IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF CRAYON EFFECTS BY THE PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION S BY DAGUERROTYPE AND PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Edwin Mayall, of Regent Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Photographist, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF CRAYON EFFECTS BY THE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Edwin
Mayall, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 25th January 1853.
I, JOHN EDWIN MAYALL, of Regent Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Photographists, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF CRAYON EFFECTS BY
DAGUERROTYPE AND PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the production of imitation crayon
drawings or portraits by the photographic process, and consists in
interposing between the object or sitter and the camera an apparatus
somewhat similar to a fire screen. This apparatus consists of a
slowly revolving disc, with an opening in the form of a large star
in the centre of it. The centre portion of this star must be large

page_text: enough to admit the rays from that part of the object which is to
be shewn in strong light, while the rays from those parts which
are to be shaded off gradually to a dark back ground are partially
intercepted by the points of the star, thereby gradually destroying
the intensity of the light, and consequently producing the effect
required. This apparatus is applicable to every description of
camera, and by placing it nearer to or further from the lens of the
camera any portions of the image may be stopped out or softened
off.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said John Edwin Mayall in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 25th July 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN EDWIN MAYALL, of Regent Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Photographist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of January, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in
the sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said John Edwin Mayall,
Her special license that I, the said John Edwin Mayall, iny
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Edwin Mayall, 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 vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF
CRAYON EFFECTS BY THE DAGUERROTYPE AND PHOTOGRAPHIC- PROCESSES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Edwin
Mayall, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the

page_text: 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 John Edwin Mayall, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon, that is to say:
.
My said Invention relates to the production of imitation crayon
drawings or portraits in or by the photographic process by the aid
of a mechanical contrivance interposed between the object and the
camera. This contrivance in some degree resembles an ordinary
fire screen, and consists of a slowly revolving disc, with a central
aperture in it of the form of a large star. The central or free open
portion of this star is sufficiently large to admit the rays from that
part of the object which is to be shewn in strong light, or as a firm
sharp image, whilst the rays from those exterior parts which are to
be gradually shaded or deepened off to a dark or light back ground
are partially intercepted by the converging points of the star.
With this apparatus the intensity of the light is gradually
diminished, and the pictures taken in conjunction with it possess
the required softened off crayon effect. The apparatus is applicable
to every kind of camera, and by placing it at different distances
from the camera different portions of the image may be softened off.
My Drawing represents a front view of one arrangement of the
apparatus complete. The stellar aperture is formed in the centre
of the rotatory disc A, which is supported by antifriction rollers,
or otherwise, within or between the forks B, of a carrying frame.
This frame has a bottom spindle or stem C, entered into the bored
upper end of the pedestal D, which carries the whole apparatus.
Motion is communicated to the disc by an arrangement of clock-
work, the spring of which is contained in a box E, on the side of
the forked framing. The edge of this disc rests upon the periphery
of the spring box as at B, or the box may actuate a separate roller

page_text: for the purpose, so that as the spring box turns by its spring action
it carries the disc slowly round in a vertical plane by frictional
contact. The movement is retarded and equalized by setting a
spur wheel on the spring box to gear with a toothed pinion F, on a
separate spindle carrying a fly G. The regulation as to height is
effected by a set screw H, for fixing the stem C, in the pedestal.
It will be obvious to the practical man that the apparatus may be
variously modified to produce similar results, and especially that
the pure stellar shape of aperture is not essentially necessary for the
end in view, inasmuch as other shapes would answer for producing
the graduation of the rays.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of
my said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may
be used or carried into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I
do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details or arrange-
ments which I have had occasion to describe or refer to, as many
variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the prin-
ciples or main features of my Invention; but what I consider to be
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the system or mode of producing crayon photographs as
herein-before described.
Second, the application and use of rotatory stellar discs for
graduating the photographic rays.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Edwin Mayall, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-fifth day of July,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
J. E. MAYALL. (L.S.).