Improvements in the Modes and Means or Apparatus for Taking and Producing Photographs and in Appliances Connected therewith.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 5th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 6th Apr., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Modes and Means or Apparatus for Taking
and Producing Photographs and in Appliances Connected
therewith.
We, JAMES HINES, Engineer, of Dunedin Lodge, Lenzie, Dumbartonshire, EDWARD
HOWELL, House Furnisher, of Inglebank, Lenzie, aforesaid, and ALFRED HOWELL,
Tobacconist, of Ingleside, Pollokshields, Renfrewshire, do hereby declare the nature of
our invention to be as follows :-
This Inveation has reference to and comprises new or improved constructions or
arrangements and combinations of the parts of automatic spring or weight-moved
mechanism within a dark closo box stand, all self-contained or portable and for the
novel and interesting purpose or object of automatically taking the photographic
likeness or miniature portrait of any person on a small prepared plate, card,
or other equivalent, and then delivering it to the individuals by their merely
putting a certain number of copper coins (as say three pence) into a slit conveniently
formed and placed in the front case, and then turning or otherwise slightly moving a
few handles placed outside in front, a short time or number of seconds after each
other according to simple instructions printed at the side of each handle, (or, it might
be only one handle or lever) a time-piece with pointer indicating seconds being also
fitted in front for the purpose. These automatic machines for enabling any person
(unskilled in the art) to take and receive delivery of a photographic miniature in a
few seconds or minutes, are devised for the purpose of being placed at Railway and
Steamboat stations, public markets, parks, gardens, and other places where people
congregate and have a little leisure and may desire to give or get photographs of
themselves and their friends at little expense in money or time, and thus be greatly
appreciated and taken advantage of, for taking photographs or pictures of persons or
simple objects.
The nature and novelty of the invention, and new or improved automatic mechanism,
under one arrangement, consist all as follows:-In securing by their case a suitable
set of photographic lenses with mechanical or pneumatic closing diaphragm or shutter

page_text: on the inside of the front wall of the dark box through or opposite a hole at a proper
height to let the rays of light in through the lenses from the person or object whose
photographic picture is to be taken. Within the back part of the dark box a great
number or set of the small (preferably rectangular) properly prepared sheet metal
plates (or it might be cards or paper) on which the pictures are to be taken, would be
mounted as close together as possible by their lower edge in slit clip bars or equivalent
on endless bands or chains traversed on two end rollers, preferably vertical, but it
might be horizontally, or they may be so mounted on the edge of a rotating wheel, in
any case so that each front plate left, as the others are removed and used, would be
brought round and forward up against a stop guide, preferably in a vertical position
over the top roller, nearly in line with the lenses by a weighted cord passed over
a cone pulley or fusee on the roller which would remove it out radially from the
other plates behind it at the top edge. Each plate is thus set under and ready
for being caught by a pair of spring finger grippers jointed to project down from
the long arm of a beam or reverse two-armed lever, so mounted in its normal
position on its round longitudinal spindle, fitted in end bearings at one side of the
box, as to be oscillated down on or by its said spindle, and be successively traversed
along it over a set of the necessary chemical and water washing baths to be oscillated,
and dip the plate once or twice into each bath at each traverse forward to complete
the picture, mainly by this automatic acting lever after the money is put in the slit of
the box and the outer handles are moved. The said treating baths are preferably
formed narrow, say an inch or so in width to require the least convenient traverse of
the plate and lever between the supply plates at the back of the box and inner end
of lenses where the baths are ranged, preferably mostly in one porcelain vessel with
only division walls between them, or portable and removable from between the walls,
and of a depth and width to ensure that the liquids in them would remain clear and
in good working order. The chemical and collodion baths might be portable and
separate from the others for ease of removal and refilling, and have light spring flap
lids for remaining close to prevent evaporation of the ether from the collodion except
when the plate is being inserted and withdrawn, which opening and closing of the
lid may be effected by a wedge rod action or other equivalent moved by the lover
which dips the plate into the bath. Each water bath would be supplied from a cistern
in the top of the box stand, led by a small pipe and controlling tap to holes across
the lower part, to ensure a clearing motion through the whole bath. The water would
be kept at a nearly uniform level in the bath by an open or syphon overflow tube,
which would convey the waste water down to a cistern fitted in the lower part of the
stand box, and have the water supplied to and removed from these cisterns daily
or from time to time as found necessary. The short back arm of the said
oscillating and traversing lever (which so catches, traverses, and dips the plates in
the baths to have the pictures formed on them) traverses along a horizontal guide
and stop bar, in the highest or norinal position of its long gripping arm.
traversing of the lever step by step forward on its horizontal spindle over the
respective baths, is by our arrangement effected by a light chain or light steel band,
or other equivalent, having its one end secured to the front of the buss or short arm
of the lever, and round guide pulleys carried on the sides or fixed cross rails of the
framed stand box, to and wound one or more turns round a reverse weighted or
spring take-back motive drum or barrel, and has the other end conveyed over reverse
guide pulleys at the other side of the box and attached to the back end of the boss
or short arm of the lever. All so that as this motor and stop barrel are turned
intermittently in one direction or forwards by the several spindles with their handles
outside, as will be described, it draws the lever over the several baths to dip
the plate as explained, and also winds up a weighted light chain or steel band on its
periphery, which when the lever has passed over the last water washing bath and
delivered the finished plate with the portrait on it, the last and lowest spindle with
its handle outside will release the stop catch from the barrel, which will by its
weighted chain turn backwards and draw the plate lever by its endless chain or
band back to its starting position again ready to grip and treat a new plate. The
This

page_text: top end of each plate is punched with a hole, or it might be otherwise indented or
roughened, so that the hinged gripping fingers will grasp the plate securely; and
the grippers would have short arms above the fulcrums which could be compressed
to open them against the power of their spring to release the plate. The spindle of
the plate gripping, oscillating, and traversing lever, is made parallel or cylindrical, so
that the eye of the lever may fit it and slide and oscillate freely on it in all its
positions except the first, where a projection on the spindle when turned by its handle
outside comes in contact with a projection on the boss of the lever and causes the
grippers on the lever to descend and catch the plate and raise and remove it out of
its holder on the back or return action of the spindle, effected by the power of a
re-acting weighted cord or spring. By one suitable arrangement of the mechanism
for so first traversing the plate gripping lever and then oscillating it to dip the plate,
seven other horizontal re-acting oscillating spindles are mounted in bearings inside,
some distance below the first spindle with similar acting handles outside, all preferably
on the left hand front side of the close stand box, with arrows over them to
show the direction in which to turn them, stops preventing them from being
turned too far in either direction by the hand or by the re-acting springs inside, a
half of a circle being the maximum amount of turn required. The long arm of the
lever of the plate grippers or fingers has a hanging pulling down rod or bar jointed
to it at top and free to move at the lower end in a suitable guide, having open pulling
down gabs or snugs at a suitable distance above and out from each of the seven
actuating spindles, so that wiper arms on these spindles in the plane or line
of the several baths will come down and take into the respective gabs and pull the
lever down as soon as it has been shifted along its spindle by its endless chain and
stop re-acting barrel, opposite each bath and wiper of the spindle so moving it in
both directions. Each of the seven spindles below the first, has an abrupt cam or
anti-friction roller on it, working over a suitable raised intermediate part on a long
transverse lever mounted below it, fulcrumed at its inner end, and having jointed to
its outer end a pendent pushing rod or bar reciprocating in a guide frame below, so
that its lower end or a projection on it acts preferably direct on a pushing and retaining
projection on the periphery of the weight or spring re-acting motor barrel. Each
cam lever has a hanging retaining stop bar fulcrumed over it to a part of the frame,
and which comes into action over the lever by its own weight each time the lever is
depressed to turn the barrel and hold the lever and barrel there until the next spindle
and handle outside is turned to actuate the barrel by the first motion of the next
spindle and its upper lever as the strain is taken off the former lever and its holding
bar, which is then withdrawn out of the way for the backward motion of the barrel.
These levers with their acting cams are all ranged preferably as close as convenient
towards the back of the box over the barrel, so that the pushing rods can all work in
one guide with their ends or projections reciprocating and acting tangentially to their
projections on the periphery of the barrel which they intermittently turn, gradually
further round by having the projections mounted spirally stepwise round a part of its.
periphery. In the front of the case a recess is formed to the right or one side of each
spindle, with a light raising and lowering shutter or semaphore inside opposite each
recess, having simple instructions on it how to actuate each handle, and which is
removed as each bandle is actuated, and then by its re-action brings the semaphore of
instructions of the next bandle below it into view. This is effected by light oscillating
levers with hook rods actuated by each spindle and handle, which raise the said
instruction lever of the handle below it, and by its back action release or lower its own
instruction handle out of view by disengaging the lever from its raising rods, each in
succession until they come to the last handle, which by its back action releases the top
semaphore to give the instructions again for the first lever, for the taking and
delivering of another photograph. The box in front would have a low chest or table
part projecting forward to the distance the person required to stand in front of the
lenses, and a screw hassock or stool would be fitted there in front near the floor, pre-
ferably with a screw and hand wheel over the table part for conveniently raising this
stool to any height to suit the height of the individual whose photograph was to be

page_text: taken, and raise him in line with the lenses for taking a bust likeness with his breast
up against a steadying rail or other equivalent for setting him up in proper distance
focus from the lenses.
A further improvement consists in having a folding-up part of the table or other
equivalent, with a mirror fitted on or over it, in proper distance focus, and at, such an
angle that when the person whose photograph is to be taken stood in a position close
to the dark box convenient for working the handles, he would turn his face towards
the mirror, which might have a nice fancy oval frame, so as to take his likeness from
his reflection in the mirror instead of from himself. To ensure that the likeness of the
person would be taken in the centre of the oval or other fancy framed mirror, a small
oval regulating mirror is sot near the large one opposite or at right angles to the
position in which he stood, but at such an angle to the large mirror that when he
places himself so that his image is in the centre of the small mirror, it would be in the
centre of the large mirror in relation to the lenses, and in true focus to the lenses and
plate inside on which the image is to be taken, owing to the angle and position of the
largo mirror being set the samo to the person as its angle and position of reflection is
set to the lenses. A mechanical self-closing diaphragm or shutter would be fitted in
the lenses inside, either in connection with a pneumatic tube, or with a pulling and
turning handle mechanism, which would open the lense for any number of seconds,
according to the instructions given on the semaphore of the third handle, by the
person outside placing his hand on and depressing a knob in connection with the
pneumatic tube or on the said lever for the said time, the diaphragm closing as soon
as tho person raised his hand.
The action of the internal mechanism of this automatic photographing machine, and
the procedure and simple operation of the said eight handles outside by the persons
desiring to have their photograph taken and delivered by the machine, consist all as
follows: Following the simple instructions on the outside and on the semaphore label
of the upper handle, the person first puts the coins into the opening for receiving
them, the weight of which tilts the receiving box lever, so as to unlock the spindle of
the top handle and deposit the coins into a till; the person then turns the top
handle slowly round in the direction of the arrow over it, which brings down the
before-mentioned gripping lever to catch the plate on which the photograph is to be
taken, the reaction of the spring or a weighted band takes back the handle and spindle
to their normal position with the gripping lever in its highest position, clear of the
top of the baths and in line with the lenses. This motion of the top handle releases a
simple locking catch of the second spindle, and brings the instruction semaphore label
into view for the action of its handle, to turn it slowly round once or twice, and hold
it there for the number of seconds stated, which action would cause the mechanism
inside to draw the plate and lever over the collodion bath and dip the plate into this
first bath to coat it. The automatic motion and mechanism of this second spindle also
raises the lever and plate to their highest position and frees the locking each of the
third spindle, so that its handle can then be turned in like manner to bring the plate
over the second or nitrate of silver bath and dip the plate in it once or twice and give
it the number of seconds required to sensitize the collodion surface, the internal
mechanism would then bring the sensitzed plate to its highest position in the true
line and proper focus distance to the lenses to take the portrait when the person,
following the instructions brought into view for this stage and handle, went and stood
steadily on the stool in line with the lenses and raised their closing diaphragm by the
pressure
of a finger for the number of seconds stated on the label of the handle, all as
herein before described. The picture would then be taken by the light on the plate,
so that the turning of the next or fourth handle (now unlocked by the motion of the
former handle) to the instructions brought into view, would by the internal mechanism
bring the plate over and dip it into the third or developing bath of the protosulphate
of iron (or other suitable mixed developer) for the number of seconds stated. In like
manner, the turning of the fifth handle, to the instructions brought into view, would
bring the plate over and dip it into the fourth or water washing bath for the number
of seconds stated. Then the sixth handle, like the others, would be turned once or

page_text: twice for the number of seconds according to instructions, which would cause the
internal mechanism to bring the plate over and dip it into the fifth or clearing bath of
hyposulphite of soda, or other suitable clearing agent. After this the seventh handle
(previously unlocked like the others by the motion of the handle above it) would be
turned for the number of times and seconds stated on its label or semaphore, which
would cause the internal motive mechanism to bring the plate over the sixth or final
water bath, and wash or dip it therein conform to the instructions given, controlled by:
the person actuating the handles or getting the photograph. To give a thorough
washing of the plate and picture in the two water baths, a corrugated or serrated
hollow segment, would be mounted in the plane and are of the plato grippers jointed
on the end of their oscillating dipping lever, all so that a light spring or arm pro-
jecting from the grippers would act on the roughened surface of the segments and
vibrate or shake the grippers and the plate edgeways while being oscillated up and
down in the water by the plate dipping lever. A last motion of the eighth handle
would, after the plate was so washed in the last water bath, bring its lever forward
beyond the plane of this bath over an angled spout, and the upper ends of the grippers
above their joint in contact with a V-shaped or other equivalent relieving arm, which
would open the grippers and let the plate slip down on its back with the picture
upwards into an inclined channel, which would deliver it on to an open receiving tray
shelf outside the front of the machine, convenient to be picked up by the person so
putting in the money and controlling the action of the machine to the instructions
given, and which being carefully observed would by this well adjusted and arranged.
combination of self-acting or motive mechanism produce a very fairly good photo-
graphic picture or likeness. The last motion of the eighth or lowest handle outside
would unlock the holding catch of its own instruction semaphore lever to let it fall out
of view and that of the first top handle to let it fall into view, as well as release the
motive weighted band or spring acting barrel, which would then take back the plate
gripping lever on the upper spindle to its first normal position ready for being brought
down over another plate as soon as the prescribed copper coins were again put into the
receiving channel.
All the spindles with the handles outside, for sequentially and intermittently
enabling the mechanism inside to automatically perform the several operations
described, are all fitted with simple locking and disengaging mechanism to prevent
the handles being tampered with outside except when the money is placed in the slit
and actuates the disengaging lever of the first spindle and handle outside. One simplo
construction or arrangement of this locking and disengaging mechanism, consists in
having a short lateral projecting pin or lever secured in each spindle inside the box,
and having mounted over this a vertical oscillating lever, the end of which locks the
said pin and its spindle by its own gravitation, falling vertically over the said lateral
pin when allowed to do so out of its retaining spring catch. Each spindle is provided
with another short projecting pin which disengages the holding out catch of its own.
locking lever, either in its forward or backward re-acting motion, which holds it out
of action when disengaged by a cord or other equivalent attached to and actuated by
the spindle above it. The spindles and their handles would thus act in succession to
disengage the locking lever of the spindlo below it, and lock itself after each action.
The projecting lever on the first spindle however is locked by the heavy end of the
money lever, which is relieved when the full weight of the coin is put in, and comes up
against or over a horizontal hanging stop or catch, so as to allow the first handle
and spindle to be turned; but the back action would by its second projeeting pin take
this stop out of action, and allow the money to be discharged into the till, when the
heavy end of the lever would again come back by its own gravitation and lock the spindle.
This photographic machine may also be used and made to act in rooms or places at night
or where there is insufficient sunlight, by having an electric or other strong artificial
light fitted for use on the top of the box or where the light would act on the person
or object being photographed, or on the mirror where that is used.
Other arrangements of re-acting spring or weighted band motive mechanism may
be employed as an equivalent for the spring or weighted band barrel described, for

page_text: bringing back the plate gripping lever on its spindle to its starting normal position,
after having delivered each photographed plate; such as a spring, or a long lever
actuated by a spring or weighted band acting over a guide pulley at one end of the
machine, the plate traversing lever being brought forward by the turning, pulling, or
pushing action of the eight handles, step by step, each one in succession rolieving the
previous turning, pulling, or pushing lever or rod of the. motive spring lever brought
into action by the previous spindle and handle above it.
Instead of traversing the lever, which carries the clip and raises and lowers the
plate or card on which the photograph is to be taken, by sliding its boss on a fixed
spindle as described, over the baths, this spindle might be made in the form of a
screw, and work in a corresponding hollow screw in the boss of the lever, so as to
traverse the lever when the screw spindle was turned. The screw spindle is turned
by a spur wheel on its one end gearing into an intermediate wheel, working a spur
wheel on the corresponding end of another spindle mounted in bearings parallel to the
screw spindle, with short lever tappets and curved cams on it, both spindles being
turned by a spring or weighted cord barrel or other equivalent motor. The times of
the motion or revolution of these two spindles would be regulated by a separate time
motor with a regulating fan or other equivalent set in action by the insertion of the
coins as hereinbefore described. In this arrangement the various outside handles and
their spindles for regulating the action and intermittent traverse of the lever, would
be dispensed with, as also the stop barrel, and the screw spindle being set in
motion would gradually traverse the lever over the baths; and the cams and
tappets would be so arranged on the spindle geared parallelly to the screw spindle
as to act on the back short arm of the lever and raise the front long arm and .the
plate on it out of the baths while being traversed along the screw, and regulate the
pauses the lever had to remain down with the plate in the bath, and be held up to
give the exposure and be traversed by its screw spindle. The screwed boss end of
this lever might be in the form of a half circle, and weighted so as to retain it in its
traversing screw, but have it so mounted with a loose longitudinal bar in the
segmental boss above the screw that when the lever was traversed to the far end of
its screw spindle, this bar would be released by a disengaging cam or paul arrange-
ment, and raised so that the lever could be traversed on this bar as an inclined plane,
on rollers or with a cord and light weight to the starting end of its screw, where it
would also cause the sliding bar to fall, and the screw boss of the lever to fall into its
traversing screw spindle ready for receiving a new plate, all otherwise substantially
as described in reference to the former arrangement of traversing the bar. Instead
of having the baths ranged stationary in a straght line under the traversing lever
carrying the photographic plate, the baths might be ranged in segmental divisions
round a circular tray under this lever, which in this arrangement would be moved
so as to rotate on a spindle or centre over the baths, by having a screw wheel on the
boss on which it is jointed and oscillated, actuated by a screw spindle working into
the wheel, and the back end of the lever be actuated so as to raise and lower the
lever with the plate on it by a fixed or rotated ring cam ranged concentrically round
its axis, the projections and hollows in the cam regulating the position and pauses of
the lever in its lowest and highest positions, in bringing the plate over the baths and
in front of the lenses for having the photograph taken otherwise substantially as
described in reference to the former modification, the plates being held by the clips
and lever either radially or parallel to the lever or tangential to the circular troughs
at right angles to the levers.
In this modification or arrangement in which the chemical and washing troughs
are set stationary within a circle, the lever arm carrying the gripper and plate to be
operated on might oscillate on a fulcrum on a vertical shaft carrying it round with it
over the troughs, and actuating the slide of the grippers within slotted guides
projecting down from an arm and bracket carried over the lever on the rotating shaft,
both the lever and bracket being counterbalanced by weights on the opposite sides
of the shaft, which might revolve in footstep and top journal bearings in a frame
erected in the centre of the dark box or camera. One mode and means of rotating
.

page_text: the shaft would he by a large bevel wheel secured near its lower end, say with
144 teeth by a bevel pinion with 12 teeth. The shaft of the pinion would be actuated
by increasing speed spur gearing from the weight and cord. motive spring barrel, each
revolution of the pinion giving one twelfth of the circle of the shaft, and twelve
revolutions the complete circle of the central shaft carrying the arm and clip with the
plate to be photographed respectively each division of the circle of troughs and round
the whole circuit to complete a picture and deliver a photographic plate. The times
of the revolution and pauses of the said pinion shaft would be regulated as before
stated by a stop pin in the shaft and engaging and disengaging lever controlled by
the light motive time regulating weighted cord or spring barrel mechanism set in
motion by the coins placed in the slot and box lever mechanism for that purpose.
Sectional divisions would be cut between the chemical and water troughs at the
parts round the circle where the plates had to be photographed and dried after
fixing and washing, and after being varnished, and where the plate had to be
delivered and another new plate picked up during the pause of the lever carrying the
picture over these divisions, preferably in this case having the pauses while the lever
was in its lowest position with the photographic plate within the troughs or in front
of the lenses to be photographed, or over the light to be dried. The oscillating motion
is given to the lever carrying the photographic plate (to raise the plate out of the
baths and leave it in the new bath or position as they are carried round with the
shaft for taking the photograph and drying the plate) by a connecting rod carried
down to a small crank shaft mounted in bearings under and parallel to the lever,
having a bevel pinion with twelve teeth on it working into a large bevel fixed wheel or
rim with 144 teeth in it, not rotated by the shaft but concentric with it, and corre-
sponding to the bevel wheel, fixed on the shaft, so that each movement of the shaft
during one twelfth of its revolution makes the crank shaft rotate one revolution, and
reciprocates the lever up and down as described during that revolution, leaving the
lover and plate always in the same lowest position ready for rising again, which is
preferably at the forty-five degrees of the crank, having raised the lever and plate a
little from their lowest position for making the pauses within the boxes, or for drying
and photographing the plate, and enabling the plate to clear the top of the boxes while
rotating with the lever and shaft. The pauses are regulated as before stated by the
secondary time motor stopping the bevel pinion shaft which actuates the vertical shaft,
and which as described moves the secondary lever reciprocating crank shaft. The
shaking motion is given to the plate within the paths in this arrangement by a small
radial spindle mounted over each bath actuated by pinions from a bevel wheel rotating
loose on the central spindle and operated by the motor which regulates the time
movement, and by a knarled wheel as before stated, acting on a lateral spring lever
connected to the spring clips carrying the plate. In this arrangement the plates may
be carried on an endless band or large rim whoel by their lower angled ends being
brought up vertically under the clip in the position where it seizes it when its lever is
going to make its first motion after the cams are inserted into the apparatus.
Under another modification, or modified arrangement of the parts of this apparatus,
instead of the lever which grips the plates on which the photographs are taken, being
traversed over a stationary set of baths, it might simply reciprocate in one position
after gripping the plate, and have the baths arranged radially in equal divisions round
a circular rotating tray or radially divided frame, rotating horizontally on a hollow
rotating vertical spindle; which spindle might be made to supply and circulate the
water to and from the several water baths, which as well as the other chemical baths
would preferably be made portable and segmental to fit the divisions in the rotating frame.
This rotating frame might be divided into twelve or other suitable number of equally
divided segmental spaces, with a ratchet wheel on its spindle having a corresponding
number of teeth to the segmental divisions of the rotating frame, set and actuated on the
lower part of the spindle, which would revolve on a footstep, bearing below, and a
steadying bush bearing above secured to the frame of the machine. One sectional
segment of the rotating frame of troughs would be cut away right through, where
the wheel frame stopped at each rotation, under the lever which picks up each

page_text: photographic plate brought round radially for that purpose under the clips of the
lever after each revolution of the radial trough frame, which would be rotated by
a small crank shaft and horizontal ratchet spring pawl connecting rod made to pull
or push it round one tooth of ratchet wheel and division of the frame at one time
for each revolution of the crank shaft. The crank is rotated by a spring barrel,
or a cord and weight barrel within the case, or by an electric or other motor, and
ranged horizontally in line with the ratchet wheel, which cord and weight might
act through speed-reducing and power-increasing pulleys, so that the weight would
not require to traverse through a very deep recess or case to give two or three
hundred revolutions of the crank shaft, twelve revolutions of which would be required
to make one revolution of the trough frame and complete and deliver each photographic
picture. Another crank would be formed on this crank shaft, with a vertical
connecting rod, having its upper end connected to a reciprocating segmental lever,
the outer periphery of which might either be toothed as a toothed segment to work on
a toothed rack, or other equivalent with steel bands or chains, on the reciprocating
plate or frame of the gripping clip which caught the photographic plate and actuated
it, so as to pick up the plate through the open section in the frame and bring it down
into each bath as they were brought in succession under it by the ratchet pawl and
other crank of the shaft. The different times of rotation of this shaft and pause during
which it would stand still for each of the several operations, of coating the plate,
sensitizing it, exposing it to the light to take the photograph, developing the picture,
washing it, fixing it, washing it again, drying it, varnishing it, and drying and
delivering the picture, and picking up another plate to be similarly operated on,
constituting the twelve revolutions of the crank shaft and operations of the cycle for
producing and delivering a picture, are regulated by another spring or cord and
weight barrel time mechanism and arrangement of gearing with regulating fan or
other equivalent; and of a light character, requiring only the power to actuate the
engaging and disengaging stopping lever of the crank shaft which has the greater
amount of work to do, the weight of the coin or coins inserted into the apparatus
setting on this time mechanism for each revolution of its regulating engaging and
disengaging wheel. The division teeth of this wheel correspond in number and
distance between them to the times or pauses between the twelve revolutions of
the crank shaft, each of a different length corresponding to the time of the
pause between each revolution. The thin photographic plate would be mounted,
as hereinhefore described, on lateral blocks or slips of wood, mounted on an
endless band the depth of the plates, traversed in this arrangement horizontally
on loose vertical pulloys in front of the spindle of the radial trough frame,
and round guide pulleys behind it, all with rim flanges to keep the band and its
slit holders and plates in a horizontal vertical position, so that each plate would be
brought into radial position under the vertically reciprocating gripping clips to receive
it up through the blank section in the revolving segmental frame, as this frame mado
the last motion of its circuit by a pin or other equivalent. Or the plates might be
mounted on the periphery of a drum or pulley instead of an endless band. Each
plate would be made of an angled or pointed shape on its under side, so as to more
easily drain off all the water or liquids at the said angled central point; and under
this radial position of the plate below the absent section of the frame, a reciprocating
plate or frame gripper would be mounted in guides analogous to the upper gripper,
which would take on to the lower end of the plate, and by another segmental lever be
raised so as to remove the plate from its band and place it into the grippers of the
reciprocating arm above the baths at each twelfth revolution of the crank shaft. The
crank shaft might actuate another short shaft through a pinion and wheel with teeth
in the ratio of one to twelve, and a connecting-rod from this crank shaft be made to
actuate the lower segmental lever of the under reciprocating gripping plate or frame
which placed the plate into the upper grippers each time the segmental wheel made
one revolution, the plate being steadied in guides in the open section of the
rotating frame. During the pause of the plate in its lowest position within the
baths, a shaking or vibrating motion would be given to it by its gripper on its

page_text: reciprocating arm by a light projecting or spring lever on it taking over a knarled or
ratchet wheel on a light spindle turned by the time-regulating mechanism before mentioned,
through light spur gearing. The plate when lifted up by its grippers to the highest
position after removal from the sensitizing silver batb, would make a pause opposite
the lens and hole in the front of the case for taking the photograph. This
pause or time would be determined by the person acting on the instructions written
on the outside of the case to give the desired time for exposure according to the
strength of the light. And the time motive mechanism, or the trough rotating
frame during its last motion, would release a pulling handle, or a moving lever
brought outside, for the person getting his photograph taken, to regulate the time
of the exposure by opening and closing the diaphragm or shutter of the camera
according to instructions, while he was in this position. The two sectional segments
in the rotating trough wheel would be open up through at the parts where the
photographic plate was brought down to be dried, after being fixed and washed, and
also after being varnished, and the last motion of the trough wheel in coming to these
positions would swivel or raise a gas lever tube and burner at these times and positions
by a cam and tilting weighted lever mechanism, and open the light when the gas
tube was brought under the photographic plate to dry it, and nearly close the light
when removed from under the plate. The second last sectional motion in the circuit
of the trough frame would be made to release the grippers and allow the photographic
plate with the picture completed, varnished and dried, to drop into an inclined shoot
under this open section of the rotating frame out through a slit in the front of the
enclosing box into a tray or into a drawer which can be drawn out by the person.
By one arrangement, the water is supplied to the segmental washing boxes of the
rotating radial frame down through the central hollow spindle direct or through an
india-rubber pipe with stop cock, from a cistern in the upper part of the enclosing
box of the apparatus, through the hollow eye or spindle of the wheel rotating on the
said hollow tube as a fixed spindle and through inlet openings or ports in both
spindles, the overflow water passing down through corresponding exit ports and holes
separated off in a lower part of the spindle by a division in it, and from the lower
part of the centre tube down into a receiving trough in the bottom of the enclosing
case of the apparatus. Each trough is filled by its inlet ports, while traversing
towards the open division under the plate where it has to be washed and is emptied
while traversing the part of the circle from where and after the plate has been washed,
thus giving fresh water for the washing of each plate. Or otherwise the fresh water
might be circulated through these washing baths only while they were in the position
under and with the plate moving in them while being washed. And as soon as the trough
frame or wheel is turned, it closes these ports in the spindle and prevents the water
circulating through the washing boxes except when required. The rotating spindle
is fitted with close water-tight ground or packing rings above and below and between
the said inlet and outlet ports to prevent escape of water at these working surfaces to
waste, except direct and while being filled and emptied through their said inlet and
outlet ports.
The novelty and improvements of this invention are the method or mode and means
of taking and delivering photographic portraits or pictures within a dark box or large
camera of persons or objects set up outside and on suitable plates or cards supplied
and treated within the dark box, by the arrangement of motive power and time weight
or spring regulating mechanism (analogous to a simple clock movement) performing
the numerous operations required, all automatically and sequentially or in a cycle of
properly regulated intermittent time movements merely started by the insertion of
the coins, and stopping itself after the delivery of each picture, merely requiring one
movement of a handle or handles on the part of the person deciding to have the
picture to adjust the exposure by instructions approximately to the strength of the
light. Many of the details of the mechanism are susceptible of considerable
modification, but the essential organisms and their functions of the improvements or
invention are,
the making of the one motor or mechanism to do the main power work
of the operations, namely, bringing the cards in succession as required to the vertical

page_text: reciprocating gripping lever and reciprocating it, so as to take hold of the card, and
traverse it sequentially over equally divided off chemical and water troughs, and
spaces between them, for drying and delivering, and for receiving a new plate,
and either ranged stationary in a straight horizontal line or in a circumferential
horizontal series, or it might be by rotating or reciprocating the troughs or spaces
in an equivalent manner under the reciprocating lever; and further in causing the
lever to reciprocate up and down intermittently while making each movement, the up
and down movements and pauses between these reciprocations of the lever being
controlled by the light time motive mechanism intermittently setting on and stopping
the segmental motive traversing mechanism of the lever, or of the troughs when they
are rotated or oscillated, the time mechanism automatically stopping both motors after
each cycle of operations, until other coins are inserted which starts the time
controlling mechanism again for a new cycle and taking and delivering a photograph.
Dated this 6th day of April 1888.

page_text: Improvements in the Modes and Means or Apparatus for Taking
and Producing Photographs and in Appliances Connected
therewith.
We, JAMES HINES, Engineer, of Dunedin Lodge, Lenzie, Dumbartonshire,
EDWARD HOWELL, House Furnisher, of Inglebank, Lenzie aforesaid and ALFRED
HOWELL, Tobacconist, of Ingleside, Pollokshields, Renfrewshire, do hereby declare
the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Three Sheets of
Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
This Invention has reference to and comprises new or improved constructions,
or arrangements and combinations of the parts, of automatic spring and weight-
moved mechanism within a dark close box stand, all self contained and portable and
for the novel and interesting purpose or object of automatically taking the photo-
graphic likeness or miniature portrait of any person on a small prepared plate, card
or other equivalent, picked up by a clip, and traversed intermittently by a rotating
frame or lever and spindle, over and into a set of baths, lenses and drying chambers
ranged in a circle, and then delivering it to the individuals; all by their merely
putting a certain number of copper coins (as say three pence) into a slit conveniently
formed and placed through the front of the case, and then turning or otherwise
slightly moving one or it might be more handles placed outside in front, a short time
or number of seconds according to simple instructions printed at the side of the
handle or handles, and a time piece with pointer indicating seconds might be fitted
in front or a signal bell to assist the person in doing this. These automatic machines
for enabling any person (unskilled in the art) to take and receive delivery of a photo-
graphic miniature in a few seconds or minutes, are devised for the purpose of being
placed at Railway and Steam boat stations, public markets, parks, gardens, and other
places where people congregate and have a little leisure and may desire to give or get
photographs of themselves and their friends at little expense in money or time, and
thus be greatly appreciated and taken advantage of, for taking photographs or pictures
of persons or simple objects.
And in order that the nature and novelty and improvements of our said invention,
and the manner of performing or carrying the same into effect or practice may be
properly understood we have hereunto appended three explanatory Sheets of
Drawings, in which the same reference letters are used to indicate corresponding
parts in all the figures where shown. Figure 1 on Sheet 1, is a sectional side
elevation of one modification of our new or improved mechanism for taking and
producing photographs, all in accordance with our invention and improvements and
mounted in and on the upper part of an outer close dark wooden framing A, A¹, A",
which might be ornamented outside, and be closed in by an ornamental removable
canopy or top, and preferably formed with loose removable doors on the four sides,
for getting at the mechanism to set and repair it, as indicated more particularly
at Ain Figures 1 and 2 A. Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section corresponding
to Figure 1, but with the lenses B in front removed. Figure 3 shows a front and
edge elevation to a large scale of the clip b for gripping the plates a on which the
photographs are to be taken, one at a time and carrying them round with a spindle C³

page_text: and frame C and reciprocating them vertically and laterally down into and out of the
chemical and washing baths, all intermittently as will hereinafter be described.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation and plan of the mechanism, detached, for shaking or
vibrating the said plate a within the baths and drying chambers, carried on the
rotating frame C and actuated by a ratchet cam p', on the centre of the main
spindle C of this frame C. Figure 5 is an inverted plan view of the top metal three
armed frame C carrying the upper centre of the main rotating vertical spindle (
and guide brackets L', m³, for the rods Lo, m², which put off and on the developing
liquid and, cleaning water to the baths, showing also the upper spindle n" and
levers n, n¹ for putting on and off the gas in the drying chambers 7 and 71. Figure 6
is an inverted plan view to a large scale, of the cam f³ which actuates the levers f¹,
for opening and shutting the lids e* of the baths. And Figure 1 A shows a detached
end view corresponding to Figure 2 of the spindle a³ and discs a¹ all carrying the
Ferrotype plates a to be picked up successively by the clip shown in Figure 3.
Referring to Sheet 2, Figure 2A is a sectional plan, of the lense mechanism and
baths, corresponding to Figure 1, and as taken near the irregular line 1--1 in
Figure 1. Figure 1B shows a detached side elevation of the rotating vertical
spindle C³, and bracket C, for carrying the clip 6 6x and Ferro or thin dark coated
plate a which give these the vertical motion by a balanced crank R and lever R2
shown in end section also to the left of the Figure, instead of by the disc wheel Flas
shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figures 7 and 8 are a back sectional elevation and plan
respectively, to a large scale, of the mechanism for cutting the Ferrotype plates a and
delivering same when finished. And Figure 9 is a sectional plan of the same, as
taken near the line 2---2 on Figure 7. Figure 8 A is a sectional plan of the
actuating pulley T and cam T4 of this cutting mechanism as detached from Figure 8.
Figures 10 and 11 show a side elevation and a plan respectively as detached, to a
large scale, of the actuating pawl lever mechanism, for turning the disc barrel a' all
carrying the Ferrotype plates a. Figures 12 and 13 on Sheet 3, show a side elevation
and plan of the main clock time controlling mechanism, which is started by the
insertion of the coin or money, all carried on a frame E of its own, to one side under
the main central vertical shaft C the motion of which it regulates in the intermittent
times required. And Figures 14 and 15 show side views of the two ratchet
wheels H, H' of this mechanism which control the intermittent motion of the said
central shaft C and frame C carrying the Ferrotype plate a, the former wheel H
giving the instants of time for raising the plate out of the baths, and the latter H¹
the instants of time for inserting the plate into the baths, during its rotation.
Figure 16 is an inside front elevation and a transverse section respectively, of the
closing and opening mechanism of the money insertion orifice I, and spout I' con-
veying the money down to the balanced starting levers I³, J J¹. Figure 17 shows a
sectional elevation and a plan view respectively of one of the baths 1, 2, 5-and-8
containing the collodion, the silver and fixing solutions, and the varnish respectively
and the levers and mechanism for opening and closing their lids before inserting and
after removing the plate a from the baths. Figure 18 shows a side elevation and plan
respectively of the developing bath 3 and its actuating mechanism, for tilting it and
getting a new supply of the Ferro-protosulphate liquid or other developer used for
each new plate a. While Figure 18 A, shows a sectional elevation of the swivelling
or tilting bath K as detached from Figure 18 for effecting the said purpose. And
Figure 19 shows a sectional elevation of one of the water washing baths 4 and 6.
Referring to these Drawings, the nature and novelty of the invention, and new or
improved automatic machine under one arrangement, consist all as follows:-In
securing by their cases B, a suitable set of photographic lenses mounted on a
bracket B¹ and passed out through the front side of the outer enclosing frame A of
the apparatus, as shown in the side elevation and plan Figure 1 and Figure 2A, with
mechanical or duplex closing shutter B, for excluding the light, on the outside of
the case A, or it might be on the inside through or opposite a hole A in a special
projection part of the front case A, at a proper height to let the rays of light in
through the lenses B, from the person or object whose photographic picture is to be

page_text: taken, the shutters B₁ being actuated by a lever B', and ratchet mechanism B³, B¹¹¹,
and S to S by the person pushing the handle S₁ outside, and shown also in the
detached views Figures 12 and 13 as will hereinafter be described. On the right
hand back part of the dark box or case A a great number or set of the small (nearly
rectangular) properly prepared sheet metal plates a (or it might be cards or paper)
on which the pictures are to be taken, would be mounted radially as close together as
possible by their lower ends and edges in grooves cut in rotating disc wheels a¹ a¹¹
on a barrel or ratchet wheel spindle a³, or otherwise it might be in slit slip bars on
endless bands or chains traversed on two end rollers, preferably vertically, but it
might be horizontally, in any case so that each front plate a left, as the others aré
removed and used, would be brought round and forward up against a stop or ratchet
pawl, preferably in a vertical position over the axis a² of the wheel a¹, a¹, or roller,
as indicated particularly in Figure 2 A and in the detached end view Figure 1A, and
turned by a weight and cord passed over a pulley a on the axis a' of the ratchet
wheel a¹ which is turned one tooth at a time by pawl lever mechanism at against the
power of the weighted cord a³ to bring each fresh plate a in vertical line, for being
removed by its gripping carrying spring clip with spring pawl and projections 6x
which take into the holes at a* in the upper part of each plate a, and pull it out of its
grooves in the discs a¹, a¹¹, so as to have a picture formed on it, all as will hereinafter
be described. The upper inner part of this gripping clip b, is formed with a dove-
tail groove bin it, fitted to slide transversely on a corresponding dovetail bar e fitted
to slide vertically by the slide blocks c¹ in the central slide guides c" formed or
secured on the front end of the vertical bracket frame C, bolted at C₁ to flanges on
the main rotating vertical spindle C carried in lower and upper steel centre conical
pivots at C, C, or equivalent bearings secured in the lower and upper fixed
brackets C, 0, the latter being carried on three long standards C, bolted to the
bed plate secured so as to carry the whole of the working mechanism on the top
of the wooden table frame A¹, within the outer enclosing frame A, and to which the
bracket is also bolted. This main central vertical spindle C is turned at a slow
intermittent speed by a large bevel or face wheel D, near its lower end with the teeth
on its under side, gearing into a bevel pinion D¹ on a horizontal spindle Du, primarily
actuated by a train of spur pinions and wheels D2, D3, D4, the latter being on the
spindle of a wire cord barrel D', carried on bearing brackets at C, D, F, the cord
of this barrel D' having a heavy weight D' on it, to move round the shaft (2 and its
frame C, carrying the plate a in its clip 6 over a set of four chemical troughs 1, 2, 3,
and 5 and two washing troughs 4 and 6, and two drying chambers 7 and 7' and a
varnishing trough 8 between the two latter, all ranged in a circle secured to the
plate C, so that the plates can be dipped into them and be raised out again after
being immersed any desired regulated time, while the frame is stopped over
each trough and chamber for that purpose, as will hereinafter be described.
The intermittent time of motion between, and stoppage of the frame C over each
vessel for treating the plate a, is regulated through the time or clock mechanism
carried in a special frame E of its own, actuated by a weight and cord E¹, E",
passed over the cord barrel E2 of this time mechanism, shown in Figure 1, and
particularly in the detached views Figures 12 to 15, as will hereinafter be more fully
described. The silver, collodion, fixing, and varnishing baths 1, 2, 5 and 8 respectively
have their chemical mixtures contained in porcelain or vulcanite removable troughs e
supplied from time to time by attendants, as each morning or alternate morning or
evening. As seen in Figures 17 these troughs e are enclosed within a lower metallic
case e secured to the basement plate C', with a removable top e jointed at e¹ with
a cup joint all round, filled with mercury or other liquid to prevent the escape of
gases or vapour. Each of these tops or covers e³ have narrow doorways e formed
in them fitted with liquid jointing cups el all round just under where the plates a
would come down into the troughs e, and each fitted with a tilting or swivelling
weighted cover with a deep rim for forming the liquid tight joint in the jointing cups elf
These lids are tilted on their fulcrumed joint eo, by a link and lever f, f',
fulcrumed at e on the centre of the top e³ of each trough, and have vertical projecting

page_text: 11
pins f,, in each opposite end of the lever F¹ which are oscillated by the cam
bracket screwed on the lower end of the frame C, as seen in Figures 1 and 6,
so that as this and the cam f³, come round towards each trough, the angled pro-
jection 111, meeting the first pin f' would tilt and open the lid before the frame C
stopped over the trough to lower the plate a into it; and just after the plate a
was lifted out of the trough, the first motion of the frame C, and angular groove f
would move the second pin fill of the lever f¹, and tilt and shut the lid e* of the
trough as it passed it. To allow of this first and last motions of the frame C, and
the inserting and withdrawing of the plate a at the proper time exactly, vertically
over the openings in the troughs, a pin b' is fitted on the upper outer part of the
clip b, preferably with an antifriction roller on it, which works down the one side
and up the other side of a double vertical V shaped grooved cam d secured on the
front end of the frame C, while the latter is turning to and from the troughs
and particularly seen in Figure 2. The weight of the clip and its vertical sliding
transverse bar c is counterbalanced by a cord d¹ attached to it passed over guide
pulleys having a weight d2 attached to the cord, working within a protecting
tube d shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, and in sharp lines in Figure 2. This
transverse bar C, e is lowered and raised by a lateral pin and antifriction roller F
on the disc F¹, working into a horizontal groove at 3 in the back of the bar C each
time the pin and disc F, F¹, makes a full revolution. The disc F¹ is carried on a
spindle in journal bearings at F1 in the frame C and spindle C, and this disc
and spindle F1, F2, are turned by a small bevel pinion F³, on the spindle, working
into a stationary angled or bevel or face wheel F¼, mounted concentrically to the
shaft C, on the top of three standards F11, bolted below by flanges to the lower sole
plate C. The pinion F' turns the disc F¹ one revolution between each stoppage in
passing from the one bath to the other, or during every twelfth of its revolution by
the motion of the frame C and shaft C, given by the train of gearing wheels D to D²,
and barrel and weighted cord D, D'. The developing bath shown at 3 in the plan
view Figure 1A, and in large scale views Figures 18 and 18 A, consists of an outer
trough 3, secured to the sole-plate C, having a double bath K, swivelling on pivot
spindles K¹ in bearings in the sides and centre of the trough 3 shown in section in
Figure 18 A with two pocket baths in it K³, K", which are always filled with a new
supply of developing mixture each time the bath K, and spindle makes a half
revolution, by the power of a weight and cord k, k¹, wound on the barrel K on one
end of the spindle K', and stopped and released by the bellcrank pawl lever K³, K¹¹,
fulcrumed at K on the side of the trough 3, the pawls of the lever K taking on
to checked stops at K*, on opposite sides of the scroll ratchet cam K', secured on the
spindle K¹, with the barrel k, so as to allow the bath K to make a half revolution
each time the lever K was pressed to one side by a projection at f5 on the cam
tappet, Figure 6, of the frame C, as it passed this trough 3 and bath K and empty
the solution out of the one compartment of the bath K² or K¹¹ into the trough 3 while
turning it to fill the next one K" or K³, the waste mixture running off by the lower
pipe to any convenient waste receptacle in the bottom of the case A for the purpose,
the new mixture being filled into the compartment turned up, by a pipe ³, from a
supply trough L fitted on the top division A" of the case A, as seen particularly in
section in Figures 1 and 2. This supply trough 3 is made of a hollow semi-circular
shape, and filled from time to time with a usual developing mixture, as each day or
days required, and is fitted with a semi-circular piston L' on a rotating spindle L²
with a counter balancing fly wheel L³, and working in bearings or rollers at L" in
the central sides of the trough L; and on one end of this spindle L is mounted a
ratchet wheel L fitted with a retaining spring pawl below at L, and with an
actuating spring pawl lever L° at one side, actuated or pulled down against the power
of a spring, to the extent of one or more teeth by a rod L, working in guide
brackets L, bolted to the upper frame C of the mechanism, and depressed by the
action of the outer free end of a cam lever fitted either with angled surfaces, or
with antifriction pulleys or otherwise at to act on a projection at the lower end of
the rod L' and pull it down each time the frame C passed the bath 3 and tilted it as

page_text: 111
described, so as to turn the piston L' sufficient to raise enough of the material over
the lip of the trough 3 down through the duct to a pipe leading into the
bath K below, and steadied by a bracket over it. The water washing troughs,
shown at 4 and 6 in Figure 2 A, and in enlarged side section in Figure 19 consist of
a thin copper or other metal outer casing m screwed to the sole plate C7 at m¹ and are
each fitted with a drain pipe m" and with a rose pipe m³ round their upper internal
surface, supplied by a coupling pipe m¹¹, leading down from a branch m³ and valve m
for each trough 4 and 6 of a water cistern M, fitted on the top All of the outer case A.
This valve m is opened while the plate a is immersed in the cistern m to spray the
water all over the sides of the plate a, and closed again when it is withdrawn, by the
action of a beam lever arrangement m³, and two rods me, m², for each trough, the
former of which is attached to the valve, and the latter fitted and guided in a bracket m³,
bolted up to the upper frame C, and shown dotted-in in Figure 2; and depressed by
projections or rollers at its lower end, by an upper angled projection / above the
projection, on the cam lever at the time the frame C rotates over each water
trough 4 and 6 Figure 2 A. A supply and overflow branch M², M2, is fitted near the
apper part of the cistern M, which might be fitted with taps to supply the water
from any overhead cistern or service pipe; and may have a safety drawing off branch
below, as shown at M. The times of motion and stoppages of this gearing mechanism D
to D', and of the frame C and shaft C, as before stated, are regulated by the clock
time mechanism shown in Figures 12 to 15. This arrangement of mechanism
consists of the weight, cord and barrel E', E", Es, on the winding spindle E* which
by a train of speed increasing spur gearing of wheels and pinions E³, E¹¹¹, and E
shown in Figures 13 and 12 A actuate the horizontal spindle E, with the screw
wheel that works into the screw on the vertical spindle E, of the "fly" E' which
regulates the speed of the turning of this time regulating mechanism when set
in action 3 and is stopped and started essentially by the levers 9, 9', g', each
revolution of the intermediate spindle G actuated by the wheels E, from the
spindle Ex of the barrel F', and which carry the time regulating ratchet wheels H, H³,
for the turning of the frame C, and spindle 2 with the plates a and the time of their
immersion in the baths 1 to 6 and 8, and drying chambers 7 and 71 at the back.
The mechanism is first started for each picture a by the insertion of the coin
down through the slit orifice I in the front of the outer case A, the coin sliding
down the duct I on to the tilting counter-weighted lever I', I", fulcrumed on a forked
lever J, J, at the side of the chamber I at the bottom of the duct I', and within
which the lever I' is tilted nearly vertical by the weight of the coin, so as to deliver
the coin down through the bottom of this chamber; and while doing so a heel I*
on the lever I' clears a pin in tilting down, and as soon as lightened by the delivery
of the coin, the weighted end I" of the lever I', and pin and heel 1', brings the lever
to its normal close position ready for receiving the coin again by the weight Jat
the end J1 of the lever, as shown in this position in Figures 12 and 13. The down-
ward action of the lever J, fulcrumed at J J" by the weight of the coin, raises the
arm J, which by a rod J' coupled above to the lever g¹, causes the lever g to clear a
stop vane E on the fly E', and allow the mechanism to go on. But to prevent this
lever g from falling in to stop the fly E' again until the spindle G has made the
complete revolution as before stated, the lever g' is forced out over the spring pawl g³
fulcrumed on the bracket gl, and so can thus only stop the mechanism at the end of
the complete circle when the pin 9 in the cam wheel G₁, on the outer end of the
shaft G, comes round. and lowers the pawl 9, a notch on the end of the lever g
then entering a check g' in the rim of the wheel g, allows the lever g to rise to its
highest position and stop the fly E7 and time mechanism; and which allows the
lever J, and coin lever I to come back to their normal position ready for receiving
new coin, and raise the lever vane i Figure 16, and open the coin slit in the orifice I,
through a link ¹ and double levers,, mounted on a spindle ¹¹ on a bracket i
bolted to the inside of the front door A of the outer frame A, and actuated by
an arm, secured on the counter-weighted lever C³, of the spindle (, as the frame
comes round to its normal. stopped position. over the plate supply barrel a¹ a¹¹

page_text: Referring to the time regulating ratchet wheels H, H¹, shown detached in Figures 14
and 15, the twelve ratchet wheel teeth h¹ to 3, on the first wheel H regulates the
time that the clip with the plate a is raised first out of the barrel a¹ a¹, and sub-
sequently out of the several baths, while the 12, ratchet wheel teeth 7, 1 to 12,
in the wheel H¹ regulate the time movement of dropping the plates a into the
several baths and in front of the lenses; and the distances between these teeth
control the time the plates a will be in each bath. Two bellcrank spring pawl
levers H, H, fulcruined at Exx to the front frame E, of the mechanism, work
over these teeth, in the wheels H H³ respectively, and have sliding reciprocating
rods H³, H, connected at one end to their vertical arms, guided on antifriction
rollers in a bracket C* secured to the bracket C, with catches H*, H', on each
of them, which take under the notches j, j¹, of a ratchet cam H, mounted between
these catch rods H³ H, on the spindle D", and close up to the catches H* H*,
and which rotates the bevel pinion D₁ by the motive gearing barrel mechanism D²
to D' twelve times during the revolution of the spindle C and frame C, and at the
same speed as the spindle F2 and pinion F³ and the disc F', which raises and
lowers the plate a, and which cam H makes one revolution for each revolution of
the spindle G and ratchet wheels H & H¹, all turning in the direction of the arrows in
the Figures. And to prevent this turning and stopping shaft F2 from having an
uusteady motion in raising or lowering the plate a through the roller F, an oscillating
air cylinder W is mounted on the frame C, having its piston rod W₁ connected to a
crank W' on the shaft F³, as seen dotted in in Figure 1, or this cylinder W may be
mounted and have its piston rod W' connected to the oscillating lever R2 when this is
used having small regulating air holes in the upper and lower ends of the cylinder W,
as shown in Figure 1 B. The first notch j in the cam H is divided so as to allow it
and the spindle D₁ to turn one fourth of a revolution, and also the disc F¹ one fourth
of a revolution, and raise the plate a and clip b by its roller 6 to the point d of the
first quarter of the V slide d on the raising of the pawl H2 by each tooth of the wheel H;
and three fourths of a revolution by each tooth of the ratchet wheel H³, by the freeing
of the notch in the cam H6 for giving the time of the lowering of the picture and
causing the wheel F to make three fourths of its revolution carrying the clip roller b
through the other three sides of the V guide d in front of the frame C, all after being
started with a plate a to make a picture, that is so that the frame C with the plate a
may travel froin the barrel a all where it had picked up a fresh plate before stopping
and traverse round to and lower the plate into and raise it from the collodion and
sensitizing baths 1 & 2 respectively, and then traverse it in line behind the lenses B,
where it would be stopped for a certain time by the notch j in the cam H, and by a
pin in the cam wheel G¹ determined by a lever arrangement to be bereinafter
described, be set in motion by the person, in front of the lenses, B whose likeness was
to be taken that is during the time the ratchet wheels H H, were turning from the
tooth to past the ratchet pawl levers H2, H. After which the ratchet tooth j in
the cam H being released by the catch levers H H³, this cam would rotate one fourth
of its revolution before being stopped by the pawl J; and raise the picture from the
lenses, and which would be carried round and lowered during the other three fourths
of the revolution of the cam H into the next developing bath 3, and so on this cam H
and its shaft, making one revolution between each set of the teeth h, in the wheels H, H',
and one revolution of the wheels H, H', would thus carry the plate a successively over
and past the remaining developing bath 3, washing bath 4, fixing bath 5, and second
washing bath 6, drying chamber 7, varnishing bath 8, second drying chamber 7', and
plate cutting mechanism 9, back to the starting position, where it would deliver the
card a carried round through a spout Z, Z, to the outside through the right side of
frame A or it might be into a drawer at Z and then pick up a new card a out of the
card drum a¹ all ready for a fresh start on the coin being put through the slit I.. In
this position the stop pawls H³, H" would be stopped in the space between the ratchet
teeth, and ¹ and as soon as the time mechanism was started the space between the
teeth,, of the time ratchet wheel H, would give the time during which the pawls
would be down and the stoppage of the cam H and spindle D and consequently of

page_text: space
the frame C, and plate a being immersed in the collodion bath Figure 1; while the
long space between the teeth and h³, in both wheels H H', would give the time for
passing to and immersion in the sensitising or nitrate of silver bath ; but the space
between the tooth., and the tooth ¹¹, the latter on the wheel H', would give a pause
for the collodion to drip off the plate before going into the silver; the space between
the tooth h¹¹ and giving the time or pause of immersion in the silver; and the
between the teeth 1, in both wheels H H', would give the pause of the frame Cand
the plate a sufficient for remaining down opposite the lenses B for taking the picture ;
and the spaces between the teeth h, h, would give the pause during the time the
plate a would be immersed in the developing bath K of the trough 3; and the recess
between the teeth ho, ho, would give the time for the immersion of the plate within
the washing bath 4; and the space between the teeth he, h', would give the time for
the immersion in the clearing and fixing bath 5; and the recesses between the
teeth h', h³, would give the time for the immersion of the plate within the washing
bath 6; and the long space between the teeth h³, h, would give the time for the
insertion of the plate within the first drying chamber 7; and the recesses between the
teeth would give the time for the insertion of the plate within the varnishing
bath 8; and the space between the teeth 10 11 would give the time for the insertion
of the plate within the next drying chamber 71; and the recesses between the
teeth, h, would give the time for the cutting off of the lower dripping point of the
plate a, and the gripping head part a'; while the plate was lowered within the space
between the knives t to t, of the cutting mechanism, shown particularly in Figures 7
to 9, and hereinafter described. While the recess between the teeth 1 and in the
wheel H, gives the time for the movement of the frame (and clip 6 to descend and
grip and raise a new plate a from the plate barrel a¹, a". The construction of the
drying chambers 7 and 71 and the mechanism for putting on and off the gas for heating
them and the plate a is shown more particularly in elevation in Figures 1 and 2, partly
in section in the former, and in plan in Figure 2A, and each consists of an inner
close thin sheet copper or other metal vessel N, with a funnel shaped piece N¹, in the
top for the guiding or insertion of the plate to be dried within it. This inner close
vessel, has an outer close heating vessel Ñ¹ around it, closed in on top but open below,
into which enters the open top of a combustion flame chamber N up through the
bottom of which a Bunsen gas burner N³ is passed, having the gas led to each of these
by separate branches N, from the main gas service pipe N', shut and opened by a
tap and lever No, and rod No, and balance weighted lever N', the latter being actuated
by a long rod No, by the tappet levers n n' on a spindle n¹ carried by a bracket N',
secured to the upper back part of the top of the frame A. The front lever N¹ is a
double armed lever, and has a pin n³, n³, in each opposite arm respectively, so that the
underside of a bevel cam plate n on the lever n secured to the revolving spindle C³,
as it comes round past the pin n³, tilts this lever n¹ to the position shown in sharp lines
in Figure 2, and opens the gas cock N', as soon as the machine has started to make a
picture; but as soon as the frame C, and plate a have been carried past the last drying
chamber 7', the bevel cam plate Nu again comes round, and acting on the pin n³ tilts
the lever n¹ and the tap N to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, and shuts
off the gas again from the burners until another picture has to be taken. The Bunsen
burners N', get their air from the outside through holes at o, and have a small pilot
light always burning at ol, led by a tube o" from the main gas pipe N, a little below
the tap No, which shuts off the main gas from the burners N³, so as always to supply this
light for lighting the main flame of the burners N°. The flame and waste hot gases from
the burner N pass up within the outer chamber N' and heat the inner chamber N, so
as to dry the plate a placed within this, and the waste gases passes up through the
pipe o' through a hole in any convenient part of the top of the enclosing case A. While
air for the circulating and carrying off of the moisture from the plate a in the inside
of the drying chamber N, is admitted by a branch o³, led down to any convenient part
of the bottom of the case A, a small hole being formed at o' at the top of the case N,
for allowing of the escape of the moist vapour into the pipe o³ carrying off the waste
0808.

page_text: The
The plate a in its clip 6 Figure 3, is fitted with a lateral vibrating secondary clip b
hung on a pin 6 in the spring clip b, with gripping fingers 6¹¹, on each side, shown in
section in Figure 6 which take a hold of the upper part of the plate a and vibrate it
by the motion of the lever hinged on the upper rigid part of the clip b and actuated
when the clip 6 and plate a are down in their lowest position, and the plate a, within
the baths and drying chambers 2 to 6 and 7, 71, as will hereinafter be described by the
mechanism shown in Figure 4. Referring to the elevation and plan Figure 4, the
outer end of a vibrating lever p presses on the shaker 6 acting on the clip and
the weight of the clip and plate brings it back to its vertical position. This lever is
mounted on the lower end of a vertical spindle p¹ carried in brackets at p¹¹ secured to
the front lower part of the vertical frame C; and another lever p' is mounted at the
top of this spindle connected by a rod pl to a shaking double armed or bell-crank
lever p³ carried on another bracket pt screwed to the back part of the frame C.
spindle of this bell-crank lever p³, has a spring mounted on it at p', which always
keeps the spring pawl p against the periphery of the ratchet vibrating wheel p
mounted loose on the lower part of the spindle just above the motive wheel D. This
ratchet wheel is oscillated by an arm and rod p8, from the motive clock mechanism in
the case E, while it is in motion, by one arm of a lever Q, seen more particularly in
Figures 12 and 13, which is mounted on a spring spindle q', carried on a bracket
bolted to the frame E of the clock mechanism, and has another arm lever q" at the.
other end of the spindle, which gets its motion from a curved star wheel q² on the fast
revolving spindle q³ turned by a pinion E1111 from the main wheel E of the clock which
drives the fan E. This star wheel q², raises the lever q against the power of the
helical spring on its spindle g', which always brings it back to the bottom of the tooth,
and so vibrates the levers q¹¹, q, to and fro, as also the rod and ratchet wheel p³ and p',
which in its turn only vibrates the bar mechanism p to 78, where there is a ratchet
tooth p on the ratchet wheel p7, these being regulated so that they vibrate the spring
lever p, p, only when the frame C and these levers are brought down into the
troughs 2 to 6 and 7, 71, respectively, there being seven ratchet teeth in the ratchet
wheel p', to give the vibrations to the plate a over these baths 2 to 6 and drying
chambers 7 and 71. Instead of raising the picture a and its clip b and bar c by the
crank pin F, in the disc F1, this may be done as shown in Figure 1 B, by making a
double crank R on the shaft F, so as by a bow connecting rod R' and rod R" oscillate
a counter balance weighted lever R³, fulcrumed on a bracket R on the spindle C³
and frame C to raise and lower the bar c in the guide slides c¹¹ in front of the
frame C in an equivalent manner to that of the crank disc F while passing from
one bath or chamber to another; and counter-balance the weight of this crank
arrangement by a weighted lever R³ mounted above the frame C, so as to prevent
vibration in the movements. The arrangement of the ratchet mechanism for turning
the plate barrel a¹ all is shown in Figures 10 and 11, and consists of an actuating
spring pawl and lever a, a, and retaining spring pawl a working into the ratchet
wheel of the plate barrel, the arm a of the lever being actuated by the
pushing rod a working in a guide at a' under the segmental angled part Q₁ of a
cam which as it comes round depresses the rod a, and turns the ratchet
wheel alone tooth at a time, to bring a new plate a under the clip b, so
that it may raise this just as it has completed its revolution to come to rest ready
for taking a new picture when the coin is placed in the slit. When the plate a comes
round with the frame C to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 opposite the lenses B
it is lowered all as hereinbefore described, and steadied by a light angled plate 6 in a
shallow tray 67 which receives all the drippings of the plate a, and in this position, a
cam arm g fixed in front of the wheel G comos round and presses out one of two
contact points 9, 9°, so as to make contact with the two terminals s, s', of an electric
bell arrangement which now rings to indicate to the person, who has put in the coin
to have his or her likeness taken, to take up their position in front of the lenses,
near the spring depressing handle and standard S, and this bell continues to ring
until the photograph is fully taken, when it stops ringing to indicate same, by the
passing on of the cam part g relieving the contact points 98, 9. When the party has

page_text: steadied him or herself they press down the handle and rod S, against the power of
the helical spring S', this rod being connected through two bell cranks S", S³, and a
horizontal rod § under the floor. The second bellcrank S2 is connected by
a rod S³ to one arm S of a lever within the case A, which pulls this down,
and by the other arm S¹ pushes up a reciprocating spring rod and pawl S',
to turn the ratchet wheel Se one tooth round. This ratchet wheel $* has a
star wheel S7 secured on it, turning on the same centre over two levers B³, Bill,
fulcrumed at B* on the same bracket B1111, which carries the star and ratchet wheel.
The pawl B has a V-retaining tooth B, on it, which takes into overy tooth of the
star wheel S', as it is turned, and this tooth B projects over the front lever B³, and
depresses it while each tooth of the star wheel S, is passing over the V-piece B³, and
this lever B³, is connected by a link B to the shutter lever B", B',which opens the
lenses and thus the drawing down of the free end of the arm B2 of this lever would
pull down the lever B', and take the upright lever BS fulcrumed on the same spindle B',
forward clear of the pin 96, and allow the time mechanism to go on; and the spring
catch ŕ would keep the lever B" down, and the lenses open, until, a rubbing block r
on a regulating screw, on the lever cleared the cam part G*, of the cam wheel G¹,
and allowed it to rise by the power of the spring R, all as shown particularly in
Figure 13 A, which is a side & edge view of the wheel G. This rising of the
lever depresses the lever secured on the same spindle 4, and draws the catch r,
out of action, by the spring heel lever 2, and allows the stop lever 7, by its own
weight to fall over a projection on the pawl rod S³ and prevent this from being
tampered with by the hand rod S outside. While the lever B2 is also locked in its
highest position, by the lever 8, also brought under the lever B' by the falling of
the lever all as particularly seen in the large scale views Figures 12 and 13.
When the plate a has been traversed and treated as described at its various stopping
stages over the baths and in front of the lenses B and at the heat drying chambers
7 and 71, it then arrives with its frame Cover the cutting and delivery mechanism
shown to the right behind the plate supply barrel a all in the plan Figure 1 B,
and to a larger scale in Figures 7, 8 and 9 on sheet 2. And referring to those
Figures, the cutting mechanism consists of a main horizontal spindle T carried in
bearings in a frame T screwed to the bed plate C. This spindle T is actuated by a
weight T, and a wire or other cord T, on a motive barrel T secured on the spindle T,
also assisted by a counter-weighted fly wheel T secured on one end; while an eccentric
cam T is secured on the other end of the spindle T revolving within the motive gap
frame T of the sliding frame T working in end guides projecting up from
the frame T, and carrying a hollow rectangular block T in front, working
within an outer hollow fixed case T, at the front delivery end of the
mechanism. Two angled cutting flat steel knives t t' are mounted, one on the front
end of the internal moving block T' on the top, and the other on the under side or
surface, so as to work close up to corresponding angled cutting blades t³, t¹¹ secured
over and under them to the under front end of the fixed outer case T. This outer
case, has a funnel mouth T° mounted over its inner end, to guide the plate a down
between the fixed and moving knives in their open position. Just as the clip b, b¹,
has so inserted the plate a, a projecting arm of the hinged part 61 comes down on an
angled or curved projection to and opens the clips, leaving the card resting on a
plate in the lower part of the outer case Ts. A first half turn of the spindle T, in
wheel T cuts the plate and delivers it into the open mouth of the spout Z, beyond the
the direction of the arrow, by the force of the weighted cord barrel T1, T1, T2, and fly
lower knives t¹, t¹¹, out at the lower end opening outside the case A at Z.
lower pointed ends of the plates a as they are cut off, fall through an opening &* in the
bottom of the outer case T, inside the lower fixed knife t", while the top ends with the
gripping holes a* in them fall into an angled groove or guide to mounted on the inner
top side of the moving cutter t which receives it within the funnel piece To. and
delivers it to one side within the case A. The other half turn of the spindle T and
its cam T, brings back the moving knives t, t¹ to their open normal position as shown
in Figures 7 and 8 ready for cutting the next plate as it is brought round and inserted
The

page_text: between the cutters as described.
A notched disc wheel Ū is also mounted on the
spindle T, with a stop and retaining pawl lever U₁, U³, coupled by a link U", and
fitted on each opposite side oscillated to and fro by the cam Q and Q¹¹ on it acting on
the tappet lever U, on the same spindle U³, as the lever Us steadied in the bracket U1111,
so as to take the first pawl lever U¹ out of its notch u¹ in the disc U and allow it to
turn the first half of the circle as described, and then be stopped for a second or so by
the pawl U2 on the projection 2, and which on the passing of the tappet Q1,
releases this pawl and allows the disc to complete its circle and the first
pawl U¹ to again fall into the notch u' and hold the disc U and knives t, t', ready for
the cutting of the next plate a. The cord T is wound on the barrel T', of this
cutting mechanism ready for each cutting action as described, by the motive gearing
mechanism D to D' while it is working to turn the vertical spindle C³ and frame C
round the whole circle of the baths and chambers by the use of a curved star wheel V
mounted on a spindle V₁ carried in the frame of this mechanism, and actuated by
one of its wheels D* on the spindle D* gearing into a wheel on the spindle V₁ of the
star wheel V. This star wheel V works the angled or two armed bellcrank lever V', V₁₁,
fulcrumed on a stud in the bracket V bolted to the bottom plate C7 of the
mechanisın. The arm V" works one lever V³ of a double armed spring lever V³, V,
fulcrumed on a bracket V1111, and carrying a winding up spring pawl V on the arm V
the upper end of which pawl takes on to star pins V, on the one side of the cord
pulley T, as seen particularly in the sectional view Figure 8A, so as to wind up the
weight T, and its cord T, on to the barrel T', all while the main motive gearing D
to D', and star wheel V are revolving, while turning the spindle C and frame C
over the whole of the baths, and coming over the cutting mechanism again. This
catch stop disc U has a spring ratchet pawl u* on it, gearing into a ratchet wheel Tx,
on the one face of the winding barrel T, so that this may pull round the disc U and
cam T, all as herein before described, and yet allow the barrel to be wound up as
stated, the pawl V being taken out of action on the pins V6, by a heel lever V7 V8,
on the rod U, when this allows the barrel to turn and cut the plate a as described.
Although for the motive mechanism simple winding-up wire cord barrels have been
shown and described with a single weight and cord, it will be understood that
heavier weights and several pulleys and turns of the band might be used for actuating
the several motive and time and the other wheel gearing, or hydraulic power might
be used where pressure service pipes were available to actuate the said gearing, or
pressure air stored in accumulators within the box. And although the baths and
chambers 1 to 8 have been described as being arranged stationary on the circular
frame C, they might be made to traverse under the reciprocating arm C on said
frame C' in an equivalent converse manner to that in which the frame C and its
spindle C² is now made to travel, the frame C in this case being arranged stationary
in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 in line behind the lenses B, so that the same
or equivalent mechanism may lower and raise the plate a always in a line behind the
lenses and over the baths as they pass round.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is or may be performed, we have to state that
we do not confine ourselves to the precise details herein described and delineated, but
what we claim as novel and original is the arrangements and combinations herein set
forth and claimed as follows:-
First. The mode and means and general arrangement and combination of the parts
and mechanical motions of apparatus or spring and weight or other motive mechanism
and time regulating mechanism within dark close box or case, for taking, developing,
producing, and delivering photographs of persons or objects, on depositing a given
coin or coins, all automatically and sequentially in a cycle of intermittent time move-
ments round a circle substantially as and in the manner herein described in reference
to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. In an automatic machine for taking and producing photographs, the
arranging of the chemical and washing baths, lenses and drying chambers in divisions

page_text: round a circular bed; and also the arranging of a frame to carry a plate or card in a
circle and be lowered and raised in an intermittent manner automatically actuated by
motive gearing and time regulating mechanism, substantially as and in the manner
herein described and distinguished in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Third. In an automatic machine for taking and producing photographs, the arrange-
ment and combination of motive mechanism and time regulating mechanism for
bringing the cards in succession to the gripping lever, and reciprocating it, so as to
hold and traverse the card sequentially over divided-off chemical and washing baths
and drying chambers, and delivering it in a finished state, substantially as and in
the manner herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Fourth. In an automatic machine for taking and producing photographs, the
traversing of the plate or picture on a horizontal circular rotating frame, and
lowering and raising it into the haths and drying chambers arranged in the cycle of
operations, all sequentially and intermittently, substantially as herein described, in
reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. In an automatic machine for taking and producing photographs, the con-
struction or arrangement and combination of motive and time mechanism for traversing
a horizontal circular rotating frame carrying the plate or picture, and lowering and
raising the latter into and out of the cycle of baths and drying chambers, all sequen-
tially and intermittently, substantially as herein described and distinguished in reference
to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Sixth. In an automatic machine for taking and producing photographs, the trans-
mitting of a shaking or vibratory motion to the plate or picture within the baths and
drying chambers as it is carried round, operated by the time regulating mechanism
while the plate is in the baths, substantially as and in the manner herein described,
in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Seventh. In an automatic machine for taking and producing photographs, the
constructing of a spring gripping and releasing clip and its fittings for carrying
the card or picture traversed on the circular rotating frame, and intermittently
lowered and raised into the baths and drying chambers and mechanism for
opening and closing these baths before and after immersion, substantially as and
in the manner herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Eighth. In an automatic machine for taking and producing photographs, the herein
described arrangement and combination of mechanism for receiving the coins and
setting on the gearing by their weight to traverse the plate or picture through the
cycle of operations, and deliver it in a finished state, substantially as herein distin-
guished and illustrated in reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Ninth. In an automatic machine for taking and producing protographs, the herein
described arrangement and combination of mechanism for regulating and supplying
the developing and washing baths at the proper intermittent times, substantially as
herein distinguished and illustrated in reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Tenth. In an automatic machine for taking and producing photographs, the herein
described arrangement and combination of appliances and regulating mechanism for
drying the plates by means of gas or heated chambers, substantially as and operated
in the manner herein illustrated in reference to the accompanying Drawings.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow,
Agents.