Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 20th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 20th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
1, WILLIAM RITCHIE BAKER of 94 Seaside, Eastbourne in the County of Sussex,
Chemist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
--
According to this invention the camera is made to contain a number of sensitized
plates which can be used in succession. The plates are arranged one in front of
another in a receptacle at the back or it may be at the sides of the camera, and an
oponing furnished with a close fitting cuff or sleeve is provided, so that the hand can
be introduced to arrange the plates without the admission of light. When the pile
of plates is at the back of the camera they are separated from one another by opaque
paper or the like, so that the front plate can be exposed to the light without the
others being acted upon. When a picture has been taken the front plate is removed
and placed at the back of the pile leaving the next plate in position for the next
picture.
In place of employing a transparent screen of ground glass for receiving the image
whilst the lens is being focussed, as is now usual, I employ an opaque screen and view
the image upon it by a hinged mirror or other convenient means. I prefer to hinge
the screens so that, when in position for receiving the image, it lies in front of the
pile of plates at the back of the camera but can be drawn up and made to lie against
the inner side of the top of the camera when it is desired to take a picture.
In order that the screen may occupy exactly the same position as the plate to be
acted upon I place springs at the back of the pile of plates, so that the screen when
lowered forces the pile slightly backwards, taking the place of the front plate.
When however the screen is drawn up out of the way, the springs force the pile of
plates forward again into position.
The camera is provided with two doors, one at the top and the other at the bottom.
That at the top serves as an opening through which the opaque screen can be
viewed, whilst that at the bottom is for, the manipulation of the plates, as above
described.
In order to render the camera as compact as possible I carry the lens upon the
end of a drawer which, when pulled out, gives the requisite focus length, the focusing
being performed by adjusting the distance to which the drawer is pulled out.
I do not fix the lens rigidly to the end of this drawer but I connect it to it by
mechanism in such a way that when the drawer is closed the front of the lens lies
flush with the end, but when the drawer is pulled out, the lens is protruded.
Datad this 20th dun af Navambas 1000
W. R. BAKER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
I, WILLIAM RITCHIE BAKER, late of 94 Seaside, Eastbourne, in the County of
Sussex, but now of 9 Belmont Villas, Wallington, in the County of Surrey, Chemist,
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 relates to that class of photographic cameras generally used for field
or outdoor work, where lightness of weight is essential, but is equally applicable for
studio or other work, and consists in providing a closed box holding the dark slides,
in place of the usual frame and ground glass focussing screen at the back of the

page_text: camera, (which necessitates the dark slides being carried separately); and in sub-
stituting an opaque focussing screen in place of the ground glass; and in the
arrangements for working the same, whereby lightness and compactability are obtained
with no loss of strength in the construction of the instrument.
In order that my invention may be the better understood I now proceed to describe
the same in relation to the drawings hereunto annexed, reference being had to the
letters and figures marked thereon. Like letters refer to like parts throughout the
drawings.
Figure 1 is a vertical section through the camera with the dark slides removed and
the movable frame with the opaque focussing screen in the backward position ready
for focussing.
Figure 2 is a front view of the movable focussing frame.
Figure 3 is a vertical section through the back part of the camera showing the
shutters in position for exposing the plate.
Figure 4 is a front view of the same.
Figure 5 is a detail of the locking lever and the bridge on the shutters of the dark
slide.
Figure 6 is an end view of the dark slide showing the locking lever.
Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view on the line xx (Figure 1).
Figures 8, 9, and 10 are views of the eye shade in different positions.
In order to focuss the subject I provide on the front end of the closed box A a
movable frame B, upon which two doors are hinged horizontally in a vertical
plane, so that they close towards one another in the centre, and upon the forward faces
of these doors CCI affix some white paper D or other suitable material, or equi-
valently they may be painted white. Upon the hottom part of the camera I hinge a
mirror E, so that on looking through an aperture E¹ in the top of the frame, the view
projected by the lons upon the white screen D can be seen reflected in the mirror E,
by which reflection I am able to focuss the picture. The back end of the bellows is
securely fixed to the movable frame.
The two doors CC₁ are actuated by connecting rod F jointed with the doors CC
at f on one end, and at their other end f' with a compensating lever G, and operated
by a suitable cog-wheel H and rack H' attached to the compensating lever G, the
spindle of the cog-wheel H projecting to the outside and having a milled head affixed
to it. Upon the opposite side of the frame is attached a similar cog-wheel and rack
for the purpose of moving the frame B.
The cog wheels may be operated simultaneously from one side by a spindle running
across the back of the camera on the inside, on each end of which spindle the cog
wheel is arranged to gear with the rack on the respective sides. Or it may be
effected in any other equivalent manner.
In the space at the back of the frame B three or more dark slides J, each holding
two plates, are inserted and are pressed forward against the movable frame B by a
spring or springs L, preferably two in number, arranged to press upon each corner
of the dark slide. Each dark slide J has hinged on each side of it a pair of
shutters M, M³, in a similar manner to the doors CC on the focussing frame B, and
upon each shutter a recess m is provided, across which recess a bridge m¹, of wire,
or other suitable material, is arranged, and behind which bridge a tongue N upon the
inside face of the doors CC engages, so that upon the doors CC¹ being opened to
the position shown in figure 3, the tongues N, engaging in the recess m behind the
bridge m², carry the shutters M M¹ with them, thereby exposing the plate ready to
receive the picture.
In order that the opaque focussing screen D shall be in the same plane when
focussing, as the face of the plate when being exposed, the frame B is pulled back
against the spring pressure from the springs L until stopped by a projection placed
on the inside of the camera or otherwise.
Upon the movable frame B I arrange another spring K' which presses in a
backward direction upon the compensating lever G, so as to retain the doors C C¹¹

page_text: in a closed position, and as the pressure from this spring K' is exerted upon the
compensating lever G at a considerable distance below the centre of such lever, it
follows, when the compensating lever G is actuated in order to open and close the
doors CC, the upper door C¹ will open first, the lower one C following; and in the
action of closing the lower one, C shuts first, the upper one C₁ following, so that
the rabbetting round the doors may engage into the respective recesses round the
frame in order to render the slide light-tight.
The aperture E' at the top of the frame B is closed, when the exposure is to be
made, by a shutter O, hinged in such a manner that when the movable focussing
screen frame is in the backward focussing position, it will drop down, allowing full
view of the mirror through the aperture E¹; but upon the forward movement of the
frame B into the position for exposing, the top edge of the frame, coming in contact
with the shutter O, forces the same up to the top part of the frame thereby making a
light-tight joint.
In order to prevent the light from penetrating through the hole cut in the leather
bellows through which the view on the mirror is seen, I provide a strip of leather P
of such a flexible nature as not to interfere with the movement of the frame B within
the closed hox A. The upper part of this strip of leather is fixed to the closed box A,
and the lower part to the bellows.
The frame B is kept back and the doors C¹ kept closed against the pressure
of the springs L during focussing by the frictional resistance of the rack and
pinion mechanism.
The engagement of the bridge m¹ Fig. 5 on the shutter of the dark slide J with the
tongue on the door C, is effected when the dark slide is inserted into the camera,
and becomes disengaged upon it being withdrawn.
The shutters of the dark slide are retained closed when out of the camera by spring
pressed levers Q Fig. 6 pivotted at their centre, one end g of each lever engages with
the lower shutter M on each side of the slide, and the other end q¹ projects beyond
the frame of the slide when the lever is in the locked position, so that upon the slide
being inserted into the camera, immediately behind the screen, the protruding ends q
of the levers Q coming in contact at the halfway position of insertion of the slide
with projections immediately behind the screen on the sides of the camera, are forced
back against the pressure from the spring R and the shutters M M are released so
that they can open when the doors CC are operated, the levers Q assuming their
locked position immediately they emerge from the aperture in the camera, when the
slide is being withdrawn.
The mirror may be conveniently supported by attaching it to the lower door C by
pieces of tape or other material of such a length as to hold it up at the proper angle
when the door is closed.
Or, the spindle, on which it hinges, may be carried to the outside of the camera with
a thumb nut at its end for regulation.
In order to give more stability to the bellows and to provide sufficient space for
the doors CC to work, I arrange a wooden frame S Fig. 1 at such a position as
to attain the above object, and also to prevent the bellows sagging and obstructing the
view; this frame is held in position by a strut on each side of the camera, such strut
being fixed on the frame B.
Around the aperture E I provide an eye shade T as shown in figures 8, 9 and 10,
so as to prevent any large quantity of light being transmitted through such aperture
into the interior of the camera when focussing the picture. This shade may be made
of leather, cardboard or other similar material, and may be hinged on one side and at
each corner so as to fold down in a compact form and thus occupy little space. The
upper edge of the eye shade is of such a form as to fit where it touches the outline
of the face of the person.
Instead of using. the arrangement of dark slides as hereinbefore described, I may
arrange the sensitive plates, or other media within the box A inserting between the
first two plates nearest the lens a piece of opaque material, such as vulcanite, .
Willesdon paper, or similar material in such a manner as to prevent any of the light

page_text: which falls upon the front plate during the exposure, coming in contact with the
remaining plates situated on the opposite side of the opaque diaphragm.
It is obvious that the plates may be placed with their length in a vertical, or
horizontal position as may be desired.
The plates are retained by spring pressure, or otherwise against the back face of
the front part of the movable frame B, the springs re-acting from the back of the
box A.
The back of the box A may be hinged in any suitable manner, and provided with
light tight sides, the hinge being situated on the lower part of the camera so that
upon drawing the back in a backward direction into an angular position, more room
is given to effect the changing of the position, of the sensitive plates and also, the
pressure of the retaining spring is released, allowing the plates to be changed with
greater facility.
A suitable air tight fitting cuff or sleeve is fitted to the aperture through which the
plates are manipulated, this cuff or sleeve being so fitted to the camera box A, that
no light can enter the said box and act upon the sensitive plates during the
manipulation of the saine.
A suitable door is arranged within the sleeve so as to close the aperture before the
hands are withdrawn from the said cuffs or sleeves.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. A photographic camera having a receptacle or changing box carrying the
sensitive plates or other media, this said receptacle or changing box being arranged
to move within the body of the camera in a backward or forward direction, an
opaque focussing screen arranged on the front face of the said receptacle or changing
box, a hinged mirror and a suitable close fitting or sleeve, substantially as
described.
2nd. In a photographic camera the combination of an opaque focussing screen
with a movable receptacle or changing box holding the sensitive plates or other media,
substantially as described.
3rd. In a photographic camera the combination of an opaque focussing screen
with a mirror and a suitable aperture and door in the body of the camera, for viewing
the said mirror, substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 20th day of Anonst 1889
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.