Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Mar., 1887.
Complete Left, 14th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 16th Aug., 1887.
GEORGE FREDERICK BLACKMORE Civil Engineer 1 Coulter Road, The Grove
Hammersmith, W. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In arranging the sides and ends of Racks with hinged connections in such a way
that they form a parallel or nearly parallel motion when being folded collapsed or
closed up, and in making either or both of the sides partly or wholly detachable at
will for greater convenience in folding or closing them up.
To carry out my invention I arrange the parts in such a manner that the rack can
he quickly prepared for the reception of negatives or similar articles and may also be
rapidly closed or folded up into a very small space thus making it extremely portable
and convenient for packing or stowing away for travelling. The rack in its simplest
form is made of two sides of corrugated or grooved zinc or other suitable material the
corrugations or grooves being of any number according to the quantity of plates or
negatives that it is intended to hold. The two corrugated or grooved sides are main-
tained when in use at suitable distances apart corresponding to the size of plate or
negative that it is to be used for by two or more bands of wire or strips arranged so
as to pass at right angles to the corrugated or grooved sides in a continuous length
along the backs of them and to connect them at the ends.
To the outside of the corrugated or grooved sides the wire bands are attached at
suitable distances apart and parallel to each other in such a way that they form a
hinge or parallel motion. By this arrangement the sides may be moved so as to lie
end to end and perfectly flat. Along the inside of the corrugated or grooved sides at
a suitable distance from the bottom is fastened a strip of wire or other material to
form a stop or ledge on which the negatives or plates can rest and which prevents
them passing through the rack when being used. To the upper of the parallel wires
or strips there are attached two or more loops or handles that are free to turn on the
wires so that when necessary the rack can be suspended by them and when not in use
they can be folded down close to the corrugated or grooved sides.

page_text: In some cases I arrange a number of the corrugated or grooved sides in a row and
connect them all by a series of wire bands or parallel motions so that they will all fold
together when required.
I sometimes arrange two or more pairs of parallel strips or wires to connect the
corrugated or grooved sides, without passing along their backs, by means of loose pins
or rivets at each end of each strip so as to afford a hinge or parallel movement similar
to that already described.
In other cases I so arrange the parallel wires or strips that either or both of the
corrugated or grooved sides can be partly or wholly detached from them and thus
allow the rack to be folded into a still smaller compass. This I accomplish by means
of hinged or spring clips or their equivalent fastened to the corrugated or grooved
sides by means of pins or rivets or by soldering or equivalent method so that they
can clip the wire hands or be detached when required and allow the corrugated or
grooved sides to turn or hinge freely as previously described.
Dated this Nineteenth day of March 1887.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Washing and Draining Racks for Photographic
Negatives.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK BLACKMORE Civil Engineer 1 Coulter Road, The Grove
Hammersmith London, W. in the county of Middlesex 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:-
In arranging the sides and ends of racks with hinged and knuckle joint connections
in such a way that they form a parallel or nearly parallel movement when being
folded collapsed or closed up, and in making either or both of the sides partly or
wholly detachable at will for greater convenience in folding and closing them up.
Also in arranging the various parts of the rack in the manner and for the purposes
described in this specification and as shown on the drawings.
To carry out my invention I arrange the parts in such a manner that the rack can
be quickly prepared for the reception of negatives or similar articles for the purpose
of washing and drying them and for other operations of a similar nature and so that
the rack can be rapidly folded collapsed or closed up into a very small space thus
making it extremely portable and convenient for stowing away for travelling.
Figure 1. shows a side elevation, figure 2. an end elevation and figure 3. a plan of

page_text: a rack. The sides A. A. are made of zinc or other suitable material bent so as to form
any number of corrugations or grooves, or in some cases the grooves are cut out of
solid material without bending the substance, or in other cases the grooves are formed
by the addition of strips to the flat surface of the material. The sides are connected
by two or more wires or bands B. B. which serve to keep the sides at a suitable
distance apart for the reception of negatives or other similar articles.
The wires
or bands B. B. are attached to the sides by staples or clips C. C. in such a way
that the wires or bands are free to turn or hinge in them and so allow the rack to
be folded collapsed or closed up with a parallel or nearly parallel movement of the
hinged parts.
To the upper wire or band is attached loosely two loops or handles D. D. one on
either side for the purpose of lifting holding or suspending the rack when it is
necessary to do so. The loops or handles can turn freely on the wires or bands B. B.
and can be folded close to the corrugated or grooved sides.
Along the inner faces of the corrugated or grooved sides A. A. and at a convenient
distance from the bottom are placed two strips or stops E. E. one on either face.
These strips or stops form ledges on which the negatives can rest when they are
placed in the grooves or corrugations of the rack. Figure 4 shows a rack in its
folded collapsed or closed up position.
In some cases I connect the corrugated or grooved sides of the rack by means of
flat or other shaped strips F. F. as shown in figures 5. and 6. These strips are
attached loosely to the corrugated or grooved sides by pins bolts or rivets G. G. so as
to form hinges and a parallel or nearly parallel closing movement as before described.
To the upper pins bolts or rivets are attached loops or handles D. D. similar to those
already described or they may be connected by independent staples clips or hinges to
any other convenient part of the corrugated or grooved sides or to the connecting
strips F. F. I also make the strips easily detachable at either or both ends by
removing the pins or bolts or by pulling the strips clear of them.
Figures 7 and 8 show a double rack made with three corrugated or grooved sides
connected together in a manner similar to figures 5. and 6. and so that they can be
folded collapsed or closed up with a parallel or nearly parallel movement of the parts
as before described. If desirable more than three corrugated or grooved sides may be
connected together in a similar manner to form a rack of considerably increased
capacity.
In some cases I make the bands wires or connecting strips with one or more joints
hinges or knuckles in them as shown at H. H. in figures 9. and 10. and so that the
two sides can collapse or close together with a parallel or nearly parallel movement as
previously described. I also sometimes connect the two or more joints hinges or
knuckles H. H. by another wire or strip J. shown in dotted lines in figures 9.
and 10.
In
Figure 11. shows a method of making the wires or bands B. casily detachable from
the corrugated or grooved sides A. The hook or clip K. is fastened at one end to the
corrugated or grooved side A. and the other end is free and shaped so that the wire or
band B. can be quickly and easily sprung or hooked into it or detached from it.
some cases I use these hooks instead of or in combination with the staples or clips C. C.
shown in figures 1. 2. and 3. It is obvious that the parts of these racks could be
made more rigid by tightening the staples clips pins bolts or rivets or they may be
permanently fixed together in the open position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is; ;-
1. A portable rack made with two or more corrugated or grooved sides connected
together so that they can be folded collapsed or closed up with a parallel or nearly
parallel movement of the parts substantially as described.
2. The connection of the corrugated or grooved sides of such racks by two or
more wires or bands fastened to them by means of staples or clips so as to form
hinges substantially as described.

page_text: 3. The attachment of loops or handles to the wires or bands or strips or other
convenient parts of such racks so that they can be folded up close to the sides of
the rack substantially as described.
4. The attachment of ledges or stops to the corrugated or grooved sides of such
racks for the negatives to rest on substantially as described.
5. The connection of the corrugated or grooved sides of such racks by two or
more flat or other shaped strips by means of pins bolts or rivets substantially as
described.
6. The arrangement for allowing the wires bands or connecting strips to be wholly
or partly detachable from the sides of such racks substantially as described.
7. The arrangement for providing the wires bands or connecting strips with one
or more knuckle joints or hinges in them substantially as described.