Photographer's Clothes Trunk and Dark Room Combined.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Photographer's Clothes Trunk and Dark Room Combined.
CHARLES MANUEL JORDAN, 611, Harrow Road, Kensal Green, London,
Monumental Mason, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
―
My invention is an improved travelling trunk specially suitable for professional
or amateur photographers, I have so constructed same as to combine with its
ordinary use all the advantages of a fully equipped photographers dark room, the
material employed being either wood, metal, leather, or any other suitable material
sufficiently substantial for the purpose, with the parts as herein named in the
following specification and to make clear my invention I would describe it as a
trunk of the usual sizes and proportions for carrying clothes and other articles
required by those who travel, and combined with this the means by which it
becomes a photographers darkroom.
And to carry out this object, I have made a window in the broadside which
when the trunk is placed on edge upon a table or pedestal, the said window will
then be upright and opposite the operator; for this I use either glass
or any other
suitable material sufficiently transparent for the admission of non-actinic light
such glass or other material being on the inside; and for its protection from
outside damage when the trunk is in transit, I cover the window by a shutter,
secured by a spring on the inside and so hinged and secured outside that when
thrown open it forms a shelf on the outside for holding candle or lamp when in
use at night.
And secondly to the underneath side of the lid I have affixed a lightproof
curtain which when not in use is drawn up into a flat and small space by means
of attached rings and cord; but when required the lid is turned
up to the angle at which it is set for this purpose the lid then becomes the roof of
the darkroom and the curtain being unfastened will so drop as to exclude all light
excepting what is admitted through the aforenamed window, and will enclose the
head body and arms of the operator who can either be seated or standing.
And thirdly for ventilation, I have arranged a double flap in the lid the outer
flap to open up and the inner flap to open down and towards the aforenamed
curtain; and to prevent side light from this double flap and to limit the opening
of same I have arranged pleated ends by which means I admit air without
reflecting light inside.
And fourthly for the convenience of developement and washing I have fitted
a sink, and above this I have attached a flexable bulb for drawing water by
suction with sufficient tubing to reach to a jug or pail placed outside, the tubing
passing through a hole provided in the side of the trunk: by this I do away
with the necessity of keeping water inside, and underneath the said sink I have
arranged a waste water pipe to which is attached a coil of flexable tubing intended
to be drawn out and directed towards any receptacle for taking the waste water
and fluids. And the said sink I make sufficiently large to take two or three
developing dishes one within the other, and to contain the suction bulb and

page_text: tubing and to keep all in place when the trunk is in transit I provide a cover to
the sink having right angle pieces which when withdrawn and placed into the
prepared sockets is so adapted as to form a useful shelf for developing dishes
and the like. And further to prevent the splashes and drops of fluid getting
upon the clothes of the operator I have provided a zine splash protector which can
be drawn out at varying distances as required.
By this invention I provide professional and amateur photographers with a
means for developing plates or films when on tour.
Dated this 20th day of Sentember. 1899.
CHARLES MANUEL JORDAN, 611, Harrow Road, Kensal Green, London,
Monumental Mason, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:---
My invention is an improved travelling trunk specially suitable for professional
or amateur photographers.
I have so constructed same as to combine with its ordinary use all the advantages
of a fully equipped photographers darkroom; by which a photographer can change
his plates or films or develope same or do any other thing for which a dark room
is required.
The material employed being either wood metal, leather or any other suitable
material sufficiently substantial for the purpose with the parts as herein named
in the following specification. And to make clear my invention I would describe
it as a trunk of the usual sizes and proportions for carrying clothes and other
articles required by those who travel and combined with this the means by which
it becomes a photographers darkroom as shewn in the accompanying drawings.
And to carry out this object I have made a window in the broad side which
when the trunk is placed on edge upon a table or pedestal, the said window will
then be upright and opposite the operator for this I use either glass or any other
suitable material sufficiently transparent for the admission of non-actinic light
such glass or other material being on the inside as shewn in drawing No. 2
and for its protection from outside damage when the trunk is in transit I cover
the window by a shutter secured by a spring on the inside, and so hinged and
secured outside that when thrown open it forms a shelf on the outside for holding
candle or lamp when in use at night as shewn in drawing No. 8.
And secondly to the underneath side of the lid I have affixed a lightproof
curtain which when not in use is drawn up into a flat and small space by means
of attached rings and cords as in drawing No. 1 but when required the lid is turned
up to the angle at which it is set for this purpose the lid then becomes the roof of
the darkroom and the curtain being unfastened will so. drop as indicated by the
dash & dotted lines in drawing No. 2 as to exclude all light excepting what is
admitted through the aforenamed window and will enclose the head, body, and
arms of the operator who can either be seated or standing.
And thirdly for ventilation, I have arranged a double flap in the lid the outer
flap to open up and the inner flap to open down and toward the aforenamed
curtain and to prevent side light from this double flap and to limit the opening
of same I have arranged pleated ends by which means I admit air without
reflecting light inside as shewn in drawings No. 2 & 3.

page_text: And fourthly for the convenience of developement and washing I have fitted
a sink, and above this I have attached a flexable bulb for drawing water by
suction with sufficient tubing to reach to a jug or pail placed outside, the tubing
passing through a hole provided in the side of the trunk by this I do away
with the necessity of keeping water inside, and underneath the said sink I have
arranged a waste water pipe to which is attached a coil of flexable tubing intended
to be drawn out and directed towards any receptacle for taking the waste water
and fluid as shewn in drawing No. 2 and the said sink I make sufficiently large
to take two or three developing dishes one within the other and to contain the
suction bulb and tubing, and to keep all in place when the trunk is in transit I
provide a cover to the sink (making same compact as in drawing No. 1) having
right angle pieces which when withdrawn and placed into the prepared sockets
is so adapted as to form a useful shelf for developing dishes and the like, and
further to prevent the splashes and drops of fluid getting upon the clothes of the
operator I have provided a zinc splash protector which can be drawn out at
varying distances as required.
By this invention I provide professional and amateur photographers with a
means for developing plates and films when on tour and in order that my inven-
tion may be more fully understood I have prepared drawings which are shewn as
1, 2 and 3.
Figure 1 represents the clothes trunk ready for use as a trunk with the lid
open.
A shews the affixed light proof curtain drawn up and folded in the lid.
B the covered up sink.
Da portion of tubing which is attached to flexable bulb.
Figure 2 represents the inside of the trunk shewing same stood on edge ready
for use as a darkroom.
A indicates the outline of the lightproof curtain when dropped by a dash line.
a indicates by dotted lines where the curtain is drawn round the body of the
operator.
B shews the sink open ready for use.
C the suction bulb (for drawing water by suction from the outside) lifted from
the sink and hung on the hook provided for same.
D the flexable tubing for conveying the water.
E the tubing for conveying waste water and fluids from the sink which when
not in use is replaced under the sink in the opening provided for same.
Fshews the inside of window.
f shews the hooks for securing the curtain while in use.
G the spring catch for securing the outside shutter.
B is the cover of the sink when reversed forming shelf.
H shews the zine splash protector drawn out ready for use.
J shews the two swivel pieces that retain the splash protector or will permit of
its being removed for cleansing.
I shews the inner flap for ventilation.
I the opening for the admission of air.
Figure 3 shews the back view of the trunk in use as a darkroom.
M indicating the operator inside.
N. The outside flap for ventilation, opened.
N. The opening for the admission of air.
N. The pleated side.
0. The window shutter turned down to form shelf for holding candle or lamp.
As the lightproof curtain enclosing the operator.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1st. In combination with a clothes trunk a photographers dark room by means

page_text: of a window in the side (protected by a shutter when in transit) for the admission
of non-actinic light and an affixed curtain for the exclusion of all other light
substantially as herein described.
2nd. In combination with a clothes trunk a photographers dark room with a
means of ventilation by a double flap admitting air without reflecting light
substantially as herein. described.
3rd. In combination with a clothes trunk a photographers darkroom containing
a flexable bulb and tubing by which means water can be drawn in by suction
and having a sink and flexable tubing for disposing of waste water and fluids
as would be required, substantially as and for the purposes herein described.
Dated this 18th day of October 1899.
CHARLES MANUEL JORDAN,
611, Harrow Road, Kensal Green, London.