IMPROVEMENTS IN ROOMS AND APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING BY ARTIFICIAL LIGHT
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International
Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROOMS AND APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING BY
ARTIFICIAL LIGHT."-A communication from abroad by George
Kendall Proctor, of Salem, Massachusetts, United States of
America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 7th December 1868.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,"
No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROOMS AND APPARATUS FOR PHOTO-
GRAPHING BY ARTIFICIAL LIGHT," a communication, to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to rooms or apartments and apparatus for photo-

page_text: for focusing, the said lamp being supported on a bracket provided with
a reflector. After obtaining the proper focus, the said bracket is turned
partially round and brings a shade before the lamp. The magnesium
burner is then lighted and the picture taken.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th June 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of December, in the
year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence
that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my exccutors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the terin
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ROOMS AND APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING BY ARTIFICIAL LIGHT," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained

page_text: in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
:-
My Invention relates to rooms or apartments and apparatus for photo-
graphing by artificial light, and is chiefly designed to provide the means
for obtaining portraits at night and at other times when there is an
insufficiency of natural light.
The said Invention consists chiefly in so constructing such rooms or
apartments that the rays of light from a lamp or burner placed therein
will be reflected and concentrated upon the person or object to be photo-
graphed. The interior of the suid room or apartment is curved above
and at the front and sides of the point whereon the light is to be con-
centrated, and a magnesium lamp or burner is arranged in such a
position that its light will be reflected upon the said point. An opening
is made in the curved end of the room for the camera, and a suitable
background is placed at the other end. A lamp of any ordinary kind
may be used for focussing.
I prefer to construct my improved photographing room by joining
together a-series of curved bars of wood or other suitable material, which
bars are secured at the bottom upon a horse-shoe shaped piece forming
a frame which may be advantageously made about seven feet high, seven
feet long, and five feet wide; these dimensions, however, may be varied.
"The frame is lined with cloth, paper, or other suitable material which is
white on its inner surface; around the exterior of this lining or covering,
but inside the frame and near the bottom thereof a cord is extended,
whereby the lower part of the lining may be drawn in to diminish the
space to be illuminated and to reflect the light upward. An aperture is
formed through the lining near the top of the room through which to
light the magnesium burner, which is provided with clockwork or other
suitable feeding mechanism, and a screen of ground glass or other
suitable material is placed in front of the burner, and connected with
a rod extending through the room, by which rod the said glass may be
raised or lowered. This glass is used to modify the effect of the light
and thereby produce the desired shades in the picture. An opening is
made through the lining for the smoke from the burner to escape
through. The opening for the camera is formed below the aperture for
igniting the burner in the most convenient position to allow the instru-
'inent to be properly adjusted. The background is so arranged that it
may be removed or opened to admit a person into the room and then

page_text: adjusted to close the room. I prefer to employ a kerosene lamp for
focussing, the said lamp being supported on a bracket provided with a
reflector. Alter obtaining the proper focus the said bracket is turned
partially around and brings a shade before the lamp. The magnesium
burner is then lighted and the picture taken.
reflector. After obtaining the proper focus the said bracket is turned
partially around and brings a shade before the lamp. The magnesium
burner is then lighted and the picture taken.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is an interior perspective view of my improved photographic
room and apparatus; Figure 2 is an exterior perspective view of the
said room.
Like letters indicate the same parts in each of the
Figures.
A is the frame of the said room or apartment, and a is the cloth or
other lining thereof. This room or apartment is of a semi-oval form or
nearly so, and its internal curved surface will reflect the rays of light
from the lamp or burner at 6 upon a person or object placed in the
proper position in the said room. An opening is made in the curved
end of the room or apartment, as shewn at c, for the end of the camera d
to pass through, the other end of the room or apartment being open to
allow a background for the picture to be placed behind the person or
object to be photographed. The magnesium burner is placed upon pins
at b, and when properly regulated by the clockwork or other suitable
mechanism gives a powerful light whereby the desired photographic
effect is produced. The magnesium is lighted through a hole e in the
lining a, and the screen is adjusted by means of the rod g; his the
hole provided to allow the smoke of the burner to escape from the room;
is the adjustable lamp used for focussing, and which when not used is
concealed by the shade j. If desired, an ordinary gas burner may be
used for focussing. is the cord for drawing in or adjusting the
lining a.
By this Invention the means are provided whereby persons whose
only leisure time is the evening can obtain portraits without neglecting
their business. The apparatus can be used without difficulty, and will
render photographic artists independent of the weather and seasons
in the practice of their profession. Amateurs of photography can also
at a very small cost practise the art without neglecting their other
occupations.
The said Invention is applicable to the taking of portraits (which
will be found in all respects equal to those taken by natural or solar
light), and to the copying of pictures and printing.

page_text: Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and shewn how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,-
First. For photographing purposes an apartment or room having its
interior of such a form as to reflect and concentrate the rays from a
lamp or burner upon the person or object to be photographed, substan-
tially as set forth.
Second. The opening in the room or apartment for the purpose of
allowing the camera outside of the room to be properly adjusted with
regard to the person or object to be photographed within the room or
apartment, substantially as set forth.
Third. The employment of magnesium for illuminating purposes in
connection with a room or apartment, constructed in the manner or form
substantially as-herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of June, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
ninc.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)
Witness,
Tuo. N. PALMER,
Clerk to Messrs. Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
S, Southampton Buildings,
London.