Improvements in and in connection with Photographic Cameras and Dark Slides,
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 1st Feb., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in connection with Photographic Cameras and
Dark Slides,
I, THOMAS (Archdeacon) COLLEY of 18 Lansdowne Circus, Leamington, War-
wickshire, under Letters Patent of Her Majesty the Queen Archdeacon of
Pietermaritzburg in the Colony and Diocese of Natal, 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 :-
My invention consists mainly of three parts which may be particularised under
heads 1st 2nd and 3rd as follows:-
1st An improved Plate-Holder or Dark slide for Photographic Cameras made
specially for the camera hereafter to be described, but which may also be used with
any bellows or box camera that will afford space for the falling open of the Lid and the
revolution of the Plate-Holder inside the Camera.
2nd A Swing-Frame, to carry the aforesaid Plate-Holder or Dark Slide (singly
or otherwise), constructed and placed as part of the camera hereafter to be described,
but which may also he fitted to any bellows or box camera that will afford space for
the rotary action of the Swing-Frame and the falling open of the Lid and the revo-
lution of the Plate-Holder inside the camera.
3rd An Indicator, connected with and controlling the action of the aforesaid Swing-
1e, which, being outside the camera while the Swing-Frame is situate within,
shews the position of the Plate-Holder in the Swing-Frame when the Camera is
closed.
The Plate-Holder or Dark slide-single for one or more plates, double for two or more
plates is made of cardboard, paper-mache, gutta percha, leather, wood, metal or
other material in whole or part, and is fitted with a Lid which is made to fall open
inside the camera, the said Lid being so weighted that when the Plate-Holder is
perpendicular, or a little inclined from perpendicular, the lid shall fall open of its
own weight, a catch being unfastened before the Plate-Holder is brought into position
or placed at the angle necessary for it thus to fall open inside the camera.
The Camera to be used herewith-made to carry a given number of the above
described Plate-Holders-one of which may be carried in a recess made in the lid of
the same is so arranged, planned and constructed, that Photographs may be taken
by it while the specified number of Plate-Holders are inside.
To this end a Frame of metal or other material to carry the Plate-Holder, or
Holders, is fixed inside the Camera and made to swing free to any angle from a
centre-pin that has its bearings at the sides of the Camera.
The Frame is governed by an Indicator outside the Camera; Frame and Indicator
being connected by means of the said centre-pin.
A screw-nut, pin and slot, or other such device, fixes the Frame inside the Camera
with the Indicator outside in a perpendicular position or at any angle that may be
desired.
The Frame is also made to swing completely round upon its axis within the Camera
so that the Lid of the revolving Plato-Holder may be opened or closed at pleasure.
To shew the working of my invention I submit the following drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved Plate-Holder, double, and actual size for
quarter plates. A is a groove for sliding the Plate-Holder into the Swing-Frame; a
corresponding groove being on the other side.
Fig. 2 is a cross section of Fig. 1 to shew the inner construction of double Plate-
Holder (actual size for quarter plates) B B Lids closed. CC Recesses for sensitive
plates. B. B; B. B; Leathern hinges to Lids.
Fig. 3. is a side elevation and half section of double Plate-Holder (actual size for
auarter plates)
Tid falling anan
Lid Catah

page_text: Fig. 4. shews a front elevation of Plate-Holder (actual size for quarter plates)
F. F. F. F. top, sides, and bottom of Lid. G double recess for Lid-Catch. H. H.
weights within the substance of the Lid to cause it to fall open when placed at the
proper angle.
Fig. 5. represents a general view of my double Plate-Holder, one Lid being open.
I Recess for sensitive plate. J. Lid-Catch. K. the point behind which Lid-Catch
pushes up and fastens.
Fig. 6. is my Swing-Frame to carry one double Plate-Holder, but which may be
enlarged forward and backward of the centre-pin to carry several Plate-Holders.
L' Left side centre-pin. M. Indicator connected with Swing-Frame by means of L³
(right side centre-pin). N centre-piece down which Plate-Holder slides. O Screw-
nut to keep Plute-Holder from sliding out when upside down in the course of its rotary
action to open and close Lid. P Hole through Indicator; with Chain P; and
pin P, by means of which Indicator is fixed at any required angle.
Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 general view of Camera (size, outside measure, 10 inchos long ;
6 inches wide, and 54 inches deep) to shew the manner in which my improved Plate-
Holders may be carried in order to allow of photographs being taken while yet Eight
double Plate-Holders for quartor plates containing sixteen sensitive plates are inside
at the time of exposure.
This general view of my Camera in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 also shows the position of the
Swing-frame, with Indicator at the same angle, suggesting the manner of its rotary
action to open and close Lid of Plate-Holder.
te-
Qmarks the top of the covered way or Shaft of Lens. R. Pneumatic tube for
instantaneous shutter. S. Fixed screw-bar running beneath the Lens in Shaft to ter
or fix the focus. T. T. T. T. T T. T. double Plate-Holders. Another
Holder, making eight, being, except when focussing, carried in Swingue, to be
ready for instand and unobserved exposure. U. Cap to Lens for long exposures when
the instantaneous shutter is not used. V. is tho indicator. W. is the Swing-Frame. X. is
a door at the end of the camera to open, as shown, when focussing; the space between
which door and the ground glass of the focussing slide in the Swing-Frame being in
shadow, a focussing cloth is not required; and even when the camera is set at a Fixed
Focus (in which way I generally use it) I find the door X to be very 'ul in afford-
ing me so readily when open a view of the objects sighted to be pi aphed as
shewn in full size on the ground glass of the focussing slide in the Swing-rame, and
thus rendering a View-finder unnecessary. Y. shews the open Lid of the Camera.
ZZ are fixed eyes that fit into 23% of the Lid of the Camera, which, when closed and
fastened by catch-hooks (see "C" of Fig 8.) enables the Camera, packed, as it is capablo
of being, with fifteen double Plate-Holders containing thirty quarter plates, to be
carried with handle K. K.
.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is
(1) A Plate-Holder or Dark slide for Photographic Cameras, the Lid of which Plate-
Holder is so weighted that it shall, when placed at the proper angle, fall open of its
own weight.
(2) A Swing-frame for the said Plato-Holder, which, when placed in the camera
made or adapted for its use, shall so rotate upon its axis that the Lid of the Plate-
Holder which it carries may be opened and closed at pleasure.
(3) An Indicator outside the camera that shall shew the position and govern the
action of the Swing-Frame and Plate-Holder inside the Camera when the Camera is
closed and everything is ready for immediate and unobserved use.
Dated this the 11th day of November 1880