IMPROVEMENTS IN STEREOSCOPES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Russell, of 27, Shaftesbury Crescent, Pimlico,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEREOSCOPES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Russell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd
December 1862.
I, SAMUEL RUSSELL, of 27, Shaftesbury Crescent, Pimlico, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEREOSCOPES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in stereoscopes. For this pur-
pose I construct an instrument in the form of a box, of a length, depth, and width
suitable for containing, when out of use, a number of stereoscopic slides or
pictures. The instrument is closed by a sliding or other suitable cover when
out of use, and on the interior and against one side mirrors are fixed. Not only
may the top have a moveable cover, but the bottom also may be made moveable,
so that when in use a stereoscope may be open both at top and bottom when
desired. The lenses or eye-pieces are fitted in apertures in the lower part of
the opposite side of the box, this part of the side being suitably inclined to
the plane of the mirrors. The stereoscopic pictures or slides are, when about to
be observed, placed in suitable grooves or holders opposite the mirrors, and on

page_text: the side where the lenses or eye-pieces are applied they are held in a position
inclined to the plane of the lenses and also to the plane of the mirrors. By this
arrangement no reflector is required to throw light on the picture, but the
light falls directly upon it so as to illumine it thoroughly. In this manner
I produce a very convenient and portable stereoscope, which is at the same
time a convenient case or box for holding or storing a number of stereoscopic
pictures or slides. In some cases I make the box in two similar parts, and
each part, when separated from the other, becomes a stereoscope, with mirrors,
lenses, or eye-pieces, and picture or slide holder, arranged and combined as
above explained. When the two are closed together as a box the interior
capacity is made to contain steroscopic slides or pictures. These also may, as
above described, be made with moveable. covers. In some cases I arrange a
stereoscope fitted with mirrors, eye-picces, and picture or slide holders, as above
explained, but with both top and bottom of the instrument open; and I coin-
bine a handle with the instrument, having two elastic or spring arms, the outer
ends of which come one at each end of the stereoscope, and I arrange the
instrument so that it can be turned as on an axis between the ends of the two
This I conveniently do by applying concave cups or hollow bearings to
the outer ends of the arms, and convex projections to the ends of the instrument,
or the concave and convex parts may be reversed. By having the arms elastic
they can readily be removed, whilst when in use they offer such an amount of
friction as to retain the instrument when once set from movement.
times make the mirrors or the lenses of colored glass, or I place colored glass
in the eye-pieces, in which case it is desirable to have several different colors,
making provision to move them into and out of position.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Samuel Russell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd June 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
RUSSELL, of 27, Shaftesbury Crescent, Pimlico, in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Samuel Russell, Her special licence, that I, the said

page_text: Samuel Russell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Samuel Russell, iny 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEREOSCOPES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Samuel Russell, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, 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 Samuel Russell, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in stereoscopes. For this
purpose I construct an instrument in the form of a box of a length, depth, and
width suitable for containing, when out of use, a number of stereoscopic slides
or pictures. The instrument is closed by a sliding or other suitable cover
when out of use, and on the interior and against one side mirrors are fixed.
Not only may the top have a moveable cover, but the bottom also may be
made moveable, so that when in use a stereoscope may be open both at top
and bottom when desired. The lenses or eye-pieces are fitted in apertures in
the lower part of the opposite side of the box, this part of the side being
suitably inclined to the plane of the mirrors. The stereoscopic pictures or
slides are, when about to be observed, placed in suitable grooves or holders
opposite the mirrors, and on the side where the lenses or eye-pieces are applied
they are held in a position inclined to the plane of the lenses and also to the
plane of the mirrors. By this arrangement no reflector is required to throw
light on the picture, but the light falls directly upon it so as to illumine it
thoroughly. In this manner 1 produce a very convenient and portable
stereoscope, which is at the same time a convenient case or box for holding
or storing a number of stereoscopic pictures or slides. In some cases I make
the box in two similar parts, and each part, when separated from the other,
becomes a stereoscope, with mirrors, lenses or eye-pieces, and picture or slide-
holder, arranged and combined as above explained; when the two are closed
together as a box the interior capacity is made to contain stereoscopic slides

page_text: or pictures. These also may, as above described, be made with moveable
covers.
Figure 1 is a front view, and Figure 2 is an end view, of a double stereo-
scope, constructed, as above described, of two single stereoscopes combined to
form a box; Figure 3 is a transverse section taken through one of the eye-
pieces or lenses; Figure 4 is a transverse section taken at the centre of the
double stereoscope; Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of one of the stereo-
scopes, separately, looking towards the mirrors; Figure 6 is also a longitudinal
section, but looking in the opposite direction; Figure 7 is a transverse section,
and Figure 8 is a portion of a plan of one of othe stereoscopes.
From these Figures it will be seen that each stereoscope of the pair, which
together form a double stereoscope, consists of a half box or trough, of wood or
suitable material, marked a, a, in the Drawing; to one side the reflectors b,
mounted in a frame, are fixed; on the opposite side of the half box or trough
the prisms or lenses c, c, forming the eye-pieces, are fixed; the wood or other
material is made thicker at the lower part of the side where the prisms or
lenses are situated than it is elsewhere, so that it projects internally imme-
diately above the prisms or lenses and forms a ledge at a' for the lower edge
of the picture to rest on; d, d, see Figures 3 and 6,) are strips of metal near
the ends of the instrument beyond the eye-picces, and they are made of such
a height that the picture, when resting on the ledge a¹ and against the top of
the strips d, will be inclined to the angle necessary to their being properly
seen; the ledge a' is bevilled at the top, so that the picture naturally finds its
place at the back of it. When the two parts of the double instrument are
shut together, forming a box to hold the pictures, the reflector frame of the
one part enters down behind the strips d, d, of the other part, and as these
strips spring more or less, being slightly bent outwards by the reflector frames,
the two parts forming the double instrument become securely held together,
so that they will not fall apart, but require a moderate force to separate them.
It will be remarked that the transverse sections, Figures 3 and 4, differ
slightly the one from the other. In Figure 3 the reflectors are at right angles
to the top and bottom of the box, but in Figure 4 they are inclined. This
latter construction I prefer, as it enables me to have a deeper frame at the top
of the reflector, which is desirable, as it shuts out extraneous light.
In Figures 7 and 8 the arrangement shewn for supporting the picture is
somewhat different from that shewn in Figures 3 and 6, small turn buttons e, e,
being employed; these are turned outwards, as seen in these Figures, when
required for use, but can be turned back out of the way, as at Figure 4, when
done with, so that they may not interfere with the packing of the pictures,

page_text: When this construction is adopted a groove is made in each of the ends to
receive the frames of the reflectors b, as the plan, Figure 8, shews. The red
lines in Figure 7 indicate another method of arranging turn buttons to support
the picture at the required angle. Figure 9 illustrates the method by which
to determine the respective angles of the prisms or lenses, the picture, and the
reflectors.
Having first placed the prism or eye-piece, I mark opposite and parallel to
it the distance of the image which is to be produced, and this is equal in size
to the picture. I then place the lower edge of the picture immediately over
the prism or lens, and I join this point and the bottom of the image already
drawn by a line; this line I bisect and raise on it a perpendicular. If the
line of the image be now produced upwards it will cut the perpendicular line,
and if the point of intersection be joined with the point before fixed on for the
bottom of the picture, the line obtained gives the position of the picture, and
the reflector will be placed in the perpendicular line. In some cases I make
each of the instruments, which together make a double stereoscope, with a
moveable cover or bottom. This is convenient if the instrument is to be used
at night, the picture being illuminated by a candle or lamp; it is then advan-
tageous to invert the instrument, the picture being underneath, and the
moveable cover or bottom removed to allow of its being illumined from above.
The inclination the picture then takes is such that a very complete illumination
is readily obtained. The picture holders will require to be somewhat modified
that the picture may not fall.
Figure 10 is a longitudinal section of a single stereoscope, differing slightly
in form from that just described; it in itself forms a box for containing the
stereoscopic pictures, and when set up for use forms a reflecting stereoscope,
working in the same manner as that already explained. Figure 11 is n trans-
verse section of the same; both these Figures shew the instrument shut up as
a box. Figure 12 is a plan of the same instrument with the cover removed;
and Figure 13 is a transverse section of it as it appears when set up for use.
a, a, is the body of the box with prisms or lenses at 6, 6; the cover is made in
two parts, c and d; the part c is hinged to the box and is fitted with a spring,
as is shewn at Figure 11*, which tends to keep it closed; the other part d
slides in guides.d', d, at the sides of the box, and the under side of the part d
has the reflectors fitted into it. To set the instrument up for use the part d is
drawn out and is then set up in the grooves e, e, and the bracket f, which is
hinged to the bottom of the box, is turned up and secured by the spring catch
f; it holds the part c of the cover up in an inclined position, as the Drawing
Figure 13 shews; the instrument is then ready for use, the picture to

page_text: be observed being placed and held between the part c of the cover and the
bracket f.
Figure 14 shews a single instrument of a slightly different form; this
Figure is a longitudinal section of the apparatus as it appears when closed as
a box; Figure 15 is a transverse section of the same; Figure 16 is a plan with
the lid or cover removed; Figure 17 is a transverse section of the same as it
appears when set up for use. In this case the lid of the box is made in one
piece, and is hinged at the side at which the lenses are fixed; the box may be
furnished with a lock and key or other fastening. In one side of the box the
prisms or lenses a, a, are mounted. The reflectors with their frame fold
down at the bottom of the box, as is shewn at Figures 14, 15, and 16, when
the instrument is out of use; it is pivotted at 61, 61, above the plane of the
reflectors, the pivots are so placed as otherwise the reflectors, if made of
sufficient size, would not fold down; c, c, are strips of metal hinged to the ends
of the box at c', c', they serve to hold up the reflectors, there being projections
ff, on the ends of the reflector frame, and notches in the strips c, c, which
catch over them as the reflector is lifted into position. The picture to be
viewed is placed on the inside of the lid when it is opened or turned back, and
then the lower edge of the picture rests on the top of the side of the box in
which the lenses are fixed, off from which it is prevented slipping by the pro-
jecting strips of metal d, d; the lid of the box is then turned over until it
comes to rest on the ends of the metal stripps c, c, which stop it at the incli-
nation at which it is proper to hold the picture. In turning over the lid the
top edge of the picture is caught by the spring hook e, so that the picture
becomes securely held in the position in which it is shewn at Figure 17. The
hook e is capable of springing or yielding upwards, so as to adjust itself some-
what to the size of the picture; it is also able to spring back into a recess in
the lid should the box be filled so full of pictures as to require it.
In some cases I arrange a stereoscope fitted with mirrors, eye-pieces, and
picture or slide-holders as above explained, but with both the top and bottom
of the instrument open, and I combine a handle with the instrument having
two elastic or spring arms, the outer ends of which come one at each end of
the stereoscope, and I arrange the instrument so that it can be turned as on
an axis between the ends of the two arms; this I conveniently do by applying
concave cups or hollow bearings to the outer ends of the arms and convex pro-
jections to the ends of the instrument, or the concave and convex parts may
be reversed. By having the arms elastic they can readily be removed, whilst,
when in use, they offer such an amount of friction as to retain the instrument
when once set from movement..

page_text: Figure 18 is a front view, and Figure 19 a transverse section, of a stereo-
scope thus constructed. a, a, is the body of the instrument, having hemispheres
fixed at its ends; b, b, are cups receiving these hemispheres, and pressed
against them by the spring frame c, to which a handle d is attached. The
prisms or lenses are fixed at e, e, and the reflectors at f.f. The picture to be
viewed (marked g in the Drawing) is held against inclines at a', a¹, on the
ends of the body of the instrument, the holding being effected by means of
a piece g' running from end to end of the instrument and carried by the
spring h, which tends to press it constantly up to the inclines a¹, a¹. The
Figures 18 and 19 shew the parts in the proper position for use by daylight;
when it is used with artificial light it is frequently more convenient to turn it
over on its axes, so that the picture is underneath, and the light in this case
is arranged to descend through the body of the instrument before it falls on
the picture.
Figures 20 shew a slight modification of the ball-and-socket joint at the end
of the instrument, a short cylindrical piece a being substituted for the ball or
hemisphere, and a ring 6 for the cup; this ring is held by claws c, in the centre
of which at c are recesses into which the ends of the spring frame d enter.
The spring of the frame keeps the ring pressed against the ends of the instru-
ment, so that it is securely held in every position, but will turn steadily when
a moderate force is applied.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Russell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
ATATOT