An Improved Apparatus for Enlarging and Reducing from Photographic Negatives.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 29th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 9th Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Enlarging and Reducing from
Photographic Negatives.
COURTNEY SPENCER JONES Printer and Publisher "Firleigh," Woodford
'Green, Essex do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to simplify the process of enlarging & reducing
from photographic negatives by dispensing with the necessity of focussing.
This is accomplished by providing a light-tight box of suitable size with a series
of grooves for the reception of two slides, one containing the lens & the other the
sensitised plate er paper. These grooves are accurately adjusted according to the
focal length of the lens & each one bears a distinctive number, letter, or other
indication by which its relation to the other grooves can be easily determined by
reference to a printed key supplied with each apparatus.
Or instead of providing grooves the positions to be occupied by the respective
slides can be indicated on the camera & the slides made in such a manner as to
admit of their occupying those positions without the aid of grooves. But I consider
the use of grooves preferable to this arrangement.
The mode of procedure is as follows: If it is desired, for example, to enlarge
from a quarter plate negative to whole plate size, the negative is placed in the
carrier in front of the camera. The key is then referred to, which gives the
numbers of the grooves into which the respective slides must be placed to
accomplish this. The slides are then placed in the positions indicated, the lid of
the camera fastened down, & the exposure made.
A similar mode of procedure is adopted for reductions.
In consequence of the slide containing the sensitised plate or paper having to be
placed in different positions in the camera according to the size of enlargement or
reduction required, the ordinary form of dark slide is unsuitable for use with this
apparatus, & I have therefore devised a new & more suitable form of slide. It is
so constructed that in whichever groove it is placed the front can be lifted for
making the exposure notwithstanding that the top is securely fastened down. This
is accomplished by making a hinged front flap to the slide in such a manner that
when a cord communicating with the outside of the camera is attached to the front
flap, it can be pulled from the outside, thereby raising the flap & exposing the
sensitive plate or paper.
The cord can be secured so that the flap may be kept
raised for any length of time. On releasing the cord the flap springs back to its
original position.
Provision is also made for securing the sensitive paper or plate in its proper
position in the slide.
The form of dark slide just described is not absolutely necessary to the successful
working of the apparatus. An alternative method of making the exposure, which
necessitates the taking of the whole apparatus into the dark room whenever a
sensitive plate or paper has to be inserted or removed, is as follows:-
A flap or sliding shutter is made to work behind or in front of the negative in
such a manner that the light passing through the negative can be cut off when not
required. The sensitive plate or paper is secured to a plain slide made of wood or
other suitable material. This & the lens slide are then placed in their proper
positions in the camera & after the lid has been securely fastened the whole
apparatus is taken into the daylight & the exposure made by raising the flap or
rn

page_text: withdrawing the sliding shutter as the case may be. This apparatus can be used
with artificial light as well as with daylight if desired.
Among the advantages which this camera possesses over others of a similar
character may be mentioned the following:-
(1) That each camera is capable of making a number of different sized enlarge-
ments, or of making reductions from different sized negatives, with a minimum of
trouble & without the necessity of having a separate apparatus for each sized
enlargement or reduction required.
(2) That by the aid of the dark slide already described the necessity for taking
the whole apparatus into the dark room to insert or remove the sensitive plate or
paper is obviated.
Dated this 27th day of July 1894
An Improved Apparatus for Enlarging and Reducing from
Photographic Negatives.
I, COURTNEY SPENCER JONES of Firleigh, Woodford Green, Essex, Printer
and Publisher, 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 this invention is to simplify the process of enlarging and reducing
from photographic negatives by dispensing with the necessity of focussing in the
ordinary way.
This is accomplished by providing a sufficiently dark box of suitable size with a
series of grooves for the reception of two slides, one containing the lens and the
other the sensitive plate or paper.
The grooves are accurately adjusted in regard to distance according to the focal
length of the lens, and each one bears a distinctive number, letter or other
indication by which its relation to the other grooves can easily be determined by
reference to a printed key supplied with each apparatus.
Instead of employing grooves the positions to be occupied by the respective
slides can be indicated on the camera by flanges, pins or other suitable devices and
the slides can be so constructed as to allow of their occupying their relative
positions by aid of such devices; but I use grooves by preference.
I will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the box constituting my improved enlarging
and reducing apparatus, with one side taken out to exhibit the interior. The lid
is shewn raised.
Fig. 2 shows a sectional plan view of the grooves c, c, formed in each of the long
sides a, of the box.
Fig. 3 shows a side view of folding shutter used in large sizes of the apparatus.
This shutter is fitted to the dark slide instead of a flap as in Fig. 1 where the flap
is shewn raised.
Fig. 4 shows a front elevation of Fig. 3 with the slats of the shutter in
full view.
C, C, are the
Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are shewn on a larger scale in comparison with Fig. 1.
a, a, are the sides of the box forming my apparatus. b, is the lid.
grooves to hold lens and dark slide in position where required. d, is the dark
slide. e, is the lens. f, is the negative to be enlarged. g, is the hinged flap shewn
in Fig. 1 used as a shutter in connection with dark slide d. y', is the alternative
form of folding shutter (Figs. 3 and 4). h, is the cord for operating the flaps as

page_text: above. i, are the slats fastened on to a flexible backing which permits the
flap g to fold round the roller j. k, k, are side grooves to keep the shutter g¹, in
position.
The mode of procedure is as follows:-If it is desired, for example, to enlarge
from a quarter plate negative to whole plate size, the negative is placed in the
carrier in front of the camera.
The key is then referred to which gives the numbers of the grooves or spaces
into which the respective slides must be placed to accomplish this. The slides are
then placed in the positions indicated, the lid of the camera is fastened down and
the exposure made.
A similar mode of procedure is adopted for reductions.
In consequence of the slide containing the sensitive plate or paper having to be
placed in different positions in the camera according to the size of enlargement or
reduction required the ordinary form of dark slide is unsuitable for use with this
apparatus and I have therefore devised a new and more suitable form of slide. It
is so constructed that in whichever groove or space it is placed the front of the
slide or shutter can be lifted for making the exposure, notwithstanding that the top
of the box is securely fastened down. This is accomplished by making the shutter
in the form of a hinged flap fitted to the slide in such a manner that when a cord
communicating with the outside of the camera is attached to the shutter and pulled
from the outside, the shutter is raised and exposes the sensitive plate or paper.
The cord can be secured so that the flap may be kept raised for any length of
time. On releasing the cord the flap returns to its normal position.
In larger sizes of the apparatus the flap on the dark slide is found to be
inconvenient from its size and instead thereof I employ a shutter made of some
suitable flexible material, preferably narrow slats of wood or other suitable substance
glued to cloth or other flexible material, which will allow of its being drawn up over
a roller at the top.
Communicating cords are attached so that the front can be either raised or
lowered from the outside by pulling one or other of the cords. Or the revolving
shutter can be mounted on a spring roller so as to close or open itself automatically,
on the cord by which it is held being released.
Provision is also made for securing the sensitive paper or plate in its proper
position in the slide.
The apparatus can if preferred be used in conjunction with a dark room, in
which case the dark slide with its shutter above described is of course no longer
necessary, as the whole apparatus can be taken into the dark room whenever a
sensitive plate or paper has to be inserted or removed, and the exposure made as
follows:-
A flap or sliding shutter is made to work behind or in front of the negative in
such a manner that the light passing through the negative can be cut off when not
required. The sensitive plate or paper is secured to a plain slide made of wood or
other suitable material.
This and the lens slide are then placed in their proper positions in the camera,
and after the lid has been securely fastened the whole apparatus is taken into the
daylight and the exposure made by raising the flap or withdrawing the shutter as
the case may be.
This apparatus can be used with artificial light as well as daylight if desired.
Among the advantages this camera possesses over others of a similar character,
may be mentioned the following
==
1. That each camera is capable of making a number of different sized enlarge-
ments or of making reductions of different sized negatives, with a minimum of
trouble and without the necessity of having a separate apparatus for each sized
enlargement or reduction required.
2. That by the aid of the dark slide already described the necessity for taking
the whole apparatus into a dark room to insert or remove the sensitive plate or
paper is obviated.

page_text: 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 an enlarging and reducing apparatus for photographs the method of
securing a correct focus without delay or trouble by means of an adjustable dark-
slide and a lens-slide placed in numbered and registered grooves in a box or case
in accordance with a key or table, the said dark-slide having a shutter operated
from without the box, whereby an effective exposure is obtained with or without a
dark room, as herein described and set forth.
2. In an enlarging and reducing apparatus for photographs the combination of a
box or case fitted with a door, a negative holder, and several registered grooves;
with an adjustable lens-slide, a dark-slide fitted with shutter operated from outside
the box and a key or table with instructions for placing the slides, as herein
described and set forth.
Dated this 20th day of March 1894
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.