Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Jan., 1893-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
I WALTER PALMER of Westfield Reading in the County of Berks. Gentleman:
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates more especially to the photographic cameras known as
"hand" cameras and has for its object to reduce the size of the camera and to
enable the focussing to be very rapidly effected.
According to my invention I employ a frame or part known as the front of the
camera (to which is attached the lens and shutter of the camera ;) a central frame
or part; and a frame or part known as the back of the camera (which is arranged
for the holding of the negative picture). These frames or parts may be of any
convenient shape. They are connected together from points within or without
their sides by a system of lazy tongs which may be applied to either two or more
sides of the camera.
The lazy tongs start from one point of attachment on any one side of the back
or front, crossing the central frame in one point within or without that side and
ending in one point on the corresponding part of the front or back.
The systems of lazy tongs are in planes either parallel or at right or other angles
to each other and the centres or points of attachment on which the parts work are
fixed on the front central frame and back respectively thus ensuring a rigid and
parallel backward and forward movement of the front and back the central frame
being at the same time maintained at the proper distance between the front and
back no matter what may be the amount of expansion of the lazy tongs.
The movement of the lazy tongs also enables me to arrange a convenient focus
indicator.
Within or without or both within and without the lazy tongs is a non-actinic
casing or covering capable of expanding or contracting with the movement of the
front and back.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1909
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
I, WALTER PALMER of Westfield, Reading in the County of Berks., Gentleman
do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described aud ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates more especially to photographic cameras known as "hand
cameras" and has for its object to reduce the size of such cameras and to enable
the focussing to be very rapidly effected.
According to my invention I provide a frame preferably of light metal (such as
thin steel or aluminium for example) situated between the front frame or part of
the camera which carries the lens and shutter and the back frame or part known
as the back of the camera which carries the plate or film to receive the picture all
the said frames being connected together by a system of lazy tongs. The said
frames or part may be of any convenient shape, and the lazy tongs may be applied
at either two or more sides of the camera and be attached to either the inside or
outside of the frames as desired.

page_text: Each lazy tongs arrangement starts from a point of attachment on the side of
say the front frame and crossing the central or intermediate frame in one point and
being attached thereto at this point is connected at its opposite end at one point on
the corresponding part of the back frame.
The lazy tongs arrangements may be in planes either parallel or at right or
other angles to each other according to the shape of the camera and the centres or
points of attachment on which the parts work are fixed on the front intermediate
and back frames respectively thus ensuring the rigidity of the camera when in use
the intermediate frame being maintained in position between the front and back
frames whatever may be the amount of expansion of the lazy tongs.
On the intermediate frame or other suitable part of the camera a focus indicator
may be provided so as to indicate on a scale by the movement of the lazy tongs the
focus to which the camera is adjusted.
Within, or without, or both within and without, the lazy tongs is a non actinic
casing or covering capable of expanding and contracting with the movement of the
front and back frames.
If desired the frames may be made of such relative sizes that when the camera is
compressed or contracted to its least compass the frames are contained one within
the other so that the camera occupies very little space and may be conveniently
carried in the pocket.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I will now more
particularly describe the same and for that purpose I will refer to the several
figures of the annexed drawings the same letters of reference indicating corresponding
parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a photographic camera constructed according to
my invention the camera being shewn partly opened out or expanded.
Figure 2 is a corresponding plan and Figure 3 a front elevation.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the camera when closed.
Figure 5 represents a modification as hereinafter described.
the camera.
The front A of the camera (which carries the lens B and shutter C) and the
back D (which carries the plate or film to be exposed) each consists of a frame
preferably made of light and strong metal such as aluminium and the said frames
are connected by systems of lazy-tongs E arranged on two or more of the sides of
In the drawings I have shewn a system of lazy-tongs on each of the
four sides of the camera. These lazy-tongs are each connected at their extreme or
opposite ends a and b to the front and back frames A. and D respectively and also
at a point c (preferably about midway between the two ends a and b) to a frame or
strip F surrounding the camera and preferably of light metal. The lazy-tongs are
shewn as being connected to the exterior of the frames A and D and to the
interior of the frame F but they may be otherwise connected thereto if desired.
One (or more) of the pins by which the lazy-tongs are connected to the frame F
carries a pointer G the said pointer being fixed on the pin and the pin being fixed
to one of the limbs of the lazy-tongs and free to turn in the frame so that when
the camera is extended or compressed the pin carrying the pointer G will turn in
the hole in the frame and the pointer G be moved over a scale marked on the frame
so as to indicate the focus to which the camera is set or adjusted. Or any other
suitable indicator capable of being operated by the lazy tongs may be employed.
A focus indicator as described may be arranged on two or more of the sides of the
frame F that an indicator can be conveniently seen whatever the position of the
camera when in use. H is a strap fixed on the frame in any convenient position to
hold a view finder which may be of the ordinary kind.
The collapsible actinic casing I is connected at its opposite ends to the front and
back frames A and D preferably to the interior thereof so that it is enclosed
therein when the camera is compressed to its full extent. The frames A and D
may be made of such relative sizes so as to be capable of being received one within
the other and the intermediate frame F may be of sufficient width and size to cover
or nearly cover the sides of the frames A & D and also the lazy-tongs and the

page_text: casing I when the camera is fully contracted as shewn in Figure 4. Or the front
and back frames may be arranged to abut against the edges of the centre frame
In this case the
when the camera is closed or compressed as shewn in Figure 5.
centres of the lazy-tongs are shewn as being situated inside all the frames. By
reason of the connection of the lazy-tongs to the frame F as described great
rigidity is given to the camera when expanded for use whilst when the camera is
out of use and is arranged as shewn in Figures 1 to 4 the said frame serves the
purpose of a case to protect not only the lazy-tongs and casing I but also the end
frames from being damaged. The frame F may if desired be provided with a
handle for convenience of carrying the camera.
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 :-
:-
1st. The combination of parts constituting the collapsible photographic camera
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2nd. In an expanding and collapsible photographic camera a system of lazy-
tongs arranged on each of two or more sides of the camera each system of lazy-tongs
being connected at its opposite ends to the front and back parts or frames of the
camera and to the central or intermediate frame substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described.
3rd. In photographic cameras provided with lazy-tongs substantially as herein-
before described a pointer or pointers or equivalent indicating arrangement operated
by the lazy-tongs so as to indicate the focus to which the camera is adjusted
substantially as hereinbefore described.
4th. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the camera herein-
before described and shewn in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1893.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.