Improvements in Supports for Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1898

page_text: ate of Application, 11th May, 1898-Accepted, 30th July, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Supports for Photographic Cameras.
1, WILLIAM RICHARDSON BIGSBY-CHAMBERLIN, of West Rocks, Grand Parade,
Eastbourne, in the County of Sussex, Lieutenant-Colonel, late 24th Regiment,
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 relates to an improved support for photographic cameras, the
object being to enable an operator to take panoramic or extended views in sections
by any ordinary camera; the said sectional views--when printed-being adapted
for joining together to form one connected picture. My improved support is cap-
able of movement upon two planes at right angles to each other; one plane being
horizontal, or approximately so, according to the levelling of the stand or support;
while the other plane being at right angles thereto is vertical, or approximately
vertical. The two movements are separate, and are worked independently of each
other. The form of the support requires variation to enable it to be attached to
various shapes or arrangements of cameras, without however departing from
the nature of the invention.
In the further description of this invention, reference is made to the accom-
panying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation of one form of my
improved camera support, having a round clip at the top for the purpose of sup-
porting the camera by gripping the lens tube only, as explained hereinafter;
Fig. 2 is a side elevation and partial section thereof, and Fig. 3 is a plan of the
same. The dotted lines indicate the direction in which movement can be made.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation, Fig. 5 a front elevation and Fig. 6 a plan, of a
similar support, but in which the box portion of the camera is secured by screws
beneath, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a support
for a hand camera, the latter being indicated by dotted lines, and Fig. 8 is a plan
of the support. Fig. 9 shows a partial section through the lens and its tube
mounted on a double clip form of my improved support, to enable stops to be
inserted or a diaphragm to be worked between the two clips. Fig. 10 is an eleva-
tion of a similar double support clip, but with an adjustable arm beneath to
support the camera.
Similar letters refer to similar parts having similar functions throughout the
several views.
A base a is provided, which may in itself form the top plate of a tripod, but
in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 9 and 10 is formed as a pillar, which acts as a horizontal bearing
for a joint piece b fitting thereon. The joint piece b is made capable of being
turned round upon the base a on a horizontal plane to all points of the compass,
and a set screw c, bearing upon a circular groove cut on b, is arranged in the
base a to secure the joint piece b at any desired point.
By means of a mark or pointer on either a or b, and a scale upon the other
representing a number of equal parts, the joint piece b can be turned to a pre-
determined degree on the scale for the purpose of taking a view, and moved from

page_text: there to another predetermined point to take another view, and so on-if neces-
sary all round the horizon. For example, if the lens will take an angular view
of say 75 degrees, but it is considered desirable to take each of a horizontal series
of pictures of 60 degrees, then by taking six successive views at intervals of 60
degrees on the horizontal scale a complete picture of the horizon can be obtained
by pasting together the positives (subsequently printed) each of which would, of
course, be trimmed to suit the said angle of 60 degrees before joining them together.
The upper part of the joint piece b is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 9 and 10 as having
a knuckle joint for a hinged clip d, adapted to swivel in a radial manner on the
vertical plane formed by the knuckle joint, which joint works upon a pin having
a screwed washer, in the well known manner. By means of a scale marked upon
the knuckle joint part of b, and a pointer or mark upon the corresponding central
part of the clip d in the centre of the joint, a vertical movement of the clip can
be made to a predetermined range and successive views taken on the vertical
plane, in a similar manner to that already described for the horizontal movement.
A set screw e is provided to secure the parts b and d at any desired angular posi-
tion, while taking the several views.
The clip d is adapted to surround the tube which carries the lens in the manner
indicated by Figs. 4 and 9 or it may be secured thereto permanently if desired.
In the former case, and as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 10, the clip d is in
two parts, the upper one being hinged to the lower part with means for con-
necting the parts, such as a milled headed screw f, engaging with a threaded
flange, as in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 10; or a spring clip as in Fig. 5, in which case,
however, the weight of the camera is sustained by an arm g, adapted to be screwed
to the under side of the camera box. A similar but pivoted arm g, to assist in
sustaining the weight of the camera, or steadying it in a desired position, is
shown in Fig. 10, but in this case the arm g is adjustable to the angle made by
the camera in its required position, and fixed there by a set screw h, while the
socket carrying the arm is adjustable in height upon the pillar a, and secured in
position by another set screw. i. The set screw e in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and the set
screw h, in Fig. 10, are in each case placed excentrically with the pivot on which
the parts shown turn, but any other clamping arrangement for the purpose indi-
cated may be used.
In Fig. 4, the arrangement of the arm g is combined with a radial slot j, and the
screw passing through 6 is used for clamping the parts together to hold the
camera at any required angular position on the vertical plane, the broken line
through the optical centre of the lens tube k, indicating the range. A scale on
the base d, shown in Fig. 6, with a fixed index point on the tripod, serves to show
the angular position of the horizontal plane. Similar scales are shown on the
other figures.
It will be seen by the arrangement shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, in which the lens
tube is pivoted upon screws l, that any movement upon the horizontal plane will
cause the centre of the lens, or optical centre, to pivot upon the pivotal point on
which the horizontal movement takes place, the two being on the same vertical
line. Also, any movement on the vertical plane will take place on a horizontal
line passing through the same optical centre, and through the two pivotal screws 1;
and this assumes the proper levelling of the camera. Should, however, this not be
exactly the case, the result will make very little difference in many cases, and
may be disregarded in practice. The same is the case in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 9 and 10,
with the difference, however, that the pivotal point for the vertical plane is lower
than in the former case, owing to the form of the joint piece, and position of the
knuckle joint. A movement around the horizon, would be exactly the same as in
the case of Figs. 4, 5 and 6, except when the clip d is inclined from the truly
vertical position, when the optical centre would describe circles varying in diameter
according to the angle, around the pivotal point of the horizontal plane, as is
indicated by the plan Fig. 3. But this slight inaccuracy is of no consequence in
extensive panoramic views, and may be disregarded in practice. In the arrange-

page_text: ment indicated by Fig. 7, a hand camera is suggested by the dotted lines, the box
itself forming the joint piece b. In this, the camera support a is the pivot for
the horizontal plane, while movement on the vertical plane takes place on the line
between the two pivotal screws 1, controlled by the elevating screw 6.
It will be understood that special arrangements may be required and added to
this invention for supporting large or heavy cameras in the various positions
indicated herein to ensure stability, without departing from the nature or useful-
ness of this invention.
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
I claim is:
:-
1. An improved support for photographic cameras consisting of means for
holding a lens carrier said means being capable of moving on an approximately
vertical plane, combined with a base on which the aforesaid means are capable of
an approximately horizontal movement, and means for retaining the camera in a
desired position both on the said vertical and horizontal planes, substantially as
and for the purpose described and shown in the drawings.
2. An improved camera support consisting of a base a, combined with a joint
piece pivotally seated upon the said base and capable of horizontal movement
thereon, and a clip d formed to receive the lens carrier of a photographic camera
pivoted in the said joint piece b so as to be capable of movement upon an approxi-
mately vertical plane, and means for retaining the parts in their relative positions,
substantially as and for the purpose described and shown in the drawings.
Dated this 11th day of May 1898.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
37 and 39, Essex Street, Strand, London,
Agents for the Applicant.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
37 and 39, Essex Street, Strand, London,
Agents for the Applicant.