Improvements in the Construction of Printing Frames for Photographic Purposes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 14th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 13th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Printing Frames for
Photographic Purposes.
I, JOHN BOULTBEE BROOKS, of Great Charles Street Birmingham in the
County of Warwick, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is for the following purposes of improvement in
printing frames for photography, viz., an easy method of vignetting, a method
of examining the whole of the print at once, a new method of holding the
printing papers in position, & a rapid plan of compressing or locking the frame
whilst printing.
Firstly then, for the purpose of vignetting, I make a cardboard or other material
frame, & pierce out a hole on the same the required shape and size, and I put
gauze, cambric, or other fabric round the inside edge so as to shade the light; and
to graduate the same, I place another thinner card or cloth with the aperture in
gauze smaller, following again with another, & so graduating the light, these being
fixed together on the one top card. On the frame, I put two metal, wood, or
elastic springs running longitudinally or transversely across the face of the frame,
under which the vignetting card is placed, and the springs hold it in any required
position without the assistance of pins etc.
Secondly, a method of examining the whole of the print at once. Hitherto, it
is usual to keep the printing papers to the face of the negative by means of two
metal springs pressing on the back of the plate of the frame, the plate being divided
& hinged, so as to release one side at a time, the other side being held down by the
second spring.
In my construction I make the frame in two parts only, hinged together and
opening and folding like a book. When opened, the printing paper is placed on a
raised block & is kept firmly in position by means of a strip or spring catching the
edge of the paper & being pressed into an angle of the frame, and held there until
released. Underneath this paper & on the frame I glue, cement, or fasten on,
rubber, or rubber cloth, or other soft material so as to put pressure evenly all over
the printing surface of the paper when the frame is compressed.
On the opposite side of the frame to the printing paper, I place the negative
glass in a recess made in the frame for the purpose, and I make the recess bigger
than the negative plate, so as to allow it to be moved if required for printing or
vignetting any part of the negative. This glass is held firmly into position by
means of rotary or other springs or contrivances preferably covered with soft
material, so as to bear well on the negative glass & hold it firmly in position.
Having now secured the printing paper firmly on the one side of the frame & the
negative on the other, I close the two sides of the frame together & compress them,
openings being on the one side to admit of fixing contrivances on the other. On
the one edge of the frame, I screw in two pegs or screws or knobs, and on the
other side I fix on a sliding plate with two inclined planes, which come into con-
nection with the above two screw-heads at their widest opening. This sliding plate
has a knob or handle attached to its centre for the purpose of getting power to
slide it. The action therefore is thus, When the sliding plate is pushed back, the
knobs on the one side of the plate are released from the inclined planes, & the frame
will open.
When the sliding plate is closed, the inclined planes engage the knobs,
& tighten the frame up to the required tension. On purpose however to facilitate
the closing action of the frame one of the inclined planes comes in contact with
:

page_text: the knob before the other & the frame is partly closed at one end before the othe
plane comes into action.
I can make this printing frame of metal, wood or other suitable material.
Dated this 18th day of June 1890.
JOHN BOULTBEE BROOKS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Printing Frames for
Photographic Purposes.
I, JOHN BOULTBEE BROOKS of 115 Great Charles Street, Birmingham,
Manufacturer, 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:-
This invention relates in the first part, to a vignetter, consisting essentially of
gauze, or other open woven or reticulated fabric or material, with dissimilar sized
central apertures, with the boundary edgings of them, overlapping each other,
hence the shading. In the second part, to fold open and safety photographic
printing frames, consisting of hinged together leaf or book-like sides, fitted in the
respective insides thereof, with negative or plate holders of the one part, and paper
holding means with bed, of the other part, whereby the whole of the print can be
examined at a single glance, without the position of the negative changed to the
paper, or to the position of printing required upon the paper, and further, printing
by my new or improved frame, is simpler, than by ordinary frames.
Thirdly, in the construction of the backs, and in negative plate holding means,
applied to existing divided-back frames.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents in elevation, a vignetter, or a
vignetting disc, constructed and made according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same, upon the dotted lines A B, but
leaving the printing frame in elevation.
The vignetter consists of a series of gauzes, fabrics, or the like, overlapping each
other at the aperture boundary edgings, and are arranged concentric one with
another, so as to graduate the light, with single, double, treble, or other shade,
according to the shade graduations which the vignetter is required to impart.
a is the vignetting card, consisting of gauze layers b, c, d, having apertures b'c', d'
within their middles, and with the boundary edgings, b², c, d of them, con-
centrically overlapping each other, whereby an indefinite or graduated shade is
given to the border, or the inside border. Interposed between the gauzes, to form
a rigid basis, is a cardboard or other diaphragm, e, with an aperture in its.middle e³,
of the maximum size of the vignetting border. is the printing frame, and g is an
elastic spring, directed transversely across the vignetting card, and adapted to keep
the same in any position with respect to the frame, in which it may be placed, and
which spring, which is attached to the outer ends by loops h, may if necessary be
substituted by inwardly directed overlapping clips, taking over the opposite edges
of the vignetting card.
Figure 3 represents in front elevation, closed, a photographic printing frame,
constructed and arranged according to my invention.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of the same, and Figure 5 is the said frame
opened out, thus exposing the whole of the print at the same time.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical section of the said Figure 5, upon the
dotted lines G H.
This said frame admits of the whole of the print being examined at the same
time, which is not obtainable in ordinary photographic printing frames.
a is one side, and the other side of the frame, with their inner ends jointedly
connected at C, and arranged to open book-wise, and with the negative upon the
one side, and the printing paper, face upwards, on the other side.
:

page_text: The frame a is sunken or recessed at its middle a², and with rabates a³ at its two
opposite or top and bottom. sides, in the same plane as a², upon which the edges
of the negative rest. e are rubber, felt or other yielding roller pads, which act as
holder or means for keeping the negative in any desired position, or from moving,
after adjustment, or on the other hand, to prevent displacement on the leaf-like
sides being opened out, as represented in Figure 5. These rollers or pads, which
impinge upon the opposite edges or sides of the negative, are supported by
brackets e, secured to the insides of the frame. The other leaf-like side b, has a
raised plateau or block, covered with some soft or semi-yielding material, and
upon which the paper i, to be printed upon is placed, and gripped at its inner end,
by a spring bar g, jointed at 92 at one end, and held by a catch or turn 93 at the
other end, and with the underside outer edge of the said bar, gripping the inner
edge of the printing paper, beyond the inner angle of the said block, hence the
holding of the paper, whose printing surface is disposed in a plane above where
it is held.
The hinged together leaf-like parts, are secured together when closed, by a
crank shaped loop h, with a hook shaped end ³, adapted to embrace and keep
together both frames when closed.
The roller pads, besides preventing the negative from falling out, admit of the
said negative being made adjustable in any determined position for printing only
portions therefrom, or to accomodate the negative to the size of the paper being
printed upon. Thus, if it is required to print from a portion of a negative, then
the negative d, is slid inwardly or outwardly under the rollers or holders to a
position required according to the position and size of the paper to be printed upon,
held by the other half frame.
The half frame b, is sunk with recesses or holes 62, wherein the standing up roller
pads e, take, when the frames are closed.
Instead of the employment of roller pads, which are only roller springs, I may
employ in substitution of them, clip or pressure springs, made of metal or other
material.
Figure 7 represents in top side plan, partly in horizontal section, a printing.
frame, having the back divided near its off side, so as to make as it were a frame
leaf form. Figure 8 represents a transverse section of Figure 7, upon the dotted
lines J. Figure 9 is a longitudinal vertical section of Figure 7, and Figure 10 is
a like view, broken off, and with the back lifted, so as to show the groove on the
inner side of its tail part, for taking upon the rib of the frame part..
a is the frame, the back thereof, hinged to a tail end or rear part 2, which is
kept stationary, by the pressure clip g, while the fore part, which turns about the
hinges c, as a centre, is secured by a fore clip h, taking alike unto, under a loop,
while the attachment ends of the clips are made by pin centres. The rear part./2
of the said back, forms a clamp, for securing the off side end of the paper i, to be
printed upon, against the plate, so that the whole of the print can be seen at a
glance, on being turned up from the negative d, lying within the recess part of the
frame ", and with friction and holding roller pads or pressure blocks e. The tail
end or rear part 2, of the said back b, has a channel 3 upon its underside, which
takes upon a corresponding shaped rib a², upon the rear part a³, of the frame a,
and by which means, the said rear or tail part 2, is kept stationary, and rigid to
the frame, when the same is held down by the pressure clip or cross bar y..
paper is gripped by the underside of the said tail part 2, on the said tail part
being placed in a clamping position, after taking upon the rib as aforesaid.
The
It will be seen that the underside of the tail part of the back and the rear part
of the front part is recessed and marked a', which admits of the negative being
traversed for adjustment.
Figure 11 is a top side plan of an ordinary printing frame, provided with negative
holding means, consisting of roller pads or holders, constructed. according to another
form of my invention.

page_text: a is the printing frame, b, 2, a back divided about its middle e are roller pads
or springs, and a², is a recessed bed part of the frame, with open ends a³.
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 :-
First In photographic printing vignetters, consisting of a series of stratum or
layers of gauze, fabric or other reticulated surfaces, with the boundary edgings of
vignetting apertures of them, inwardly overlapping each other, concentrically or
otherwise, whereby an indefinite or shaded border on printing is produced, sub-
stantially as described and set forth in Figures 1 and 2.
Secondly-In photographic printing vignetters, or vignetting cards, consisting
of a number of layers of gauze, fabric or other reticulated surfaces, with vignetting
apertures through them, and with the boundary edgings of the said apertures,
inwardly overlapping each other, in combination with the vignetting piercing of an
opaque card, disc, or sheet, substantially as described and set forth in Figures I
and 2.
".
Thirdly In a photographic printing frame, consisting of fold-open, or hinged
together, book or leaf like sides, fitted or carrying upon the insides of them
respectively, the negative, and printing paper, with bed or block, and the holding
accessories of both sides, substantially as set forth in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Fourthly-In photographic printing frames, with hinged together book-like
sides, sinking the inside part of the negative side, with a recess, wherein the said
negative slides for traverse or adjustment, as set forth in Figure 3 to 6.
Fifthly photographic printing frames, combining with the said frames of
roller or other pads, springs or other negative or plate holding devices e, which
admit of the adjustment of the said negative or plate, (if necessary) and retain the
plate in position, when the said frame is open, substantially as described and
set forth.
Sixthly In a photographic printing frame with hinged together book-like
sides, providing the printing side, or the paper to be printed upon carrying side,
with an inside raised plateau or block, in combination with a paper holder or nipper,
in the form of a bar or strip of metal, hinged at one end, and secured at the other,
and with the inside edge of the same, adapted to clip the inner edge of the paper
at its junction with the angle of the raised plateau or block, as set forth.
1
Seventhly In a photographic printing frame, the construction, arrangement
and combination of the parts, as herein described and set forth in Figure 3 to 6.
Eighthly A photographic printing frame, with the back part having a hinged
tail piece, with a channel or recess upon its underside, which takes upon a
coincident rib on the other or front part, or vice-versa, for the purpose of keeping
the said part rigid, substantially as set forth in Figures 7, 8 and 9.
Ninthly In photographic printing frames, recessing the same interiorly, in
combination with the sliding negative, for admitting of the traverse of the said
negative, for adjustment, substantially as set forth in Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10.
:-
Tenthly The general construction and arrangement of the parts of the frames,
as set forth in Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Dated this 11th day of March 1891
JOHN BOULTBEE BROOKS.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.