Improvements in Cameras and in Tripod Stands for the same.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left. 26th June, 1889-Accepted, 17th Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cameras and in Tripod Stands for the same.
I JOHN WILLIAM RAMSDEN of Park Lane Leeds in the County of York,
Photographer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to facilitate the setting up and the manipulation
and adjustment of the camera, the closing or packing up of the camera, also to render
it more convenient or compact for transport, and to increase the capabilities or capacity
of the apparatus.
My Invention refers in the first place to improvements in the construction and
fittings of the base or bed piece of the camera. Such base or bed-piece is formed
as is usual in two parts, the one which is clamped to the top of the tripod stand being
capable of being slid along the middle or centre part of the other, to which the camera
back is attached; or more strictly the latter is capable of sliding over the former, when
the same is attached to the top of the tripod stand. This outer sliding portion just
referred to, is provided with two longitudinal (i.e. in the direction of the sliding
motion) slots or slits, through which pass the screws or studs for securing or clamping
the back of the camera in position. The two portions of the base piece are secured in
their relative positions, (to which they may have been adjusted), with regard to each
other, by the same screw or clamp by which the inner portion secured to the top of
the tripod stand. The final adjustment to focus of the camera back is effected by
sliding the above mentioned screws or studs in the before mentioned slots or slits.
These slots or slits are somewhat wider than the portion of the studs or screws
passing through them, which allows the camera back to be inclined slightly towards
one side or the other.
A
Secondly to the attachment and fittings of the camera-back. The camera back is
not attached directly to the base or bed-piece, but is hung or hinged to a metal carrier,
this latter being securely clamped to the base or bed-piece by the screws or studs.
slot in the carrier and a pin or screw passing through the same into the side of
the camera-back, limits the swing or inclination to the vertical of the camera-back.
The frame of the image or focussing plate and also the dark slide are secured
in the camera-back frame by means of short hinged plates, which are turned across
the two top corners of the frame of the image or focussing plate, instead of being slid
along grooves.
The front side of the camera-back frame is provided with spring clips for holding
the camera cloth or screen.
Thirdly to the mode and means for inserting or holding the plates in the dark
slide. The plates are inserted in the dark slide from the front, by inserting one end
or edge of the plate in a groove provided preferably in the top side of the dark-
slide. This groove is provided with two or more springs, which yield when
sufficiently pressed, allowing the bottom end of the plate to be pushed back flat into
the slide, when the springs just mentioned force the plate; so that the saine or bottom
edge of the plate enters a groove provided therefor in the corresponding bottom side
of the dark slide. This groove however is not sufficiently deep to allow the first
mentioned edge of the plate to pass beyond free from the groove containing the
springs.
Fourthly to improvements in the lens attachments. The front piece containing the
lens is arranged capable of fitting sliding in tightly fitting slides or guides at the
front end of the camera box, and is attached to a pillar (D shaped in cross section),
which latter fits and slides in a corresponding hole or socket at the front end of the
inner base or bed piece; in which hole or socket the pillar can be secured at any
desired height up to the extreme length of the pillar. The first portion of this

page_text: arrangement allows the flexible sides of the camera-box to be conveniently folded
back for packing up; whilst the latter part of this arrangement allows of the lens
being fixed close down to the base or bed-piece of the camera, or fixed at any height
up to the extreme length of the pillar. This arrangement allows of the camera being
readily and properly ailjusted in many situations, where it would be difficult if not
impossible to obtain a proper adjustment with the tripod stand alone.
Fifthly to the form or shape of the dark slide, (which is usually arranged to take
oblong plates), but I prefer to make the same square, and to take an exposure
with the largest possible square field of view, the impression being printed from part
only, or the whole of the plate, so as to give an upright, oblong, circular, or square
picture as may be deemed to give the best effect.
Lastly my Invention refers to a special construction of the tripod stand legs. As is
usual the lower half of each is made capable of sliding over, or within the upper half,
but according to my Invention the lower half, as well as the upper half is split; the
two portions of the lower half being hinged together near the bottom. The split
portions of each leg can be opened out and tied across by means of a hinged bar
or bars, fixed at any convenient height preferably near the brass or metal slides
connecting the upper and lower portions of the legs.
Dated this 25th day of September 1888.
J. CLARK JEFFERSON,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cameras and in Tripod Stands for the same.
I JOHN WILLIAM RAMSDEN of Park Lane Leeds in the County of York
Photographer, 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 object of my invention is to facilitate the setting up, the manipulation and
adjustment of the camera, the closing or packing up of the camera, also to render it
more convenient or compact for transport and to increase the capabilities or capacity
of the apparatus.
My Invention refers in the first place to improvements in the construction and
fittings of the base or bed piece of the camera. Such base or bed-piece is formed as
is usual in two parts, the one which is clamped to the top of the tripod stand being
capable of being slid along the middle or centre part of the other to which the camera
back is attached; or more strictly the latter is capable of sliding over the former, when
the same is attached to the top of the tripod stand. This outer sliding portion just
referred to, is provided with two longitudinal (i.e. in the direction of the sliding
motion) slots or slits, through which pass the screws or studs for securing or clamping
the back of the camera in position. The two portions of the base piece are secured
in their relative positions (to which they may have been adjusted), with regard to each
..other by the same screw or clamp by which the inner portion is secured to the top of
the tripod stand. The final adjustment to focus of the camera back is effected by
sliding the above mentioned screws or studs in the before mentioned slots or slits.
These slots or slits are somewhat wider than the portions of the studs or screws passing
through them, which allows the camera back to be inclined slightly, towards one side
or the other.
Secondly to the attachments and fittings of the camera-back. The camera-back is
not attached directly to the base or bed-piece but is hung or hinged to a metal
carrier, this latter being securely clamped to the base or bed piece by the screws
or studs.
A slot in the carrier and a pin or screw passing through the same into
the side of the camera-back limits the swing or inclination to the vertical, of the
camera back.
The frame of the image- or focussing-plate and also the dark slide are secured in
the camera back frame by means of short hinged plates, which are turned across the

page_text: the ends of the two portions B B by hinges h. The outer portion B B of the base
is capable of being slid over the centre portion B¹ B', and is provided with two
longitudinal slits ss, through which pass the screws or studs d d for securing or
clamping the camera-back in position. The screw or clamp for attaching the inner
part B 13 to the tripod stand passes through the slit s¹ s' at that part where the slit
also passes through the broad plate. p, and thus while securing the camera to the
tripod, at the same time secures the two portions of the base in the relative positions
to which they may have been adjusted. The final adjustment of the camera back C to
focus, is effected by sliding it with the above mentioned screws or studs d along
the slots or slits s s. These slots or slits ss are somewhat wider than the diameter of
the studs or screws d d passing through them, and thereby allow of the camera
back C being inclined slightly to right or left as may be desired.
The camera back C is not attached directly to the base B, but is hung or swung by
pins p in a shaped metal carrier E, to which latter the heads of the studs d d are
rivetted or otherwise secured. A curved slot in each side of the carrier E permits of
the camera-back C being tilted to a limited extent to one side or other of the vertical,
and the set screws f serve to clamp or fix the camera-back at any inclination to which
it may have been adjusted.
The frame of the image or focussing plate and also that of the dark slide D, which
is afterwards inserted in the same place, are secured in position in the camera
back by means of a recess h³, Figs. 2 and 9, formed in the bottom edges of these same,
which recess fits over a slightly projecting plate i see Fig. 9 attached to the bottom inner
ledge of the camera-back frame, and by means of short hinged or pivotted picces k at
the upper corners of the camera-back frame, which latter (k) may be turned across
these corners so as to drop into bevel grooves or slits k¹, formed in the two top
corners of the frame D or of the focussing-plate frame. When these hinged pieces k
are pushed back into a vertical position as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 9, the top
end of the frame may be pulled foward and thus allow the frame to be lifted away
from the camera. In order to be able to insert the frames in either of two positions,
(the one at right angles to the other), the projecting edge of the camera back frame
is cut away on two sides to within a short distance of the corners, (i.e. for a length
equal to the width of the frames, which are square), and for the same reason the
recess is formed in one or both side edges of the dark slide; on both side edges
when the dark slide is made reversible for carrying two plates.
The front side of the camera-back frame is provided with spring clips
holding the camera cloth or screen.
for
In order to be able readily to insert or remove and to fix the plates securely in
position in the dark slide, the following arrangement is provided which is illustrated
in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. In both the upper and lower sides of the frame D a groove m
is formed, the length from the bottom of one groove to the bottom of the other,
measured straight across the frame D from top to bottom, being slightly greater than
the longest dimension of the plate to be inserted, by an amount slightly greater than
the depth of the groove; whilst the length from the botton of one groove to the top.
of the other measured as above is only just slightly greater than the largest
dimension of the plate to be inserted. The upper groove however is provided with
two flat springs n, which normally project almost to the top of the groove, but which
when pressed by the insertion of the plate, yield so as to allow the edge of the plate to
enter the groove so far that the opposite edge of the plate can be dropped or
pushed back into the slide, i.e. into the groove in the bottom of the slide, when the
springs n force the plate towards the bottom groove, so that the bottom edge of the
plate enters the same. The depth of this groove however is not sufficiently great
to allow the first mentioned top edge of the plate to pass beyond free from the
groove containing the springs n. n. The removal of the plate is evidently readily
effected by first forcing or pressing it against the springs n, n.
The front plate. L containing the lens is arranged capable of sliding in tightly
fitting slides or guides O formed in the front plate M of the camera box or bellows,

page_text: wo top corners of the frame of the image or focussing plate, instead of being slid
long grooves.
The front side of the camera-back frame is provided with spring clips for holding
he camera cloth or screen.
Thirdly. To the mode and means for inserting or holding the plates in the dark
lide. The plates are inserted in the dark slide from the front by inserting one end
or edge of the plate in a groove provided preferably in the top side of the dark slide.
This groove is provided with two or more springs which yield when sufficiently pressed
allowing the bottom end of the plate to be pushed back flat into the slide, when the
springs just mentioned force the plate, so that the same or bottom edge of the plate
enters a groove provided therefor in the corresponding bottom side of the dark slide.
This groove however is not sufficiently deep to allow the first mentioned edge of the
plate, to pass beyond free from the groove containing the springs.
Fourthly. To improvements in the lens attachements. The front piece containing
the lens is arranged capable of sliding in tightly fitting slides or guides at the front
end of the camera box or bellows, and is attached to a pillar (D shaped in cross
section), which latter fits and slides in a corresponding hole or socket at the front end
of the inner base or bed piece; in which hole or socket the pillar can be secured at
any desired height up to the extreme length of the pillar. The first portion of
this arrangement allows the flexible sides of the camera box or bellows to be
conveniently folded back for packing up; whilst the latter part of this arrangement
allows of the lons being fixed close down to the base or bed piece of the camera, or
fixed at any height up to the extreme length of the pillar. This arrangement allows
of the camera being readily and properly adjusted in many situations, where it
would be difficult if not impossible to obtain a proper adjustment with the tripod
stand alone.
Fifthly to the form or shape of the dark slide, (which is usually arranged to take
oblong plates), but I prefer to make the same square, and to take an exposure with
the largest possible square field of view, the impression being printed from part only.
or the whole of the plate, so as to give an upright, oblong, circular, or square picture
as may be deemed to give the best effect.
Lastly my Invention refers to a special construction of the tripod stand legs. As
is usual the lower half of each is made capable of sliding over or within the upper
half, but according to my Invention the lower half, as well as the upper half is split ;
the two portions of the lower half being hinged together near the bottom. The split
portions of each leg can be opened out and tied across by means of a hinged bar or
bars, fixed at any convenient height, preferably near the brass or metal slides
connecting the upper and lower portions of the legs.
And in order that my Invention may be more clearly understood reference is made
to the accompanying drawings as illustrating in what manner my Invention may be
performed.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS..
Fig. 2 is a side
Fig. 1 is a plan looking upwards at the underside of the camera.
elevation, Fig. 3 is an elevation of the camera (as folded up) on the side opposite to
that shewn in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is an elevation from the lens end of the camera, and
Fig. 9 from the back end of the camera, these views also shewing the camera folded
up for transport. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the upper half of the dark slide, and Figs. 6
and 7 sections on lines A B and C D of Fig. 5 respectively, and Fig. 8 is a plan.
Fig. 10 is a view shewing my improved construction of legs for camera tripods.
BB is the base of the camera, formed as is usual in two parts, the centre B' B¹ being
clamped to the top of the tripod by means of a clamping screw (not shown), which
passes through the centre slit s¹¹. The other portion of the base B B to which the
camera back C is attached is formed in two parts joined across at one end by a
broad plate p, and at the other end by the hinged cross piece x, which is hinged to

page_text: and is attached to a pillar P, preferably D. shaped in cross section. The pillar P fits
and slides in a corresponding hole or socket N at the front end of the centre base-
piece B', being secured therein at any desired height by means of the set screw m.
The total length from the bottom of the pillar P to the top of the lens plate L is only
slightly greater than the inside height of the camera-back, so that when the lens
plate is pushed up in the slides or guides O, and the pillar P withdrawn from the
base-piece B1, the flexible sides of the camera bellows can be conveniently folded
back, so that the whole of it and the lens plate L receede within the camera back.
A slight recess is formed in front of the bottom side of the camera back to allow for
the bottom end of the pillar P. This is unneccessary when the total height of the
pillar and lens plate is less than the inside height of the camera back. The
adjustment of the pillar P in the socket N allows of the lens being fixed down close to
the base B B1, of the camera, or of being fixed at any height up to the extreme
length of the pillar. This arrangement allows of the camera being readily and
properly adjusted in many situations, where it would be difficult if not impossible to
obtain a proper adjustment with the tripod alone.
The dark slide which in other cameras is usually arranged to take oblong plates,
in my Invention is made square, the side being equal to the longest dimension of the
oblong plates arranged to be used with it. The focussing plate also is made square of
the same dimensions, so that an exposure may be afterwards taken with the largest
possible square field of view, the impression being printed from part only, or the whole
of the plate, so as to give an upright, oblong, circular or square picture as may be
deemed to give the best effect. The camera-back, as shewn in the drawings, is made
square to correspond. As the plates are usually manufactured oblong and not square,
the dark slide is provided with two side carriers t see Figs. 5, 6 and 7 to reduce the
width to that of the plate.
My improved construction of tripod stand legs for photographic cameras is
illustrated by Fig. 10, in which u u' are the two split parts of the lower half of one
leg, which are hinged together at v and arranged capable of sliding within the two
split portions w w of the upper half of the leg. is a hinged bar, hinged to one of
the brass straps or guides y and provided with two or three notches which are
slipped over the pin or stud z on the other strap y' to tie the split portions across,
when opened out.
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
1° A base or base-piece formed in two portions, the one sliding outside the other
and provided with slits or slots for facilitating the adjustment of the camera-back
to focus.
2° The arrangement and use of a swing carrier for supporting the camera-back
frame from the base or base piece so as to be capable of adjustment.
3° The combination or arrangement of lens plate and pillar attached thereto-with
slides or guides attached to the camera box or bellows, the former capable of sliding
in the latter so as to facilitate the closing or packing up of the camera.
4° The means herein set forth for adjusting the camera-back frame about an
horizontal and an imaginary vertical axis with respect to the base.
5° A lens plate attached to one end of a flexible camera-box or bellows and connected
by a sliding connection to the base.
6° The combination of lens plate and pillar with a socket in the base piece for the
purpose of adjusting the height of the lens above the base.
7 The arrangement of grooves in opposite sides of the dark slide, one of such
grooves being provided with springs, all substantially as described and shewn and for
the purpose specified.
So The means substantially as described and shewn for securing the dark slide or
focussing plate in the camera-back, consisting of hinged plates at the top corners and

page_text: a recess (or projection) in the bottom of the camera-back with corresponding grooves
or slits in the corners and a projection (or recess) on (or in) the sides of the dark
slide or focussing plate.
9° A baso or base piece formed in two portions, the outer portion, which slides over
the inner, formed in two pieces connected together at one end by a broad flat plate,
and at the other by a hinged cross piece, substantially as described and shewn.
10° A tripod stand with the legs constructed in upper and lower halves, the one
capable of sliding over the other or within it, both halves being split, the split-portions
of the lower halves being hinged together, at their lower ends; and provided with
binged bars for tying across the split portions when these are opened out.
Dated this 24th day of June 1889.
J. CLARK JEFFERSON, A.R.S.M., Wh. Sc.,
2, East Parade, Leeds, Agent for Applicant.