Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec.; 1893-Accepted, 27th Jan.,
1894
Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
We, EMILE BATAULT, of 6 Rue de l'Université, Geneva, Switzerland, Doctor,
and Fox SHEW, of 88 Newman Street, County of London, Photographic
Instrument Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of our invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to that class of photographic cameras in which the back
and front are connected by bellows and in which the front carrying the lens is
mounted on a sliding frame for adjustment of the focus, forming the base of the
camera and being attached to the back frame or camera body.
Our invention has for its object the construction of such a camera, wherein space
is economised which is easily and quickly manipulated, and which when erected
shall possess more rigidity and strength than those hitherto in use and is at the
same time much lighter.
In order that my invention may be the better understood we will now proceed to
describe the same in relation to the drawings hereunto annexed, reference being
had to the letters and figures marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the camera opened out.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of same showing the front partially racked out in
dotted lines.
.
'
Figure 3 shows the camera closed.
Figure 4 is a plan of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a section to a larger scale of the hinged joint showing the hinge
binding of the frames.
. Figure 6 is a view of the detachable base board.
Figure 7 & 8 are views of the same attached to the camera.
Figure 9 & 10 are views of the focussing stop.
According to the present invention the base is composed of two frames A and B
telescoped one within the other, the inner one B consists of a flat metal frame upon
which is fixed the racks C for operating the frame, clamping lugs D for supporting
the front E, and stops F to prevent overturning.
This frame B is made to slide in grooves G arranged in the outer frame A; the
latter carrying the pinion H at one end, provided with milled heads W and lugs J
at-the other end, which serve to- receive axial screws K.to pivotably connect the
frame. A to the back frame L, struts M are arranged between the frame A' and
back frame L, which keep the two frames rigid.
Butting stops N are fixed to the outer or pinion frame A, in such position as to
come into contact with the bottom front edge of the back frame L just before the
frames A and L reach the rectangular or hinge bound position, each of the struts M.
have an open slotted end to engage on studs O arranged on the inside of back
frame L, so as to force the base up to the rectangular position against the combined
resistance of axial pivots K and of the hinge binding of the frame A on the inside
of the back frame L, and of the stops N on the front bottom edge of the frame L,
thereby forming a rigid fixing between camera back frame L and base frame A.
The front of camera P comprising the crossfronts and lens boards is detachably
attached to the inner or rack frame B in the following manner:-A strip of
metal Pa little longer than the front E and which slightly projects forward is
firmly attached to the bottom of the front E; the ends of this strip Pare slid
under the clamping lugs D on the frame B against suitable stops F. At each end
of this metal strip P just in advance of the front, I make holes Q to receive the

page_text: bottom pivots of two hinged flaps R, the flaps being of such a shape as to rest flat
on the front E clear of the cross front, when not in use. These flaps R are carried
up to the middle of the front board E.
The top pivot of each of the flaps R rotates in a hole in lugs S fixed to the side
of front E and form in conjunction with the holes Q in the bottom plate P the
hinge of the flaps :-The bottom portion of the flaps R project along about
one third the length of the front and on the under surface at the end of each of the
flaps R, a stud T is provided which is adapted to engage in one of two or more
slots U cut on the inside edge of the inner frame B which engagement serves to
firmly lock the front E rigidly to the inner frame B in the following manner :-
The flaps R are turned back towards the back frame L the front E carrying
bottom plate P, is slid under the groove of clamping lugs D and pushed forward
as far as it will go against stops, the flaps R are then turned outwards so as to lock
the studs T on flaps R into the slots U and when so locked the engagement forms
a rigid fixing uniting front of camera E to the inner sliding frame B of the
camera.
When the camera is to be closed the flaps R are disengaged, the flaps R are
folded over on the front E, the bellows are collapsed, the studs M are disengaged
and the skeleton base with its projecting milled pinion heads W is folded down
within the camera frame, over the front boards and is secured by a suitable
spring the projecting arm X of each of the banking or butting lugs N and
catch Y then serve to keep the front E from falling forward through the square
aperture in the base. By this particular arrangement of the folding parts greater
compactness is secured in this class of camera than has hitherto been possible.
We form more than one set of clamping lugs D and recesses or slots U on the
frame B, situated at varying distances from the back frame L in order to adapt
the front E in relation to its distance from the back frame L, for lenses of shorter
focus, than can be used when the front E is mounted at the extreme outward end
of the frame B.
In cases where the camera is capable of long extension, as shown in the drawing,
I provide a special detachably attachable base board as shown in Figures 6, 7, & 8
in order to support the camera upon a tripod or other support at a point situated
so as to better balance the front and back portions of the camera than is the case
when the camera without the base board is fixed by a screw or other fastening
device to the tripod, the screw engaging into the bottom side of the back frame Ľ
as there is no provision for such fastening in the centre of the skeleton frame B.
The detachable base board is secured by a screw z¹ to the back frame L by
engaging in the screw hole provided therein. Suitable shoulders are provided
to lock the board z and frame L together to prevent any relative turning movement
and projections are arranged on the front of the board z upon which the front
portion of frame A rests. A second screw hole is provided in the centre of
board z to engage the tripod screw. When the camera is turned up with its long
axis in a vertical plane, if necessary, I provide another projection 2 which is
probably of a different height to the projections 2, this said projection 2 being
adapted to take the weight of front portion of the camera by contact with the side
of frame A.
When not being used the projection" may by being hinged be folded down
on the top of the board out of the way and be maintained in either the folded
down or extended position by the retaining catch '. When using the camera
as a hand camera or for snap shots, this board z may be dispensed with.
In hand camera work or when taking photographs under circumstances that do
not permit the focussing to be determined by visual means it is difficult to readily
obtain the exact focus with great nicety. To effect this 1 arrange a spring pressed
stop or catch which shall determine the exact position of the sliding focussing
parts of the camera. In the camera shown in the drawing I provide a spring
tongue a attached to the frame A by a screw 6 so as to swivel thereon; at the end
of the tongue I arrange a projecting bevel edge stop c which passes through a

page_text: slot d in the frame A so as to bear against the edge of the frame B which slides
in the frame A; the said edge having V recesses at such positions representing
certain focal distances of the lens. The slot d is carried down far enough to
allow the stop c to be lowered by the swivelling of the spring tongue a about its
screw so that the stop c is thrown out of engagement with the edge of the
frame B. When the stop e is in the upper position ready for action the frame B
can be moved in and out until such time as the stop c engages with a recess in the
edge of the frame B representing a certain focal distance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st. In a photographic camera a back frame carrying a skeleton base frame
pivoted thereto in combination with butting stops on the said skeleton frame and
hinged struts, adapted to hinge bind the back frame and skeleton base in a
rectangular position when the struts are placed in position between and engaged
with the back frame and skeleton base, substantially as described.
2nd. In a photographic camera a front lens board adapted to engage with a
base frame by a retaining device in combination with hinged flaps carried by the
front board adapted to engage with the base frame at the end of the flaps,
substantially as described.
3rd. In a photographic camera the arrangement of hinged flaps for supporting
the front board on the base frame adapted to fold round on the front face of the
front board when the camera is folded up, substantially as described.
4th. In a photographic camera a skeleton base frame in combination with a
detachably attachable base board provided with stops, supports, and fixing or
attaching devices, substantially as described.
5th. In a photographic camera the combination of an automatic spring locking
device in combination with the focussing mechanism to lock the sliding focussing
device at known definite positions for hand camera or other work where the focus
cannot be obtained by visual means, substantially as described.
7th. The construction and arrangement of a photographic camera, substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 21st day of December 1893.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicants.