Improvements in Magazine-Cameras.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1896.
Complete Specification Left, 30th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 30th June, 1897.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Magazine-Cameras.
I, JOHN JOSEPH CLIPSHAM, of 28, Oxford Road, Waterloo, near Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, Ironmonger, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for object the construction of a magazine-camera in
which photographic films or plates can with rapidity and certainty be taken from
the magazine, placed in focus, and, after exposure, put into a light-tight recep-
tacle, and in which a removable focussing-screen may be employed, during the
use of which both the exposed and the unexposed plates will be protected from
the action of light.
A hand-camera constructed according to my invention may be of ordinary size
and external appearance and be provided with the usual mountings. The part of
the camera behind the lens is formed, as regards its upper portion, into two com-
partments, which are each normally closed at the bottom by a hinged door adapted
to open downwards and are provided with actuating-levers arranged outside the
camera. The rear upper compartment serves as the magazine for the unexposed.
plates or films (hereinafter referred to as plates), which are encased in metal.
sheaths similar to those usually employed. In the normal position of the camera
the plates in the magazine are horizontal with their sensitized surfaces uppermost;
they rest on the hinged bottom when the latter is closed, and some or all of them
are forced against the partition dividing the magazine from the other compart-
ment, by suitable light springs. When the hinged bottom of the magazine is
slightly opened one or more spring catches in the partition are released, and pro-
trude sufficiently to prevent all the plates except the lowest from descending and
as the bottom is still further lowered the plate resting thereon slides down until
its lower edge drops upon the bottom of the camera and against a focussing-screen
frame, whereupon it is brought into a position perpendicular to the axis of the
lens by closing the hinged bottom, after which the hinged bottom and plate are
locked during exposure. Simultaneously the lowest plate in the magazine is
automatically released by compressing the aforesaid catch or catches, in which the
plate previously rested with one edge, its opposite edge resting on the hinge-end
of the magazine bottom, the arrangement being such, that after a plate has been
placed in the focal plane of the lens a second unexposed plate cannot be dropped
into the lower part of the camera until the previous one has been removed.
After the plate has been exposed, the hinged bottom of the front or storage
compartment is opened by its outside lever and as it descends towards the lens,
engages with a bent bar attached to the hinged focussing-frame and automati-
cally moves this frame, and with it the plate that has just been exposed, down-
ward, until the bottom and the frame are approximately at the same inclination;
the camera is then tilted until the exposed plate slides along the hinged bottom
which is then closed, the plate being thereby lifted into the storage compart-
ment, wherein it is then retained therein by a suitable catch or suitable catches
located in the partition between the two compartments.

page_text: The lifting of the hinged door of the storage compartment returns the focus-
sing-screen frame into its normal position, in which it is locked and ready to
receive the next unexposed plate.
The two compartments are closed at the top by a hinged light tight lid, between
which the plates there may be arranged a spring or springs & a bearing
plate or bearing plates for retaining the photographic plates in position.
The rear end of the camera may be provided with a hinged door and a sliding
or hinged focussing-glass screen, the arrangement being such that when this door
is opened the focussing-screen can be placed in position and the object to be
photographed composed on the screen, the screen removed, and the back closed,
without any fear that any of the plates may be injured by the action of light.
The ordinary metal sheaths for the plates may be adapted to the catches herein-
before referred to by having suitable recesses formed in them or by leaving or
otherwise providing them with slight projections extending beyond the turned
over part.
2008
I, JOHN JOSEPH CLIPSHAM, formerly of 28 Oxford Road, Waterloo, near Liver-
pool, in the County of Lancaster, but now of 25, Berry Street, Liverpool, afore-
said, Ironmonger 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 has for object the construction of a magazine-camera in
which photographic films or plates can with rapidity and certainty be taken from
the magazine, placed in focus, and, after exposure, put into a light-tight recep-
tacle, and in which a removable focussing-screen may be employed, during the
use of which both the exposed and the unexposed plates will be protected from
the action of light.
. A hand-camera constructed according to my invention may be of ordinary size
and external appearance and be provided with the usual mountings. The part of
the camera behind the lens is formed, as regards its upper portion, into two com-
partments, which are each normally closed at the bottom by a hinged door adapted
to open downwards and are provided with actuating-levers arranged outside the
camera. The rear upper, compartment serves as the magazine for the unexposed
plates or films (hereinafter referred to as plates), which are encased in metal
sheaths similar to those usually employed. In the normal position of the camera
the plates in the magazine are horizontal with their sensitized surfaces uppermost;
they rest on the hinged bottom when the last is closed, and some or all of them
may if desired be forced against the partition dividing the magazine from the
other compartment, by suitable light springs. When the hinged bottom of the
magazine is slightly opened one or more spring catches in the partition is or
are released and protrudes or protrude sufficiently to prevent all the plates except
the lowest from descending, and as the bottom is still further lowered the plate
resting thereon slides down until the lower edge drops upon the bottom of the
camera and against a focussing-screen frame, whereupon it is brought into a posi-
tion perpendicular to the axis of the lens by closing the hinged bottom, after

page_text: which the hinged bottom and plate are locked during exposure. Simultaneously
the lowest plate in the magazine is automatically released by compressing the
aforesaid catch or catches, on which the plate previously rested with one edge,
its opposite edge resting on the hinge-end of the magazine bottom, the arrange-
ment being such that after a plate has been placed in the focal plane of the lens
a second unexposed plate cannot be dropped into the lower part of the camera
until the previous one has been removed.
After the plate has been exposed, the hinged bottom of the front or storage
compartment is opened by its outside lever and, as it descends towards the lens,
engages with a bent bar attached to the hinged focussing-frame and automati-
cally moves this frame, and with it the plate that has just been exposed, down-
ward until the bottom and the frame are approximately at the same inclination;
the camera is then tilted until the exposed plate slides along the hinged bottom,
which is then closed, the plate being thereby lifted into the storage compartment,
wherein it is then retained by a suitable catch or catches located in the partition
between the two compartments.
..The lifting of the hinged door of the storage compartment returns the focussing-
screen frame into its normal position, in which it is locked and ready to receive
the next unexposed plate.
The two compartments are closed at the top by a hinged light-tight lid, between
which and the plates there may be arranged a spring or springs and a bearing
plate or bearing plates for retaining the photographic plates in position.
The rear end of the camera may be provided with a hinged door and a sliding
or hingel focussing-glass screen, the arrangement being such that when this door
is opened the focussing-screen can be placed in position and the object to be
photographed composed on the screen, the screen removed, and the back closed,
without any fear that any of the plates may be injured by the action of light.
The ordinary metal sheaths for the plates may be adapted to the catches herein-
before referred to by having suitable recesses formed in them or by leaving or
otherwise providing them with slight projections extending beyond the turned
over part.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a section of a camera according to
this invention with a plate in position for exposure; Fig. 2 is a similar view
showing one of the unexposed plates that has been dropped down from the maga-
zine into the body of the camera and rests on the hinged door of the magazine
at an angle ready for being placed in a vertical position by again closing the
hinged door; Fig. 3 is also a similar view shewing the hinged door of the
exposed plate compartment and the focussing-frame turned towards the lens
ready for the exposed plate to be transferred into the exposed-plate compartment;
Fig. 4 is a plan of the camera with the upper lid removed; and Fig. 5 is a view,
drawn to a larger scale than the other figures, of a plate-sheath.
The rear portion of the upper part of the camera is formed into two compart-
ments 1 and 2, each of which is slightly larger in plan than the sheaths carrying
the plates or films.
The compartments are closed at the bottom by hinged doors 3 and 4, which open
'downwardly and are moved by suitable handles 5 and 6 (Fig. 4) arranged outside
the camera and provided with spring stop-pieces 5 and 6 for holding the doors
closed until purposely released. The magazine 1 is provided on the upper side
of the plates 1" with a cover plate 7 and a suitable wire spring 8 for pressing the
plates down on to the hinged door. At its hinged end 3ª a small bracket 9 is
provided whose upwardly projecting end, as the door is opened, slides directly
beneath the lowest plate but one and assists in holding up it and the plates above
it in the magazine whilst on the partition 10 and directly above the door when
closed, two small spring catches 11 project, on which the opposite edge of the
lowest plate but one normally rests when the door is opened, as shewn in Fig. 2;
by closing this door the spring catches 11 are withdrawn into the partition 10
by a plate 3b which is secured near the edge of the door and presses against and

page_text: forces upward a small projecting tapered tongue 11, which draws back the catches
and thus releasing the plates so as to allow the front edge of the lowest one to
rest at this edge on the door 3. Simultaneously with the opening of the hinged-
door; the spring catches 11 move outwards, separating the lowest and released
plate from the next plate above it; the action of closing the door raises the plate
into position and locks it. Beneath the door 3 there is provided a spring 12,
which is so located that, after the door has been closed and the released-plate
pressed against the spring focussing-frame and into the focal plane; it will hold
the plate in position. The focussing-frame 13 is provided on each side with
curved springs 14 (Fig. 4) which slightly expand and press the raised sheath and
plate under the edge of the door 3, thus locking and preventing the door from
being again opened and another plate delivered until the first named plate is
removed. The focussing-frame with its springs is hinged at its lower end: and
held in a vertical position at its upper end by a stop-piece 4" on the under side
of the closed door 4 (Figs. 1 and 2). The lower end of the plate rests against the
hinged bottom of the ground-glass focussing-screen 15, which when in the posi-
tion: shown in full lines, serves as a slide for guiding the unexposed plate into
position and is held in this guiding-position by a radial arm 16, which is so pivoted
that it will, if desired, also firmly and securely hold the said screen down on the
bottom of the camera, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.
After the plate has been exposed, the door 4 is opened and the stop-piece 4" on
the free edge engages with a bent bar 17 provided on each side of the focussing.
frame and moves it with the exposed plate to an angle of about 45° (see Fig. 3)..
The camera is then tilted until the exposed plate slides along the hinged bottom,
on closing which the plate will be forced into compartment 2 and simultaneously:
the spring catches 18 in the partition 10 will be compressed until the plate has
passed, whereupon the said catches spring out so as to prevent the lowest plate
from dropping out when the door is again opened. Simultaneously with the
closing of the door 4, the hinged focussing-frame 13 is replaced and locked by
the projecting rib 4". The two compartments are closed at the top by a light-
tight door 19 (see Fig. 3), which may be provided with a suitable carrying handle,
not shown.
The front end of the camera is provided with the usual mountings and hinged
door 20; whilst the rear end is also provided with a smaller hinged door 21, so
that on opening this door the focussing-screen 15 can be placed at an angle as
shown in full lines, be laid flat on the bottom of the camera as indicated in dotfed
linés in Fig. 1, or be turned into an upright position for composing the picture;
when moved into the last-mentioned position the upper edge of the screen slides
under the spring 12, which then retains it in proper position for focussing....
As shown in Fig. 5 each metal sheath used in this camera is turned over in the 4
ordinary way at one edge 22 whilst at the opposite edge there is made a slight
projection 23 that extends beyond the turned-over part 24 to form a recess between
it and an adjacent sheath to allow the spring catches 11 to-pass in between and
separate the two sheaths.
Having now particularly described and, ascertained the nature of my said-in 4
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed; I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A camera provided with a magazine and a storage-compartment, each having
a hinged door or bottom in combination with a hinged focussing frame, the
arrangement and operation being such that the lowest plate for the time being 5
in the magazine can be taken out, placed in the focal plane, and afterwards
delivered into the storage compartment, and that the, plates both in the magazine
and the storage-conipartment will be shielded from light during the exposure of.
the successive plates, substantially as described, and shown..
2. A camera provided with a magazine and a storage compartment, respectively 5
for unexposed and exposed plates, and each having a hinged bottom and means

page_text: for releasing the lowest plate for the time being in the magazine, sliding it so
that it will be in line with the lens but at an angle thereto, and afterwards, by the
action of closing the magazine door, placing it in a vertical position ready for
exposure, the said plate being then by the opening and closing of the storage
compartment door placed in the said storage-compartment, substantially as
described.
3. A camera of the kind referred to in Claim 1, provided at its rear end with a
door and a movable focussing-screen, the arrangement being such that when this
door is opened the focussing-screen can be placed in position and the object to be
photographed composed and focussed on the screen and the screen removed
without injury to the plates in the camera, substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. A magazine-camera constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this both day of March
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.