AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING STANDS FOR CAMERAS, TELESCOPES, SURVEYING AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Valentine Vaughan Williams at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th November 1860.
I, VALENTINE VAUGHAN WILLIAMS, of No. 18, Crosby Row, Walworth
Road, in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING STANDS FOR CAMERAS,
TELESCOPES, SURVEYING AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE
TO OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-My Invention consists in constructing
a supporting tripod stand, so designed that it is capable of being closed up as
a walking stick, or of any other convenient form which combines in itself all
the required adjustments together with great strength and durability. A sup-
porting tripod is formed out of a metal tube, divided lengthways into three
equal parts, which are united by suitable joints at their upper ends to a small
tubular socket, through which socket passes a metal tube; this tube is con-
tinued at its lower end by a small metal rod, so as to form a central or fourth
leg. At the end of this rod or leg is a tapering screw, of one or more threads,
or in place of which may be used a cap of vulcanised india-rubber when
necessary; each of the tripod legs are provided on their inner sides and near
their points with small shoulders which incline downwards, and are so formed
that when the legs are closed, they fit round and between the threads of the
these shoulders is to prevent the points from penetrating
the ground too deep. The central leg or tube has a collar of metal round the
screw. The object of

page_text: top, equal to the diameter of the socket; the collar and socket are each provided
with a small thumb screw; the screw in the collar acts against a suitable spring
in the inner side. In this tube or central leg works a hollow metal slide, which
is provided with a rack of circular notches in which the spring works. To the
upper end or top of this slide the table top is fitted, which is formed principally
of hard wood (the same diameter as the socket and collar), and is divided
lengthways into four ribs, the inner angles of which are removed, thus forming
a square tubular space in their centre when closed, and are jointed at their
ends to the metal slide. The whole is provided with a case made of waterproof
alpaca, or oil silk, with knob & cap.
Mode of action:-When in use the knob is unscrewed and the case drawn
off when the tripod legs are opened, the tube or middle leg shifts up in the
socket, and is forced round with the hand, so as to cause the screw at the
bottom to penetrate the ground, and then it is made fast by the thumb
screw in the socket, by this means it is kept firm in its place; the
skeleton top is then opened out, which forms a table on which the camera
is supported, and is secured by an elastic band. The camera can then
be raised by the metal slide which gives the horizontal movement, while
the vertical movement is obtained by means of a joint situated between the
table top and the socket. When the stand is used as a surveying telescope
or other stand, and the table top not required, I make use of a slight modifi-
cation in the arrangement of the top, which will allow it to be adapted to
telescopes of various diameters and descriptions.