vapours
and heated air to pass out. These ventilators are made at right angles, and
so formed that they allow a current of air to enter, but no light.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, what I claim is,
First, the peculiar folding of the manipulating chamber.
Secondly, the making the folding base A firm by means of the cross pieces
and thumbscrews, and the adaptation of the tripod legs to the cross pieces
without the necessity of a separate top, (as is usual with the ordinary tripod
stands,) and in such manner as to give great firmness.

page_text: Thirdly, the introduction of the skeleton cameras as described, and forming
part of the tent, and yet arranged to fold into the same space as the tent
itself, thus obviating the necessity of a distinct camera or cameras and tripod
stand in out-door photographic operations.
Fourthly, the peculiar form of ventilators, and the arrangement of the
coverings described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Jeffery, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
WALTER JEFFERY. (L.S.)
Witness,
JOSEPH STAYNER EIDMANS.