Improvements in Means for Washing Photographic Negatives and Prints.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 27th July, 1891-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Washing Photographic Negatives
and Prints.
I ALBERT PALMER Architectural Modeller and Sculptor of 36 Briar Street
Nottingham in the County of Nottinghamshire do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My improvements are for the purpose of giving greater and more economical
facilities in washing various size negative plates. For giving a more perfect
renewal of the washing water and for a vessel suitable either for washing negatives
in perpendicular or horizontal position or for washing prints.
My improvements are as follows. I construct an oblong or suitable shaped box
or vessel of a convenient length width and depth and at each inside end I construct
fix or place racks having a series of projections along their lengths the spaces
between which serve for stacking negative plates perpendicularly for washing, and
the projections of which serve as rests for negative plates stacked horizontally for
the same purpose.
In one corner of the said vessel I construct or fix a funnel like
attachment flush or nearly flush with the top of the vessel and to the lower
extremity of this funnel I attach a pipe long enough to run nearly the whole length
of the vessel and so arranged that its terminal is near the bottom of the vessel at
the end opposite to the one where the funnel is. This funnel is for the purpose of
feeding the vessel with fresh water and ensuring that the water shall reach the
bottom of the vessel. Near the top of the vessel preferably in the end against
which the funnel is placed and near the opposite corner to the funnel I arrange an
overflow-outlet which thus placed would be at the point furthest removed from that
at which the inflowing water enters the vessel so that the water may be effectually
renewed throughout its bulk.
For the purpose of accomodating various size negative plates for washing in
either horizontal or perpendicular position I attach or construct on the inside sides
of the vessel slides or slide bars of suitable form and at a suitable distance from the
top of the vessel, and to work on these slide bars I use bars of a length to reach
across the vessel from slide bar to slide bar having racks or projections to agree
with those on the inside ends of the vessel. Any suitable means may be arranged
to hold these to any desired position on the slide bars but a simple means would be
to have a series of notches along the slide bars and projections on the cross racks to
engage into these notches thus giving the power of adjusting the distances between
the racks to suit any size negative plates.
If the vessel is required for washing photographic prints the adjustable racks are
readily withdrawable leaving the vessel very suitable for the purpose.
At a suitable point near the bottom of the vessel preferably at the end opposite
the inflow I arrange an outflow to empty the vessel when desired.
The renewal of the water may be effected by bringing a continuous flow of water
by pipe or otherwise to the funnel or by periodical charges of water poured into the
funnel, the overflow being caught in a vessel or conducted to any desired place.
Dated this 9th day of December 1890.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in: Means for Washing Photographio. Negatives
and Prints.
I ALBERT PALMER Architectural Modeller and Sculptor of 36 Briar Street
Nottingham in the County of Nottinghamshire 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 improvements are for the purpose of giving greater and more economical
facilities in washing various sizes of negative plates. For giving a more perfect
renewal of the washing water, and for a vessel suitable either for washing negatives
in perpendicular or horizontal position, or for washing prints.
My improvements are as follow. I construct an oblong or other suitable shaped
box or vessel of a convenient length width and depth and at each inside end I
construct fix or place racks having or being a series of projections along their
length the spaces between which projections serve for standing negative plates
perpendicularly for washing and the upper sides of the said projections serve as
rests for negative plates stacked horizontally for the same purpose. In one corner
of the said vessel I construct or fix a funnel like attachment flush or nearly flush
with the top of the vessel and to the lower extremity of this funnel I attach a pipe
preferably long enough to run nearly the whole length of the vessel and so arranged
that its terminal is near the bottom of the vessel at the end opposite to the one
where the funnel is. This funnel is for the purpose of feeding the vessel with
fresh water and assuring that the water shall reach the bottom of the vessel..
Near the top of the vessel preferably in the end against which the funnel is placed
and near the opposite corner to the funnel I arrange an overflow outlet which thus
placed would be at the point furthest removed from that at which the inflow water
enters the vessel so that the water may be effectually renewed throughout its bulk.
For the purpose of accomodating various size negative plates for washing in either
horizontal or perpendicular position I attach or construct on the inside sides of the
vessel slides or slide bars of suitable form and at a convenient distance from the top
of the vessel and to work on these slide bars I use bars or racks of a length to reach
across the vessel from slide bar to slide bar and having projections to agree with
those on the inside ends of the vessel. Any suitable means may be used to hold
these racks in any desired position on the slide bars but a simple means would be
to have a series of notches along the slide bars and projections on the cross racks
to engage into these notches thus giving the power of adjusting the distance between
the racks to suit any size negative plate. Or the device I indicate in Figure 3 would
allow of the adjustable racks being fixed at any point along the slide bars the
wedge pieces Figure 6 being used as shown on Figure 3 to fix the adjustable racks
at any point on the slide bars. If the vessel is required for washing photographic
prints the adjustable racks are, very readily removed leaving the vessel suitable for
the purpose.
At any suitable point near the bottom of the vessel preferably at the end opposite
to the inflow I arrange an outflow to empty the vessel when désired. The renewal
of water may be effected by bringing a continuous flow of water by pipe or other-
wise to the funnel or by periodical charges poured into the funnel the overflow
being caught in a vessel or conducted to any desired place..
Having described my improvements I will now proceed to give a description of
its details and explain the same by means of the drawing attached.
Fig. 1 represents the washer with a piece out of its side so that the adjustable
rack B can be seen in its place ready to receive negative plates. The washer or
véssel should be made of fine earthenware, zinc or other impervious material but I
prefer the earthenware and the sliding rack B of the same. The adjustable rack B
would slide on the slide bars A throughout the whole length of the vessel and be

page_text: fixable at any point to suit various size negative plates or the like. The funnel
like attachment H can be placed outside the rectangular walls of the washer if
preferred, and the pipe attached to the funnel may also be carried outside the washer
and be carried through one of the walls of the washer at any desired point.
Fig. 3 represents one simple method by which the adjustable rack B can be
secured at any point on the slide bars A by means of two small wedges E Fig. 6
fitting in grooves on the slide bar and the adjustable rack as shown in Fig. 3 which
would hold it firmly and in such a position that if desired negatives of different
sizes could be washed at the same time. In larger vessels or washers with several
adjustable racks several different size negatives may be washed at one time either
perpendicularly or horizontally or both ways at one time. On the bottom of the
vessel or washer inside and about 3" apart would be ribs F made half round and
say about half an inch in diameter placed across the whole width of the washer on
which the photographic negatives and the like plates would rest while being washed
so that the water would have free passage under them.
Fig. 2 represents the washer with the adjustable rack B removed and the washer
ready for use for washing photographic prints and the like. Provision is made in
the funnel H to receive a short pipe G of any suitable material to which a flexible
tube may be attached for use where a continuous supply of water can be obtained
from a tap or otherwise.
Fig. 3 represents one form of adjustable rack B fixed by wedges E to the slide
bar A.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of this adjustable rack B showing the projections on
which the negatives rest in horizontal or between which they are stacked in
perpendicular position and I represents openings in the adjustable rack for the free
circulation of the water.
Fig. 5 is the length of pipe which may be added to the funnel H.
Fig. 6 is the wedge piece E, for adjusting the racks B.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the exact form of the slide bars A as indicated in
Figure 3 nor do I confine myself to the exact form of the adjustable rack B.
These may be made of perforated metal, earthenware, wire, cane or other suitable
material the nature of the material used necessitating some modification or slight
alteration of plan neither do I confine myself to the exact position of the funnel
and its pipe extension or the exact length of this pipe which may be made to
terminate at any point in the washer found most suitable but what I do claim as
my invention is
1st. The use of sliding racks adjustable at any point in the length or width of
the washer.
2nd. The series of projections on adjustable racks so arranged that they may be
used for washing negative plates either in horizontal or perpendicular position or
both ways at the same time.
3rd. The use of the funnel like attachment for the purpose of steadily renewing
the water in the washer, substantially as described.
4th. The addition to the funnel attachment of a length of pipe substantially as
described.
5th. The apparatus substantially as described and ascertained in this Specification.
In witness whereof I Albert Palmer have hereunto set my hand and seal this
25th day of Jul 1891
Witness to signature:
GEO. SLAPE,
48, Briar Street, Meadows, Nottingham, Shunter.
ALBERT PALMER.