A New or Improved Apparatus for Producing Flash Light in Giving Photographic Exposures.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Apparatus for Producing Flash Light in Giving
Photographic Exposures.
I, THOMAS MALONI of 29 Newmarket Street, Ayr, North Britain, Photo-
graphic Artist, 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 which relates to a new or improved apparatus for producing
flash light in giving photographic exposures consists of a cross-bar having a
central vertical extension in the form of a tee or cross which is capable of being
raised or lowered within a telescopic standard or pillar resting upon the ground.
Mounted upon the said cross bar are a number (say from one to eight) of
transverse brackets which carry a rocking bar placed parallel to the said cross bar,
and the necessary fitting for producing the flash light.
In order that my said invention may be properly understood and readily carried
into effect, I have hereunto appended two explanatory sheets of drawings, in the
several figures of which corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of
reference.
Figure 1, represents in perspective a general view of the apparatus made in
accordance with and constituting my said invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of one of the brackets illustrating
their respective mountings.
Figure 3 is a front elevation and Figure 4 is an end view showing the method
of operating the rocking bar for purposes hereinafter explained.
Figure 5 is also an end view illustrating a modification of the arrangement
shown in Figures 3 and 4.
The cross bar A, which is made tubular conveys the gas to the jets B, and
Bunsen burners C. The jets B, are merely for illuminating purposes, while the
jets D, of the Bunsen burners C, are for heating to incandesence the wire
points E, of the wipers F, mounted on the rocking bar G. To each of the
wipers F, and corresponding to the number of jets D, is a cup or hemispherical
holder H, carried upon the brackets M, of which there are four (being a very
convenient number) shown in Figure 1. In each cup H, is placed a highly
explosive powder which when ignited produces a high intensified light.
I do not confine myself to any particular powder-compound known to the arts.
The said rocking bar G, is provided with a tongue or wiper 1, which is keyed on
or otherwise clamped to it, and in its normal position rests upon a collapsed
pneumatic rubber bag or sac J. In full lines, Figures 2. 3. and 4, the said tongue
or wiper I is almost in this position while the wire points E, are nearly over the
jets D, of the Bunsen burners C, where they will become quickly heated. The
pneumatic bag or sac J, is connected by the bent metal tube K, and flexible tube L,
to a pneumatic ball (shown in Figure 1, but not shown in Figures 23 and 4) which
on being pressed will inflate the sac J. This operation will quickly raise the tongue
or wiper 1, and communicate motion to the rocking bar G, which will dip the heated
wire points E into the cups H, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, and an
explosion or flash light, necessary for a photographic exposure, will take place.
The wire of which the wipers E are composed is made preferably of hard steel
or other suitable non-fusible metal.
On each of the brackets M, at the back of the cups H, is an enamelled

page_text: reflector Q; while in front of the said cups H, is projected a screen S, of waxed
paper or parchment by which the strong actinic light is subdued and rendered
suitable for photographic exposures.
In lieu of the pneumatic sac or bag J, for operating the rocking bar G, I have
shown in Figure 5 an arrangement of lever N, and counterweight O. The said
lever N is pivoted at n. One end of the lever N, engages with the tongue I, and
is provided with the weight O, for retaining it in the normal position as shown in
the said figure.
It will be seen that by pulling the cord P, or its equivalent, the opposite end of
the lever N, will raise the tongue I, and thereby perform the same function as the
-sac J.
-It is to be understood that I do not confine myself to coal gas for heating the
wire points as oil or spirit lamps may be employed for this purpose.
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. The method or means of dipping heated metal points, by means of a rocking
bar or its equivalent, actuated by pneumatic or mechanical means, into a cup of
powder or powder compound capable of giving an explosion when ignited to produce
a flash light for giving a photographic exposure.
2. The general arrangement and combination of parts operating substantially as
hereinbefore described and shown on the accompanying sheets of drawings.
Dated this 1st day of January 1896.
THOMAS MALONI,
Applicant.