AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR HOLDING AND EXHIBITING PHOTOGRAPHIC OR OTHER PICTURES, AND THE LIKE
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR HOLDING AND EXHIBITING PHOTOGRAPHIC
OR OTHER PICTURES, AND THE LIKE." A communication from abroad by
Theodor Muench, of Vienna, Austria.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th March 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR HOLDING AND
EXHIBITING PHOTOGRAPHIC OR OTHER PICTURES, AND THE LIKE." [A communi-
cation from abroad by Theodor Muench, of Vienna, Austrin.]
Tho present Invention refers to improvements in devices for holding photographs,
drawings, pictures, or other flat objects for exhibition:
According to the said Invention the frames for holding the photographs, drawings,
pictures, or other flat objects are each mounted on pivots in a rectangular holder
in such a manner that cach of the said frames can be turned on its pivot through an
angle of about 120 degrees.
The frames may be of metal and cardboard, whilst the pivots for the separate
frames, as well as the rectangular holder, are by preference made of metal, and the
said rectangular holder may be arranged to slide into grooves in the opposite sides
of a suitable box or case, so that it can be easily removed or exchanged. Such
boxes or cases are by preference made of wood, and may have any fanciful forın,
and be constructed so as to receive any suitable number of the holders.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th September 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR HOLDING AND
EXHIBITING PHOTOGRAPHIC OR OTHER PICTURES, AND THE LIKE.” A communi-
cation from abroad by Theodor Muench, of Vienna, Austria.
My Invention relates to improvements in devices for exhibiting photographic or
other pictures, maps, drawings, or similar fint objects, and consists in the arrange-
ment and construction of a frame or holder which supports the frames in which
the photographs or other like objects are held, and in the combination of the said
holder and frames with a case or other like receptacle, as hereinafter described and
shewn in the accompanying Drawing, in which,-
Figures 1, 2, and 3 are diagrains illustrating the holder, with the picture-
frames in various positions.
Figure 4 is a plan of the same.
Figure 5 is an isometrical view, shewing the arrangement of the holder and
frames.
Figure 6 illustrates details of construction; and
Figures 7, 8, and 9 shew the combination of the holder and frames, with casings
or receptacles of various shapes.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
A represents the holder, which consists of a rectangular, oblong, open frame of
wood, metal, or other suitable material, provided on the two opposite longer sides
with a series of pivot-holes for the reception of the pivot-bars or shafts a, to which
the picture frames are attached, and upon which the said frames are free to rotate ;
B, B, represent the picture-frames, which are constructed like those of ordinary
photograph-albums, that is to say, the said frames are so arranged that each will
hold two pictures back to back. The said frames are connected in any suitable
manner with the pivot-bars, and I prefer to insert these bars between the two
thicknesses of material of which the frames are composed at a point near their
lower edges, and projecting slightly on opposite sides, and I arrange the said
frames Bat such a distance from each other in the holder A to allow them to
rotate or turn upon their points a through an angle of about one hundred and
twenty degrees, for the purpose of exhibiting the pictures at the front and at the
back of the frame, cach frame being constructed to hold two such pictures, as above
stated.
It is evident that for the purpose of exhibition only the devices above described
are sufficient and complete in themselves, inasmuch as the holder A with its frames B
may be placed upon any suitable horizontal or inclined support. In most cases
however it will be found necessary and desirable that the pictures in the frames B
should be protected from dust and other deleterious influences, and for this purpose
I prefer to use in combination therewith a suitable enclosing case.
For use in picture-galleries or under other special circumstances it may also be
desirable that the holder and its frames should be so constructed as to be readily
shifted from place to place. In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn in
Figures 7 and 8 the combination of the holder A and frames B with an enclosing
case, and in Figure 9 the combination of these parts with a readily-transportable
case. In these Figures C represents the enclosing case provided with a suitable lid
hinged thereto of any shape or configuration which is compatiblo with the general
form of the said holder and frames, and so arranged that when the case is open the
turning of the frames B on their pivots for exhibiting the pictures will be
facilitated.

page_text: For this purpose I employ a case C open at the front and top, and having an
inclined groove b extending from its upper edge at a point near the back of the
caso where the lid is hinged down to its bottom, the said groove b being of such
width as to receive and hold the holder A when slid into it, as shown in Figures 7,
8, and 9.
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the combination of a holder A and frames B, with an
enclosing case C specially advantageous for exhibiting pictures of medium size,
which do not require frames of such dimensions as would make the case very heavy
or unwieldy, though it is evident that this form of case may be constructed to receive
a holder and frames of any size.
To facilitate the shifting of the case the same may be mounted either directly on
wheels or on a wheeled carriage or stand.
In Figure 9 I have illustrated a convenient form of portable case for containing
the holder and frames and for moving them from place to place.
It is obvious that the form of the case C may be varied without departure from
the principle of my Invention so long as it is adapted to securely retain the holder
and frames in a proper position to allow of the said frames being turned for the
inspection of the pictures thoy hold, and the said frames are provided with means
for conveniently transporting them from place to place whenever their size and
weight necessitate the application of artificial means for this purpose.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. In an apparatus for holding and exhibiting pictures the open holder
provided on two of its opposite sides with a series of pivot-bearings in combination
with frames, each of which is provided at or near its lower edge and on opposite
sides with pivots arranged within the said holler, all constructed and operating
substantially as set forth and for the purpose specified.
Second. The combination of the holder and its pivotted frames with a caso
provided with the inclined groove for the reception of the said holder, all arranged,
constructed, and operating as set forth and for the purpose specified.
Third. The combination of the holder and its pivotted frames with a wheeled
ense living the inclined groove, all constructed, arranged, and operating substan-
tially as set forth for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
WM. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)