IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CATATAN OF PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO WINDOWS OR GLASS HOUSES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Vander Weyde, of Upper Norwood, in
the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CATATAN OF PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO WINDOWS OR GLASS HOUSES."
Scaled the 6th October 1875, and dated the 7th April 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Vander Weyde at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th April 1875.
I, HENRY VANDER WEYDE, of Upper Norwood, in the County of
Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “ Im-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO WINDOWS OR GLASS
HOUSES," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to the arrangement or disposition of the glass
through which light is admitted to a photographic studio, and the In-
vention consists in so placing cach pane of glass that the direct rays of
light passing through it to the point occupied by the sitter or object to
be photographed shall traverse the glass as nearly as possible at right
angles to the plane thereof.

page_text: And, my Invention further consists in disposing the panes in two sets,
facing opposite positions, making every alternate pane, for instance, face
towards the point to be occupied by the sitter at one end of the studio
(so that the direct rays of light passing to the said point shall traverse
the glass as near as possible at right angles thereto, as above mentioned)
and the intermediate panes to face in like manner towards a similar
point at the other end of the studio, so that the sitter or object to be
photographed may be placed at the one or the other end of the studio,
according to the most favorable direction of the light.
Each set may be provided with blinds or shutters to exclude the light
from that end of the studio at which the camera is placed, for the tune
being, and where it is not required In arranging the glass as last
described, I have regard not only to so dispose it that the rays of light
passing to the point-to be illuminated, shall traverse the glass as nearly
as may be at right angles as above mentioned, but which is of greater
importance of the operator is to work from either end of the studio, I
take care that those pancs of glass through which the light is not
admitted for the time being shall be edgewise towards the point
occupied by the sitter, that is to say, shall be in planes converging
towards the said point, so that the said panes and the sashes in which
they are fixed shall obstruct the least possible amount of light
In photographic studios, as at present constructed, the greater part of
the light passing in the direction of the sitter traverses the glass more
or less obliquely, the angle varying with the distance of the glass from
the sitter It is thus obvious that the light must traverse more than
the actual thickness of the glass, and must therefore be obstructed by
absorbtion and by reflection to a greater extent than if it passed through
the glass at a right angle.
The light is further obstructed owing to the depth and position of the
ordinary sashes and frames in which the glass is fixed, whereas according
to my Invention the glass is placed in the most favorable position for
the passage of the light, which is but slightly obstructed by the sashes
and frames, as I am enabled to combine greater lightness of construction
with the necessary strength.
The advantage of my Jnvention is to reduce the time necessary for
exposure, and to give to the image obtamed greater roundness, vigour,
and delicacy of modelling.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Vander Weyde in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th October 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
VANDER WEYDE, of Upper Norwood, in the County of Surrey, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Ior reign, did, for Herself, Пer heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Henry Vander Weyde, Her special
Licence that I, the said Ileny Vander Weyde, my executors, adminı-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Vander Weyde,
my executors, administrators, 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,
usc, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO WINDOWS OR GLASS
HOUSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry
Vander Weyde, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
witing under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Vander Weyde, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Sheet of Diawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say) :—
My Invention relates to the construction of photographic studio
windows, and has for its object to ensure the more efficient lighting of
the sitter and the partial or total exclusion from the studio of all useless

page_text: or mischievous light; that is, light not reaching the sitter or helping to
produce the image, but which by causing injurious reflections destroys
relief in the picture.
By my Invention I am enabled to effect the concentration upon the
sitter or upon the objects forming the picture of the greater portion of 5
the light entering the studio, and to acquire such control over the light
as to permit the production of any effect, proportion, and relation of
light and shade in the photograph, as may be thought desirable

page_text: when he is placed directly opposito or under the window
But in pro-
portion as the direction is improved the quality of these rays decreases
in value in consequence of the light striking the glass obliquely (the
angle varying with the distance of the glass from the sitter), whereby
the light is obstructed by reflection and absorbtion to a considerable
extent It is thus obvious that in order to obtain the full benefit of the
rays of light passing in the direction of the sitter they should traverse
the glass in its thinnest direction, that is to say, at night angles.
Now my Invention consists in such a construction of photographic
studio window, that the rays of light passing to the point occupied by
the sitter shall traverse the glass as nearly as possible at right angles to
the plane thereof, the construction of the window being such that it does
not encroach upon the space within the room, or otherwise involve such
objectionable alteration in the general construction of the studio as is'
the case with the plans hitherto proposed To this end, instead of the
ordmary flat window. I construct the window of a zig-zag form in hori-
zontal section, the window being thus composed of two scries of vertical
strips or panes of glass disposed alternately, the two series facing points
at opposite ends of the studio, while the window as a whole is, so to
speak, straight or in a line with the side of the room The panes of cach
series are placed at angles varying with their distances from the said
points, at either of which the sitter may be placed, according to the most
favorable direction of the light. The sitter, at whichever end of the
room he may be placed, can only see the panes of glass which face him,
and the light which they admit.
The other series of panes facing the end of the studio may be obscured
by blue opaque roller blinds or by shutters, so as to exclude at will the
light, which would otherwise pass in and reach the camera and other
objects without illuminating the sitter Or these panes may if preferred
be left undarkened without interfering with the concentration of the
light upon the sitter.
Both series of panes are of course similarly provided with blinds or
shutters for use in controlling the light, as may be required. In thus
arranging the glass in series alternately facing opposite points in the
studio, it is important to so dispose the glass that the panes of the series
through which the light is not admitted for the time being, the sashes
in which they are fixed and their respective blinds in shades shall

page_text: obstruct the least possible amount of light passing in the direction of
the sitter. To this end therefore, each serics, whilst made to face as
nearly as possible towards the one point is placed exactly edgewise or
radial towards the other point. The glass is thus placed in the most
favorable position for the passage of the light, which is but slightly
obstructed by the sashies and frames, as I am enabled to combine greater
lightness of construction with the necessary strength.
The Invention is applicable both to side and top ¡“light,” and might
be used on one or both sides, but the north side and roof will generally
be sufficient
By my Invention there is a greater concentration of light upon the
sitter (with actually less light entering the studio, if the other set of
panes be darkened), the resulting advantage being to reduce the time
required for exposure and to give to the image obtained greater round-
ness, vigour, and delicacy of modelling.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a photographic studio window; and
Figures 2 and 3 are respectively horizontal and vertical sections of the
same on lines 1-1 and 2-2, Figure 1.
a is the side wall of the studio, and b, c, are two points near the ends
of the studio, at either of which points the sitter may be placed. In
ordinary cases these points are preferably at a distance from wall a
equal to about half the length of the window and about four feet wider
apart than the length of the window, but these proportions may be
varied to suit cach particular case.
In constructing the window I place at equal distances apart a row of
vertical sash bars d, which may be conveniently placed about two feet
apart. There is a second inner row of sash bars e, between which and
the outer row of sash bars & the glass is fixed, the position of the glass
being shown by the green lines f, g The positions for the inner row of
sash bars e are found by drawing the radial lines b b¹, b bº, b b³, b b¹, b b³,
co², c c²³, c c³, cc, cc³, from the points b, c, respectively through the
points occupied by the sash bars d, and at the points e where the lines
b b ¹, b b ², b b³, bb', bb, respectively intersect the lines cc', co³, co³,
cc', c c³, I place the inner row of sash bars e The panes of glass aro
thus divided into two sets, all the panes of the one set of facing as nearly

page_text: as possible the point b, at same time that they are edgewise or radial to
the point c, while on the other hand all the panes of the other set y face
as nearly as possible to the point c and are edgewise or radial to the
point b
Thus arranged the double row of sash bars do not obscure any
more light than a single row.
Supposing the sitter to be placed at the glass g may be darkened,
as before described, and the light only admitted through glass f, so that
without obscuring any of the light passing in the direction of the sitter,
the light can be wholly or partially cut off from the remainder of the
studio which is not required to be illuminated Similarly, if the sitter
be placed at c the glass f may be darkened and light only admitted
through g The top light is similarly constructed, and each series f
and g both of side and top light is provided with independant spring
roller blinds or sliding shutters to regulate the admission of light as
required. Owing to the greater stiffness of the window framo obtained
by the double row of vertical sash bars, I am enabled to dispense with
the heavy horizontal beam at the caves of the roof which forms part of
the framework in the ordinary construction of photographic glass house,
and which dividos the light, thoroby producing two distinct "high
lights" in the subject photographed. This defect I am enabled to
avoid.
The vertical sash bars d and e may be of galvanized iron, and are
preferably of T section They are fixed to a sill at bottom and at top to
the corresponding sash bar of the roof. The outer and inner sash bars
are placed with their "web" respectively inwards and outwards, as
shown in Figure 2.
The glass may be fixed in the sashes by means of putty or otherwise.
If the sill be near to the floor of the studio the glass nccd not bo
carried down to the lower part, which may be boarded to the height of
about two feet, more or less, the boards being for the purpose of
ventilation fastened to the inner row of sashes so as to leave triangular
shaped spaces at the bottom of the glass which may be closed with the
exception of apertures for the admission of air. The upper part of the
top light is also similarly boarded, the boards 1, which may be covered
with zinc, being laid on the outer row of sash bars so as to leave aper-
tures m for the exit of the air.
If it is not desired to have the facility of placing the sitter at either
end of the studio, it will be obvious that the glass of one sot (for y,

page_text: f
as the case may be) which faces the end farthest from the sitter may be
permanently darkened or replaced by boards or sheet metal.
Having described the nature of the Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to
be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,—
Constructing a photographic studio window of a zig-zag form, as
herein shown and described, that is to say, with the panes of glass dis-
posed in two alternate sets facing opposite points, the panes of cach set
being edgewise to the one point and facing the other point as and for
the purpose specified.
I also claim constructing a photographic studio window with one set
of panes only disposed at angles varying with their distances from the
point towards which they all face, the intermediate panes being darkened
or replaced by sheet metal or otherwise, as descubed, the arrangement in
either case being such that the window as a whole is straight or in a
line with the side of the room.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Vander Weyde, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-
fivc.