Improvements in or connected with Photographic Cameras or Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct., 1893-Accepted, 2nd Dec.,
1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in or connected with Photographic Cameras or
Apparatus.
We, HARRY GAMmwell, of 37, Wavertree Road, and CHARLES GAMWELL, of
46, Low Hill, both in Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Clock-makers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to bc
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The present invention relates more particularly to hand cameras; and has
mainly for its object to provide, and comprises, a camera which shall possess
qualities of an ordinary hand camera, namely that of carrying a battery or
considerable number of sensitive plates, films, or the like, combined with that of
being able to open it (without bag or other "dark" arrangements or the
like, such as are now used) in the full light for manipulation, or for other purposes,
without damaging or affecting said plates or other sensitive media used, and at the
same time enabling the plates to be exposed from outside.
"
In a camera of the above improved character or construction, there is employed
a battery or series of closed and locked light-tight metallic sheaths of narrow
width (namely preferably of just sufficient width to contain a sensitive plate, film
holder, or the like), each having a hinged door; the sheaths being arranged one
behind the other-and in a plane normally at right angles to the axis of the lens-
within a chamber at the back of the camera, and adapted to be moved up to the
front of such chamber for the exposure of the sensitive surface, by taking the
foremost one out (say after an exposure) by the hand, and placing it at the back,
or in an intermediate position, whereby the succeeding sheath is moved up to the
front-in the full day light and with the camera open, and without "bag" or
other "dark" arrangements; whilst the door of the foremost sheath of the battery
is adapted to be pressed open against the retentive action of the means or con-
struction employed for locking or keeping closed the door thereof, by a suitable
device or part of a device within the camera, but operated from without, when
exposing the sensitive plate or other media. Access to the sheaths and sheath.
chamber, for manipulating and changing them in the open light, is had by a door
above same, preferably; but at other parts if desired, such as at the side, in
addition to which a falling back to the sheath chamber may be provided in some
cases.
Thus there is in a camera adapted to operate and fitted and constructed under
this invention, a chamber at the back of the camera; a battery or a number of
closed and normally locked metallic sheaths (that is, sheaths with a hinged door or
part adapted to make it light-tight when closed, and so constructed or provided
with means that the said door remains locked, latched or equivalently held when
closed, so that the door will not fall open of itself, but be readily opened and
closed from outside the camera by a suitable mechanism adapted to press it
forwards or backwards against the retentive action of its construction for or means
of locking or keeping it closed), which sheaths are arranged one behind the other
in vertical planes, normally at right angles to the axis of the lens in said chamber;
a door or doors in the camera-preferably above or at one side of the camera-
through which access is had to the sheaths in the open daylight for manipulating
them or placing them in position, and without any "dark" hindrances; and a
device by which the foremost sheath door of the battery can be pressed open from
an actuating device from without the camera; the mode of operating the sheaths
being by opening said sheath chamber door and taking the foremost sheath after

page_text: exposure, from the front, and placing it, preferably, at the rear of the battery, by
which action the space within the chamber is kept filled and the feeding of the
successive sheaths up to the front, for exposure of the sensitive plate or other
media thereof is effected.
By such a construction or combination of photographic apparatus, and mode of
operating same, is provided a hand-camera containing a battery of sensitive plates,
films, or other media, capable of being manipulated with the camera open, and in
full day-light, and without "bags" or other "dark" arrangements.
A photographic apparatus constructed, and adapted to operate in the manner
above described is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which coustitutes an
example or is typical of the invention.
In these drawings
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation illustrating the interior of the back
part of a camera, with the sheaths therein.
Figure 2 is the same view without the sheaths.
Figure 3 illustrates the camera, viewed from outside, shewing an external
operating device.
Figure 4 is an end view or transverse section taken at the line A A Figure 1
looking towards the sheath chamber, and shewing the foremost sheath in a closed
condition and partly shewing the interior thereof.
Figure 5 is a plan shewing the battery of sheaths in position.
Figure 6 is a cross section of a sheath with its door open, and the plate or the
like in position, and
Figure 7 is a sectional elevation of a modified arrangement of apparatus according
to our invention.
Referring to the drawings, the general body of the camera is designated a, that
portion of it constituting the chamber in which the battery of closed sheaths is.
disposed being designated a'. is a door at the top of the camera, hinged at 61
thereto, by which, when it is open, access is afforded to the sheaths for manipula-
tion, insertion, or other object or purpose. The back end 3, when desired may
also be adapted to open or tail; for which purpose it would be hinged, say at b³,
and fastened to the sides of the camera by hooks, , as shewn in dotted lines.
s denotes generally the sheaths, c are inwardly projecting ledges constituting front
registers, against which the foremost sheath comes when in position. d is an arm
having an upper bifurcated end as shewn, and mounted on a horizontal axis d' at
the bottom of the camera; and e is an external actuating arm connected with the
arm by the spindle d', which projects through the camera side. This arm & and
the arme constitute one species of mechanism by which the door of the foremost
sheaths can be operated, that is opened and closed. is a plate mounted on the
side of the camera body, and against which a projecting part e¹ on the inside of
the arme bears and works, constituting a frictional retaining device by which
the position of the arm or arms d can be retained in any desired position.
The sheaths s are made of thin metal (say for instance about 24 Birmingham
metal gauge), as shewn in the drawings, and constructed mainly of two parts
hinged together at the bottom by a hinge or joint pin h¹, one part constituting the
back, 2, and enclosing sides, h, and the other, A, the door by which the sheath is
opened and closed. The sides h³ are double and create a space between then all
round the sheath; whilst the door * is provided with a ledge 4 all round on the
inner side of same, which, when the door is closed, fits in the space between the
double sides, so rendering the sheath light-tight when closed.
Also under this invention. the sheaths for use in photographic cameras are so
made that the whole area of the sensitive plate contained by a sheath is exposed
to the action of the light when exposed without any projections or the like over
the sensitive surface, so showing a larger proportion of view than that shown when
using ordinary sheaths. Also under this invention we provide a special mode or
means of holding the plate or the like in the sheaths. The space within the sheath
sides h³ is entirely open and there is provided at the top a spring i, and at the

page_text: lower part projecting supports j, preferably inclined on the upper surface as shewn,
to afford a sure retention of the plate or other sensitive carrier in position; and
on which the lower edge of such plate or film (marked t in the drawings) will rest
when in position, the spring at the top being adapted to press the plate or the like
downwards onto the supports j and so keep it steady, and in the correct position,
within the sheath. The supports j, as shewn in the drawings, are so disposed―
that is some distance above the inner of the lower sides 3-as to leave a space
below the plate or the like when in position, by which the finger or thumb can be
placed against and under it for with drawing same, or when placing it in the sheath,
so rendering these operations readily performed.
The
The back, 2, of the sheaths is provided with projecting ledges or flanges k which
come against the front registers c when the sheaths come to the front.
showing or indication as to which sheaths have had their plates or the like exposed,
and which not, is afforded, and the retention of these flanges against such registers
and the filling of the chamber a¹, so as to avoid looseness or rattle of the sheaths,
is effected by a spring. The spring in the arrangement shewn in the drawings is a
loose one, such as u, which travels or is moved with the sheaths as they are moved
in succession up to the registers.
The door of the sheaths is provided with a projecting lug at each side. One
of these lugs is adapted to fit into the end of the arm d which is bifurcated or
slotted as shewn to receive it; and this is done as the sheaths are moved up to the
front of the chamber by the lug n. By this engagement of the lug 1, by the
arm d, the door is caused to be opened, i.e. moved down and lifted up and shut,
by the actuation, down and up, of the arm e.
The sheaths are so constructed, or provided with such a device, that the door
when closed causes an automatic engagement or locking with the fixed part, and
such that it will not of itself open at any time, but will permit of its being easily
opened and closed by a small pressure, thus rendering it easy of operation through
an externally actuated device as herein referred to. For instance the means of
keeping the door of the sheath shut, and the sheath light-tight, shewn in the
drawings, consists of an automatic frictional catch, being a metallic bar or
projection m secured or formed on the upper part of the door and adapted,
when closed, to press with a slight, but sufficient pressure upon the upper part or
surface of the upper side, it being of such thickness of metal as will give the
amount of spring and friction desired, and having its tip tapered or rounded as
shewn to enable it, when the door is being closed, to ride onto the upper side of ³.
This is one form of locking or retaining device; but other equivalent means may be
used in lieu thereof, such as by adapting the ledge 4 of the door h' to press onto
one of the surfaces of the sides ³ when closed, so creating a frictional locking or
gripping construction or means. Another example may consist of a small spring
pawl in contact with the sides of which the edge of the door comes, when being
opened or closed, and by the shape of which it will be raised in the action of
closing and opening by pressing the door out or in, thus freeing it or locking it, as
the case may be. This latter device however for obtaining this end is not so
simple as those just mentioned.
The sheaths are, previous to being placed in the camera, filled with a sensitive
plate or the like in a dark room or chainber. When being placed in the chamber a',
the door b is open. Each sheath is provided with a tab n at the top by which it
can be held; and when placed in the camera, the lug of the foremost sheath is
dropped or placed in the slot in the arm d, or withdrawn therefrom with facility.
Thus the chamber a' can be charged with sensitive plates, or other media, in full
daylight, and without any "dark" arrangement whatever. When the camera is so
charged, the door b is closed and the camera shut up and ready for use.
In operation, the front sheath, with its door closed, is placed in the camera with
its door lug in the bifurcated end of the arm d as described, and the ledges k
bearing against the front registers c. To expose the plate, or film, of this sheath,
its door * is open, that is moved down, by pressing the actuating lever e forward

page_text: and down until it takes or approaches the horizontal position, or sufficiently
removed as not to interfere with the rays of light getting to the sensitive inedia
from the lens. When this is done, the exposure may be made in any of the
ordinary ways. After the exposure is made the door is moved up by bringing
back the levere to the vertical position, and the sheath is closed and locked.
Then to expose another plate or the like, the sheath last operated is removed, this
being done by opening the door band lifting the sheath out of the arm d, and from
the camera through the aperture covered by the door b. It is then placed behind
the spring or follower so causing the then foremost sheath to be moved forward.
This sheath is then raised slightly so that one of the lugs will come above the
lever d, when it is dropped into the bifurcated end thereof, the ledges k of the
sheath being brought up to the front registers c. When this is done the door b> is
again shut, and the plate of film of the foremost sheath is ready to be exposed.
All these actions are performed in the full light, so rendering the operations
connected with the moving or manipulation of the sensitive plates or the like easy
of accomplishment and effected with certainty; that is, without liability of
mistake, which is often caused when using "bags" and other "dark arrange-
ments, or when the operations are not directly under view; and it also enables the
sheaths to be taken out and put in singly, or in batches, or otherwise manipulated.
It is to be stated that the invention is not restricted as regards the means of
actuating the door of the sheaths as this may be effected in various ways, and by
different equivalents, without departing from the scope of the invention; also as
regards that shewn in the drawings, Figures 1 to 6, in lieu of using one arm don
one side, an arm at each side may be used, in which case the lug at each side of
the door would fit into the end of the arms and be actuated thereby.
"
On the
As an instance or example of a modified means of actuating the sheath door, one
is shewn in Figure 7, wherein the door is opened by a slide at the top and closed
by an arm actuated from the side. Referring to this modification, shewn in
Figure 7, the slide consists of a sliding piece o, having an upper projecting "thumb-
catch" o' thereon, its edges at the sides and ends working in and under a suitable
guide frame o, whereby light is prevented from entering the camera.
under side of the slide o a projecting part o³ is provided it being so arranged that
when in operation the slide is being pressed forward, it comes in contact with a
projection on the upper edge of the front sheath door and moves it so far
forward as to release the friction or catch in from off the upper side ³ of the
sheath case. The door is thereby freed, and will fall open of itself; or, its
falling may be assisted by the tilting downwards of the front of the camera.
close the door, the actuating arm e-which will be lying in the horizontal position
or thereabouts is raised to the vertical position, or thereabouts, and so, through
the arm d within the camera, upon which the door will be resting, is raised and
the door closed.
To
In the camera shewn in the drawings, the door of the sheath and that of the
camera are illustrated as having their hinges or axis at the lower horizontal plane;
these however and the actuating arms and fittings may be arranged to lie and work
in the upper horizontal plane, or the vertical plane, at either side.
When a sheath is moved up to the front registers for being operated, that is with
its ledges & bearing against the registers c, the lugs of the plate next behind will
bear upon the back of the foremost sheath, and when this sheath is removed, these
lugs will then be brought up to the front register by the action of the spring
follower, and it will next be fed up or moved into the position for operating it as
above described.
To hold the sheath back firmly when the door h is being closed, there is
provided in the door b a groove x and a bar x across it, which, when the door is
closed, comes just behind the tab n, so forming a rigid stop or backing thereto.
In some cases if desired the sheaths & may be made of double construction, i.e.,
with two sensitive plates or the like therein back to back with a partition, namely,
the part, between them.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we desire to state that we make
no claim to the features of construction of the sheath claimed in our former
Specification of application for Patent No. 1000 of 1893, left contemporaneously
with this application, nor to anything therein claimed; nor broadly to a camera
adapted to contain one or more closed sheaths; but what we claim in respect of
the herein described invention is :-
1. The improvement in photographic cameras or apparatus, consisting of the
employment and combination of a chamber at the rear part of the camera containing
or adapted to contain a battery or plurality of closed metallic sheaths each provided
with a hinged door and containing a sensitive plate film or other like media, said
sheaths being arranged or disposed in the camera chamber in a plane normally at
right angles with the axis of the lens, and behind one another, and adapted to be
fed up successively (or in other order) to the front, for exposure of the plate or
the like therein, by removing the foremost sheath after such exposure, as described;
a door at the top or one side or part of the camera by which access is had to one
set of edges of the battery or plurality of sheaths for manipulating them as
described; and a suitable mechanical device actuated from without the camera, by
which the door of the foremost sheath is opened and, after exposure of the plate or
other sensitive media therein, closed with the other part of the sheath; whereby a
hand camera containing a battery or plurality of sensitive plates, films, or the like,
can be opened, and such plates films or the like put in or taken out or manipulated
as desired in full daylight, and at the same time enabling them to be exposed and
the sheaths operated from without the camera.
2. The herein described improvement in photographic apparatus, consisting of
the employment in combination with or for a hand camera of the kind herein
referred to containing or adapted to contain a plurality of sensitive plates or like
media, of closed metallic sheaths, each provided with a hinged door constructed or
provided with means to automatically engage or become locked with the back or
case thereof when closed, and be capable of being readily disengaged when in the
camera by a slight pressure; and a mechanical device or devices operated from
without the camera, adapted to engage with the said door of each sheath and be
operated thereby (that is, opened and closed) against the resistance of the door
locking or retaining means or device, whereby the door of the sheaths can be readily
opened and closed from without the camera when or before and after exposing the
plate or the like; and when out of the camera will not of themselves fall open.
3. In a photographic camera of the kind herein referred to, the combination,
substantially as described, of a battery or plurality of closed sheaths of the kind
herein specified arranged one behind the other, and adapted to be moved up to the
front for exposing the sensitive plate or the like therein by taking the foremost one
after exposure of the plate or the like from the front and placing it behind or at
the back as described; and a loose spring adapted to be placed between the sheaths
and to be moved or travel with same as the sheaths are changed, whereby the
sheaths are held firmly in position in the camera and the spring also constitutes an
indicator, to shew those sheaths which have had their plate or the like exposed,
and those which have not.
4. In or for photographic cameras or apparatus of the kind herein referred to, a
sheath for containing sensitive plates or other like media, of thin metal and having
a hinged door, and a back with sides thereon, as set forth, and a frictional locking
means or construction, substantially as specified, by which the door is kept closed
of itself when shut, but is free and adapted to be easily opened and closed when in
the camera by a mechanical device actuated from without same by a slight pressure,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
5. The herein described improved construction of photographic sensitive plate or
film holder consisting of a metallic sheath comprising a back with duplex sides; a
door within an internal ledge round same adapted to fit within the space enclosed

page_text: by said sides as set forth; and a spring mechanism within the space enclosed by
said sides and back, adapted to press upon the plate or the like when within same
and retain it in position therein, whereby the whole surface of such plate or media
is exposed to the action of the light when exposed, and also is freely and easily
placed in position and removed from the sheath; for the purposes specified.
6. In a photographic sheath for containing photographic plates or other like
media for use in photographic cameras of the kind herein referred to, the particular
construction of metallic sheath described with reference to the drawings, consisting
of the back with the double sides thereon, the door with the internal ledge h
hinged to the back, the spring i and the supports j disposed within the sides h³ as
specified, frictional locking or retaining device m, and provisions for holding said
sheaths in the camera and operating the door, all as set forth with reference to and
shewn in Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings.
7. The camera or photographic apparatus having its parts arranged, combined,
constructed, and adapted to operate, all particularly as herein set forth with
reference to and shewn in Figures 1 to 6, and Figure 7, respectively, of the
drawings.
ed this 20th day of October 1893.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Patent Agents.