Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 26th Feb., 1898
Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
I, JOHN LARSON ATWATER, of Western Springs, Cook County, Illinois, United
States of America, Gentleman, 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:—
In my invention I have designed to produce a competent portable photograph
camera, of a simple construction, which will contain a number of separate sensi-
tive plates or films which may be easily changed in day light, and the invention
consists in the novel devices and novel combinations of parts and devices herein
shown and described and particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and in
which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures, Fig. 1
represents a perspective view of the exterior of a camera box; Fig. 2 is a longi-
tudinal central vertical section of the same and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the
movable sheet metal casing.
In said drawing A is the light-tight rigid camera box, provided with tho
cover A¹ and flexible changing cuff A, the whole constituting a rectangular light-
tight box. B is a plate of sheet metal cut and stamped up into the form shown
at Fig. 3, that is to say having a bottom piece and two upright sides B B. At
B² B² the ends of the uprights are folded or turned inward to form shoulders, and
projections B³ 13 are formed in the said uprights adjacent to said shoulders B².
The space between the shoulders B and projections 133 constitutes a groove into
which is slipped a wooden end or backing plate B34 (see Fig. 2). This backing
plate B carries a spring B³. At a suitable distance in front, sufficient to accom-
modate the required number of plate holders, other projections B are formed in
the uprights B, to constitute a shoulder against which the plate hoiders are pressed
by said spring, and forming the focal plane. On the bottom of the shell is a
rack or racks B, and in the vertical sides opposite thereto I cut slots 18 138 hori:
zontally. A pinion or pinions B³, mounted on a shaft B10 engages these racks;
the ends of the shaft having bearings in the camera box, and one end being fitted
with a key or index finger 13", and the camera box adjacent thereto being pro-
vided with an index arc B2, which may be marked with an index of focal distance.
The changing cuff A² is made of flexible material in the form of a tube or
sleeve open at both ends, the inner end being attached to the camera box under the
hinged lid A¹ and the outer end being preferably provided with an elastic band
or cord to hold it tight about the wrist of the operator.
The operation is as follows: The shell with its wooden backing plate and
spring is placed loosely in the camera box so that it shall be free to move back-
wards and forwards. The shaft with its gear and turning key or finger is then
inserted and the camera is ready for use. When the magazine is filled with plate
holders and the movable shell is in the position shown at Fig. 2 the foremost plate
of the series is in the plane of infinite focus of the lens. To adjust the foremost
plate to a different focus the index finger is turned, rotating the cog pinion which
moves the shell back from the lens and carries the plate to the required position,

page_text: indicated by the index arc. To change the plates after exposure in the camera
the lid of the camera is raised and the cuff drawn out after which the lid is closed
down upon the cuff temporarily to guard against the admission of light through
the cuff to the sensitive plates. While the lid is thus closed down the hand may
safely be inserted within the cuff after which the lid may be raised, and the
operator feeling with his fingers the tops of the plates or films changes the front
or exposed plate by lifting it up and placing it in the rear of the body of plates.
After this is done the hand may be withdrawn from the camera, the lid closed down
upon the cuff again and the hand withdrawn from the cuff. Then the cuff may be
rolled up, the lid raised again and the cuff placed inside of the box and the lid
closed down and fastened.
The construction is such that the solidity, compactness, and light-tight character,
as well as the means of attachment of the flexible changing bag and its co-operative
lid is not in any manner interfered with by the addition of the movable shell.
While at the same time the movable shell is of such form and nature that it may
be very cheaply made by simply stamping it out of sheet metal and bending it
up to form.
This gives as a whole, a camera of very cheap and simple construction, capable
of taking a large picture relatively to the size of the camera box; one in which
the plates, may be easily changed; and one in which the focus may be set as
required arbitrarily from the exterior.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
:-
1st. The combination in a camera box of a flexible changing cuff open at both
ends, the inner end attached to the box under the lid, with the lid adapted to shut
down over the cuff when the latter is drawn out, so as to exclude the light while
inserting the hand into the cuff or withdrawing it therefrom, substantially as
specified.
2nd. The combination with the rectangular light-tight camera box of the
character indicated, of the three sided metal shell formed with a groove for a
rigid backing plate and containing said backing plate provided with a spring,
and formed with a shoulder at each side for the plates to abut against, and means
for moving said shell to and from the lens from the exterior, substantially as
specified.
3rd. The combination with the rectangular light-tight camera box of the
character indicated, of the three sided metal shell formed with a groove for a
rigid backing plate and containing said backing plate provided with a spring,
and formed with a shoulder at each side for the plates to abut against, and means
for moving said shell to and from the lens from the exterior, said means consisting
of a rack on the bottom of the shell, a shaft extending through the camera box
and the shell, and an exterior key or index finger and an index plate, substantially
as specified.
1007
JOHN LARSON ATWATER.
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.