IMPROVEMENTS IN STEREOSCOPIC ALBUMS, BOOKS, AND CASES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Archibald Brooman, of 166, Fleet Street, in
the City of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEREOSCOPIC ALBUMS, BOOKS, AND CASES."-A communication from abroad
hy Louis Francois Saugrin of Paris - France
Sealed the 5th August 1862, and dated the 7th February 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Archibald
Brooman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 7th February 1862.
I, RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEREOSCOPIC ALBUMS, BOOKS, AND CASES," (communicated
to me from abroad by Louis François Saugrin, of Paris, France,) to be as
follows:-
This Invention consists in combining a stereoscope with an album case or
book in such manner that both may be folded and occupy a small space. For
stereoscopic albums the glass sight pieces are supported in a frame hinged to
the album, which frame when folded lies flush with it. There is a plate below
which also folds for preventing the view being too expanded. A compass joint
keeps the album open and at the required inclination. The views or portraits
are inserted in a frame on the side opposite to that on which the stereoscopic
apparatus is fitted. India-rubber straps and pins are added for maintaining
the sight frame in position.
For a stereoscopic book the sight frame is. made as before, and a division

page_text: plate hinged to the case supports it. The sight frame, case, and support
are divided centrally. To close up the book lay the support on one side
against the case, fold the sight frame on it with the support for the views on
the latter; the whole apparatus is then folded and secured by a clasp.
For a stereoscopic case the views or portraits are arranged to slide on a
roller inside, and near the edge of the box, at the corners of which elastic
springs are fitted supporting a movable plate for carrying the views; the
tension of the springs is regulated by means of a ring, through which a rod
passes worked by a screw outside the case, or by any other convenient
means.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions, of the Letters Patent, filed.
by the said Richard Archibald Brooman in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th August 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
ARCHIBALD. BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent,
Agent, send greeting.
+
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself; Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, Her special,licence, that I, the said
Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, for
such others as I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and, assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter, during the term 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 STEREOSCOPIC ALBUMS, BOOKS, AND
CASES," (a communication from abroad by Louis François Saugrin, of Paris,
France,) upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said, Richard.
Archibald Brooman, 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..

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner thie
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained. in
and by the following statement thereof, reference being. had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say:
This Invention consists in combining a stereoscope with an album case or
book in such manner that both may be folded and occupy a small space.
For stereoscopic albums the glass sight pieces are supported in a frame
hinged to the album, which frame when folded lies flush with it. There is a
plate below which also folds for preventing the view being too expanded:
A compass joint keeps the album open and at the required inclination. The
views or portraits are inserted in a frame on the side opposite to that on which
the stereoscopic apparatus. is fitted. India-rubber straps and pins are added
for maintaining the sight frame in position.
For a stereoscopic book the sight frame is made as before, and a division
plate hinged to the case supports it. The sight frame, case, and support are
divided centrally. To close up the book lay the support on one side against
the case, fold the sight frame on it with the support for the views on the
latter; the whole apparatus is then folded and secured by a clasp.
For a stereoscopic case the views or portraits are arranged to slide on a
roller inside and near the edge of the box, at the corners of which elastic
springs are fitted supporting a movable plate for carrying the views. The
tension of the springs is regulated by means of a ring, through which a
rod passes worked by a screw outside the case, or by any other convenient
means.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a perspective view of a stereo-
scopic case constructed according to this Invention. a is the case cantaining
the photographic pictures b; c is the cover or lid attached to the case by hinges.
There may be a quadrant or quadrants at the side or sides to keep the cover
at any required angle, and a lock or other fastening for securing the case
when closed. d, Figure 2, shews a sheath or slide, which is inserted in the
lid c, having a flap d placed in it, while another flap d" is secured to the
basef of the stereoscope. The flaps d' and d" are united, as shewn at Figures
3 and 4, to a hinge e, the rod of which is surrounded by an adjusting screw g.
When the case is closed the stereoscope is flat, but on opening the case the
screw 9 expands it, as shewn at Figure 1. The base f of the stereoscope
forms an ordinary slide; the sides h, h¹, are united by joints made of some
flexible material, so that they may fold casily. The top plate carries the
glasses i, i, which sink down with the sides h, h³, when the case is closed.

page_text: This stereoscope, with spring hinge and introduction. flaps may be fitted in
the lid of any book cover or album, or where the book is large or thick
in a slot in each intermediate leaf. If the book or album is large enough
to contain two or several photographic pictures the flap of the hinge can be
removed and be made to slide sideways into the slot or recess prolonged
from the cover in such manner as to present the glasses before the pictures;
j is a hollowed-out passe-partout, which is used as a frame for the picture
beneath the stereoscope, and is independent of the case a and cover c. The
pictures 6' are all placed one on another in the case à on a movable frame m,
which rests, as shewn at Figure 5, on helical springs n placed inside the case.
The action of these springs is to press against the bottom, and so raise the
pictures in such manner that each picture which successively occupies the
upper place is within the focus of the stereoscope, and lying horizontally
beneath the passe-partout. In Figure 1 this passe-partout is supposed to be
raised in order to shew an axis o, carrying two spurs or rollers p, p, with a disc
or button q at each end, and resting in two slots r, r, of the case a and cover c.
The rollers p, p, press with their teeth into the paper or card of the
picture b, at each end thereof, in such manner that by turning one of the
buttons 9, the picture 6 is caused to advance and fall into a drawer k, of the.
case a, or into a compartment, or on to the table. So soon as the upper
picture has thus slidden away by the rotation of the button q, the suc-
.ceeding picture is raised by the action of the springs n on to the movable
bottom m, and takes the place of the first picture beneath the stereoscope,
and so on. This sliding motion may be produced by any other mechanical
arrangement, whether it be strap, roller, or otherwise. The pictures are
prevented sliding backwards by a caoutchouc cord connected to the bottom of
the movable bottom m: To close the apparatus the pictures are arranged in
position, the stereoscope is folded, which fits under the cover, the lid is closed
and secured by a lock or spring. The case instead of being portable may be
fitted to a foot or stand.
.
Figure 6 is perspective view of an album with a spring and folding stereo-
scope applied to it. In this Figure the stereoscope h, h¹, i, l, is shown open
ready for use.
In Figure 7, the stereoscope is shewn folded under the cover of an album,
it is fitted in a similar manner to that shown at Figure 1, in a recess, with a
spring hinge as shewn by the detail views, Figures 2, 3, and 4. The slight
projection which forms the stereoscope when folded, lies in a recess formed in
the cover c, or of the album a, which holds the leaves or pictures b, a compass
joint & maintains the opening of the album at the desired inclination..

page_text: A stereoscopic pocket-book, constructed in a similar manner, is shewn
folded at Figure 8, partially open at Figure 9, and open at Figure 10. The
bottom f, serves for carrying the pictures, it is made in two parts; u, is a
partition or vertical separation united by a spring joint to the body, it folds
over to the left and acts as a support to the apparatus when open, the plate y
supports the head of the stereoscope which folds into two parts and rests on
the partition u; is a space to receive the stereoscope when folded on to the
hinges, a spring action being produced by a rod similar to that shewn at
Figure 3, to produce the developement of the head 7, which carries the glasses.
These spring hinges have the effect of wholly opening the apparatus when it
has been opened to the extent shewn at Figure 9 to that shewn at Figure 10;
x is a clasp to secure the case when closed, but an india-rubber band or other
fastening may be used.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my "Improve-
ments in Stereoscopic Albums, Books, and Cases,"-
First, the combination of a stereoscope with an album case or book for
containing photographic and other pictures, in manner and for the purpose
herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Second, the adaptation of a folding stereoscope herein-before described to
albums, books, and cases, by means of a spring hinge, as herein,before
described.
Third, the construction of folding stereoscopes as herein-before described.
Fourth, the employment of springs acting against a movable bottom-plate,
to successively raise the pictures, and place them within the focus of the
instrument as herein-before described.
Fifth, the method herein-before described, of causing the pictures to slide
and then fall into a drawer or other desired receptacle.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of August, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-two.
12 A BROOMAN 101
RA BROOMAN (LS)