Year: 1896

page_text: We, THE EASTMAN PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS COMPANY LIMITED of 115 and 117
Oxford Street, in the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this
Invention (which has been communicated to us from abroad by Frank Alexander
Brownell, of Rochester, in the County of Monroe and State of New York, United
States of America Engineer) to be as follows:-
The present invention has for its object to improve the construction and operation
of photographic cameras more particularly such cameras as are adapted for carrying
spools of film and also arranged to receive a holder carrying cut sheets of film,
or plates, and it consists in certain improvements in construction and combinations
of parts, as hereinafter described.
The camera casing is provided with the usual apertures for the main and finder
lenses respectively and has at its rear an opening for inspecting the designating
marks on the back of the film or the covering thereof, as it is unwound from one
spool and wound onto the other. The frame carries the operating parts of the
camera and is removable from the casing and embodies a top portion having a
handle thereon a bottom, board and sides and a front board. The lens post carries
the main lens and at its upper portion the finder chamber provided with a mirror
and ground glass and at the front a lens in line with an aperture in the front of
the casing. There is an opening in the top through which the ground glass of
the finder can be seen. Upon the front board is pivoted a shutter which may be
of any suitable construction for example it may consist of a circular oscillatory
plate adapted to be moved in either direction by a reversible spring attached to
an oscillatory arm and connected with the shutter so that as the arm is moved to
one side or the other, the spring will be placed under tension to throw the shutter,
and the shutter may be retained against the spring by means of a segmental pro-
jection on the arm or other means may be employed for the purpose. The arm
is held in the position to which it may be moved by the friction between it and
the front board or otherwise. The shutter is provided with stops or projecting
lugs at or near its periphery with which a projection on the aforesaid arm can
engage so that, as the arm is oscillated in one direction the spring will be placed
under tension, and the shutter retained by the projection engaging the proper
lug until the proper tension is reached when the projection will pass by the lug
and it will be released and the shutter thrown so that the aperture therein will
pass the lens opening and make an instantaneous exposure. In order that the
shutter may be arrested for a time exposure there is provided a moveable time
stop consisting of a sliding rod or plate guided by suitable screws or pins entering
slots therein; having at its lower end a lug or projection for engaging with a stop
on the shutter, while the upper end of the said rod or plate extends out at the top

page_text: of the camera in position to be manipulated for the purpose of making a time
exposure when desired. This exposed end of the rod or plate serves as an in-
dicator so that the operator will know that when the rod or plate is drawn upward
the shutter is arranged for a time exposure. The normal position of this rod or
plate is depressed when the shutter is adapted for instantaneous exposures, but
when the said rod or plate is drawn up, the lug or projection at the end will project
in the path of the stop therefor on the shutter and when the latter is moved by its
spring the said lug or projection will arrest it with the aperture in line with the
lens opening; the only operations required being to draw up the plate and move
the oscillating arm over.
A diaphragm plate is pivoted to the front board having near one of its ends
a series of apertures, the opposite end having a projection which is engaged by
a yoke formed upon the end of a sliding rod or plate guided by suitable pins or
screws projecting through slots therein and having its upper end projecting
through the top of the camera. A segmental spring-plate is secured to the front
board and it has a projection on its underside to engage with suitable depressions
in the diaphragm plate, so as to hold one or the other of the apertures in line
with the lens opening, by friction, but not prevent the manipulation of the said
plate by the movement of the operating rod. The apertures in the diaphragm
are so arranged that when the operating rod is pushed in, the largest opening
is in line with the lens and as the time-stop is out of operative position when
moved in, the operator knows he can make ordinary instantaneous exposures when
the camera top is clear of projecting parts.
At the rear of the exposing chamber and in the removeable frame, composed of
a top, bottom, and sides, is a film frame preferably composed of sheet metal with
comparatively wide top and bottom plates and having at opposite sides small
vertically extending loose rollers journalled therein and serving as guides for the
film as it passes from the delivery spool situated at the front of the camera (as
hereinafter described) to the spool serving as the winding reel also at the front
of the camera on the opposite side of the lens. This film frame is provided
with inwardly projecting pins on the top and bottom plates operating in slots
formed in suitable pieces attached to the top and bottom of the removeable frame.
Springs engage with the pins and have their ends against pins or stops the ten-
dency of these springs being to hold the film frame against the end of the carrying
frame and permit it to be moved outward against the tension of the springs for
the insertion of the plate-holder between said film frame and the rear of the
carrying frame. The rear faces of the rollers are normally in the plane of the
focus of the lens, so that the film passing over them will be at the proper focus
and when the said film frame is moved back after the introduction of the plate-
holder, the springs will hold the plate holder in proper position.
While it is preferred to employ the moveable rollers at the sides of the film
frame this is not absolutely necessary as the film can be moved over the smooth
or rounded edge of the frame or the rollers can be made stationary.
The rear end of one of the side boards is provided with an inclined end to permit
the introduction of the edge of the plate holder to move the film frame backward,
and a door is provided in the outer casing for permitting the introduction of the
plate holder. This door may be retained by any suitable form of catch, but it is
preferred to provide it with catch projections arranged to co-operate with the
edges of suitable apertures formed in one side of an angular plate arranged in
the corner of the casing and vertically moveable by means of a spring engaging
its laterally bent lower end, which end is accessible from the exterior of the casing,
but is preferably covered by the leather or other covering of the casing. Another
plate is secured to the said angular plate and having inclined portions operating
when the angular plate is moved upward to engage the door projections and throw
the door open. When the camera is used for a film in a continuous length, the
film frame is close against the back of the frame and a removeable filling piece or
frame is arranged at the back of the roller frame to fill up the space, which at

page_text: other times is occupied by the plate-holder, and in this filling piece or frame is a
piece of ruby glass through which the figures or marks on the back of the film or
film covering can be viewed without permitting the passage of actinic light to
fog the film. One edge of the filling piece or frame enters a groove in the casing
and a rearwardly extending flange is situated at the rear side, these arrangements
preventing the entrance of light through the aperture in the back of the casing.
The filling piece or frame serves the further purpose of preventing the opening
of the door when the camera is used with rolls of film, as its lower edge rests upon
the door spring preventing the operation of the angular plate at the corner of the
casing and it is held in place by the projecting edge of the top of the removable
frame.
The spools for containing the film both before and after exposure may be
similar and interchangeable and are composed of tubular bodies having flanges
at the ends and at one end provided with apertures for the reception of pins on
an arbor formed upon, or attached to, a ratchet wheel for locking the spool to the
ratchet wheel, the latter preventing backward movement of the spool serving for
the time being as the winding reel. This ratchet wheel is journalled in a plate
pivoted to the bottom board of the removeable frame, and upon it is provided a
pawl operated by a spring. The bottom board is provided with a slot or recess
extending to the edge for the passage of the arbor, as the plate is swung out for
the engagement of the end of the winding spool; the said spool being held, when
the plate is swung in, by the operating spindle or rod having a handle at its
upper end, while its lower end is threaded and enters the aforesaid arbor. By
this means the spool is secured in position and may be turned in one direction
to wind the film forward, backward movement being prevented by the pawl co-
operating with the ratchet wheel.
The supply spool containing unexposed film is secured in position in the
frame by means of a pin or projection entering the upper end of the spool, while
the lower end is held by a corresponding projection on a spring projecting up
through a slot in the bottom board and offering sufficient frictional resistance to
the rotation of the spool to properly tension the film as it is drawn forward and
the end of the spring is extended in front of the front board so that the empty
spool may be readily removed from the camera by pressing down on the spring
and disengaging the projection.
The forward end of one of the side boards say that opposite to that at which
the door is situated is provided with a slight inwardly projecting extension to
prevent light, which might be radiated from the interior of the camera during
exposure, from striking the face of the film and on the opposite side board is
provided a moveable flap pivotted at its rear end and moved outward by a spring.
The extreme end of this flap is covered with velvet or similar material so as not to
injure the film passing beneath it. Its principal function is when moved outward
by its spring to co-operate with the outer casing and prevent the passage of light
to the forward portion of the camera between the side board and the casing, when
the rear door is opened for the admission or removal of a plate-holder, although
the velvet surface of the said flap will serve to remove, from the face of the film,
any dust or foreign substances.
The removeable frame carrying the operating parts of the camera is provided
with a stud or projection in its underside having a head on the extreme end and
adapted to enter a recess formed in the bottom of the casing and to become engaged
by a laterally sliding catch-plate, serving to retain the parts together when pushed
in. The lower end of this stud is provided with a threaded aperture for the entrance
of a screw by means of which the camera may be attached to a tripod head or other
support.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Photographic Cameras.
We, THE EASTMAN PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS COMPANY LIMITED of 115 and 117
Oxford Street, in the County of London do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (which has been communicated to us, from abroad by Frank Alexander
Brownell, of Rochester, in the County of Monroe and State of New York, United
States of America, Engineer), and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The present invention has for its object to improve the construction and operation
of photographic cameras more particularly such cameras as are adapted for carrying
spools of film, and are also arranged to receive a holder carrying cut sheets of
films, or plates, and the said invention consists in certain improvements in
construction, and in combinations of parts, as hereinafter fully described, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a camera constructed in accordance with this
invention and in its case.
Figure 2 is a similar view of the frame carrying the operating parts removed
from the case.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the camera the section being taken
on the line -x of Figure 4.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the camera the section being taken on the
line y-y of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a front view of the frame removed from the case and shewing the
construction and operation of the time-stop for the shutter, and the shutter itself.
Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the said frame carrying the operating parts.
Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view on the line -z of Figure 3.
Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view of the rear part shewing a plate-holder
inserted in the camera, and
Figures 9, 10 and 11 are detail views as hereinafter described.
Similar reference numerals in the several figures indicate similar parts.
1 indicates the camera casing provided with the usual apertures 2 and 3 for the
main and finder lenses respectively, and having at its rear an opening 4 for in-
specting the designating marks on the back of the film or the covering thereof,
as it is unwound from one spool and wound onto the other. The frame carries
the operating parts of the camera and is removable from the casing and embodies
a top portion 5 having a handle 6 thereon, the bottom board 7, the sides 8 and 9,
and the front board 10. 11 indicates the lens post having the main lens 12 therein,
and at its upper portion the finder chamber provided with a mirror 13 and around
glass 14, and at the front a lens 15 in line with the aperture 3 in the front of the
casing. 14 indicates an opening in the top through which the ground glass of the
finder can be seen. Upon the front board 10 is pivoted a shutter 16 which may be
of any suitable construction, but in the drawing is represented as consisting of a
circular oscillatory plate adapted to be moved in either direction by a reversible
spring 17 attached to an oscillatory arm 18 and connected with the shutter so that
as the arm 18 is moved to one side or the other, the spring will be placed under
tension to throw the shutter, and the shutter may be retained against the spring
by means of a segmental projection 19 on the arm 18, or other means may be 4
employed for the purpose. The arm 18 is held in the position to which it may
be moved, by the friction between it and the board 10, or otherwise. The

page_text: shutter 16 is provided with stops or projecting lugs 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 at or near
its periphery with which the projection 19 on the arm 18 can engage, so that, as
the arm is oscillated in one direction, the spring will be placed under tension, and
the shutter retained by the projection 19 engaging the lug 20 or 23 until the proper
tension is reached when the projection 19 will pass by the lug and it will be released
and the shutter thrown so that the aperture 16 therein will pass the lens opening
and make an instantaneous exposure. In order that the shutter may be arrested
for a time exposure, there is provided a moveable time-stop in the form of a sliding
rod or plate 25 guided by suitable screws or pins 26 entering slots therein, having
at its lower end a lug or projection 27 for engaging with the stop 24 on the shutter,
while the upper end of the said rod or plate 25 extends out at the top of the camera
in position to be manipulated for the purpose of making a time exposure when
desired. This exposed end of the rod or plate serves as an indicator so that the
operator will know that when the rod or plate is drawn upward the shutter is
arranged for a time exposure. The normal position of this rod or plate is shewn
in Figure 2, when the shutter is adapted for instantaneous exposures, but when
drawn up as in Figure 5, the end 27 will project in the path of the stop 24 on the
shutter and when the latter is moved by its spring, said end will arrest it with the
aperture 16 in line with the lens opening; the only operations required being
to draw up the plate 25 and move the oscillating arm 18 from the position shewn
in full lines in Figure 5 to that shewn in dotted lines.
29 indicates a diaphragm plate pivotted at 30 to the front board 10 having near
one of its ends a series of apertures 31 (as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 5) the
opposite end having a projection 32, which is engaged by a yoke formed upon the
end of a sliding rod or plate 33, guided by suitable pins or screws 34 projecting
through slots therein and having its upper end projecting through the top of the
camera. 35 indicates a segmental spring-plate secured to the front board 10 and
having a projection 36 on its underside to engage with suitable depressions in the
diaphragm plate 29, so as to hold one or other of the apertures 31 in line with the
lens opening, by friction, but not preventing the manipulation of said plate by the
movement of the plate or rod 33. The aperturer in the diaphragm 29 are ro
arranged that when the rod 33 is pushed in, the largest opening is in line with the
lens and as the time-stop is out of operative position when moved in, the operator
knows he can make ordinary instantaneous exposures when the camera top is clear
of projecting parts.
At the rear of the exposing chamber in the removeable frame, composed of the
top 5, bottom 7, and sides 8 and 9, is a frame 40 preferably composed of sheet metal
with the comparatively wide top and bottom plates 48 and having at opposite sides
small vertically-extending loose rollers 41 journalled therein and serving as guides
for the film 42, as it passes from the delivery spool situated at the front of the
camera (as hereinafter described) to the spool serving as the winding reel also at
the front of the camera on the opposite side of the lens. This frame 40 is provided
with inwardly projecting pins 43 on the top and bottom plates 48 operating in
slots 44 formed in suitable pieces 45 attached to the top 5 and bottom 7 of the
removeable frame. Springs 46 engage with the pins 43 and have their ends against
pins or stops 47, the tendency of these springs being to hold the frame 40 against
the end of the carrying frame and permit it to be moved outward, as shewn in
full lines in Figure 8, against the tension of the springs for the insertion of the
plate-holder 49 between said frame 40 and the rear of the carrying frame. The
rear faces of the rollers 41 are normally in the plane of the focus of the lens, so
that the film passing over them will be at the proper focus and when the said
frame 40 is moved back after the introduction of the plate-holder, the springs 46
will hold the plate-holder in proper position.
While it is preferred to employ the moveable rollers 41 at the sides of the
frame 40, this is not absolutely necessary as the film can be moved over the smooth
or rounded edge of the frame, or the rollers can be made stationary.

page_text: The rear end of the side board 9 is provided with an inclined end 9* (Figures 4
and 8) to permit the introduction of the edge of the plate-holder to move the
fiame 40 backward, and a door 50 is provided in the outer casing 1 for permitting
the introduction of the plate-holder. This door may be retained by any suitable
form of catch, but it is preferred to provide it with catch projections 51
arranged to co-operate with the edges of suitable apertures formed in
one side of the angular plate 52 arranged in the corner of the casing
(as shewn particularly in Figure 9) and vertically-moveable by means of a
spring 53 engaging its laterally bent lower end, which end is accessible from the
exterior of the casing, but is preferably covered by the leather or other covering
of the casing. 54 is a plate secured to the plate 52 and having inclined portions 55
and 56 operating when the plate 52 is moved upward to engage the projections 51
and throw the door 50 open, as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 8. When the
camera is used for a film in a continuous length, the frame 40 is in the position
shewn in Figure 4, close against the back of the frame and a removeable filling
piece or frame 60 is arranged at the back of the roller frame to fill up the space,
which at other times is occupied, by the plate-holder, and in this frame is a piece
of ruby glass 61 through which the figures or marks on the back of the film or film-
covering can be viewed without permitting the passage of actinic light to fog
the film. One edge of the frame 60 is arranged to enter a groove 60% in the casing
and a rearwardly extending flange 60' is situated at the rear side, these arrange-
ments preventing the entrance of light through the aperture 4. This frame 60
serves the further function of preventing the opening of the door 50 when the
camera is used with rolls of film, as its lower edge rests upon the spring 53
preventing the operation of the plate 52 and it is held in place by the projecting
edge of the top 5 of the removeable frame.
The spools for containing the film both before and after exposure are similar
and interchangeable and are composed of the tubular bodies 62 having flanges 63
at the ends and at one end provided with suitable apertures 64 (as shewn par-
ticularly in Figure 10) for the reception of pins 65 on the arbor 66 formed upon,
or attached to, a ratchet wheel 67 for locking the spool to the ratchet wheel, the
latter preventing backward movement of the spool serving for the time being as
the winding reel. This ratchet wheel 67 is journalled in a plate 68, pivotted at 69
to the bottom board 7 of the removeable frame, and upon it is provided a pawl 70
operated by a spring 71, as shewn in Figure 6. The bottom board 7 is provided
with a slot or recess 7* extending to the edge for the passage of the arbor 66, as
the plate 68 is swung to the position shewn in dotted lines in Figure 6 for the
engagement of the end of the winding spool; the said spool being held, when the
plate 68 is swung in, by the operating spindle or rod 72 having a handle 73 at
its upper end, while its lower end is threaded and enters the arbor 66. By this
means the spool is secured in position and may be turned in one direction to
wind the film forward, backward movement being prevented by the pawl co-
operating with the ratchet wheel 67.
The supply spool containing unexposed film is secured in position in the frame
by means of a pin or projection 75 entering the upper end of the spool, while the
lower end is held by a corresponding projection 76 on a spring 77 projecting up
through a slot in the bottom board 7 and offering sufficient frictional resistance to
the rotation of the spool to properly tension the film as it is drawn forward and
the end of the spring is extended in front of the board 10 so that the empty spool
may be readily removed from the camera by pressing down on the spring 77 and
disengaging the projection 76.
The forward end of the side board 8 is provided with a slight inwardly pro-
jecting extension 8 (see Figure 4) to prevent light, which might be radiated
from the interior of the camera during exposure, from striking the face of the film
and on the side board 9 is provided a moveable flap 91 pivotted at its rear end and
moved outward by a spring 92, as shewn in Figure 4. The extreme end of this

page_text: flap 91 is covered with velvet or similar material so as not to injure the film passing
beneath it. Its principal function is, when moved outward by its spring 92, to
co-operate with the outer casing 1 and prevent the passage of light to the forward
portion of the camera between the plate 9 and the casing, when the rear door 50
is opened for the admission or removal of a plate-holder, although the velvet sur-
face of the said flap will serve to remove, from the face of the film, auy dust or
foreign substances.
The removeable frame carrying the operating parts of the camera is provided with
a stud or projection 80 in its underside having a head on the extreme end and
adapted to enter a recess formed in the bottom of the casing and to become
engaged by a laterally sliding catch-plate 82, serving to retain the parts together
when pushed in. The lower end of this stud 80 is provided with a threaded aperture
for the entrance of a screw by means of which the camera may be attached to a
tripod head or other support.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. The combination with a photographic camera of film, rollers and an open
frame over which the film, passes, the said frame being pressed forward against
the rear of the exposing chamber so that it can be moved back to accommodate a
holder for a sensitive plate to lie in the same plane as the film substantially as
hereinbefore described.
2. The combination with a photographic camera of devices for holding film
near the forward portion and film passages at the sides for the film, and a moveable
frame at the rear of the exposing chamber forming a guide for the film, a door in
the camera casing adjacent to the moveable frame, and an automatic light ex-
cluding flap arranged in one of the film passages, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
3. The combination with a photographic camera of film rollers mounted near
the forward portion of the camera and film passages at the sides of an exposing
chamber open at the back and a spring-operated flap bearing against the film
and closing the film passage when the film is removed, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
4. In a photographic camera, the combination with a lens, a moveable shutter
having an aperture and means for operating the said shutter, both arranged inside
the casing of the camera, of a time stop for arresting the shutter with the aperture
in line with the lens opening, having an operating part projecting from the camera
when the said time stop is operative, a moveable diaphragm having a series of aper-
tures, and a rod for operating it projecting from, the casing when a predetermined
aperture is either out of line with the lens or in line therewith whereby the
operating parts of the diaphragm and time stops will serve as indicators, sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described.
5. In a photographic camera, the combination with the casing and the removeable
frame having the exposing chamber, and film holding and feeding devices thereon,
of the swinging plate 68 having the ratchet-wheel and pawl thereon, and the
removeable spindle passing through the casing and spool and engaging the ratchet-
wheel so as to turn it, substantially as herein before described.
6. In a camera for holding roll film or plates, the combination with a casing
and film-holding and winding devices, and a film support therein, of a door adjacent
to the film support, locking devices for the said door capable of being released
from the exterior of the casing, and a moveable member within the casing for
preventing the operation of the locking devices when roll film is being used in the
camera, substantially as hereinbefore described.
7. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the photographic

page_text: camera as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 30th day of July 1897
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.