A New or Improved Pocket or Portable Apparatus for the Taking of Photographic Pictures.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 4th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 5th Aug., 1887.
A New or Improved Pocket or Portable Apparatus for the Taking
of Photographic Pictures.
I, WILLIAM JAMES LANCASTER of Colmore Row Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Manufacturing Optician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows
My invention has for its object the production of an extremely portable apparatus
for the taking of photographic pictures, and which said apparatus may be made either
in the form of a watch or chronometer case, tobacco box, match box, cigar or cigarette
case, purse, locket, charm or other like article, by which means, a person is able
to carry a complete photographic apparatus in a very small compass.
I will describe my invention in connection with a watch or chronometer case
to be carried in the pocket or about the person.
I take an ordinary watch case, having a hinged closing front or lid, which is
automatically opened by pressure applied at the side or at the loop part, which
liberates a catch bolt, and so allows the enclosing lid to fly open.
Within the hollow of the body of the case, the camera is situated, which consists of
a number of short tubes working telescopically one within each other, so as to render
the same collapsable when not in use. The back tube of these series of tubes which
is of larger diameter, is secured loosely within the inner edges of the open front
of the case, by a flange connection, and within the inside of this telescopic body,
a coiled spring is enclosed, which automatically distends or opens out the camera body,
on the lid of the case being opened. The lens is secured within the last or outward
tube, while the dark slide which contains sensitised paper, gelatine sheets, or prepared
plates is disposed at the back.
The focussing of the lens may be done by any suitable adjusting expedients or
by hand.
The dark slide consists essentially of a flat case with folding overlapping doors
having spring hinges which automatically open the said doors on a catch or other

page_text: fastener being liberated. The catch fastener consists simply of a button or turn,
which on being rotated is made to engage with, or be disengaged from one of
the doors.
The back of the enclosing case is pierced with a hole suitable for the reception
of the frame of what is commonly known as the dark slide, and which is held in
position by rotating turns or catches, moved in and out of position preferably by
hand.
In using the instrument or apparatus in order to take a portrait, simply press
the releasing catch of the enclosing lid, when it automatically flys open, and allows
the body of the camera (and lens within its front) to be distended to its fullest extent
by the expansion of the enclosed coiled spring.
After focussing, a button or turn at the back of the case is rotated, when the doors
of the dark slide automatically fly over, and so present the sensitised surface or plates
enclosed within.
After sufficient exposure has been allowed, the lid of the enclosing case is simply
closed, when the collapsing body of the camera and the lens at its end, is folded
up and enclosed within the body of the case, when the negative can afterwards be
removed from the dark slide, and placed in a printing frame as usual.
The apparatus or appliance is principally applicable for taking instantaneous
photographs for detector purposes.
The bellows constituting the body of the camera may be formed gussetted, when
made of leather or india rubber, or the said body may be made of a coiled ribband
spring with the coils or involutes working telescopically one within each other.
Instantaneous shutters may be provided at the lens end of the photographic
apparatus or at the dark slide end; in the latter case, the shutters or doors are made
to instantaneously open and close by an automatic or other device, which may be
regulated to any predetermined exposure as may be necessary.
The application of my invention to other articles such as purses, cigar and cigarette
cases, lockets and other pendant articles, differs in no essential respect to a watch case
as already described.
Dated this Twenty seventh day of September 1886.

page_text: A New or Improved Pocket or Portable Apparatus for the Taking
of Photographic Pictures.
I, WILLIAM JAMES LANCASTER of Colmore Row Birmingham in the County
of Warwick Manufacturing Optician, 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 has for its object the production of an extremely portable apparatus,
for the taking of photographic pictures, and which said apparatus may be made either
in the form of a watch or chronometer case, tobacco box, match box, cigar or cigarette
case, purse, locket, charm or other like article, by which means, a person is able to
carry a complete photographic apparatus in a very small compass.
I will describe my invention in connection with a watch or chronometer case
to be carried in the pocket or about the person.
I take an ordinary watch case, having a hinged closing front or lid, which is
automatically opened by pressure applied at the side or at the loop part, which
liberates a catch bolt, and so allows the enclosing lid to fly open.
Within the hollow of the body of the case, the camera is situated, which consists of
a number of short tubes working telescopically one within each other, so as to render
the same collapsable when not in use. The back tube of these series of tubes which
is of larger diameter, is secured loosely within the inner edges of the open front
of the case, by a flange connection, and within the inside of this telescopic body,
a coiled spring is enclosed, which automatically distends or opens out the camera
body, on the lid of the case being opened. The lens is secured within the last or
outward tube, while the dark slide which contains sensitised paper, gelatine sheets,
or prepared plates is disposed at the back.
The focussing of the lens may be done by any suitable adjustable expedients,
or by hand.
The dark slide consists essentially of a flat case with folding overlapping doors, -
having spring hinges which automatically open the said doors on a catch or other
fastener being liberated. The catch fastener consists simply of a button or turn,
which on being rotated, is made to engage with, or be disengaged from one of the
doors.
The back of the enclosing case is pierced with a hole suitable for the reception
of the frame of what is commonly known as the dark slide, and which is held in
position by rotating turns, or catches, moved in and out of position, preferably
by hand.
In using the instrument or apparatus, in order to take a portrait, simply press the
releasing catch of the enclosing lid, when it automatically flys open, and allows the

page_text: body of the camera (and lens within its front) to be distended to its fullest extent
by the expansion of the enclosed coiled spring."
After focussing, a button or turn at the back of the case is rotated, when the
doors of the dark slide automatically fly open, and so present the sensitised surface
or plates enclosed within.
After sufficient exposure has been allowed, the lid of the enclosing case is simply
closed, when the collapsing body of the camera and the lens at its end, is folded
up and enclosed within the body of the case, when the negative can afterwards
be removed from the dark slide, and placed in a printing frame as usual.
The apparatus or appliance is principally applicable for taking instantaneous
photographs for detector purposes.
The bellows constituting the body of the camera, may be formed gussetted, when
made of leather or india rubber; the said body may be made of a coiled ribband
spring, with the coils or involutes working telescopically one within each other.
Instantaneous shutters may be provided at the lens end of the photographic
apparatus, instead of at the dark slide end; in the former case, the shutters or doors
are likewise made to instantaneously open, by an automatic or other device, which
may be regulated to any pre-determined exposure as may be necessary.
The application of my invention to other articles, such as purses, cigar and cigarette
cases, lockets and other pendant articles, differs in no essential respect from its
application to a watch case as already described.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the
manner in which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 is an elevation, and figure 2 is a transverse horizontal section on the
dotted lines A B figure 1, of a portable photographic apparatus in the form of
a watch or chronometer, constructed according to my invention. Figure 3 represents
partly in elevation, and partly in horizontal section, the said photographic apparatus,
with the enclosing case or cover open, and the collapsable telescopic body of the
camera, ready for the taking of a photographic picture, on the shutters, which are
now closed, being opened. Figure 4 represents the same view, as figure 3, but with
the shutters open, exposing the sensitised plate or film enclosed within the shutter box
or dark slide. Figure 5 represents a full vertical section of the said apparatus, but
taken at right angles to the other sections, figures 2, 3, and 4. Figure 6 represents
a back view of the said apparatus, with the back hinged cover or cap, open, showing
the back of the shutter box or dark slide fixed in position. Figure 7 shows a like
view as figure 6, but with the shutter box or dark slide removed, and exhibiting
through the gap or opening, wherein the front of the said box or slide fits, the
concentric telescopic tubes, which form the collapsable body part, and at the front or
extreme end of which, the lens is situated. Figure 8 is a front view of the shutter
box or dark slide. Figure 9 represents a top side view of the said figure 8, while
figure 10 represents the same view as figure 9, but with the shutters open.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the Drawings.
a is the body of the enclosing case of the apparatus and 6 is the front hinged
lid or cap, and c is the back, which on both being closed, encloses the whole of the
photographic apparatus within the case, as in figure 2.
The front cap b is provided with a spring hinge, and is secured by a bolt 63,
directed vertically through the bow of the loop; and which said bolt and spring
is like that of an ordinary watch or chronometer, and on the former being compressed
the cap is automatically opened, and the camera telescopic body d, shot out from its
collapsed condition, by a coiled spring e enclosed within the interior of the said body.
The body consists preferably of a series of telescopic tubes, working one within the
other, and with flanged ends, so as to keep the system of connected tubes, together.
Instead of short lengths of tubes or rings of dissimilar diameter, being employed,
a flexible bellows body may be used. Or the bellows body may be substituted by a
ribband spring which opens out spirally or helically. In this case
auxiliary spring is required.
no interior

page_text: The camera has an ordinary photographic lens f at its front, and a shutter box
or dark slide g at its back, wherein sensitised paper, gelatine sheets or prepared plates
are placed.
This shutter box or dark slide, has folding, over-lapping shutters 92, 93, with spring
hinges at their joint ends, so that when the shutters are released by a catch i, worked
by a catch lever, connected by an axis 3, they automatically spring open, into the
positions best shown in figures 4 and 10, and expose the sensitised film, plate or the
like, situated at the back of the dark slide or shutter box.
The motion of the catch lever or arm is limited, by the stops *, as best seen
in figure 6.
The body of the enclosing case a, has a diaphragm a' at its back, and is pierced
about its middle with a hole a³, wherein the box part of the dark slide, fits, with the
back flanged part resting on the back of the diaphragm. This dark slide is secured
in position by jointed turns j.
In using the apparatus for the taking of a photographic picture, press the releasing
catch 63, when the hinged front cap b, will fly open, and allow the body d to
automatically distend itself, into the position as represented in figures 3, 4 and 5.
The back hinged cap c, is next opened, and the camera adjusted, or the image
focussed;
this done, the arm of the catch i is now turned, from left to right, so as
to bring the said catch from in front of the shutters, when the said shutters,
automatically fly open, as in figure 4, and a photographic picture of an object taken.
When not in use, the apparatus is collapsed, as in figure 2, with the necessary
sensitised paper, gelatine sheets or prepared plates within the dark slide or shutter
box.
Figure 11 shows in perspective, a cigar or cigarette case, having within its interior
photographic apparatus constructed and arranged, according to my invention.
Figure 12 represents the said cigar or cigarette case, opened, and the photographic
apparatus ready for use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1 claim is.-
--
First The means herein described of taking photographic pictures, by combining
with a watch or chronometer case, cigar or cigarette case, tobacco box, match box,
purse, locket, charm or other similar pocket or pendent article, of a photographic
apparatus.
Secondly-The combination with a watch or chronometer case, cigar or cigarette
case, tobacco box, match box, purse, locket, charm, or other similar pocket or pendent
article, of a photographic apparatus, constructed arranged and worked, substantially
as described and set forth.
Thirdly-Making the camera bodies, of portable photographic apparatuses of the
kind herein described, distend themselves automatically, on the front cap being
opened, as described and illustrated.
Fourthly-Providing "dark slides" or boxes for holding photographic sensatised
plates, films or paper, with spring hinged folding doors, or shutters, and which said
boxes are constructed, and the doors or shutters held (closed) and liberated
by means herein described and illustrated.
Dated this month: donat T1007