An Improved Graphoscope.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1895-Accepted, 1st June, 1895
An Improved Graphoscope.
I, ANTONIO ATANASIO AGUERO, Professor of Languages, residing at 67 West
One Hundredth Street, in the City, County and State of New York, United
States of America, 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 :-
This invention relates to panoramic exhibiting cabinets and has for its object to
provide a device of this character by means of which any number of views or
representations of persons, objects or places may be successively brought before a
lens or other magnifier through which the representations may be seen by the eye,
an essential feature of the invention being the provision of means whereby the
pictures or photographs are on the one hand brought before the lens in uninterrupted
succession and at the same time represent a perfectly straight and uncurved
surface.
A secondary object of the invention is to provide means for ensuring sufficient
yet not a brilliant light, and also for regulating the extent or direction from
which the same falls upon the picture; a still further object of the invention
being to provide a shutter or shade for the lens which shall not only protect the
eyes from the outside light and thereby enable a more perfect view to be had, but
will also be adjustable to permit of the picture, being seen from a greater or less
distance according to the condition or character of the eyes and in addition to be
capable of folding against the side of the box.
4
I also claim as an advantage of my invention that I provide one or more
cabinets of drawers which receive a strip of photographs. therein, which will fit
within the box when not in use and which may be separately, withdrawn and
placed at the bottom of the exhibiting cabinet, and the pictures detachably secured
to the operating roller of the device whereby the series of photographs may be
brought before the lens rapidly and satisfactorily. And lastly I claim as new
mounting representations of objects upon both sides of the strip and making the
operating roller reversible to display first one face and then another.
The invention consists in the novel inventive construction and arrangement, of
parts necessary to effect the above-mentioned and other desirable results and
hereinafter fully described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this, Specification, in which like
letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying my invention, the same
being completely closed and not in use.
Figure 2 is a similar view of the same with the lids or shutters removed and
the shade opened out to the utmost.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through the exact centre of the
device as shown in. Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the drawer cabinets containing, the various
photographs or other views.
In the practice of my invention, I construct a box A, herein shown rectangular
in form, but which may be made of any desired shape, size or material, wood, being
preferable as to the latter. At the rear of the device the same is apertured
throughout a majority of its area and closed by means of a door B, provided
with a knob or handle a, and fitting tightly in the rear of the device to exclude
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page_text: the light therefrom, this door being secured in place by any desired means but
preferably removable by means of the buttons b, shown in Figure 3.
Upon the top of the box toward the rear thereof is a lid C provided with a
knob a, and hinged to the box A by means of hinges c. In the sides of the box
beneath this lid are formed vertical slots d, curved at the bottom, in which is
removably inserted a roller D, having disks rigidly secured to each end thereof,
the said disks serving as handles to rotate the said roller.
The roller D is provided with longitudinal flanges or ribs f, projecting therefrom-
these being preferably arranged by securing upon the roller a metallic casing g, the
ends of which are turned radially thereto to form the flanges f, which said flanges
are adapted to clasp the end of the panoramic or photographic strip and are
therefore preferably of spring metal.
Forwardly of the roller D and somewhat below the level of the same is a
roller E, having its bearings in the sides of the box at h. This roller E has
depending therefrom a screen F, jointed vertically by means of a hinge i which
secures the two sections thereof together, and thus enable the said screen to be
folded, or partially raised, to insert the photograph drawers into the cabinet. The
screen is suspended from the roller E by means of the hooks j.
Upon the top and sides of the box A forwardly of the screen F, are formed
windows or apertures G preferably square in contour and having secured at the
interior of the same sheets or panes of stained glass H, which are held immovably in
position by means of the strips or flanged framework k, secured to the box at the
inside thereof, and extending over the edges of the panes H. By securing the
stained glass in these apertures G, I permit the entrance of sufficient light into.
the cabinets and at the same tine render such light subdued and less violent than the
direct rays, thereby heightening the natural effect and appearance of the photo-
graphs exhibited.
Each of these apertures G is covered by a lid or shutter 1, which is of such
depth and size as to be countersunk in the frame of the box in order that the
surface thereof may be smooth, even and uninterrupted.
These shutters which
are wholly removable from the apertures are provided with knobs a and are
secured to the box by means of the buttons b at each side thereof.
In the front wall of the box approximately near the top thereof I form an
opening G', behind which is secured a frame.J. having mounted therein a magni-
fying lens K, the said lens being of substantially equal size with the opening G¹.
Above the opening G at each side thereof, I hinge the swinging shades or
shutter L, which are adapted to fold, the side shades into the opening G₁ one above
the other, and the upper shade downwardly over the two side shades. This upper
shade is provided with a knob a by means of which it is opened, and all three of
the said shades are formed in two or more sections and joined together at the
centre by means of hinges which permit of the three, sections being folded
outwardly upon the others, thereby rendering the whole shade capable of extending
forwardly to the full extent, as shown in Figure 3 or. being decreased one half in
its forward projection, according to the distance from the lens which it is most.
convenient for the operator to maintain his eyes, thus adapting the device to near.
sighted or far-sighted persons.
.:
Within the interior of the box A, when not in use, I place the photograph-
holding cabinets M, which comprise rectangular bodies intervened at intervals by
lateral partitions m, the spaces formed thereby having placed therein drawers,N,
in each of which is deposited a strip O, of any desired material, having photo-
graphed, or otherwise represented on each of its faces 0.0%, a plurality of views;
the photographs of each strip or series preferably representing a number of objects
of common association. The photographs are either taken or reproduced upon the
strip 0, or the said strip may have the photographs mounted thereon.
The strip O is folded longitudinally upon itself as shown in the sectional view
Figure 3, and to the upper end of each strip, I secure, preferably upon the under
surface thereof, a sheet or cloth, rubber, leather or other fabric n, of a length

page_text: considerably greater than one of the photographs or folded sections thereof, which
said sheet of fabric extends upwardly around the roller E and is inserted between
the flanges fupon the roller D. The sheet may also be secured by attaching cords
or ribbons to either side thereof, which said ribbons are tied around the roller D.
The operation of the device will be readily apparent from the foregoing
description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. It being desired
to use the machine the rear door B is removed and the folding screen F swung
upwardly, the cabinets M, then being removed from the box A. Any desired one
of the drawers N is removed from the holder M and placed in the bottom of the
cabinet in front of the screen F, which is then dropped and by completely shutting
off the light from the rear, renders it unnecessary to secure the door B in place
after each insertion of a drawer. The sheet n which is secured to the upper end
of the series or strip O is then passed upwardly around the roller E and between
the jaws of the roller D as before described and further secured by the ribbons o if
desired.
This being effected, the shades L are opened out to the desired extent, the side
shades serving to support the top shade, and one, two, or all, of the shutters I are
withdrawn to permit the light to enter through the windows G. According as the
light comes from the side or the top of the device or obliquely, it is determined
which shutter or shutters to remove, in the day-light, for example, all three
shutters being withdrawn, and where a gas-jet or other artificial or purely local
light is employed, but two shutters being removed, these being the ones adjacent to
the light, the third shutter serving as a screen.
The disks e are then taken in the hands and the roller D actuated through their
agencies winds the strip n thereon and draws the first section of the series of
photographs O upwardly till the top thereof is on a level with the roller E, when
the said photograph will rest perpendicularly with the upper end thereof in align-
ment with the lens K. The roller D being further rotated by means of the disk e,
the photograph commences to be wound thereon, and the strip O being pliable,
the portion thereof below the roller D, will depend in an exactly perpendicular
position and the whole surface thereof be clearly presented to view, whereas, were
these photographs exhibited upon a roller, however deep, the top and bottom
thereof would, by reason of the curvature of the photograph's surface, be blurred
or exaggerated in outline. Means may also be provided for maintaining the
bottom of the strip in alignment with the top, though the pliability of the strip
would effect this ordinarily.
The roller D is rotated until the whole series of photographs or other repre-
sentations have been successively brought in alignment with the lens K,
whereupon the lid C is raised, the roller D removed from the slots d and reversed
or turned upside-down, and the roller being then rotated as before, the photographs
will commence to unwind, and the surface O2 of the strip having first been exhibited,
upon the unwinding of the roller, the surface O2 will be presented to view. It
will be observed that by the form, arrangement, and journalling of the roller, to
render the same reversible, the hinging or folding of the photographs, and the
employment of the auxiliary or friction roller E, the photographs will, upon such
reversed rotation of the roller D, automatically fall into the drawer evenly and
regularly, thereby enabling the photographs to be seen as clearly as when winding
up the roller D, it being evident that this could not be effected except with the
aid of these elements of my invention or their equivalents.
The photographs having been unwound, the drawer is then removed and another
substituted, the strip thereon being attached to the roller D in like manner.
Should it be desired to substitute a second set of photographs after viewing one
side of the first, the lid C is raised and the roller, with the photographs wound
thereon, is removed, the said photographs then being rapidly unwound from the
roller and folded to fit within the drawer. The fastening of the sheet n of each
strip of photographs to the roller is also facilitated, and best accomplished, by
raising this lid C and lifting this roller wholly or partially out, thereby avoiding
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page_text: the necessity of effecting the attachment from the rear while the roller is in place
and consequently apt to turn or spin around when it is endeavoured to insert the
sheet between the flanges for tie the ribbons thereto.
By the use of my invention I am able to combine in one exhibiting apparatus a
large number of views without the loss of space usual with the present instruments
known as "graphoscopes," where single photographs mounted on cardboard are
placed upon the easel behind the lens, this being best evidenced by the fact that
in a working apparatus having a maximum dimension of thirty inches, there are
confined in the drawer cabinets and successively exhibited in but very little time
approximately two thousand separate views of various places. Furthermore, my
invention is of equal value for exhibiting with artificial light, by reason of the
arrangement of the shutters, which renders the device operative with a gas-jet or
light of similar character; and the further advantages of the invention, such as
the regularity of the light, the subduing and softening thereof by the stained glass
and the adjustability of the shade and consequently of the focus, are such as will
be readily appreciated.
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 :
1. In a panoramic cabinet having a lens therein, a shade comprising three rigid
shutters pivoted at the top to fold downwardly and at the sides to fold inwardly,
each of the said shutters being formed in two or more jointed sections adapted to
be folded to regulate the projection of the shade, substantially as shown and
described.
2. In a panoramic cabinet, the combination, with an exhibiting box, having a
lens therein, of a plurality of repositories therein, and removable therefrom, each
of the said repositories having a strip therein with representations upon the face
thereof, the said strip being folded longitudinally, and means for bringing each
section of the strip vertically in alignment with the lens, substantially as shown
and described.
3. A panoramic cabinet, comprising a box having a removable door in the rear
thereof, a screen in front thereof, a roller mounted in the box near the top toward
the rear thereof, a collapsable and adjustable shutter in front of the said lens,
windows in the top and sides of the box, shutters closing the windows and wholly
removable therefrom, a plurality of repositories adapted to fit within the cabinet
and to be withdrawn therefrom through the door, a strip in each of the repositories
having representations of objects on both faces thereof, the said strip being folded
longitudinally, a sheet secured to the upper end of the strip, and meaus for
detachably securing the said strip to the operating roller, substantially as shown
and described.
1.
4. A panoramic cabinet, consisting of a box having a door removably secured to
the rear thereof, slots in the side of the box opening in the top, a roller journalled
in the said slots and adapted to be removed therefrom and reversed, longitudinal
flanges upon the roller, and handles at each end thereof without the box, a lid
hinged above the roller, a roller journalled forwardly and below the first, a jointed
and folding screen suspended therefrom, an opening in the front of the cabinet, a
lens secured upon the inside of the same behind the opening, shutters hinged above
and at each side of the. lens, adapted to fold, the top downwardly and the side
inwardly, each of the said shutters being formed in two or more sections jointed by
hinges whereby the outer sections fold upon the inner sections, openings in the top
of the box, between the lid and the front thereof, openings in the sides of the box
adjacent to the lens, glass panes upon the inside of the box behind each of the
openings, shutters countersunk, in the openings, and wholly removable therefrom;
catches securing the same, one or more cabinets in the box having a plurality of
drawers. therein, and removable therefrom, a strip in each of the said drawers
having representations of objects upon both faces thereof, the said strip being
".
1.

page_text: folded longitudinally, a sheet secured to the end of each strip adapted to fit within
the flanges upon the operating roller and be brought vertically in alignment with
the lens, by the rotation thereof, and cords or ribbons upon the sheet to secure the
same to the roller, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1895.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.