Improvements in Photographic Cameras and Apparatus connected therewith.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1893.
Complete Specification Left, 13th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 24th Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras and Apparatus connected
therewith.
I, WILLIAM RITCHIE BAKER of 9 Belmont Villas, Wallington, Surrey,
Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My improvements are chiefly designed to make a simpler and more convenient
form of the camera described in the Specification of my Patent dated 20th Nov.
1888 No. 16894 but they may be adapted for use with all other kinds.
Instead of keeping the plates in the dark slides there described I may place them
in those of ordinary shape, or changing backs so modified that the plates, will come
forward into the place previously occupied by door, when it is withdrawn, and be
pushed back again when it is closed. The front of the door being white will act as
the focussing screen and thus do away with the somewhat elaborate arrangement
that was necessary in the old camera to bring the plates into register. Cut films
would be preferably kept in a changing back made on purpose for them, the size of
which would be that of the camera to the back of which it would be applied, and
might be retained in its place by a flange and suitable fastenings. A magazine to
contain the films would be fixed in this changing back so as to leave a larger space
between the top than the bottom of the case and sufficient room on either side for
an endless chain to circulate without touching the films. These chains would be
kept in position by properly shaped wheels in the spaces above and below the
magazine and be driven by suitable wheels in the upper one, connected together and
with a handle on the outside. A crosspiece, which may be formed of thin steel
with a projection of about th in. along the lower edge to engage the film and
carrier, is fixed to opposite links of the chain and as this rises it pushes the first film
and carrier upwards, and over the top of the magazine to the back where it is
retained by suitable springs or other means. If an opaque blind is attached to the
crosspiece it will render a shutter unnecessary, and may be made to act as a
focussing screen as explained above. Instead of the chains going round and round,
they might go to the right to cover the plate and to the left to change it, in which
case the projection would be at the bottom of the blind, so that the film would be
covered and protected by it as it was taken to the back of the magazine.
The carriers may be formed of some pliable material such as cloth felt &c., which
might be stiffened with thin steel or cemented to a piece of celluloid the size of the
film to go next to it and if the cloth was a little narrower than the celluloid so as
to leave a quarter of an inch each side, and projections to correspond were fixed
upon the front of the magazine it would be impossible for the front carrier to take
the film behind with it as well as its own.
This might also be prevented by the carriers being furnished with a catch to hold
the films or in other ways. The focussing arrangements would be the same in the
uew as in the old camera except that the side of the eye piece would be made to
close the opening in the top and the mirror would be covered by flaps which would
be so connected with the eye piece that when it was raised the mirror would be
uncovered, and covered when it was lowered.
In order to make the camera as small as possible I may fix the bellows to the
sides instead of to the usual frame, and keep the first three or four inches, which
might be of one fold only, fully extended by an elbow or stay. If a long focus is
required I hinge the back of the camera in the usual way to two pieces of metal

page_text: that slide in a groove in each side of the baseboard, but lengthen them considerably
in front so that the body of the camera can be drawn out beyond the back of the
baseboard. To fit it for a hand camera I provide a cover of thin material and keep
this in shape, if necessary, by a collapsible frame or stay fixed to the camera. The
exterior might be covered with leather to form a case, a roller blind shutter attached
to the changing back if desired, and the details altered, or equivalent ones
substituted to suit the camera that was being made.
Dated this 12th day of December 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras and Apparatus connected
therewith.
I, WILLIAM RITCHIE BAKER, of 9 Belmont Villas, Wallington, Surrey,
Inventor 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 especial reference to the kind of camera described in the
Specification of my Patent, dated 20th November 1888 No. 16894 combined with a
change-box for cut films, and in order that it may be fully understood I have
appended and will make reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings,
in which
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a camera constructed in accordance with my.
invention.
Fig. 2 is a back view of the magazine taken on line a with the back
removed;
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, looking upwards, of the top part of the magazine,
taken on the line c d Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the bottom part of the magazine taken on
the line ef Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is a front view of the eye-shade hereafter referred to.
Fig. 6 is an elevation of the screen.
Fig. 7 a detached view of the film carrier.
Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the magazine showing the screen and film
transfered to the back of the magazine, and
Fig. 8 illustrates an alternative arrangement of the magazine, hereinafter
referred to.
Figures 3, 4, 6, 6ª, 7, and 8, are drawn to a larger scale than Figures 1, 2,
and 5.
In order to allow of the focussing of the subject I dispense with the usual
focussing cloth, and as in my Patent No. 16894, employ an opaque focussing screen
made of some suitable material such as white celluloid, and view the image thrown
upon it by looking through an opening a in the top of the camera, into a mirror b
of rhomboidal shape, that is to say narrower at the outer edge * than the inner
edge by which it is hinged at e to the bottom of the camera, close to the moveable
screen d, capable of being placed at such an angle of inclination as will allow of the
screen being visable in such mirror, from the opening a. In order to prevent light
being reflected from the mirror to the sensitive film when the latter is exposed, I
provide two doors or flaps hinged one on either side of the mirror. These doors or
flaps when folded down completely cover the mirror, and they are raised or lowered
as required, by means of a pair of cords chains or the like y passing upwards through
ring or other suitable guides has shown, close to the sides of the camera, so that
should be quite clear of the film when the latter is exposed.
The doors or tape are provided with weights or springs which tend to close them

page_text: when the chains or cords g are released. The upper ends of the cords chains or the
like are preferably attached to the front of the folding eye shade i, at such a height
as will ensure on turning the said eye shade upon its hinge the doors or flaps f
will be raised so as to uncover the mirror and simultaneously to raise the said
mirror to a suitable angle to allow of viewing the image. Whilst per contra on
folding up the eye shade i and lowering it on its hinge it falls over the opening a
the lid taking into and closing the said opening, and coincidently with the last
described operation the mirror falls to the bottom of the camera so as to allow the
doors or flaps to close over the mirror. Instead of using two doors or flaps one on
each side of the mirror a single door or flap may be employed hinged to one side
only of the mirror.
If preferred the cords or chains g may be left unconnected with the eye shade i
and be operated independently thereof by any suitable means.
In order to make the camera of the smallest possible size I attach the bellows to
the sides of the camera, instead of the usual frame which under former modes of
construction projects within the camera, and in order to stiffen it when the afore-
said frame is dispensed with, I provide angle pieces fixed to the corners of the
camera. For the purpose of preventing the folds or pleats of the bellows from
interfereing with the image, I keep the first three or four of the bellows fully
extended by a jointed collapsible stay or armj attached as shown in the drawings
Fig. 1 to each side of the camera. And I also prefer for the same purpose to make
the bellows parallel instead of taper for the first few inches, next the camera frame,
as shown in Fig. 1. In order to prevent the light being admitted through that part
of the bellows which is cut away at the opening a, under the eye shade, I attach a
piece of pliable leather as at the other end being attached to the inside of the
frame of the camera, as at 1 (see Fig. 1).
The
The cut films are preferably kept in a change-box n made to receive them, the
front of which is provided with an opening n' for exposing the films and may be
fitted with the usual sliding shutter for excluding the light. The box is provided
with a door n at the back to allow of replenishing the magazine. The size and
shape of the change-box may be varied at pleasure to suit the camera to which
it is to be applied and to rear of which is secured in any suitable way.
magazine or receptacle o is fixed in the change-box n so as to leave sufficient room
on either side of the endless chain cord or the like qq to travel without touching
the films, and to be kept in position suitably shaped wheels, in the metal lined
spaces. The spindle t of the upper pair of wheels (which wheels are formed with
teeth as chain wheels while the lower ones are plain), is fitted on one side with a
handle on the outside of the change-box. Two narrow cross pieces vv, which may
be formed of thin steel, are provided at top and bottom of the screen, and at a
distance apart about equal to the height of the magazine. These cross pieces v vl
are for the purpose of supporting the screen d and are fixed to opposite links of the
chains Two clips or hooks w w are attached to the lower cross piece of the
screen d and project below about in. These clips or hooks are sufficiently open to
allow of their engaging or taking only one film and carrier at a time. Two similar
clips or books are also attached to the upper cross piece v.
In Figs. 1, 2, & 4 I have shown an arrangement for retaining the films and
carriers which comprise hinged pieces a¹ a¹ secured at one end to the bottom of the
frame of the change-box n and provided at the other end with claws or projections a².
Sufficient space is left between the pieces a¹ a¹ aforesaid and the rear of the change-
box to allow of the screen passing by, so that when when a film and carrier are
being brought to the rear of the magazine the projections a³ catch and retain them,
but allow the screen to pass. I employ two of these hinged pieces a' a' as above
described, one on each side of the magazine and these are kept in a horizontal
position by means of a spring a pressing the connecting bar a' between them against
the under side of the flat piece of metal a' that keeps the majority of the films and
carriers in position when the hinged pieces are depressed. The floor of the
magazine is cut away sufficiently in front to allow the screen d and one film and its

page_text: carrier to descend about in. below. the floor, a spring 61 being. provided to keep
the film and carrier from sinking below the floor until it is depressed by the
screen.
The top of the magazine is considerably narrower than the magazine itself to
allow of the films with the screen a passing up and down. Flat pieces, preferably
of metal, are provided so that they move freely between the guides c. To the outer
edges of these flat pieces are attached curved pieces of metal ce extending to
within a suitable distance from the sides of the magazine, and standing about in.
above and below the top c' thereof. The said curved pieces may be kept separated
by means of a suitable spring, in which case they would extend about the whole
length from front to back of the magazine, and be easily pushed inwards by the
screen d as it moves upwards and downwards.
Referring more particularly to Fig. 6 the screen d can be made of any suitable
thin opaque material, such as india rubber cloth, for example, stretched over the
two cross pieces to the front of which india rubber cloth is fixed a piece of
white celluloid to receive the image thrown by the lens. Underneath the clips w
are attached to the screen strips of leather, which assumie in cross the form of a
wedge piece as shown in Fig. 64, which is a section through the magazine taken on
--the line h of Fig. 6, showing the screen d in the position it assumes when it has
brought a film and its carrier from the front to the back of the magazine. The
centre part of the screen between the clips wo is similarly raised at wo*, so as to
leave a channel on either side at w, which channels form spaces between the film
and the screen, into which the projections a³, of the hinged pieces a', enter as shown
clearly in Fig. 64, in order to separate with certainty, the film from the screen
when it arrives at its rearmost position. The back of the screen may be formed of
velvet or other suitable material turned over the edges at top and bottom to prevent
the films from being scratched.
The carrier or backing of the film is shown detached at Fig. 7 and may be formed
of a piece of cloth f' about 1 in. thick attached at the corners or along the top to
a piece of black celluloid of a size equal to that of the films used in the
magazine. The upper part of f1 may be cut away as shown so as to allow
it to pass between the projecting part of the curved piece and front of the
magazine.
In filling the magazine a film is first introduced then a carrier, cloth side upper-
most, then another film and other carrier, and so on until the magazine it is
completely filled. The whole being retained in position between the projections c
& at the top, and between the projections a² and the front of the change-box at
the bottom. On turning the handle u so as to lower the screen, the front film and
carrier will be engaged by the clips w¹ and carried downwards with the screen into
the space n sufficiently far to liberate its upper edge from the curved piece c,
whereupon it is pressed into contact with the back of the screen so that when the
movement of the handle u is reversed, the bottom edges of the film and carrier are
caught by the clips.w, and the film and its carrier are carried over the top of the
magazine past the curved pieces c down to the back of the magazine and sufficiently
below it to depress the hinged pieces a' and so bring the other edges of the film and
carrier, clear of the bottom of the curved pieces c. The bottom of the screen
which is now at the upper part of the magazine is pushed inwards by the springs m
attached to the back of the change box u, so as to bring the film and carrier under-
neath the curved projection and the spring a press the hinged pieces a¹ into
the horizontal position again, thereby raising the film so that its upper edge comes
well behind the curved projection c, which retains the film and carrier in the
magazine, and allows the screen d to go back alone. The projection a³ on the
hinged pieces a¹ are so shaped as to cause the film and carrier to be pressed
forwards by the inclined surfaces of such projections, that the hooks or clips w
are free to return without coming into contact with the film, as shewn in Fig. 6ª.
Instead of hinging the pieces a to enable the film to be depressed, when it
arrives at the back of the magazine, until its upper edge clears the curved

page_text: piece, the latter may be hinged at c* (see Fig. 1), so as to fold inwards and.
upwards to allow the said upper edge of the filin to pass into the magazine when
pressed forwards by a push or other suitable means operated from outside the
camera. A spring being provided to return the said curved piece c¹ to its normal.
position, shown in Fig. I, after the film has passed forwards beyond it.
An alternative method for changing the films consists, as shewn in Fig. 8. in the
use of only one cross piece with clips or hooks at each end similar to those shewn
at we in Figures 1. 2 and 6. The carrier or backing for the film for use with this
would be formed by two pieces of cloth, each equal to about one third of the width.
of the film, cemented along their upper edges to the piece of black celluloid, forming
distance pieces which leave the centre clear. A projection 2* is fixed to the shelf 2
to correspond with the opening above referred to in the carrier, so as to allow only
one carrier and its film to pass out at a time. A corresponding projection 4* in the
bottom 4 of the magazine is provided, having its edge turned up to prevent the film
from slipping off. The links of the chains under this arrangement are attached to
the bottom of the cross piece which on turning round below the front film, at the
bottom of the magazine, engages it and its carrier in the clips and pushes them
upwards under the curved space 5 at the top, down to the back, where they are
pushed inwards to the magazine by the springs 3, arranged at the sides as shewn in
Fig. 8. The cross piece in passing downwards between the edges of the end
plates of the magazine and its back depresses in succession the springs 3 those
springs which are not being acted on by the cross piece serving the function of
pressing the film forwards, and so preventing it from touching the cross piece l.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details and
materials shewn and described, as they may be varied without departing from the
nature of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and the manner in which it is to be performed, I declare what now [.
claim is :-
Claim 1. In a camera in which the focussing is effected by means of a reflecting
focussing screen, a hinged mirror and an opening in the camera through which the
mirror can be observed, the use of one or more folding doors or flaps adapted to
cover the mirror when the same is not in use for focussing, and cords chains or the
like for operating the said doors or flaps, and the mirror, combined and operating
substantially as described.
2. In a camera of the kind referred to in the first claiming clause hereof, the com-
bination of one or more folding doors or flaps f cords chains or the like g and a folding
eye shade combined and operating substantially as described in reference to
Figs. 1 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The improved mechanism for transfering films from front to back of the
magazine which consists of a flexible screen d mounted on endless chains qq passing
over suitable wheels or rollers, the said screen being provided with suitable
hooks or clips c to', at the top and bottom adapted to engage with the upper and
lower edges of the films and their carriers, sliding curved pieces c 1, spring
actuated hinged pieces a¹ a² springs b¹ & m and means for operating the mechanism,.
combined and operated substantially as described with reference to Fig. 1, 2, 3, 4,
6, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
4. The improved mechanism for transfering films from front to back of the
magazine which consists of endless chains passing over suitable wheels or rollers, a
cross piece, provided with clips or hooks adapted to engage with the films and their
carriers, a curved space at the top of the magazine and springs to press the films
and their carriers forward in the magazine, substantially as described with reference:
to Fig. 8 of the drawings.
5. In a camera, connecting the bellows directly to the camera without the
intervention of a frame, and the use of the jointed stay or arm or its equivalent,
for the purpose of keeping the first few inches of the bellows fully extended in order

page_text: to prevent the folds or pleats of the bellows, at that part, from interfering with the
image substantially as described with reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings.
6. Improvements in photographic cameras and apparatus connected therewith
substantially as described.