Improvements in Photographic Cameras known as "Detective" or Hand Cameras.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras known as "Detective" or
Hand Cameras.
I JAMES W. MORGAN of 35 Princes Street Tunbridge Wells in the County of
Kent Pianoforte and Organ Dealer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in photographic cameras of the character
known as hand cameras or "detective cameras and has for its object to simplify
the construction of such cameras and reduce their size and for other purposes.
According to my present improvements I arrange and construct a camera as
follows:-
The case or frame of the camera is of any suitable shape but for the sake of
example I will describe an oblong box or case.
The lens is or may be mounted on a sliding plate sliding in grooves or bearings
inside of the case such slide being actuated in any convenient manner for instance
by a knob or handle projecting through the case by which also it is secured in the
desired position a pointer on such knob or handle serving also to indicate (on a scale
or dial provided) the distance the lens is set for.
Any usual or suitable shutter may be used and also any usual or suitable view
finder may be used.
The sensitive plates or films are mounted in sheaths or plateholders and are placed
in position at the back of the camera to which admission is gained by any suitable
door or opening provided for that purpose.
All the plates when in position are pushed forward by a spring in the back of the
camera which spring is controlled by and can be drawn back by means of a knob
(or the like) projecting through the back end or side of the camera as and for the
purpose hereinafter explained.
The front plate is thus pressed firmly up against a beading or sort of frame where
each plate in turn takes its position for exposure.
The front plate after exposure has taken place is then allowed to drop through a
transverse slot in the bottom of the case by simply withdrawing the pressure of the
aforesaid spring and shaking the camera and the said exposed front plate will then
drop through the slot into a light tight bag or case made of any suitable fabric or
material which case is made just large enough to hold said plate and is attached to
a slide which travels in guides or is so held that it can travel freely backwards and
forwards (within a certain limit; in line with the plane of the bottom of the camera
case and in the direction of its length.
This slide with the attached bag containing the exposed plate is now slid back
until the bag and slot in the slide coincide with a second slot in the bottom of the
camera case the camera is then turned upside down the aforesaid spring at the back
is again drawn back and the exposed plate drops out of the bag back into the
camera right at the back of all the other plates and so on with each successive plate
until all have been exposed. The bag when out of use lies flat against the bottom
of the camera.
To indicate how many plates have been exposed so as to show when all have been
exposed and prevent exposing by accident any of the plates a second time I have
invented the following device:-
The carrier or sheath of the last plate to be put in the camera (when filling
same in the dark room et cetera) has a lug or projecting pin which is inserted in the
eye of a sliding dial or indicator which it pushes forward when each plate in front
is changed to the back and through an aperture in the case successively indicates

page_text: the number of the plates exposed (or not exposed as desired) and when it
ultimately reaches the front position (and has been exposed) it cannot be removed
through the aforesaid slot as the said pin or lug prevents its dropping out through
the slot in the bottom and hence unmistakably indicates that all the other plates
have been exposed.
I wish to remark that I do not limit myself to the use of any particular shutter
and apparatus in connection therewith as any shutter suitable for the purpose may
be used as desired.
Dated this 19th dow of 1001
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras known as "Detective" or
Hand Cameras.
I JAMES W. MORGAN of 35 Princes Street Tunbridge Wells in the County of
Kent Pianoforte and Organ Dealer 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 relates to improvements in photographic cameras of the character
known as hand cameras or "detective" cameras and has for its object to simplify
the construction of such cameras and reduce their size and for other purposes.
According to my present improvements I arrange and construct a camera as
follows reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings;
Figure 1 of which is a side elevation of this camera part being broken out to show
the internal construction.
Figure 2 is a cross section about the line 1-1 Figure 1 looking in the direction
of the arrow Figure 1 all the plates or films being removed except a part of one
plate hereinafter described to show the automatic locking arrangement.
Figure 3 is a local plan of part of the top of the camera just over the lens.
The case or frame of the camera is of any suitable shape but for the sake of
example I will describe an oblong case a.
The lens is or may be mounted on a sliding plate or frame c sliding in grooves
or bearings inside of the case a such slide being actuated in any convenient manner
for instance by a knob or handle or set screw d projecting through the case by which
knob d the lens b is secured (by screwing or otherwise) in the desired position a
pointer e on such knob or handle serving also to indicate (on a scale or dial ƒ
provided) the distance the lens is set for.
Any usual or suitable shutter may be used and also any usual or suitable view
finder may be used.
The sensitive plates or films g (mounted in sheaths or plateholders) are placed in
position at the back of the camera to which admission is gained by any suitable door h
(or other suitable opening) provided for that purpose.
All the plates g when in position are pushed forward by a spring i in the back of
the camera which spring i is controlled by and can be drawn back by means of a
knob k (or the like) projecting through the back or side of the camera as and for
the purpose hereinafter explained.
The front plate is thus pressed firmly up against a beading m (or frame) where
each plate in turn takes its position for exposure and is thus brought up exactly to
register.
The front plate g' after exposure has taken place is then allowed to drop through
a transverse slot n in the bottom of the case by simply withdrawing the pressure of
the aforesaid spring i and shaking the camera and the said exposed front plate g¹

page_text: will then drop through the slot an into a light tight bag or case o made of any suit-
able light tight fabric or flexible material which case o is made just large enough to
hold one plate y and is attached to a slide p which travels in guides q or is so held
that it can travel freely backwards and forwards (within a certain limit) in line
within the plane of the bottom of the camera case and in the direction of its
length.
This slide with the attached bag o containing the first exposed plate y' is now
slid back until the bag o and slot in the slide coincide with a second slots in the
bottom of the camera case the camera is then turned upside down the aforesaid
spring at the back is again drawn back and the first exposed plate g¹ drops out of
the bag back into the camera right at the back of all the other plates 9 and so on
with each successive plate until all have been exposed. The bag o when out of use
lies flat against the bottom of the camera as shown in dotted lines at ox
Figure 1.
g
is a stop or abutment against which stop piece a the slide p is pressed so as to
exactly bring the slot pl in the slide p to coincide with the slot n underneath the
front plate. Such front plate is prevented from falling through the slot n by the
pressure from behind of the spring i pressing same up against the beads m but when
the spring is drawn back the front plate immediately is free to fall through the said
slot n.
To indicate how many plates have been exposed so as to show when all have been
exposed and prevent (by automatically locking same) exposing by accident any of
the plates a second time I have invented the following device :-
The carrier or sheath of the last plate * Figures 1 and 2 to be put in the
camera (when filling same in the dark room et cetera) has a lug or projecting pin u
which is inserted in the eye of one end of a sliding dial or indicator v which it
pushes forward (down a groove or way provided for it) when each plate in front
is changed to the back. This indicator through an aperture win the case a
successively indicates the number of the plates g exposed (or not exposed as desired)
and when the last plate g* ultimately reaches the front position (and has been
exposed) it cannot be removed through the aforesaid slot as the said pin or lugu
prevents its dropping out through the slot n in the bottom and hence unmistakeably
indicates that all the other plates have been exposed and thus automatically and
mechanically prevents exposure of the other plates a second time.
I wish to remark that I do not limit myself to the use of any particular shutter
and apparatus in connection therewith as any shutter suitable for the purpose may
be used as desired.
The light tight bag o and slide p may be arranged and mounted on any side of
the case a and all the knobs or projections et cetera arranged on the same side so as
to leave all the three other sides intact and unbroken.
I would further remark that I am well aware that a visible indicator or device
for recording to the eye of the operator the number of exposures already given
(or remaining to be given-as the case may be) has been used previous to the date
of my present application for Patent and I therefore do not make any broad claim
to such indicating devices but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I do
claim is :-
1. In a photographic apparatus such as a detective camera-or other suitable
form of camera or changing box-the combination with one side of the case thereof
of a light tight slide having a light tight bag attached thereto said slide being
capable of a limited movement backwards and forwards (i.e. towards and away from
the lens) and having a slot therein which slot is brought to coincide with a slot in
the case just under the position of the front plate through which the said front plate
falls into the light tight bag attached to said slide substantially as and for the
purposes herein before set forth,

page_text: 2. The combination of the apparatus claimed in above Claim 1 with a second slot
or through cut in the back end of the case with which slot the light tight bag and
slot in the slide can be brought to coincide and through which slot the exposed
plate brought from the front in the said bag is passed back into the case right
at the back of all the other plates and pushed forward with same by a suitable
spring at the back substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore set
forth.
3. I claim the combination with the before mentioned method and means of
changing the plates or other sensitive surfaces of an indicating device consisting of
a slide moving in a groove or way on the inside of the case and pivoted or connected
to the back plate when the case is being loaded and thereby pushed forward-
towards the lens-step by step as each plate is transferred from the front to the
back the successive numbers on this slide showing through an aperture in the case
and finally locking the last unexposed plate in the position ready for exposure and
absolutely preventing the said last plate from dropping through the slots into the
light tight bag aforesaid all substantially in the manner and for the purposes
hereinbefore set forth.
4. In a plate or the like photographic changing box or camera I claim the
combination therewith of an indicating device consisting of a slide-moving in a
groove or way in the inside of the case-having numerals or symbols thereon
showing through an aperture in the case and said slide connected to one of the
plates or film carriers and moved forward thereby and therewith step by step as
each successive plate is removed from the front position either to the back of
the other plates or otherwise substantially as and for the purposes herein set
forth.
5. In photographic apparatus such as hereinbefore set forth I claim the combina-
tion therewith of an adjustable lens moved by an externally projecting knob or set
screw having thereon an index finger or pointer which indicates on a dial plate or
scale the distance the lens is set for substantially in the manner and for the purposes
hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 14th day of December 1891
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.