IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS FOR OUT-DOOR OPERATIONS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jose Maria Domenech, Engineer, and Frederic
Pierre Jonte, Cabinet Maker, of No. 13, Rue Gaillon, Paris, in the
Empire of France, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED
PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS FOR OUT-DOOR OPERATIONS,"
Sealed the 31st July 1868, and dated the 3rd February 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jose Maria Domenech
and Frederic Pierre Jonte at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 3rd February 1868.
We, JOSE MARIA DOMENECH, Engineer, and FREDERIC PIEREE JONTE,
Cabinet Maker, of No. 13, Rue Gaillon, Paris, in the Empire of France, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
COMBINED PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS FOR OUT-DOOR OPERATIONS," to be as fol-
lows:-
These improvements relate more particularly to the apparatus
employed in out-door operations, and their object is to combine in one
portable and convenient package the whole of the apparatus now used
separately and independently. To this end we construct a package
which can be carried on the back by straps. This package contains the
camera with all the requisites for taking a view or portrait, as well as
Price 8d1

page_text: chemicals and materials for preparing, developing, and fixing the plates.
A flexible cloth covers the entire apparatus, as well as the operator, and
serves the purpose of a tent, and through which we admit sufficient light
of a non-actinic character by causing it to pass through glass or other
coloured media. The box is so constructed that on fixing it upon the
tripod stand it at once opens out into a large and convenient tent,
with the lens and camera attached in front. The operator takes up his
position inside the tent, and before him is the camera, which he can
open or shut. His stock of glass plates are over the camera, as well as a
cistern of water. On his right hand are the chest or shelves containing
the chemicals, and at his left the nitrate bath, and before him the tray to
receive the waste in washing. Every requisite for preparing the plates,
putting them into the camera, exposing them, developing, and fixing the
image can thus be accomplished without moving from the spot. The whole
apparatus being contained in a large well ventilated non-actinic lighted
chamber.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jose Maria Domenech and Frederic Pierre Jonto in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd August 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, Jose
MARIA DOMENECH, Engineer, and FREDERIC PIERRE JONTE, Cabinet
Maker, both of 13, Rue Gaillon, Paris, in the Empire of France, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Jose Maria Domenech and Frederic
Pierre Jonte, Her special licence that we, the said Jose Maria
Domenech and Frederic Pierre Jonte, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Jose Maria Domenech and
Frederic Pierre Jonte, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of

page_text: Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS FOR
OUT-DOOR OPERATIONS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said Jose Maria Domenech and Frederic Pierre Jonte, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the naturo
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Jose Maria Domenech and Frederic
Pierre Jonte, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):-
The object of this Invention is to facilitate the work of the photographer
in the field, enabling him to dispense with a separate tent, or the
inconvenience of carrying his plates prepared or exposed to or from his
laboratory to the point of view. To this end we combine with the camera
itself the full capability of a working dark room in a convenient and
portable form, the camera containing within itself the plates, chemicals,
and every apparatus necessary, as well as the means of preparing,
exposing, and fixing the photographic plates on the spot from which the
view or portrait is to be taken.
The better to describe the said Invention we have represented it in
the twelve Figures of the accompanying Sheet I. of Drawings, and the
six Figures of the Sheet II., in which Sheet I., Fig. 1 is a plan with the
covering partly removed; Fig. 2, a lateral elevation in section through
A, A, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a back elevation with cloth removed, showing the
apparatus erected for use; Fig. 4, an underneath plan, and Fig. 5, a side
elevation of the apparatus packed for travelling; Figures 6 and 7,
detailed views indicating the method of clevating or lowering or
levelling the camera; Fig. S, an elevation, and Fig. 9, a plan of the tripod
legs shut up for transport, and Fig. 10, a detached plan of one of the
legs; Fig. 11, a section of a water-tight silver bath, and Fig. 12, a
detailed sectional elevation of a water-supply valve shown full size,
and in which Sheet II. Fig. 1 is a plan in section through the line A, B,

page_text: Fig. 2, of the camera when used separately; Fig. 2, a longitudina
clevation in section through C, D, Fig. 1, of the same camera; Fig. 3, a
side sectional elevation of one of the camera legs; Fig. 4, a front
elevation of the same Figure; Fig. 5, a side sectional elevation of the
operating chamber without the camera, and Fig. 6, an enlarged view of
part of Fig. 5.
The whole apparatus is contained in the package, Figures 4 and 5,
Sheet I., it can be carried on the back of a man by the straps 1, 1, and
the tripod legs, Fig. 8, which the man carries in his hand, all the
apparatus is thus contained in one package or box about eighteen inches
long, fifteen inches wide, and ten inches deep, when the plates are about
uine-and-a-half inches by seven inches the weight is about seven pounds.
Thus equipped the photographer proceeds to the point of view desired,
and to erect the apparatus, commences thus :-He detaches the tripod
head 2 by loosening the screws 3, 4, and taking off the rings 5 of the
tripod legs, Fig. 8, Sheet I., he extends the legs out, and attaches them
to the tripod head 2 by the screws and nuts 6, Fig. 4, Sheet I., he then
stands the tripod erect, staying it with the iron stays 7 shown in Fig. 2,
Sheet I., and then stands the apparatus upon the tripod, and fixes them
together by the screws 3, 4, he then turns the tripod and apparatus so
that the front S shall face the object to be copied. A small lateral
deviation can be given to the apparatus upon the tripod head by means
of the screws 3 and 4, 3 forming the axis and 4 moving in the slot, as
seen at Fig. 4, Sheet I. He then opens the front 8, to which is attached
the covering 9, and opening and turning it over the apparatus it forms
the upper covering of the dark chamber as seen in Figures 1, 2, 3,
Sheet I. It is stayed in position by the strut 10, which when packed
forms the shutter or covering to the orange colored glass or tissue 11,
the covering of flexible material 9 extends over the whole apparatus,
and the man has access to the interior of it by the aperture 12, Fig. 3,
Sheet 1. A second aperture in the cloth admits the head of the tripod,
round which it is fastened light-tight by means of a cord or string.
After letting down the bottom board 13 jointed at 14, and staying it
with the tie rods, one of which 15 is shewn in Fig. 2, the operator enters
the interior of the tent by the aperture 12, and closes this aperture
round his waist by the string 16, he now lets down the back of the
package 17, Fig. 5, and stays it with the rods 18, fixing it as shewn in
Fig. 2, Sheet 1. 17 forms the waste tray for developing in, with a
nozzle 19 fitted to hold a flexible pipe to carry away the waste, which

page_text: can be led into a vessel to receive it, and thus all danger of dirt or
damage being avoided the photographer may be admitted into salcons
or picture galleries from which he would now be excluded. 20 is a
vertical tray to hold the plate holder, as shewn in Fig. 3. Sheet I. He
now unfolds the two recessed doors 22, turning on a centre 63 at right
angles to the body of the apparatus, and turns back the outer coverings
22 (one of which is seen in Fig. 5, Sheet I.) at right angles to the
recessed doors 22, these outer coverings of the package, Fig. 5, now form
part of the sides of the dark chamber, they are kept in position by the
flaps 61 falling on their hinges 61 in the position indicated at Figures
1, 2 and 3, the round elastic rod 62 for supporting the flexible covering 9
is now taken out of the waste tray 17, where it is coiled for travelling,
and fixed in the mortices G4 fitted on the covers 22° of the recessed
doors 22, one of which is shewn in Fig. 2, Sheet I. The recessed doors
22, 22, are intended to receive the chemicals, &c., which may be arranged
as desired. In this case the right door is fitted with the following
bottles-Three of about five hundred grammes (23), two of about two
hundred grammes (24) in ebonite with screw tops, and two bottles in
glass (25) of about two hundred grammes, two developing cups 26, and
spirit lamp 27, for quickly drying the finished plate, so that it may be
placed in the plate box without damping or moistening the dry new
plates in the stock box. The left recessed door carries the nitrate
bath 28, shewn in section at Fig. 11, Sheet I., packed for travelling at
Fig. 3, and let down into position for working at 28*. Above the bath
is the dripping rack 29 and cup 0 for catching the drip, and a plate
draining is shewn at 31. The bath 25 being let down in its working
place 28 discloses the window 32, Fig. 3, of yellow glass or other
colored media, the light coming through it being regulated by a
moveable covering or blind. The glass plates 33 are carried in the
plate box 34, shown closed in Fig. 3, and in section at Fig. 2. Over
the plate box 34 is the cistern for water 35, holding about four and a
half litres, the supply for washing the plates being regulated by the
flexible tube 35 and the valve 37, shown full size at Fig. 12, by com-
pressing the parts 38 of this valve with the finger and thumb the water
flows through the pipe, and on releasing the pressure the elastic spring 39
compresses the lower part of the clip through which the pipe passes
and closes the orifice. On the left covering of the door 22, Fig. 2, is
arranged the sand glass 40, the brush 41, pincers 42, hammer 43, and
other things as required, screwdriver, level, gimlet, needles, and thread,

page_text: sliding the head
sponge, cloth, &c. The plate holder or dark side 44, Figures 2 and 3,
Sheet I., is composed of a frame, which cover 45, Fig. 2, and two curved
and grooved sliding pieces 45°, 45°, Fig. 3. The ground glass 47 is
held in the grooves of these sliding pieces 45°, 45*, and whatever the
size of the glass it is held only by the corners, as shewn in Figures
2 and 3, on account of the curved form of the grooved pieces. The
operator now proceeds thus:-He opens the back door 45 of the plate
holder or dark slide 44, and fills in it the ground glass 47, he then opens
the spring cover 48 of the lens 49 by the cord and handle 50, adjusts
the focus by means of the handle 51, which rotates the worm 52 in the
pinion 53, carrying on the same shaft the outer pinions 54, working in
the racks 55, shown in Figures 1 and 2, Sheet I. This action extends
the lens 49, or draws it to the dark chamber by
56 to which the lens 49 is attached upon the bottom 13, the connection
between the head 55 and the back of the camera 57 being made by the
bellows 58. When the focus is adjusted if it is required to elevate or
depress the view that the lens makes upon the ground glass, this is
effected by the screws 59 and 60, Fig. 1, Sheet 1., the one screw
elevating the lens, the other depressing it by the change of level in the
body of the apparatus as set forth in detail in the section of this
portion, Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, Sheet I., the sliding action of the flaps and
joints being there shown in work. Now closing the shutter 48 of the
lens 49, and removing the ground glass 47, the operator proceeds in the
manner known to every photographer, but with this advantage that he
can now finish the picture, and be certain of his success or failure before
he leaves the position he has chosen. In case of wind affecting the camera
during exposure he can if necessary lower or take off the flexible covering
9 in a few seconds, and the whole apparatus can be mounted or taken
down in about eight minutes.
Although our apparatus is essentially designed as above stated as
a camera combined with a dark room, under certain circumstances it
may be advantageous to separate the one from the other, and in such
case we use an additional tripod with three sliding pieces a, a and a
as is seen in sectional lateral elevation, Fig. 3, Sheet II., and in frout
elevation, Fig. 4, Sheet II. The chamber itself may also be modified
with the view of reducing its volume for packing and for simplifying
its extension, as shewn in Figures 1 and 2, Sheet II., this camera is com-
posed of a front b, and of a back c, uniting by the bellows d, and mounted
upon a bottom composed of three pieces e, f, and g, of which the first e

page_text: is screwed upon the tripod, whilst the two others fand 9 slide in the first
one.
The Drawing represents the chamber extended, it is drawn in by the
screw worked by the handle, the two pieces ƒ and g being fixed by
a little spring attached to f, and bearing against g are drawn in together
until the part is at the bottom of e; all the screwed part of f has then
passed through the nut, and the point of the screw will penetrate into
the uut g; in this condition the little spring j is released, and then on
continuing the turning of the screw the piece g is drawn into fand e, and
to keep them in this position they can be fastened by the hook k of the
part e upon the point of the piece f. For setting the camera the face b
carrying the lens m can slide in the grooves cut in the piece g, and be
fixed in place by the screws n, n. When the operating chamber is
erected without the camera the opening in front of the tent is closed by
a blind o, Fig. 5 Sheet II. rolled upon the spring roller o', the lower part
of which carries the cross bar o³, which can be caught by the detent or catch
p, when the operation is finished a light pressure upon the spring of the
detent lets the curtain rise instantly, and allows the air and light to enter the
chamber.
To give casy and rapid access to the box for the glass the lid is fitted with a
sping and detent so as to open and shut by simple pressure. In the two
Figures 5 and 6, Sheet II., q represents the glass box, and the cover or lid
hinged at r, under this hinge is placed the spring in india-rubber 73, upon the
lid is fixed a spring hook s, and upon the box a spring detent s', (see the
enlarged Fig. 6, Sheet II.), to open the box only requires a slight pressure
upon the detents, which releasing the hooks allows the elasticity of the
india-rubber spring to throw down the lid; to shut the box simply requires
the lid to be pushed to, aud then the hook catches into the upper part of the
box, and holds the lid shut.
To faciliate the mounting of the tent on its tripod, and to enable the
legs a, a, a, of the tripod, Fig. 5, Sheet II. to be attached to tho head t
rapidly, we cut open the heads of the legs so that they can be pushed on
to the bolts u, and in this way the bolts may remain always attached
to the tripod head. In place of the three bolts and the circular openings
mentioned before for fixing the tent upon the tripod we may make use of
a single central bolt v, so that the whole apparatus may turn freely upon
the tripod head. The tripod head can be made with a groove w round
it, in which by the aid of a string the cloth covering can be drawn

page_text: tightly for better security against the entry of the light, and convenience
in mounting.
The developing tray 2, Fig. 5, Sheet II., we prefer to make of ebonite,
and it can be fitted with moveable sides of ebonito z fitted to the bottom
of the tray by the blocks y, y, so that the operator can work with greater
cleanliness.
Having now set forth the nature of our improvements, and the best means
that we are acquainted with for putting the same into practice, we wish it
to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent we
claim, the arrangement and construction of parts above described constituting
our improved combined photographic apparatus.
In witness whereof, we, the said Jose Maria Domenech and Pierre
Fredéric Jonte, have hereunto set our hands and seals, the Twenty-
fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-eight.
Witness,
D. H. BRANDON,
13, Rue Gaillon,
Paris.
A. H. BRANDON,
13, Rue Gaillon,
Paris
(L.S.)
JOSE MARIA DOMENECH.
PIERRE FREDERIC JONTE. (L.S.)