IMPROVEMENTS IN EASEL ALBUMS FOR EXHIBITING PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Caspar Koch, junior, of Berlin, in the Kingdom
of Prussia, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN EASEL ALBUMS FOR
EXHIBITING PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES."
Sealed the 27th July 1877, and dated the 15th February 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Caspar Koch at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th February 1877.
JOHN CASPAR KOCH, junior, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia.
MENTS IN EASEL ALBUMS FOR EXHIBITING PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES."
"6
IMPROVE-
My Invention relates to what are known as easel albums for exhibiting a num-
ber of photographic or other pictures at once, and the Invention consists, first, in
an assemblage of mounts capable of being displayed in a fan-like form above the
album and of being contracted and slid down into the body of the album where
they are concealed from view. By the adaptation of this novel feature to easel
albums, their appearance is improved and increased space is obtained for exhibiting
the pictures.
The Invention also consists in the means hereafter described for operating this
fan-like arrangement of mounts whereby the pictures they contain may be suddenly
displayed to view.
The Invention further consists in improved means for facilitating the insertion
and withdrawal of pictures, more especially in glazed mounts to avoid damage to
the picture, and in a supporter or leg hinged to the clasps attached to the cover of
the album, and which, when the album is opened and the cover turned down, places
itself on the table in such a manner that the leaves of the album are supported in a
favourable position for inspection.
The album is in the form of a book fixed on an easel and the front cover drops
down in a forward direction to display the pictures. The fan-like arrangement of
mounts above referred to is carried on a horizontal bar fitted to slide up and down
between guides in the body of the album, and furnished with studs working in

page_text: vertical slots or grooves. The bar is drawn up by a spring in the form of an elastic
strip which is attached at one end to the body of the album at the lower part, passes
over a pulley at the upper part, and is attached at the other end to the said horizontal
bar which is drawn up suddenly (when released as hereafter mentioned) and main-
tained by the spring in its raised position with the mounts displayed at the top
of the album. When the album is closed the bar is pushed down to its lowest
position and retained by a spring bolt or catch engaging with a staple on the
bar. This bolt has a knob projecting at one side of the album by which it is
operated.
The fan-like arrangement of mounts is constructed as follows:- -The middle of
the set are fixed rigidly on the horizontal bar, but those at either side are hinged or
pivoted to the bar, and have springs so attached that when drawn up free from the
guides and exhibited at the top of the album these hinged mounts will be caused to
fall or incline outwards in the manner of a fan, these mounts sliding in front of the
fixed ones when closed.
.
To facilitate the insertion of photographs or other pictures in the glazed frames
or mounts on the outer cover of the album and enable them to be readily withdrawn
when desired, I encase the picture in a pocket or sheath having an opening corre-
sponding to the shape of the picture and of the opening in the mount, and provided
with tabs to facilitate the removal of both packet and picture. The leg or sup-
port is an ornamental plate hinged to the clasps, as and for the purpose above
mentioned.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Caspar Koch in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th August
.1877.
"
JOHN CASPAR KOCH, junior, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN EASEL ALBUMS FOR EXHIBITING PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES."
My Invention relates to what are known as easel albums for exhibiting a number
of photographic or other pictures at once, and the Invention consists, first, in an
assemblage of mounts capable of being displayed in a fan-like form above the
album and of being contracted and slid down into the body of the album where
they are concealed from view. By the adaptation of this novel feature to casel
albums, their appearance is improved and increased space is obtained for exhibiting
the pictures.
The Invention also consists in the means hereafter described for operating this
fan-like arrangement of mounts, whereby the pictures they contain may be suddenly
displayed to view.
The Invention further consists in improved means for facilitating the insertion
and withdrawal of pictures, more especially in glazed mounts, to avoid damage to
the picture, and in a supporter or leg hinged to the clasps attached to the cover of
the album, and which, when the album is opened and the cover turned down, places
itself on the table in such a manner that the leaves of the album are supported in a
favourable position for inspection.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood, I will proceed
to describe it in detail with reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the easel album closed'; Figure 2, a similar
view open, and the whole of the pictures displayed; Figure 3 represents a vertical
section of the same, taken on line a, B, Figure 2; and Figure 4 represents a front
elevation, partly in section, the leaves being removed to show the mechanism for
operating the fan-shaped mounts at the top.
The album is of book form and fixed on an easel a to which the back cover b of
the album is rivetted or otherwise secured. The front cover c drops down in a

page_text: forward direction to display the pictures contained in the leaves d, d², d³, d³, attached
thereto, and in the leaves f, f¹, f, all of which open out as shown in Figure 2. So
far the easel album is much as usual.
According to my Invention the cover c is supported in the position represented in
Figures 2 and 3 by a leg or support e in the form of an ornamental plate which is
hinged loosely to the clasp of the album, as shown in Figure 1, so as to assume a
vertical position and stand upon the table, as shown in Figure 3, when the cover c
is dropped down. g¹, g³, g³, g, g³, are the mounts arranged in a fan-like form and
projecting above the top of the book portion of the album when in their raised
position. These mounts are carried on a horizontal bar h fitted to slide up and
down between guides h¹ at either side of cover b, the said bar being also furnished
with studs 1, 1, which work in slots or grooves k, k¹, lined with tin in the cover b
and serve to retain mounts g², g², g³, 9, 9, and prevent them rising too high. The
middle mounts g, g³, g, are in one and are rigidly fixed to the bar h, while the side
ones g¹, go, are capable of swinging inwards towards the central mount g³, passing
in front or behind the intermediate mounts g², gt. The lower edge of the side
mounts g', 95, which rest on the bar h is oblique, as shown by the dotted lines, in
order that the mounts may be inclined at the proper angle, and the inner corners
are rounded and roll on the bar, the mounts swinging as on a pivot, or they may
be pivotted at this corner. The side mounts when drawn up free from the guides h¹
are caused to spread outwards by elastic bands i by which they are connected at
bottom to the bar h, and when the fan-shaped mounts are pushed down these side
ones g¹, g³, are gathered inwards by the guides h¹. The bar h is drawn up to the
position shown by an elastic band which lays in a vertical groove in the back
cover b of the album and is attached thereto at one end by a rivet p, the band
passing over a pulley o at the top of the groove and being connected at the other
end to the bar h by a U shaped metal staple m. When the mounts g and bar h
are pushed down to their lowest position, a spring bolt at the lower part of the
album engages with this staple m in order to retain the mounts in the lowered
position and keep the elastic band end stretched in readiness to cause the mounts g to
spring up suddenly immediately the bolt is released. This bolt is a square rod r
fitted to slide in two fixed guides 8, 8, between which, on the bolt, there is a spiral
spring u that tends to keep the hooked end g of the bolt engaged in the staple m.
t is a knob at the other end of the bolt r projecting at one side of the album, as
shown, and by pressing which the bolt is disengaged from the staple m. The
leaves ff, f, are attached by hinges to a plate behind them so that they can be
raised, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 3, when photographs are to be
inserted. On the outside of the front cover c there are glazed frames or mounts for
the reception of photographs or other pictures as usual; and to facilitate the insertion
of the said pictures and enable them to be readily withdrawn when desired, I pro-
vide pockets, sheaths, or envelopes in which to encase the pictures before inserting
them through the slit in the frame or mounts, the said pockets having openings
corresponding in shape and size to those of the frames or mounts, so as not to
interfere with the view of the picture. The said pockets are made of cloth or
paper and provided with tabs x, Figure 1, to facilitate the removal of both pocket
and picture.
Having described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing the
same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. In an easel album, the assemblage of fan-like mounts constructed to slide up
and down in the album and to be expanded or displayed, as shown and described,
together with the means by which they are so raised and displayed, substantially
as specified.
2nd. The self-setting hinged rest or support e, in combination with the fall down
front cover of an easel album, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3rd. The employment of pockets, sheaths, or envelopes provided with tabs and

page_text: having openings to display the pictures for the purpose of enabling the pictures to
be readily inserted in and withdrawn from the glazed frames or mounts of albums,
as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Caspar Koch, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JOHN C. KOCH, JR. (L.S.)