Improvements in Parts of Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Parts of Photographic Cameras.
I, WILLIAM JAMES LANCASTER, of Colmore Row, in the City of Birmingham,
Manufacturing Optician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:—
This invention relates to photographic cameras, and has for its object, to im
prove the construction and increase the efficiency of several detail parts of such
cameras.
The said invention refers, in the first part, to the shutter operating mechanism;:
secondly, to the focussing adjustment; thirdly, to the stays or struts by which
parts of folding cameras are held rigid when in use, and fourthly, to the means
for connecting cameras to the tables of tripod and like stands.
In carrying out the first part of my invention, I employ a rocking shutter of
any suitable construction but preferably mounted in such a manner as to admit
of it being rocked to and fro across the front of a lens diaphragm, for bringing
the exposure aperture within it momentarily over the aperture in the said.
diaphragm. A radial slot, having enlargements or seatings at its ends, may be
formed in the shutter through which a pin made fast to the front of the camera,,
and having upon it a spring depressed washer or dise, adapted to take into one
or other of the end enlargements, extends, limits and guides the movement of
the said shutter whilst by the spring washer engaging into one or other of the end.
enlargements, a means is provided for preventing its inadvertent displacement..
Pivotally connected to the said shutter, preferably at a point above and to one.
side of its centre, is the inner end of a connecting link or rod, whose outer end.
is jointed to the vertical arm of a bell-crank or equivalent rocking lever, pivoted
either to one side of the front of the camera, or to an extension of the lens
diaphragm or to any other part which will bring the second arm of the rocking
lever into a position convenient for manipulation by the operative in making
the exposure, which is effected by turning the lever whose movement is communi-
cated to the shutter through the connecting link. In order to provide for time
exposures, the top edge of the shutter, above the centre of the exposure aperture,
has a small stud or projection whilst a part of the diaphragm or the like on which
the shutter is mounted, has, at a point in line with the centre of the hole to the
lens, a small slide, whose movement may be stiffened by a spring whilst its lower
end is adapted to be brought into the path of the stud on the shutter to form a
position stop for arresting the swing of the said shutter when its aperture is brought
into line with, that of the lens, the edge of the stop slide may have a pair of
separated notches, into one or other of which the end of the spring may take for;
retaining the slide in its shot or withdrawn positions.
The second part of my invention has particular reference to that type of camera
in which the focussing adjustment is carried upon a folding board or part of the
camera body, and which, when the camera is in use, constitutes the base to the
same. The front of the camera; which carries the lens, is provided with a pair
of upright arms, the feet of which are cleft or grooved in the longer direction
of the camera and take respectively upon a pair of elevated and separated guide

page_text: rails, mounted by suitable adjustment plates on the base board and having,
inwards of the edges on which the feet slide, racks or toothed parts engaged
by a pair of pinions secured to a transversely disposed rod or spindle rotating
in bearings of the upright carriers of the adjustable front, so that on rotating
the said spindle by means of a suitable turn or-head at one end the said front
is adjusted backwardly or forwardly by the pinions running along the racks,
whilst in order to secure the parts in their adjusted positions the end of the
spindle opposite to that which carries the turn is threaded to take a loose lock
nut which, when screwed home, may bear against the outer edge of one of the
rails and so effect the clamping. By the employment of a rack and pinion ad-
justment arranged as described, the operation of focussing is effected by one
operation and the front always moves parallel with the back of the camera
instead of being liable to skew round as heretofore.
The struts or stays which are the subject of the third part of my improvements
are employed in folding cameras, for the purpose of supporting the back and
body of the camera at a right angle to the base when in use. Such struts are
usually permanently hinged at one end to the one folding part and detachably
secured at the other end by taking over a stud or engaging in a depression in
the other part and it is usually a troublesome matter to engage and disengage the
detachable end when unfolding or folding the base. I therefore propose to make
such studs self-fastening into their positions of use by the employment, in con-
nection with a lengthwise slotted stay, jointed at one end to the base board and
with the slot taking and sliding over a pin on the inside of the camera box or
body part, of a tongue or feather spring with one end secured to the stay or
strut and the other and free end constantly bearing against the pin or stud on
the body. One edge of the slot, at the top end, has a notch adapted to receive
the said stud, around which the said notch is automatically drawn by the spring.
when the base board is turned down and the strut brought out to its angular
staying position, whilst in order to disengage the notch from the peg when the
camera requires to be folded, it is only necessary to slightly depress the upper
end of the strut so as to bring the peg into line with the slot.
In carrying out the fourth part of my invention relating to means for connect-.
ing cameras to the tables or top fittings of their tripod or other stands, I form an
elongated recess of suitable depth within the bottom of the camera body part
and fit over the recess, a plate pierced in its longer direction with a slot terminating
at each end in a circular hole or enlargement, but with one enlargement being
of a larger diameter than the other. Directed through a wormed hole in the
tripod top or table is a screw terminating underneath in a fast fly nut, lever or
other turn, whilst the part above the table has a head of two diameters, one
corresponding to the larger end of the slot and the other corresponding to the
smaller end, whilst the shank of the screw is of a size which will admit of it
passing along the narrow slot between the end enlargements.
To connect the camera to its support, the head of the screw is introduced
through the largest end and comes on the inner side of the plate and then the
neck or shank is drawn along the slot until the part of the head of smallest
diameter comes over and falls into the corresponding smaller enlargement and
is there retained, and when in this position the camera may be turned round or
swivelled upon the pin in any direction without liability to displacement or
inadvertent disconnection, whilst by rotating the screw when the camera has
been adjusted, the same is rigidly clamped to the top or table of the stand. As
an alternative, the screw may pass through a plain hole in the table and receive
a clamping fly nut on the underside.
Dated this 28th dor of Fahruary 1000

page_text: I, WILLIAM JAMES LANCASTER, of Colmore Row, in the City of Birmingham;
Manufacturing Optician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to photographic cameras, and has for its object, to im-
prove the construction and increase the efficiency of several detail parts of such
cameras.
The said invention refers, in the first part, to the shutter operating mechanism;
secondly to focussing adjustment; thirdly, to the stays or struts by which
parts of folding cameras are held rigid when in use, and fourthly, to the means
for connecting cameras to the tables of tripod and like stands.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in side elevation one form
of photographic camera embodying shutter mechanism, focussing adjustment,
folding stays and means of attachment to a tripod stand constructed and ar-
ranged in accordance with my invention. A portion of the camera body is broken
away in this view in order to show the arrangement of the tripod- stand con-
nection.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the said camera, with one of the folding stays
or struts in section. The shutter in this view is shown in the position in which
it is placed prior to making an instantaneous exposure.
Figure 3 shows the said camera in topside plan, with another portion of the
body part broken away.
Figures 4 and 5 represent two front elevations of the shutter, respectively show-
ing the shutter plate at the two opposite ends of its stroke after an instantaneous
exposure, and in the act of making a timed exposure.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical section of the said shutter upon the dotted
lines c Figure 5.
Figure represents an underside plan of the camera body and base board,
also showing the top fitting or tripod stand attachment in dotted lines, and the
clamping screw pin in cross section.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the said Figures 1
to 7 of the drawings.
-
The camera shown in the said figures comprises a body part a, with a focussing
screen at b, and a hinged or turn down base board d, carrying a swinging front e,
to which the front end of the gussetted bellows f, is connected, whilst the
shutter mechanism is mounted thereon at g.
The said shutter mechanism comprises a rocking shutter plate g', mounted in
such a manner as to admit of it being rocked to and fro across the front of a lens;
for bringing the exposure aperture 2, within it momentarily over the aper-
ture, in the front of the lens. A curved slot g³, having enlargements or scat-
ings g, g, at its ends, may be formed in the shutter through which a pin i, made
fast to a plate i, attached to the front e, of the camera and having upon it, a
spring depressed washer or disc, adapted to take upon one or other of the end
enlargements, extends, limits and guides the movement of the said shutter whilst
by the spring washer engaging into one or other of the end enlargements a
means is provided for preventing its inadvertent displacement. Pivotally con-
nected to the said shutter, preferably at a point such as 6, below and to one side
of its centre g, is the inner end g³, of a connecting link or rod g', whose outer
end is jointed at 910, to the vertical arm g, of a bell-crank or equivalent rocking
lever gla, pivoted to an extension g¹³ of the apertured lens plate h, or to any other

page_text: part which will bring the second arm g¹, of the rocking lever into a position
convenient for manipulation by the operative in making the exposure, which is
effected by turning the lever whose movement is communicated to the shutter
through the connecting link.
In order to provide for time exposures, the top edge of the shutter, above the
centre of the exposure aperture, carries a small stud or projection g6, whilst a
part of the plate on which the shutter is mounted, has, at a point in line with the
centre of the hole to the lens, a small slide 2, whose movement may be stiffened
by a washer whilst its upper end carries a stud ³, adapted to be brought into the
path of the stud g16, on the shutter to form a position stop for arresting the swing
of the said shutter when its aperture is brought over or coincident with that
of the lens. The edge of the stop slide may have a pair of separated notches,
into one or other of which the end of the spring may take for retaining the slide
in its slot or withdrawn positions, although such an arrangement is not shown
in the drawings.
The second part of my invention has particular reference to that type of
camera (such as shown in the drawings), in which the focussing adjustment is
carried upon a folding board hinged to the camera body, and which, when the
camera is in use, constitutes the base to the same. The swing front e, of the
camera, which carries the lens, is provided with a pair of upright arms e¹, the
feet e, of which are turned inwards at a right angle and take respectively into
a pair of longitudinal guide channels j¹, formed along the outer edges of a pair
of elevated guide rails, of an independent or self-contained attachment or
rack stage j, mounted upon the base board and having above the grooves or
channels in which the feet slide, racks or toothed parts, engaged by a pair of
pinions k, secured to near the opposite ends of a transversely disposed rod or
spindle k, rotating in bearings e³, of the upright carriers of the adjustable front,
so that on rotating the said spindle by means of a suitable turn or head k², at
one end, the said front is adjusted backwardly or forwardly by the pinions running
along the racks, whilst in order to secure the parts in their adjusted positions
the end of the spindle opposite to that which carries the turn is threaded at k',
to take a loose lock nut, which, when screwed home, may bear against the
outer face of the adjacent carrier arms, and clamps it to the guide rail upon which
it slides. By the employment of a rack and pinion adjustment arranged as
described, the focussing may be effected by one operation and the front always
constrained to move parallel with the back of the camera instead of being liable
to skew round as heretofore.
To facilitate the introduction of the ends of the carrier arms into the channels
of the guide rails, and the engagement of the focussing pinions with the teeth
of the racks on the stage, a guide plate ", having flanged ends, coming re-
spectively on the opposite sides of the rear or inner end of the said stage, may
be fitted to the base board as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
The struts or stays which form the subject of the third part of my improvements
are employed in folding cameras, for the purpose of supporting the back and body
of the camera at a right angle relative to the base when in use. Such struts
are usually permanently hinged at one end to the one folding part and detachably
secured at the other end by taking over a stud or engaging in a depression in
the other part and it is usually a troublesome matter to engage and disengage
the detachable end when unfolding or folding the base. I therefore propose to
make these studs (which are marked m, in the drawings) self-fastening into their
positions of use by the employment in connection with a stay such as n, which
is lengthwise slotted at ¹, and jointed at one end ², to the base board with the
slot taking and sliding over a pin m on the inside of the camera box or body
part, of a tongue or feather spring o, one end o¹, of which is secured to the stay
or strut, whilst the other and free end constantly bears against the pin or stud
on the body. One edge of the slot, at the top end, has a pocket or notch n,
adapted to receive the said stud around which the said notch is automatically

page_text: drawn by the spring when the base board is turned down and the strut brought
out to its angular staying position, whilst in order to disengage the notch from
the stud or peg when the camera requires to be folded, it is only necessary to
slightly depress the upper end of the strut so as to bring the peg into line with the
slot.
In carrying out the fourth part of my invention relating to means for connect-
ing cameras to the table or top fittings of their tripod or other stands, I form an
elongated recess p, of suitable depth within the bottom of the camera body part
and fit over the recess, a plate q, pierced in its longer direction with a slot q',
terminating at each end in a circular hole or enlargement, but with one enlarge-
ment q, being of a larger diameter than the other g³. Directed through a wormed
hole in the tripod top or table r, is a screw s, terminating underneath in a fast
nut s¹, lever or other turn, whilst the part above the table has a head s2, of two
diameters, the one 3, corresponding to the larger end g², of the slot q, and the
other corresponding to the smaller end g³, whilst the shank 4, of the screw is
of a size which will admit of it passing along the narrow slot q', between the end
enlargements.
To connect the camera to its support, the head of the screw is introduced
through the largest end of the slot and comes on the inner side of the plate and
then the neck or shank is drawn along the narrow portion of the slot until the
part of the head of smallest diameter comes over and falls into the corresponding
smaller enlargement and is there retained, and when in this position the camera
may be turned round or swivelled upon the pin in any direction without liability
to displacement or inadvertent disconnection, whilst by rotating the screw when
the camera has been adjusted, the same is rigidly clamped to the top or table
of the stand. As an alternative, the screw may pass through a plain hole in the
table and receive a clamping fly nut on the underside.
Figure 8 shows a side elevation of a similar form of camera, to that shown in
the preceding figures, but fitted with a modified arrangement of my improved
rack and pinion focussing mechanism by which a greater facility of adjustment
is obtained.
Figure 9 represents a front elevation of the said camera, whilst Figure 10
shows an underside plan of the same but with a portion of the folding base or
tail board broken away to show the arrangement of the said focussing mechanism.
In this said arrangement, the carrier arms e¹, of the swinging fronte, are secured
to a sliding rack stage or frame, working within guides and having the
undersides of its opposite edges fitted with racks for which suitable clearances j.
are cut along the base board. These racks are engaged by pinions k, carried at
the opposite ends of a spindle 1, working in suitable bearings, and provided
with a turn or head 12 for operating the mechanism. The feet ², of the carrier
arms are arranged so as to admit of a sliding movement within channels or
grooves e, on the outer sides of guide rails of the stage, and in order to
secure the camera front in an adjusted position to the said stage. a screwed
rod ; is provided which takes through a plain hole in the one carrier arm and
worms into a tapped hole in the opposite arm, and by the screwing home of which
the foot ends of the said arms are clamped against their guide rails. This
mechanism provides a means for first roughly pressing the camera by sliding the
carrier arms on the guide rails by hand, then clamping them to the frame and
finally obtaining a fine adjustment by moving them bodily with the said frame
by rotating the pinion spindle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
:-
First A shutter for photographic cameras, consisting of a swinging or rock-
ing shutter plate, operated by a lever and connecting rod, and arranged in com-
bination with a sliding or shifting stop, adapted to be brought into the path of

page_text: a stop on the said shutter for retaining the exposure aperture of the same in
line with the lens aperture, substantially as herein described and also as set
forth in Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Secondly: In a convertible instantaneous or time-exposure shutter for photo-
graphic cameras, the construction arrangement and combination of the several
parts, operating in the manner and for the purpose herein described and seț
forth in Figures 1 to 7.
Thirdly In the focussing adjustments of photographic cameras, the employ-
ment in conjunction with a folding base board, of a rack stage or attachment
having a pair of racks and separated guide rails, in combination with the carrier
arms of the camera front having ends or feet sliding upon, or within channels
or grooves of, the said rails, and pinions engaging the teeth of the said racks
and carried by a spindle having means for rotating the same, substantially as
herein described and also as set forth in Figures 1 to 7.
Fourthly In the focussing adjustments of photographic cameras the employ-
ment in conjunction with an independent or self-contained grooved and racked
stage or attachment, of a flange-sided guide plate for facilitating the introduction
of the foot ends of the front carrier into the grooves and the engagement of the
adjusting pinions with the teeth of the rack, substantially as herein described and
also as set forth in Figures 1 to 7.
arms
Fifthly: In the focussing adjustments of photographic cameras, the em-
ployment in conjunction with a folding base board of a sliding frame or
stage having a pair of separated guide rails to which the carrier
of the camera front are clamped, and being bodily adjusted with the said camera
front, by pinions on a rotatable spindle engaging with the teeth of racks upon the
frame, substantially as herein described, and also as set forth in Figures S,
9 and 10.
Sixthly: A self-fastening stay or folding strut for use in connection with
photographic cameras, consisting of a slotted and jointed arm having a locking
gap or pocket within the slot, and carrying a spring adapted to bear upon a
stud or equivalent which takes through the slot and with which the said pocket
is made to engage by the reaction of the spring, substantially as herein described
and also as set forth in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Seventhly: A stand attachment for photographic cameras, consisting of a
slotted plate having holes of two different sizes within the slot, in combination
with a locking pivot pin provided at the end which engages the slot, with collars
or parts of two diameters, substantially as and for the purpose herein described,
and also as set forth in Figures 1 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 24th day of November 1899.
WILLIAM JAMES LANCASTER,
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.