Improvements in and connected with Photographic Cameras, Dark Slides, and Tripod Stands.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 7th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 10th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Photographic Cameras, Dark
Slides, and Tripod Stands.
WILLIAM SCORER Watchmaker Jeweller and Photographer of North Street,
Havant, in the County of Hants, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:
:-
My invention consists of an improved means of holding the two sides of the dark
slide of a photographic camera together when made of the book form they being
usually held together by means of hinged clips. I dispense with these hinged clips
and hold my slides' together by means of screws so formed that when released by
means of a turnscrew, the two sides of the slides may be separated the one from the
other without the screw coming out, this is effected in my invention by making each
screw clip in four parts consisting 1st of a screw with a head. The screw being
threaded right up to the head 2nd a socket for the head which is let into one side
of the double slide the screw is kept from falling out of this socket or recess by
means of 3rd a hollow screw, screwing on the first this has also a head and when
screwed tightly on to the first screw keeps it from falling out and thus getting lost
the 4th part
the nut and is let in flush with the surface of the frame of the slide
or film holder and exactly oposite the screw in its socket. The slide being closed
in the usual way the screws are turned into the nuts keeping the two halves of the
slides firmly together, as many screws being used in each slide as may be thought
necessary. The fastening has a very neat appearance. The slides may also be
held together by a similar arrangement without a screw by a kind of lock turning
partly round and shot up when released by a spring the same principal of action
being maintained in both forms but the construction different.
The dark slides of a photographic camera held together in the ordinary way by
means of hinged clips are very liable in use to come unfastened and to fix them
requires the slide to be cut away in a very clumsy looking fashion causing an
otherwise neat looking piece of aparatus to asume a somewhat mutilated appear-
ance. In my invention I overcome these objections the two portions of the slide
being securely held together, in fact locked untill released by the turnscrew which
is done when changing the plates in the dark room.
This screw fastening used with a lock or catch arrangement fitted to the sliding
shutter of the dark slide and only released by the catch holding the dark slide in
place after the insertion of the slide in its holder in the back of the camera renders
the double slide thoroughly locked against ordinary interference thus preventing the
posibility of the sensitive film being fogged either by accidentally withdrawing
the wrong slide when in the holder, or by the shutter coming out on being
withdrawn by meddlesome individuals desirous of ascertaining prematurely how
the picture looks when the photographers back is turned.
I also use on the back of the camera a stop for the dark slide attached to or
formed as part of the camera frame and so placed is to cover the joint caused by
the insertion of the dark slide in the camera back thus secureing the joint from the
admission of light to the sensitive film protecting it from injury from light admitted
through an imperfect contact of the camera frame and dark slide, this arrangement
already partly exists in some forms of cameras and is usefull so far as one end of the
slide is concerned but the other end at which the slide is withdrawn is usually
protected by a cloth thrown over it and known as the focussing cloth which when
the slide is withdrawn previous to exposure is sometimes apt to be blown away
when such is the case the joint is liable to admit light. To overcome this difficulty
I make a narrow thin shutter which I attach to the back of a photographic camera to

page_text: the reversing frame, of such a size as to fly up and cover the two joints formed on
the two sides of the slide shutter when it is removed thus secureing both ends of the
slide from the admission of light after the shutter is removed for an exposure, this
additional shutter is preferably covered with velvet or cloth protecting the slide
from scratches.
I now
In a photographic camera which has double extension it is usual to have a frame
sliding one on the other telescopically the outer frames being held in place by a
cross tie or bar or a piece of wood covering the whole or part of the frame.
dispense with these cross bars or ties and on the upper side of the outer frame I fix a
metal plate at each side with a hook pointing downwards and extending over the
edge of the inner frame a sufficient distance to engage with a paralell strip of metal
securely attached thereto a suitable groove being formed in the frame for the
admission of the book: I thus secure a thin base practically of one thickness of
material the legs being attached to the inner portion of the frame secureing a very
rigid support.
If more than one slide is required they can be fitted 'the one within the other
cach outer frame consisting of two paralell bars held together with a cross piece at
one end forming three sides of a square or paralelogram. This arrangement
enables both sides of the base to be available for attaching pieces of aparatus
connected with the camera which could not be otherwise affixed. A frame formed
of four pieces mitred or morticed together being sufficient for the inner frame and
in which a tripod head or other stand may be inserted at pleasure being buttoned
or
This arrangement used in place of the cross bar " used in my camera Patent.
No. 12573 AD. 1888 enables the base to he formed with a slotted path to hold a
strut to support the front which is also fixed by means of a screw or cam the
advantages being a front which has a swing, and which can be brought nearer the
back and over the hinged joint when a short extension only is used. The front
may also be brought with the lens directly over the centre of the turn table making
the camera available for taking panoramic pictures, the camera as it were turning
on an axis. The base being fixed level the camera can be turned completely
round, the lens axis remaining unchanged, completeing the circle on as many plates
as the angle of the lens permits and my turn table being already provided with gear
the correct angle is easily measured at each exposure by means of the pinion or a
device for counting which may be readily connected to the gear. When a film and
roller slide is used the view may be correctly joined without a break care being
taken to include the correct angle which may also be marked on the focussing glass,
the picture is thus completed on one sensitive film the same time being allowed for
each exposure with the same aperture to the lens and being all developed at one
operation secures a uniformily dense negative.
I make also a form of leg to be used with a portable camera which has even more
rigidity than the old form of tripod stand known as the bow-legged tripod but which
had the disadvantage of not folding. The one I have now invented folds in
the middle and consists of six laths and a strut or stretcher to each leg so fixed
together as to form a very rigid support.
The leg is made thus-two laths of suitable strength are fastened together at
the bottom which is shod with a pointed shoe, these pieces are not fastened close
together but seperated the distance of the thickness of two laths fixed to the upper
portion of the compound leg.
This upper portion consists of four laths two being about equal to the lower laths
in length the other two which are about half the thickness and extends about two
thirds up this upper part are fixed together at the top by screws or other means
quite close together on the top of these is fixed the stretcher which separates the
parts bowing the legs in contrary directions. The upper part of the legs are
connected together by two plates one to each pair of laths keeping them the
thickness of the lower lath apart; this lower lath is placed between each pair of
upper laths and turn on a pin like the folding legs in ordinary use.
The plates

page_text: which tie the two pairs of upper laths together act as a stop to prevent the leg
when opened for use bending in an opposite direction the leg is prevented from
closing when in use by a button on each division of the lower half of the leg and
which is turned across when the leg is extended.
When it is desired to have the legs to differ in length the short piece which carries
the shoe may be made movable and connected with a thum screw with suitable
guides on each side.
The leg somewhat resembles two ordinary folding legs connected together at the
toes, one side of each leg being shorter at the top and thinner and securely fixed
together the stretcher being hinged on each side of this piece and opening right and
left the ends being held in slots or mortices in the outer pieces.
These legs are attached to a triangular head turn table or any arrangement in
ordinary use three being the least number that can be used, this tripod stand may
be used for other instruments requiring a portable rigid support and is especially
useful to support the large cameras now coming into extensive use and are also
equally rigid for small sizes.
Improvements in and connected with Photographic Cameras, Dark
Slides, and Tripod Stands.
WILLIAM SCORER, Watchmaker, Photographer and Photographic Apparatus
Manufacturer, of North Street, Havant, in the County of Hants, 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 dark slides of a photographic camera to hold glass plates or films coated with
a sensitive film have been made in what is usually termed book form are usually
held together by hinged joints at one end and one or more clips at the sides, which
clips are apt to come undone accidentally especially when subjected to a continuous
jarring motion as in transit on a cycle or carriage and even when carried by hand
will sometimes come loose.
In these double holders or slides the shutters are also apt to be withdrawn at the
wrong moment thus admitting light to the sensitive film and destroying it for
photographic purposes.
The object of my present invention is to remedy this liability of accidentally
admitting light to the sensitive film, to prevent meddlesome persons spoiling the
plates, also to render the joints in the photographic camera back secure from the
admission of light after inserting the dark slide; allowing the operator also to leave
the slide withdrawn a reasonable time without the liability to admit light at the
sliding shutter. Part of my invention also provides a firm stand for a photographic
camera that will fold into a portable form convenient to carry, free from loose parts
which are liable to get lost and when placed into position will be thoroughly rigid
and firm not being liable to tremble as many do as at present constructed; these
legs will also be found particularly adapted to support portable dark tents, the legs
used with most at present being very shaky and trembleing on the least touch thus
spilling solutions and rendering manipulation extremely difficult and annoying.
By aid of the accompanying drawings which are not drawn to scale I will now
describe the construction of my invention, the same letters of reference apply to the
same parts in the various figures. Fig. 1 represents the square reversing frame
used in a photographic camera, it also represents in place half of one of my
improved slides with the shutter partly withdrawn. The slide when inserted in the
reversing back of a photographic camera is pushed hard down on to a stop which I

page_text: fix to the back frame of a photographic camera to that part of the back to which
is fixed the bellows; this frame is shown in Fig. 2 k¹k; without the bellows.
As the reversing back carries the slide and this stop does not move with it a
second plate is fixed to the under part of the camera frame so that when the slide
is in a vertical position in the camera this stop acts in the same manner as the one
on the left the position of the two plates forming the stop are indicated in Fig. 1
by the thick lines the bottom one at A' the left hand one at B' the position of A
can also be seen in Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 being a cross section of A² the position of B is not shown.
The dark slide being bolted or fixed in the reversing back in the usual way it
will be seen that these stops will exclude all light at the union of the dark slide
and the camera back at this end of the slide the usual velvet or cloth insertions
being also used. When the slide is in its place a wedge shaped bolt shown in
Fig. 1 at E also kept in place by the plate F can be pushed up into a recess or
mortice formed in the correct place in the side of the dark slide and is preferably
placed at the bottom in large instruments and at the top in small ones, this bolt E
is pushed up or drawn down by a button a finger hole or lever as is found most
convenient for the size of instrument to which it is fitted; the same movement of
the bolt also lifts up the spring catch D which is also provided with a projecting
stud which when the slide shutter is closed catches in a slot or stud shown at .
This renders it impossible without the use of instruments or the destruction of the
parts to withdraw the shutter C untill it is securely bolted in its place in the camera
preventing the posibility of the plate being fogged from that cause; the spring
catch D is screwed or otherwise firmly fixed to the slide_B².
The frame A is also provided with a light hinged shutter shown at Gin
Fig. 1. 2. 3. 4. this shutter which is preferably made of very thin wood or other
light material is so proportioned and placed that when no presure is on it flies up
at right angles to the frame A Figs. 2 and 4 show the position when the slide is
not in the frame and also its position when the slide 12 is inserted for use and its
Shutter C withdrawn as far as the usual stops 41-2 will allow, the shutter G shown
by dotted lines in Fig. 1. then effectually excludes light from passing through any
crevice there may be left through inequality of the sliding shutter C when in
contact with the dark slide 13 and the reversing frame A' and its own frame by
placing itself directly opposite the end of the shutter C.
The small shutter G when shutter C is again pushed into place, after the sensitive
film has been used, is displaced from the position shown in Fig. 4 lying, flat as
at G Fig. 3 exerting a continual presure on the polished surface of the dark slide
shutter Fig. 1.
This shutter which is connected to the frame A which is a part of the reversing
back frame A is connected to the frame A. by means of a piece of flexible material
such as velvet or cloth in such a way as to form a hinge at the same time protecting
the polished surface of the shutter C from scratches; the shutter G is made to
retain its position at right angles to A, when no presure is on by means of pieces
of clastic attached to the frame A. and the shutter G shown in Fig. 2 at 12 or
small metalic springs may be used.
The shutter ( is prevented from turning right over by means of a piece of tape
or similar material fixed to the opposite side to which the velvet or cloth is joined
in such a way as to prevent the shutter G turning over more than at right angles.
elin Figs. 3, 4, show the position of the tapes.
Fig. 5 represents a section of the dark slide B on a larger scale and shows my
device for holding the two sides of a double slide together, being used in place of
the usual hinged clip which it is intended to supercede.
The fastening is shown as closed in the left hand part of the fig., the screw
being withdrawn as far as possible in the other. I is a turned collar which is
let into the one half of the dark slide flush, I is a screw with a quick thread
provided also with a collar I which is screwed on, after the screw is passed
through the collar H' the collar K is screwed firmly on and, preferably pinned on

page_text: to prevent it unscrewing when, in use, by a small pin passing right through both
screw and collar, this collar has a projecting head which prevents it being
withdrawn from the other collar but allows it to pass freely up to the head. The
other piece shown at H2 is let into the other half of the double slide, it is provided
with a thread to match the screw L. When desired to open or close the slide a
key or ordinary screw driver is used the screw is unscrewed from the nut and the
slides opened in the ordinary way the collar K preventing the screw from leaving
the slide and getting lost.
It will thus be seen that I have a slide which is locked against interference, its
manipulation is easier than the one in ordinary use, the key or screw driver being
kept with the dry plates and developing appliances is not liable to be out of place
and the liability to fog the plates is reduced to a minimum.
It is also very important that the camera should be held firmly during the
exposure of the sensitive film to the light to prevent blurring and for this purpose
I have constructed a leg which combines lightness and portability with extreme
rigidity, three or more of these are connected to the camera or other aparatus
when in use in the most convenient way either direct to the turn table or to a
circular or triangular head four legs will be found to give a firmer support than
three for cameras of very large size and the leg being capable of very wide
seperation the legs can be placed in the most advantageous position to secure a
firm support Fig. 6 will show the arrangement of parts of one leg as opened for use
the shaded portions are strips of well seasoned ash or other suitable wood which are
much wider than they are thick the narrow parts only showing in the drawings;
the strips of wood L L N N and M M are connected together at T T by
rivetts or screws which enables the leg to be folded presenting the appearance
shown in Fig. 7. Strips L L and N N Fig. 6 are also connected firmly together
by the metal plates U₁ U the strips M M are also firmly united to either side of
the piece which may when desired slide up and down in guides thus lengthening
or shortening the leg.
When adjustable they are held together by a thum screw at R not shown in the
drawings. Q being shod in the usual way with a pointed shoe the strips N' N
are firmly joined together at S₁ S where are also joints connecting the
stretchers 002 with N N these stretchers have a small projecting piece at each
end which fit into a notch in the pieces L' L². When opened and when the
stretchers are in place the legs are sprung into their places on the turn table P,
camera head or other aparatus they are intended to support. The legs are easily
opened or closed and folded into a close compact form for packing. The drawing
is taken from a non adjustable leg.
In a former invention Patent 12573 A.D. 1888 I described a base for a
photographic camera which base was tied together by a cross bar or tie shown in
the drawings Fig. 1" which had this disadvantage that the front of the camera
could not be moved from its position towards the centre of the turn table. I have
now an improvement on this arrangement shewn in the acompanying drawing Fig. 8
which is a section of the frame of a base of a photographic camera as described in
the above mentioned Specification, the dotted lines showing the cross bar dispensed
with, this arrangement gives a base of but one thickness of material quite free to
slide on its guides yet held firmly in position leaving both under and upper surfaces
free to fix aparatus to, enableing when suitable ways and guides are provided, means
to move the front on my camera right up to the back or the back right up to the
front or extending them as far as the limits of the camera base will allow.
VV show the metal hooks engageing with their guides WW In Fig. 8 d d
shows in section the outer frame of the camera base, e the inner piece to which the
legs or stand is attached and also the front with lens and bellows not shown
the back containing the plate holder being clamped to the guides on the
frame Fig. 8. The camera front and back are not shown in the figure.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said

page_text: invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. A photographic camera having a film holder practically locked against
interference by having a bolt fitted to its shutter as shown at D Fig. the
bolt E holding the film holder also in place one movement locking the slide in the
camera and releasing the shutter substantially as and for the purpose described
and shown.
2nd. In a photographic camera double film holder the two halves held together
by means of a screw which cannot get lost out as shown in Fig. 5 substantially
as and for the purpose described and shown.
3rd. In a photographic camera having a hinged shutter which rises to exclude
light from the sensitive film as shown at G. Figs. 1. 2. 3 and 4 substantially as and
for the purpose described and shown.
4th. In a photographic camera or other portable aparatus requiring a tripod
stand fitted with legs composed of the six strips of wood L' L' N N M¹ M² with
the piece Q either fixed or adjustable seperated by a stretcher or stretchers as
shewn at 002 the ends of L L springing into a camera head or triangle
substantially as and for the purpose described and shown in Fig. 6 & 7.
5th. In a photographic camera the base of which is held together by
hooks sliding on guide plates W1 W2 Fig. 8 substantially as and for the
purpose described and shown.
Dated this 3rd day of January 1891.
WILLIAM SCORER.