AN IMPROVED APPARATUS INTAIGRA
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Skaife, of 82, Sussex Place, Regent's Park,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Skaife at tlie
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th November 1866.
I, THOMAS SKAIFE, of 32, Sussex, Place, Regent's Park, in the County
of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE USED IN OBTAINING PHOTOGRAMS," to be as
follows:-
The improvements relate to the construction of an apparatus for the
burning any powder or composition the flame or flash of which is sufficiently.
actinic to produce a photographic picture.
For this purpose the said apparatus consists, 1st, of a platform of metal or
other incombustible substance, perforated with one or more touch-holes, &

page_text: fixed on a spring support in such manner as to admit of its being easily
vibrated with a touch of the finger or other appliance.
2nd; of a parabolic or other reflector pierced with a groove, through which
one end of the platform projects in such a way as to admit of its being easily
touched. or struck on one side by the holder's finger or thumb in a way to
make said platform vibrate, which vibration by detaching a portion of powder
(placed on the platform for ignition) through the touch-hole into contact with
a flame from spirit lamp, gas, or other source beneath the platform causes
the rest of the powder on the platform to ignite in a sudden flash, by the
light of which any ordinary photographic camera can obtain the picture of an
object on which it is flashed. When the picture of a near object is required
one touch-hole in the platform may be sufficient, while the picture of a distant
object is best obtained by two or more touch-holes, & their corresponding
gas jets or other flames placed at such distances from each other across the
platform as to give a flash of-the required dimensions.
:
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed,
by the said Thomas Skaife in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th May 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
SKAIFE, of 32, Sussex Place, Regent's Park, in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of November, in the year of our Lord.
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Skaife, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Skaife, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
Skaife, 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, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE
USED IN OBTAINING PHOTOGRAMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Thomas Skaife, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly

page_text: 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 Thomas Skaife, 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:-
These improvements relate to the construction of an apparatus for igniting
and burning any-powder or other composition either in a solid or liquid state,
the flame or flash of which being sufficiently actinic is applied for the
production of photographic pictures.
For this purpose the said apparatus consists of a platform of metal or other
incombustible substance perforated with one or more touch-holes fixed,
attached to, or supported by a spring or springs in such a manner as to permit
of its being easily vibrated or thrown into a tremulous motion by the touch of
the finger or other appliance. Connected with or attached to the platform
is a parabolic or other reflector pierced with a groove, through which com-
munication is made with one end of the platform by which it may be touched,
or struck, so that by means of the aforesaid springs it may suddenly vibrate.
The deflagrating powder or other explosive actinic substance being placed
or strewn upon the perforated platform is suddenly brought into contact with
a light from an ordinary spirit lamp or such like substance preferably placed
underneath it, at the same instant the platform being thrown into vibration
communicates this motion to the particles of the powder or other substance to
be ignited, the result of which action is that every particle explodes or is
ignited simultaneously, and producing a flash of light which, acting upon
a sensitised plate in an ordinary camera produces the picture of any object
placed before it. When the picture of a near object is required the powder
may be placed over a touch-hole; if the picture of a distant object is to be
taken then the powder may be distributed over the platform and over several
touch-holes, to all of which the light may be applied.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the principles by
which it is carried out in practice, I wish it understood that what I claim and
desire secured to me by the before in part recited Letters Patent is, the use
of a vibrating platform or table with or without a reflecting mirror, for the
purpose of producing by means of vibration among its particles an instantaneous
combustion of any actinic powder or other deflagrating or easily flammable sub-

page_text: stance when used for the purpose of obtaining photographic pictures sub-
stantially as herewithin described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Skaife, have hereunto set my.
hand and seal, this Tenth day of May, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-seven.
}
THO: SKAIFE. (LS)