Year: 1887

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by JOHN ROBERT CONNON, of the village of Elora, in th
County of Wellington, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, Photographer.]
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, M.I.M.E
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:-
The object of the invention is to arrange a photographic instrument by which a
continuous panoramic view of any scene within a circle or portion of a circle may be
produced; and it consists essentially in pivotting the photographic instrument on the
optical centre or axis of the lens, and so arranging the sensitive film that as the
instrument revolves the said film shall be presented to the focus of the lens exactly as
required to receive the image formed by the lens, substantially as hereinafter more
particularly explained.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partially in section, showing an instrument constructed
in accordance with this invention.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the instrument.
Although the construction of this instrument may be considerably altered from that
shown in the drawing the said construction will be sufficient to illustrate the intention
and operation of this invention so that others skilled in the art of photography will
have no difficulty in understanding it.
The first points which must be observed is that the instrument A must be pivotted
at a which represents exactly the optical centre or axis of the lens. It is also

page_text: necessary that the sensitive film whether it be placed on paper B glass or any other
substance, must be placed on a radius struck from the optical centre a.
In the drawing the sensitive paper B is shown passing around the two rollers CD
which are located so as to hold the paper B at the proper distance from the optical
centre a menționed. This paper B is stored on the roller E and as it leaves this
roller as hereinafter described it is wound on the roller F as hereinafter explained.
The rollers G are merely friction rollers for the purpose of holding the paper B
against the rollers CD as shown.
A spur wheel H is fixed to the circular top I of the stand. A crank handle J is
journalled on the bottom of the instrument A and has fixed to it a worm-pinion K
which meshes with the spur wheel H as shown; consequently the revolving of this
crank shaft J will cause the instrument A to revolve upon its pivot a. The circular
top I is grooved so as to receive the cord L which passes around the circular top I
and around pulleys M fixed or attached to the spindle of the rollers CD; consequently
the said rollers must necessarily revolve. with the instrument A causing the paper B
to leave the roller E pass between the rollers CD and be wound upon the roller F;
this latter roller being provided with a suitable spring so as to cause it to take up the
slack paper, bringing in to the focus of the lens a continuous supply of the sensitive
film so that a continuous panoramic image is produced on the sensitive paper as the
instrument is revolved on its axis.
In order that only a small portion of the sensitive film shall be exposed to the action
of the lens, a narrow vertical passage-way N is formed, located between the lens and
its focus. As it may be sometimes desirable to reduce the width of this passage way
a slide is provided to fit into the passage way N. In this slide a narrow vertical
slit is made representing the exact width of the space on the sensitive paper which is
wished to be exposed at any one time to the action of the lens.
From this description it will be seen that by arranging a photographic instrument
as I have just described, a complete panoramic and continuous view may be secured
at one exposure of the entire country embraced within a circle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A photographic instrument pivotted on the optical centre or axis of the lens in.
combination with a sensitive film arranged so that as the instrument revolves the said
film shall be presented to the focus of the lens exactly as required to receive the image
formed by the lens substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. A photographic instrument pivotted on the optical centre or axis of the lens, in
combination with a sensitive film placed on paper, glass or any other substance located
on a radius struck from the optical centre or axis of the lens substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
3. A photographic instrument pivotted on the optical centre or axis of the lens in
combination with a sensitive film placed on paper, glass or any other substance located
on a radius struck from the optical centre or axis of the lens, and of a narrow passage
way located between the lens and its focus, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
4. A photographic instrument A pivotted on its optical centre or axis a around
which it is caused to revolve, in combination with the rollers CD between which the
sensitive paper B passes and which are caused to revolve with the instrument A so
that a fresh surface of sensitive film shall be brought continuously within the focus of
the lens as the instrument A revolves, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5. A photographic instrument A pivotted on its optical centre or axis a around
which it is caused to revolve, in combination with the rollers E F arranged to carry
the sensitive paper B which is carried over the rollers CD between the rollers G;
the rollers CD being caused to revolve with the instrument A so that a fresh surface

page_text: of sensitive film shall be brought continuously within the focus of the lens as the
instrument A revolves, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6. A photographic instrument A pivotted on its optical centre or axis a in combina-
tion with sensitive film located within the focus of its lens on a circle struck from
the optical centre or pivot of the instrument, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
7. A photographic instrument A pivotted on its optical centre or axis a, a sensitive
film located within the focus of its lens on a circle struck from the optical centre or
pivot of the instrument, in combination with a narrow passage way located between
the lens and its focus and caused to revolve with the instrument, substantially for the
purpose herein before explained.