Improvements in and connected with Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Photographic Cameras.
I WILLIAM SCORER Watchmaker Jeweller and Photographer of North Street
Havant in the County of Hants 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 :-
Having invented improvements in the construction of Photographic Cameras and
made an application for a patent on the 31st day of August 1888 number 12573,
I have since made further improvements in their construction and parts thereof.
Any reference which follows to a previous application and specification refers to the
one above.
My invention consists of a front to be used as part of a photographic camera, to
hold the lens in any convenient position opposite the slide containing the sensitive
plate and which has the means of moving the opening containing the lens to any
convenient position, the device being a great improvement to the usual vertical and
horizontal slides to which are usually fixed the lens; this form of front to be after
described being particularly adapted to the form of camera having a parallel bellows,
but may also be used to advantage with a camera having a taper or conical bellows,
having also a rising front. I have also several other devices in the construction of
photographic cameras which I will describe as I proceed, and to better describe, my
invention, and make it better understood I have used the accompanying drawings
wherein like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 represents a front view of the camera front before mentioned fig. 2 being a
section taken across the centre. A represents the front, to the under part of which
the bellows as in ordinary use is attached; within this is cut out a circular opening
with a rabbett as shewn in Fig. 2, in this is acurately fitted B Fig. 1, the joint being
covered by a flat metal or wood ring C figs. 1 and 2, fixed by ordinary screws or
other suitable means to A figs. 1 and 2, rendering the joint thoroughly light tight
and enableing the part B figs. 1 and 2 to be freely revolved by means of the sunk
button d'; this part has a circular opening also fitted, as with the other, this part E
being of the same substance and material and fitted as before to B figs. 1 and 2, the
joint being also covered by a flat ring F.
This part E also revolves in B, being turned by another sunk button_d².
When in the position shown in the drawing the centre of the front A indicated by
a X is marked within E thus securing a central position for the opening for the lens
shewn at G figs. 1 and 2 in this opening may be screwed the lens flange, or a disc
of wood may be fitted to the opening as shown at G figs. 1 and 2 kept in place by
two or more turn buttons or spring catches, as shown at h¹ h² h³, in this disc is
fixed a lens flange and lens, any number of interchangeable pieces being provided
for other lenses to be used as wanted. It will be seen by revolving the part E
in the excentric opening in B the lens is moved away from the centre the distance
travelled being considerably more than can be obtained by the ordinary method
with the slides, in ordinary use. An upright or side position for the lens slot
for the stops, is readily obtained by turning G, with lens attached to the desired
position.
When the part E fig. 1 is in the position shown in the drawing the lens is quite
central in the front, no difference being made when the part B is revolved, but turn I
ever so short a distance either right or left the lens becomes excentric to the front,
then the piece B revolves the lens opening, round the centre of the front, any desired
position for the lens being secured. I am aware that there is already a front made with a
revolving piece in which is fixed the lens, excentric; but without the addition of a
slide it cannot produce the same movements as my method containing the two
excentric movements described above.

page_text: When it is desired that the camera shall have a taper bellows with a small front
to which the lens is fixed, travelling in a groove up and down between two upright
parallel guides, usually held in position by a binding screw and slotted plate; I
dispense with this plate and screw: substituteing a piece of metal cut on its edge or
side as a ratchett, engaging with a spring click attached the one to the moveable front the
other to one of the upright guide pieces, this enables the front to be easily raised the
spring click preventing it again falling untill released by pulling back the click or
clicks (as more than one may be used) away from the ratchet; this is not shewn in
the drawings.
In connection with either of the forms of front above described as fitted to a
photographic camera I use a mask of card, metal, wood or other suitable material
placed between the moveable reversing back, and the fixed frame of a photographic
camera of such a shape and size as shall screen off part of the image which would
otherwise be projected on the sensitive plate; this enables the operator to make 2 or
more exposures on one sensitive plate, the mask being moved after each exposure, it
also enables the negative to be taken with a transparent border of clear glass of any
desired shape it being regulated by the form of mask used.
Another part of my improvement consists in making the usual endless screw used
for extending and focussing, with a nut which is not permanently attached to the
base but which is firmly joined or made as part of a sliding rod or tube long
enough to extend the camera frame to its utmost extension without using the
endless screw at all, it being readily fixed to or released from the frame at the
position usually occupied by the ordinary nut which is always firmly attached.
My arrangement enables a much quicker adjustment of focus to be made than is
possible with the quickest screw made.
The seperation of parts being effected by pulling back the frame sliding on its guide
which can be done as quickly as is prudent. The arrangement of the parts are
shown in Fig 3 which represents part of the underside of a camera base.
A repre-
sents the camera frame. B the usual crank handle for turning the screw C the nut
forming part of the rod D which is clamped when the screw is in use to the part
of the camera base E by means of the clip or vice F shown by dotted lines, in which
a suitable recess is formed. At each end this clip is held by screws, one with an
ordinary slotted head, for adjustment, shown at C, the other coming right through
the frame the head being firmly attached to, and forming part of the clamp F, this
screw is drawn by the nut H fitting on the screw and prevented from turning right
off by the stop I, a washer being used under the lever nut H.
K represents the endless screw, which may be of any convenient length desired, or
may be dispensed with entirely, the rod D in this case being fixed to the frame A, but
is not so perfect as when used in combination with the endless screw; as. shown, the
final adjustment of focus being made with the screw.
The next applies to a portion of the improvements referred to in the application
for a patent previously mentioned and is a more convenient method of making the
parts to which the legs are attached to the camera by means of the dovetailed heads
fitting in a dovetailed slot as there described.
The improvement in construction of the part referred to consists in punching oval
slots' in the toothed ring shown in the accompanying drawing as, I, of such a size as
to allow the head of the stud on the end of the tripod legs to pass .freely through
its whole length; over these openings are screwed or otherwise securely attached.
metal plates preferably of steel having the key hole slots punched, and instead of the
jointed stud on the end of the legs being of dovetail section they are square,
the principal and use being the same, as in the specification previously referred to. The
attached plates are shewn at m¹ m² m³ in accompanying drawings Fig. 3.
In Fig. 3 at N is also seen another addition to my previous invention before referred
to which consists in placing a toothed wheel pivotted on a screw or pin between the
toothed ring L and the driving pinion gearing with both, the driving pinion being
provided with a folding key handle to turn it with.
In Fig. 30 represents the additional wheel only a few teeth being shown on each

page_text: part and those greatly enlarged to insure clearness.
The pinion and folded key_are
seen at P. The object of the wheel being to remove the handle and pinion P as
far as possible from the toothed ring to which are affixed the legs, for the
easier manipulation, as also to prevent fouling when the tripod legs are widely
extended.
I also use another form of bolt shewn at Q fig. 3 to prevent the disc revolving
when it is desired so to do; this is pivoted by means of a screw to the plate R and is
held in place by the spring catch S and the stop plate T.
I also adopt a pivoted hook and pin attached each to a metal plate the hook
being prolonged beyond the pivot to act as a lever with which to turn it on its pivot
this book I use under the hinged bise of a photographic camera, to securely fix it
when in use, being a much more compact and handier method than side wings or the
screw adopted in my previous invention; when not in use it is held back by a spring
catch. Two positions are shown in Fig. 3 u¹ u², the plates to which the hooks and pins
are attached are shown at V1 V2 V3 the other being nearly covered by book U², the
spring catches are shown at WW2. The object of using the spring catches, is to
prevent the hook being in a dangerous position when opening the camera for use
thus saving them from destruction or injury.
I also attach all turn buttons, hooks, catch pins and stops to metal plates which
are then attached by screws to the wood, rendering them inuch less liable to be torn
off a camera by violence, the means I adopt being shewn at U and V Fig. 3.
Another handy attachment is a moveable rod or bar, fixed to a combination of
crossed levers, known as lazy tongs, and jointed by its middle to one end of the lazy
tongs, the other extremity of the lazy tongs being stiffly pivoted to a dovetailed piece
for attachment to a camera front dovetailed guides being attached to the camera
to securely hold it. The bar or rod is also provided with hooks or buttons to
which to fix an awning, the ordinary focussing cloth answering all requirements
the object being to screen off the suns rays from the lens when the camera is in
use, this arrangement affording a very portable, and ready adjustable means of
attaining the desiaed object. Another simpler means of attaining the same object
is obtained by fixing to both sides of the camera front a jointed lever both being
connected by a cross bar or rod as above this being more in the way, and not so
easily removed, when not wanted.
The drawings are taken from a 12 in. x 10 in. Photographic camera and are about half
size in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2 the drawing represents the section thicker than the
scale.
In Fig. 3 the frame is also about half size, the hooks teeth of wheels and other
small parts shown larger than the scale for the sake of clearness.
These further improvements have been designed to be used in conjunction with
other improvements for which I have already applied for a Patent and previously
referred to, the whole or part being used to make a very portable photographic camera
easy to use readily closed and very rigid when set up for use.
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
1st. In a photographic camera having two excentric, revolving panels clearly shown
in Fig. 1 in combination with the front A the flanges C and F the buttons d' d' with
or without the panel G and buttons h² ³, substantially as and for the purpose
described and shown.
2nd. In a photographic camera the front being held in place by a click and ratchet
substantially as and for the purpose described.
3rd. In a photographic camera having a moveable mask interposed between the
reversing frame and fixed frame of the camera, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
4th. In a photographic camera having a revolving ring affixed to the base, to which
the legs are attached in combination with the metal plates m' m² m³ fig. 3. and the

page_text: stud on the end of the tripod legs, substantially as and for the purpose described and
shewn.
5th. In a photographic camera having a moveable nut affixed to a rod or bar
clamped in position by the lever nut and clip or other means as shown in Fig. 3 the
parts E. F. I. H. D. C and K in combination with a sliding base substantially as and
for the purpose described and shewn.
6th. In a photographic camera having a revolving toothed disc to which the legs
are attached in placing between the toothed wheel and pinion a wheel O having the
same pitch of tooth, in combination with the key and pinion P. the bolt Q plate R
catch S and stop T Fig. 3 substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn.
7th. In a photographic camera having a hinged base fixed for use by means of
1 or more hooks u¹ V1 V2 and catch W Fig. 3 substantially as and for the purpose
described and shewn.
9th. In a photographic camera having a moveable extending adjustable hood, fixed
to the front substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn.
Dated this 14th day of September 1889.
WILLIAM SCORER.