Improvements in Dishes or Baths Employed in Developing and like Photographic and Chemical Operations.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 11th June, 1897-Accepted, 17th July, 1897
Improvements in Dishes or Baths Employed in Developing and
like Photographic and Chemical Operations.
I, WILLIAM SPENSLEY WAIN of Ripley, Derbyshire, Chemist, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to dishes, baths or shallow vessels employed in developing,
washing, toning and otherwise treating photographic negatives, films and prints
and conducting other chemical operations, and has for its object, a rocking dish or
shallow vessel which shall be self-levelling, or preserve normally a horizontal
plane, that is to say, a dish that when released by the hand after being rocked, will
automatically dispose itself horizontally so that the solution shall spread itself over
the surface of the article under treatment.
My improved self-levelling rocking bath consists of an ordinary shallow tray or
dish having a flat and broad bar, rib or lift laterally crossing its underside, and
of such a breadth that the centre of gravity always falls upon the elevated side.
The edges of the rib or bar constitute double centres disposed on either side of the
centre of the dish itself, so that when the dish is rocked the centre of gravity always
falls on the elevated side, hence a self-levelling bath.
Instead of employing a broad and flat bar or rib, we may employ the equivalent
in the form of two separated and narrow flat bars or ribs, which form the double
centres of motion of the bath.
Or the middles of the opposite sides of the bath may be provided with webs
which are the equivalent of the ends of a rib, and upon these centrally disposed
side lifts, the vessel rocks
Instead of flat web lifts, two separated feet may be employed on each side of the
dish as the equivalent of the ends of the separated bars.
It is understood that by the rocking of the dish upon the edges or corners of the
hroad rib or its equivalent, the liquid therein is caused to flow backwards and
forwards over the plate or the like being developed or otherwise treated.
Dated this 28th day of September 1896.
WILLIAM SPENSLEY WAIN,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Dishes or Baths Employed in Developing and
like Photographic and Chemical Operations.
I, WILLIAM SPENSLEY WAIN of Ripley, Derbyshire, Chemist, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
he particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to dishes, baths or shallow vessels employed in developing,
washing, toning and otherwise treating photographic negatives, films and prints,

page_text: and conducting other chemical operations and has for its object, a rocking dish or
shallow vessel, which shall be self-levelling, or preserve normally a horizontal plane,
that is to say, a dish that when released by the hand after being rocked, will
automatically dispose itself horizontally so that the solution shall spread itself evenly
over the surface of the plate or the like under treatment.
My improved self-levelling rocking bath consists of an ordinary shallow tray
or dish having a flat-faced and broad bar, rib or lift laterally crossing its underside,
and of such a breadth that the centre of gravity always falls upon the clevated side.
The edges of this rib or bar constitute double centres disposed on either side of
the centre of the dish itself, so that when the dish is rocked the centre of gravity
always falls on the elevated side, hence a self-levelling bath.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents an underside plan of a photo-
graphic developing dish or bath, or similar vessel provided with a broad transverse
rib crossing the bottom of the same, whereby the said dish admits of being readily
rocked by tipping alternately upon the opposite edges of the same, and also of
levelling itself, when released and of coming to rest upon the rib.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of Figure 1, upon the dotted line x,
showing the bath at rest in its normal horizontal plane and with the developer or
other solution contained therein spreading itself evenly over the face of the plato
lying upon the bottom of the same. Figure 3 is a like view, but showing the disk
in the act of being rocked.
a is the bath or dish and and a² is the broad transverse rib crossing the bottom
of the same, with the edges a³, forming the centres of motion or parts on which the
body of the dish alternately turns when being rocked, whilst the flat surface a, is
the normal bearing or stand part whereon the dish or tray rests when not being
rocked.
b represents the plate or the like being developed or otherwise treated, and c is the
developer or other solution.
Instead of employing a broad and flat bar or rib, I may employ the equivalent
in the form of two separated and narrow flat bars or ribs, which form the double
centres of motion of the bath.
Figure 4 is an underside plan of a developing dish so provided and Figure 5 is
a side elevation of the same.
a is the bath and a² the pair of narrow and separated ribs transversely crossing
the bottom a', of the same, the said ribs being at a distance apart suitable for the
purpose for which they are designed.
Or the bottom, or the middles of the opposite sides of the bath may be provided
with a pair of webs, running in the longer direction of the said bath, and which are
the equivalent of the ends of a broad transverse rib and upon the ends of these
centrally disposed lifts, the vessel is rocked.
Figure 6 represents an underside plan of a bath or dish provided with this form
of my invention, and
Figure 7 is a cross section thereof.
a is the dish, a¹ the bottom, and a², as the webs or short ribs disposed at the
middles of the opposite side edges a, of the said bottom, and a5 are the ends of the
said ribs, the opposite pairs of which constitute the centres wherein the dish is
tilted for giving a rocking motion to the dish and causing the solution within the
same to flow to and fro over the surface of the negative, film, print or the like,
whilst the said opposite webs or ribs constitute feet whereon the tray or dish
normally rests in a perfectly horizontal position.
Instead of flat web lifts, two separated feet may be employed on each side of the
dish as the equivalent of the ends of the separated bars, as represented in underside
plan in Figure 8 and side elevation in Figure 9.
a is the bath and a, a, are the opposite pairs of separated webs or feet.
It is understood that by the rocking of the dish upon the edges or corners of the
broad rib or its equivalent, the liquid therein is caused to flow backwards and
forwards over the plate or the like being developed or otherwise treated.

page_text: 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:-
First: In dishes, baths or vessels for use in photographic and chemical opera-
tions, providing the underside of the same with a flat-faced bar, rib or equivalent
lift, substantially as and for the purpose described and set forth in Figures 1, 2
and 3.
Secondly: In dishes, baths or vessels for use in photographic and chemical
operations, providing the underside of the same with a pair of separated and
parallel ribs or equivalent lifts, substantially as described and set forth in figures 4
and 5.
Thirdly: In dishes, baths or vessels for use in photographic and chemical
operations, providing the underside of the same with ribs or a pair of ribs or
equivalent lifts, running in the longer direction of the dish, substantially as and
for the purpose described and set forth in Figures 6 and 7.
Fourthly-In dishes, baths or vessels for use in photographic and chemical
operations, providing the underside of the same with two or more pairs of separated
feet or lifts, arranged substantially as and for the purpose described and set forth
in figures 8 and 9.
Dated this 10th day of June 1897.
WILLIAM SPENSLEY WAIN,
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.