Improvements in the Manner of Changing the Plates and Bringing them into the Proper Position for Exposure in Hand or Detective Cameras.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 21st Feb., 1891-Accepted, 4th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manner of Changing the Plates and Bringing
them into the Proper Position for Exposure in Hand or Detective
Cameras.
1, HENRY ROBERT DINES, of 14, Caversham Road,. Kentish Town,
London, N.W., Banker's Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :—
The camera to hold twelve 4" x 34" dry plates and using a lens of about
5" focus, is in the form of a wooden box about 12 inches in length, 5 inches wide,
and 4 inches high. The dimensions being governed by the number and size of
the plates it is constructed for, and the length of focus of the lens used.
It is provided with a shutter which can be used for time or instantaneous
exposures.
At the focal distance from the lens is placed the exposure frame, table or
carrier. A. It is fastened in any position to a spindle G, which runs across the
camera, and takes its bearing in sides of the same, one end passing right through
the side and terminating in a small handle by which the exposure frame
table or carrier, can be thrown back to receive a plate from, or return a plate to,
the magazine as shown by the double dotted lines; or brought up against the
stops B. B. and so into focus of the lens.
Behind the exposure frame at a distance to allow the same to be thrown back is
placed the division C. C. to divide the exposure chamber from the magazine
chamber. This is divided into two parts with a space between to allow the plates
to slide from the magazine into the exposure frame, table, or carrier, and back
again.
The upper part of this division is constructed to receive the flange, or any other
arrangement adopted for securing the lid I of the magazine, when being lowered.
The lower part of the division carries a moveable slide with a flange on the top,
and is raised by a spring at each end D, high enough to close the opening in the
division, so as to exclude light from the magazine during exposure, and to prevent
the plates passing from the magazine into the exposure chamber, except when the
slide is pushed down by the exposure frame table or carrier being thrown back to
receive the plate. Behind the division C is placed the moveable carrier E, which
can be raised or lowered from the outside of the camera by the rack and pinion F
placed at the back of it.
It is constructed to hold the magazine box which is securely fastened into it and
travels up and down with it.
The magazine H is a light tight grooved box of metal
or wood with
a sliding lid I having a flange or other arrangement to secure it to the upper
division C, for the purpose of opening the magazine as it is lowered with the
carrier.
It is constructed to hold 12 or more plates and is furnished with a numbered
index plate on the side corresponding with the grooves in the magazine and
showing at a hole in the side of the camera as the plates arrive before the opening
in the division C.
To use the camera, the carrier with the magazine loaded with plates in it is
worked down by the rack until the number of the plate required to be exposed
appears at the opening in the side of the camera.
The exposure frame table or carrier is then thrown back by a quarter turn of
the handle on outside of the camera. The camera slightly tilted forward the
plate then slides into the exposure frame table or carrier which is brought into

page_text: position again by a quarter turn of the handle. After exposure the frame table
or carrier is thrown back, and the camera tilted backward, the plate slides back
into the same or if desired any other empty groove in the magazine that is in
position behind the opening in the division, as shown by the number appearing at
the hole in side of the camera.
When all the plates have been exposed and returned to the magazine it is worked
to the top of the camera and the lid of same opened, the magazine can be removed,
and another loaded magazine substituted in daylight without fear of fogging the
plates.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manner of Changing the Plates and Bringing
them into the Proper Position for Exposure in Hand or Detective
Cameras.
I, HENRY ROBERT DINES, of 100, Fortess Road (late of 14, Caversham
Road), Kentish Town, London, N.W., Banker's Clerk, 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 its object improvements in the manner of loading and
holding the plates sensitized materials in hand or detective cameras, and
other apparatus for taking photographic pictures, in a detachable light-tight box or
magazine and of bringing the plates or sensitized material into a position for
exposure and returning same again to the magazine by means of handles on the
outside of the camera without opening the instrument in daylight.
A hand or detective camera according to this invention is illustrated in the
drawing filed with my Provisional Specification No. 8372 and dated the 30th day
of May 1890 which is an elevation of the camera with part of the side removed to.
show the interior and working parts of the same. Also an elevation of the
magazine or detachable holder for plates or other sensitized materials.
A. is the exposure frame, table or carrier to hold the plate or other material in
position for exposure. It is constructed of a flat piece of metal or wood with a
ledge turned up or over on three of its sides, and left open and flat on one side
to allow the plate or other material to slide in and out of it.
Across the back of A runs the spindle G. which takes its bearings in the sides
of the camera, one end passing through the camera and terminating in a milled
head or other suitable handle on the outside. This spindle may be fixed across the
centre or on any part of A. as may be required by the position of the lens,
magazine, or size of the plate used.
B. B. are two strips of wood or metal running across the camera to form stops to
hold the exposure frame when in the proper position for exposure. Also to prevent
any light passing the plate and entering the magazine.
CC is a division across the camera, for the purpose of dividing the exposure
chamber from the magazine chamber. This division is in two parts, leaving
between the parts space for the plates to pass through into the exposure frame A.
or back into the magazine.
The upper part is constructed to receive the flange or other device for securing
the sliding lid I. of the magazine thereto, the lower part of the division carries a
moveable slide of metal or wood with a flange, which is raised by a spring Dat
each end, high enough to close the opening in the division, to exclude light from
the magazine during exposure and to prevent the plates passing from the magazine
into the exposure chamber, unless the slide is pushed down by the exposure frame,
table or carrier being thrown back to receive the plate.
E is a moveable carrier which can be raised or lowered by the rack & pinion F

page_text: from the outside of the camera.
This carrier is constructed to hold the magazine
box H which is placed into it through a lid in the top of the camera and securely
fastened to it by catches or any other device so that it moves up and down with the
carrier E when it is acted upon by the rack & pinion F or any other device such
as a screw or pulley or a spring.
H the magazine is a light tight grooved box of wood or metal or both with a
sliding lid I having a flange or other device for the purpose of securing it to the
division C', so that the magazine may be opened or closed as the carrier is lowered
or raised. The magazine may be constructed to hold any number of plates or
other material, and on the outside is placed an index with a number corresponding
with each groove which appears at an opening in the side of the camera as the
magazine is lowered or raised, indicating the number of the groove presented
before the opening in the division C. The magazine is also provided with a spring
catch or other device for the purpose of securing the lid I when the magazine is
used for the purpose of carrying or holding a reserve of plates or other materials,
to prevent the lid I opening and thus admitting light.
The magazine being made light-tight it can be placed in or removed from the
camera in daylight without fear of fogging the sensitized surfaces contained
therein.
To use the camera, the carrier with loaded magazine is worked down by the
milled pinion head until the number of the plate required to be exposed appears at
the sight opening in the side of the camera; the exposure frame is then thrown
back into a horizontal position by a quarter turn of the handle on the outside,
pressing down the spring flange and opening the aperture for the plate to pass
through. The camera is now slightly inclined forward, the plate then slides into
the exposure frame, which is brought up to the vertical position by a quarter turn
of the handle. After exposure the handle of frame is again turned back, and the
camera inclined backward, when the plate will slide into the same, or, if desired,
any other empty groove in the magazine box that is in position behind the
aperture, as shown by the index number at the side.
By means of the hereinbefore described construction of a hand camera, the
following advantages are secured.
1. The magazine being light tight and detachable extra magazines can be used
to carry a reserve of plates when travelling &c. When one magazine is exhausted
it may be removed and a fresh one substituted in sunlight without the plates being
fogged.
2. As any plate can be withdrawn from the magazine that may be desired, the
magazine may be charged with plates of different rapidities or other kinds, and
any plate withdrawn from the magazine for exposure that will best suit the object
to be photographed.
3. A plate may be taken from any groove in the magazine that may be desired
and can be returned to the same or any other empty groove if it is so desired.
4. The ease with which the magazine is loaded. The plates being simply
dropped into the grooves of the magazine box, and they do not require any backing
or preparation as in many hand cameras, but can be used in the same condition
that they are received from the makers.
5. The simple manner of bringing the plate into a position to receive the
photographic image there being no complicated mechanism and thus a great saving
in weight.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1st. In hand or detective cameras and other apparatus for taking photographic
pictures. A magazine or plate container detachable and light-tight which can be
constructed to hold any desired number of sensitized plates or other materials, as
hereinbefore described.

page_text: 2nd. In hand or detective cameras and other apparatus for taking photographic
pictures. An arrangement for bringing a magazine or plate container into position
to discharge the sensitized plates or other material into an exposure frame, table
or carrier, either consecutively or otherwise as desired and to restore the exposed
plates or other material to the container, substantially as herein before described.
3rd. In hand or detective cameras and other apparatus for taking photographic
pictures. A device for opening the light-tight magazine or plate container whilst
in position in a camera or other apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described.
4th. In hand or detective cameras and other apparatus for taking photographic
pictures. An exposure frame, table or carrier which receives, holds and discharges
sensitized plates or other materials, by a movement of 90 degrees, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
5th. In hand or detective cameras and other apparatus for taking photographic
pictures. An arrangement for preventing light from passing from the exposure
chamber to the magazine chamber, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described.
6th. In or for hand or detective cameras and other apparatus for taking
photographic pictures the combination of parts constituting an apparatus for
containing and, removing for exposure consecutively or otherwise as desired
sensitized plates or other materials, substantially as hereinbefore described.
7th. A combination of parts permitting the removal of a magazine or plate
container from hand or detective cameras, and other apparatus for taking
photographic pictures, and the substitution of another magazine or plate container
in daylight, as substantially herein before described.
8th. The construction and arrangement of parts constituting an apparatus for
use in taking photographic pictures substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated.
Dated this 20th day of Woham 1001