Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1893

page_text: Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
A communication from FRANK A. BROWNELL, of Rochester, County of Monroe,
State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 :-
The present invention has for its object to improve the construction and operation
particularly of that class of cameras adapted to be folded into compact shape for
transportation, though parts of it are well adapted for the ordinary non-folding
variety, and the invention consists of certain improvements in construction and
combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter fully described.
In the accompanying drawings :-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a camera constructed in accordance with this
invention, showing the camera front drawn partly out in position for use.
Figure 2 a side elevation with one end of the casing broken away to show the
swing-back and the means for operating it.
Figure 3 a top-plan view partly in section with the cover removed.
Figure 4 a front view of the camera front with the base board in section,
showing the focussing devices.
Figure 5 a plan of the underside of said focussing devices.
Figure 6 a detail view of one of the corners of the swing-back and the levers
for adjusting it.
Figure 7 a sectional view on the line of Figure 2.
Figure 8 a sectional view on the line y-y of Figure 2.
Figure 9 a sectional view on the line of Figure 6.
Figure 10 a sectional view on the line a-b of Figure 2.
Figure 11 a perspective view of a portion of the camera back and the means for
bolding the ground glass frame in position, and
Figure 12 a detail of the front catch-lock.
Similar reference numerals in the several figures indicate similar parts.
In the drawings, 1 indicates the enclosing casing or frame, open at the front and
top, having a hinged back or door 3, and adapted to contain the operating parts of
the camera.
Located within this casing is the camera frame, embodying a hase-
board 4, at the forward portion of which is secured the camera-front 5 (preferably
made in two parts hinged together, as will be presently described) and an upright
or preferably rectangular frame 6; said front piece 5 is hinged to the bottom
board 4 at its lower edge and connected by slotted links 7 with the frame 6,
suitable screws 8 operating in the slots in said links; said slots being provided
with an off-set at one end with which the shanks of the screws 8 engage when said
links are pressed forward by the springs 9 secured to the frame 6, shown in dotted
lines, in Figure 2; this construction holding the front or bed 5 in horizontal
position, and springs 10 are secured to the frame 6 operating to engage the front 5
and press it forward, which arrangement is specifically described in Letters Patent
No. 359 dated January 8th 1890. When the front 5 is closed up it is retained by
a suitable spring-operated catch 11 engaging a recess 12 in said front. Hinged
at 2 to the front portion of the top of frame 6 is a lid or cover 2 arranged, when
the frame is secured in the enclosing casing 1 by suitable fastenings, as screws, to
co-operate with the side walls of said casing and form a cover for the operating
parts of the camera; said lid having a depending flange or portion at the rear
ID: 077

page_text: provided with a projection 16 co-operating with a spring-lock or catch 15, attache
to the upper portion of the rear door 3, so that the camera may be closed and
locked, if desired, by a single fastening.
Arranged upon a block 6" secured to the top of the frame 6 is a pivotted
plate 13 Figure 3 and 12 having a slot through which passes the shank of the
spring catch 11 and having a raised projection 14 near one end of said slot,
operating when moved backward from the position shown in Figure 3. to engage
the under side of the head of the catch and prevent its operation in a direction to
release the front. The head of this catch is 'arranged directly beneath the
flexible covering of the top 2, so that it may be depressed without opening the
ease, to drop the camera-front 5, unless it is retained from operation by means of
the plate 13, as before described. A box or receptacle 95 is attached to the upper
portion of the frame 6 having a suitable cover 96 which will be found convenient
for containing extra lenses, diaphragmns, and small parts.
Secured to the sides of the frame 6 are plates 20 one arranged on each side and
cach having slots 21 and 22, as shown in Figures 2 and 8, provided with enlarged
apertures at their rear ends, and in the slots 20 are arranged the shanks of lugs or
projections 23 having enlarged heads on the inner sides of the plates 20; and
secured to plates 24 and passing through the slots 22 in the plates 20 are pins 25
. pivotted to round studs 26 operating loosely in suitable apertures in the sides of
the swing-back 27; the construction being such that the back 27 can be tilted in
a vertical direction on the studs 26, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2 or the
plates 24 can be moved back and forth independently on the frame 6, the studs 26
turning on the pivots 28 connecting them with the pins 25, thereby also, as
indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3 permitting a horizontal tilting motion of the
Swing-back, which latter is, as usual, connected by the bellows 29 with the
movable front 30 carrying the lens. The plates 20, it will be noted, are practically
a part of the frame 6, and their construction could be modified, or they could
be dispensed with and the plates 24 could be mounted directly on the frame, if
lesired.
As a means for facilitating the various adjustments of the swing-back and
securely locking the latter in any position in which it may be adjusted, a lever 31
is pivotted loosely upon each of the pins 25, the lower ends being pivotted to the
bottom board 4 and the upper ends provided with threaded studs 32 passing
through segmental slots in plates 33 pivotted at 34 on the frame 6. The upper
sides of the slots in said plates are provided with slight depressions or recesses as
shown in dotted lines Figure 2, for engaging the pins 32 when the top and bottom
of the swing-back 27 are parallel with the front of the camera; small springs 36
secured to the frame 6 and operating on the plates 33 press the latter downward
to ensure the co-operating of the depressions and pins, and suitable clamp nuts 37
on the pins 32 serve to clamp and hold the levers 31 in any position to which they
may be adjusted, as will be understood. The levers 31 may, if desired, serve as
supports for the swing-back, dispensing with the supporting plates 24, but it is
preferred to employ them simply as an operating means.
As a means for adjusting and securing the swing-back when tilted vertically on
the studs 26, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2, I provide one of the plates 24
with an upward extension 38 Figures 2 and 6 having a segmental upper edge with
stops at the end of the same, and arrauge upon the top of the swing-back a
bracket 39 through which passes a threaded pin 40 having a longitudinal groove 41
Figure 9 with which engages a small projection on the bracket 39 for preventing
said pin from turning, and upon the outer end of this pin is provided a head 42
engaging the outer side of the extension plate 38, and upon the pin is arranged a
securing nut 43 adapted to clamp the side of the bracket 39 and the extension
plate 38 together when moved outward. It will be seen that by loosening the
nut 43, the swing-back can be tilted vertically on the studs 26 and by tightening
said-put it can be secured in any position to which it may be adjusted. In order
that the operator can tell when the swing-back is in vertical position I secure to

page_text: the side of the latter a small spring 44 having a projection 45 adapted to enter a
corresponding slight recess in the inner side of the plate extension 38, as shown in
Figures 2 and 10, which spring can be readily disengaged by a positive movement,
but the spring could be placed on the extension and the co-operating depression
formed on the swing-back, if desired.
The swing-back 27 is provided at the ends with rearwardly projecting extensions
or wings 46, provided with slots 47 and pivotted upon the outer sides of said
extension are plates 48 having lugs or ears 49 projecting into, but, in the present
construction, not through the slots and adapted to co-operate with the ground glass
frame 50, or a plate or film roll-holder which may be applied to the camera-back.
Two of these plates are provided on each of the extensions 46 and are arranged
so that the lugs 49 will engage the ground glass frame or plate-holder near the top,
and bottom, and each pair is pressed forward by a spring 51 composed preferably of
a single piece of elastic wire, the ends of which operate loosely through lugs 52
on the plates 48, while the central coil is secured in a recess in the frame extension 46
by means of a pin 53, as shown in Figure 2.
The ground glass frame 50, in the present instance, is provided with lugs 54,
which, when the frame is applied to the camera-back, slide down suitable grooves 461
in the extensions 46 and then pass into the segmental slots 47 and are operated
upon by the lugs 49 of the pivotted plates 48. It will be seen that the ground
glass frame can be applied and removed readily, when desired, and also that a
plate-holder can be inserted between the camera-back and the ground glass
frame 50, the latter moving out against the tension of the springs 51, the extensions 54
operating in the segmental slots 47 of the part 46 and preventing the vertical
displacement of the ground glass frame and not interfering with the application or
removal of the plate-holder, and as the ears 49 of the plates 48 do not project
beyond the inner surface of the side pieces 46 a roll-holder may be readily applied
to the camera-back, if desired, which might be too thick to be accommodated
between the ground glass plate and the camera-back; said roll-holder being secured
in position by any suitable fastenings, and resting upon the bottom extension of the
said back. By employing the four independent plates 48 actuated by the springs,
as described, it will be seen that the parts can be made in quantity and applied to
any camera-back, irrespective of its size.
It is desirable that means be provided for permitting the escape and entrance of
air to the interior of the bellows of a camera, particularly when the rear is kept
closed by a roll or plate-holder, and in order to provide for this suitable passages 90
are arranged in the camera-back 46 passing from the interior of the bellows to the
exterior, said passages being sufficiently circuitous to prevent the entrance of light
and opening at the front of the swing-back 27, as shown in Figure 11. It will be
understood that the devices for holding the plate-holder or ground glass frame are
applicable to cameras not having swing-backs, and the term "camera-back" is
intended to mean either a swing or stationary back, and also that the plates 48
could be placed on the inner sides of the wings or extensions 46, if desired.
The movable front 30 to which the forward end of the bellows is attached is
connected to a sliding block 60 provided with depending flanges and adapted to be
locked in position by a cam 99 on the ways 61 secured to the hinged front 5 as
described in my former Patent, and is provided, as usual, with the grooves at the
sides in which the rising front 62 slides; said front 62 having a slotted plate 63
attached to it, with which a spring 64 connected to the block 60 is adapted to
co-operate to hold said front in any position of vertical adjustment desired, though
permitting its movement when positively operated.
65 indicates a movable frame held in position on the rising front by means of a
plate 66 engaging a groove therein and the buttons 67, as shown in Figure 4, and
sliding laterally in this frame is a lens-board 68 having the lens 69 secured to it,
as shown, or in any other suitable manner. For the purpose of securing the lens-
board in any position of lateral adjustment desired, I provide upon its upper edge
a rack 70 with which co-operates a tooth or pin 71 on the end of a spring-operated

page_text: catch 72 connected to the frame 65, as shown in Figure 4, said catch being readily
disengaged by pressure on its free end. A finder 73 is pivotted to one of the upper
corners of the rising front 62.
Connected to the front of the camera is an index 75 Figure 3 arranged to
co-operate with either of two scales 76 77, attached to the board 5 carrying the
ways 61 for the front of the camera, the indications on the former indicating the
proper focus when a long focus lens is used and the latter when using a short focus
lens, and it is desirable to provide a fine adjustment for focussing, either when using
the camera as a view camera employing the ground glass and opening the door 3 to
inspect the image, or when a roll-holder is employed and the distance scales are
relied upon for focussing. To prevent the part 5 from interfering with the view
when a short focus lens is employed, I make said front board 5 in two parts as
before described hinged together at 5' and normally retained in line by plates and
securing screws 78, 79 respectively, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3; by loosening
one of the screws of each set the plates 78 can be turned and the outer portion of
the board 5 dropped down, as indicated in dotted lines, Figure 2, the index 75 then
co-operating with the scale 77.
In order that a fine adjustment in focussing may be had when either a long or
short focus lens is employed, I provide upon the bottom of the block 60 a plate 80
having a series of recesses, and arrange within a recess in each of the parts of the
front 5, (though covered by the covering material thereof) an adjusting lever 81,
having a slot 82 at one end through which passes a pin or screw 83, on which said
lever is pivotted and is permitted a longitudinal movement, and upon the upper side
of this lever is a pin 84 projecting up through a slot 85 and adapted to engage,
when the lever 81 is moved longitudinally (as indicated in dotted lines Figure 5)
with one of the recesses in the plate 80, and thereby establish connection with the
camera-front, so that the latter may be moved by the lever, which will turn upon
the pivot pin 83. The outer or free end of the lever is provided with a threaded
stud 86 extending up through a slotted plate 87 secured on the board 5 and provided
with a securing nut 88, which serves not only as a means for clamping the lever in
any position to which it may be adjusted, but also as a handle for moving it
longitudinally and securing it with the pin 84 out of the path of the plate 80 on
the lower side of the block 60. As the two levers 81 and their securing and
manipulating devices are the same, a description of one will suffice for both, it
being understood that one of them is in such position that its lug will engage the
lens-support when a short focus lens is used and the other when using a long
focus lens.
Though it is desirable in a camera of this description to move the frame carrying
the lens for focussing and I have shown the lever for actuating this part, it is
considered the equivalent of and within my correspondent's invention to employ the
same construction of parts for moving the rear of the camera-back carrying the
ground glass and plate-holder, as the object is to move the lens and focussing screen,
or the substituted plate, relatively.
It will be understood that this camera can be used as a detective camera with a
roll or plate-bolder applied to the swing-back, and also as a view camera, the
ground glass being employed for focussing and by lowering the door 3 the rear
portion of the chamber will be found sufficiently dark to dispense with a focussing
cloth or hood.
While it is preferred to employ the various adjustments of the front and back in
a camera embodying an enclosing casing, as shown herein, my correspondent does.
not wish to be confined to such a one, as it will be understood that said devices
can be applied to a camera of any description.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
1. The combination with an enclosing casing open at the front and top of a

page_text: camera frame 4-6 secured within said casing having the lid or cover and the
inged front-board 5 said lid co-operating with and adapted to be secured to the
enclosing casing substantially as described.
2. The combination with an enclosing casing open at the front and top and having
door 3 at the rear of a camera frame 4-6 secured within said casing having the
lid or cover and the hinged front-board 5 said lid co-operating with the enclosing
casing and securing devices between the lid and the rear door of the casing,.
substantially as described.
3. In a camera the combination with the main supporting frame 46 of the
swing-back 27 the plates 24 movable on the frame and to which the swing-back is.
pivotted and the independent levers 31 pivotted to the frame 4-6 and to the
plates 24 substantially as described.
4. In a camera the combination with the main frame 46 of the plates 24
movable on the frame and the swing-back 27 pivotted on the plates to tilt.
vertically or laterally substantially as described.
5. In a camera the combination with the main frame 4-6 of the plates 24.
inovable on the frame the swing-back 27. pivotted on the plates to swing vertically.
and laterally and the independent levers 31 pivotted to the plates 24 and camera-
frame, substantially as described.
6. In a camera the combination with the main frame 46 of the supporting
plates 24 movable thereon the studs 25 26 pivotted on the plates 24 and loosely
engaging the swing-back 27 and the swing-back substantially as described.
7. In a camera the combination with the main frame 4 6 of the supporting
plates 24 movable thereon the studs 25 26 pivotted on the plates 24 and loosely
engaging the swing-back 27 the independent pivotted levers 31 operating the
plates 24 and the swing-back 27 substantially as described.
8. In a camera the combination with the main frame 4 6 of the supporting
plates 24 movable thereon the swing-back 27 pivotted on the plates 24 to turn.
laterally the pivotted levers 31 engaging the plates 24 and locking devices 32,.
33, 37 for securing the levers when adjusted, substantially as described.
9. In a camera the combination with the main frame 4 6 of the supporting
plates 24 movable thereon the swing-back 27 pivotted on the plates 24 to turn.
laterally the pivotted levers 31 engaging the plates 24 having the studs 32 and
securing nuts 37 and the plates 33 with which said nuts co-operate substantially, as
described.
10. In a camera the combination with the main frame 46 of the supporting
plates 24 movable thereon the swing-back 27 pivotted on the plates 24 to turn
laterally the levers 31 engaging the plates having the studs 32 the spring-operated.
plates 33 having the centreing notches 35 and the securing nuts 37 substantially as.
described.
11. In a camera the combination with the main frame 4 6 of the supporting
plates 24 movable thereon the swing-back 27 pivotted on the plates 24 to tilt.
vertically one of said plates having a depression and a centreing spring 44 on the
swing-back having a projection 45 co-operating with said depression to hold the
5 swing-back when the latter is in vertical position, substantially as described.
:
12. In a camera the combination with the main frame of the supporting plates 24
movable thereon the swing-back 27 pivotted on the plates to tilt vertically and
locking devices 38, 39 40 41 42 and 43 between one of said plates and the swing-.
back for securing the latter substantially as described.
13. In a camera, the combination with the main frame 46 of the supporting
plates 24 movable thereon the swing-back 27 pivotted on the plates 24 to tilt
vertically one of the plates having the extension 38 and the clamping screw and nut
on the swing-back engaging the plate 38 and securing the swing-back when adjusted
substantially as described.
5 14. In a camera the combination with the main frame 4 6 of the supporting
plates 24 movable thereon the swing-back 27 pivotted on the plates to tilt
vertically one of the plates having the extension 38 the bracket 39 on the

page_text: swing-back the longitudinally movable screw 40 operating therein and the securing
nut 43 on the screw clamping the bracket 30 and extension 38 and holding the
swing-back 27 substantially as described.
15. In a camera, the combination with the main frame 4 6 of the supporting
plates 24 movable thereon one of them having the extension 38 the pivotted
studs 25 26 on the plates 24 the swing-back loosely pivotted on the studs detachable
securing devices between the swing-back and plate extension levers 31 operating
on the plates 24 and detachable fastenings for said levers substantially as
described.
16. In a camera the combination with the main frame 4 6 of the swing-back 27,
the levers 31 arranged on opposite sides thereof the pins on which the levers are
pivotted having the pivotted studs loosely pivotted in the swing-back and devices
for securing the swing-back when tilted on the studs and devices for securing the
levers substantially as described.
17. In a
camera the combination with the main frame 46 and the slotted
plates 20 21 22 secured thereto of the sliding plates 24 having the lugs 23. the
pins 25 secured to the plates operating in the slots 22 of the first mentioned plates
and having the studs 26 pivotted thereon the swing-back 27 loosely pivotted. on
the studs 26 the levers 31 pivotted on the pins and fastening devices for holding
the swing-back and the levers when adjusted substantially as described.
18. The combination with the camera-back having the rearwardly projecting
extensions 46 of the plates 48 pivotted thereon having the ears 49 for co-operating
with a focussing frame or plate-holder and springs 51 pressing the plates toward
the back substantially as described.
19. The combination with the camera back. having the rearwardly projecting
extension 46 of the plates 48 pivotted thereon having the cars 49 for engaging a
focussing frame and a single spring 51 secured at its centre and having its cuds
engaging two of said plates substantially as described.
20. The combination with the camera-back having the rearwardly projecting
extensions 46 and the slots 46' extending parallel with the camera-back of the
ground glass frame having the ears 54 adapted to enter said slots and the pivotted
plates on the extensions 48 engaging said cars and springs 51 for moving the
pivotted plates substantially as described.
21. The combination with the camera-back having the rearwardly projecting
extensions 46 slotted on their inner sides and having the apertures 47 extending
through them of the plates 48 pivotted on the outer sides of the extensions
having the ears 49 projecting through the apertures springs 51 for moving them
toward the back and the ground glass frame having the lugs 54 at the sides
substantially as described.
22. The combination with the camera-back having the extensions 46 provided
with apertures 47 the plates 48 pivotted on the outer sides of the extensions having
cars 49 extending through the apertures 47 and the springs 51 secured to the
extensions at their centres having their free ends engaging the plates substantially
as described.
23. In a camera embodying relatively movable front and rear parts the camera
back having one or more light-tight air passages 90 formed therein extending. from
the interior to the exterior of the camera substantially as described.
24. In a camera the combination with the bed or support having ways 61 thereon
and the lens support and back relatively movable for focussing of a focussing
lever 81 pivotted to the bed and detachably connected with the movable part of
the camera for focussing substantially as described.
25. In a camera the combination with the bed or support having ways 61 thereon
of the frame movable for focussing the longitudinally movable pivotted focussing
lever 81 connecting the frame and bed when moved longitudinally in one direction
and detachable from one of them when moved in the other substantially as
described.
26. In a camera the combination with the bed or support having ways 61 thereon

page_text: of the movable lens-carrying frame the longitu linally movable focussing lever $1
pivotted to the bed and adapted to co-operate with the lens-carrying frame wher
moved longitudinally and then to actuate the latter when moved on its pivot
substantially as described.
27. In a camera the combination with the bed or support having ways 61 thereon
of the movable lens-carrying frame having the recess in its under side the
longitudinally movable focussing lever 81 having the pin 84 adapted to engage the
recess in the frame and the securing screw 86 for holding the focussing levers
substantially as described.
P
28. In a camera the combination with the bed or support having ways 61 thereon
of the movable lens-carrying frame having the series of recesses in its under side
the focussing lever 81 having the slot 82 and the engaging pin or projection 84 and
the pivot pin in the bed 83 substantially as described.
29. In a camera the combination with the bed or support having ways 61 and the
movable lens-carrying frame having the recess in its under side of two detachable
levers 81 pivotted in the bed and adapted to be connected to the lens-frame whereby
lenses having different foci may be employed and a fine adjustment obtained
substantially as described.
30. In a camera the combination with the bed or support made in two parts
hinged together and the movable lens-carrying frame sliding thereon of two
detachable focussing levers 81 one arranged on each part of the bed or support
and adapted to be connected separately to the lens-frame substantially as described.
31. In a camera the combination with the main frame of the bed or front 5 hinged
to the frame and composed of two parts hinged together the ways 61 thereon an.l
the lens-frame sliding on said, ways of the two focussing levers 81 arranged on the
parts of the bed and adapted to be connected with the lens-frame substantially as
described.
32. In a camera the combination with the main frame the hinged front having
the ways 61 thereon and the lid or cover 2 of the catch 11 on the frame co-operating
with the front when closed and the lock 13-14 for preventing the operation of the
catch arranged beneath the cover substantially as described.
33. In a camera the combination with the main frame the hinged front 5 having
the ways 61 thereon of the catch on the frame embodying the movable stem 11
having the head and co-operating with the front when closed the movable plate 13
having the projection 14 for engaging the underside of the head and preventing
the operation of the catch substantially as described.
34. In a camera the combination with the enclosing casing the hinged front 5
the lid or cover 2 and the rear door 3 of the catch 11 for retaining the front when
closed the lock 13-14 for preventing its operation arranged beneath the lid and
co-operating catches 15 on the lid and rear door whereby the camera may be
completely closed and locked by a single locking device substantially as described.
35. In a camera the combination with the lens-supporting frame the rising
front 62 sliding thereon having the notched plate 63 and the spring projection 64
on the supporting frame co-operating with said plate to secure it substantially as
described.
36. In a camera the combination with the lens-board having the notched flange 70
of the frame 65 in which said board slides the spring-catch 72 pivotted thercon
having the pin 71 engaging the notched flange substantially as described.
Dated this 3rd day of November 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.