IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE DARK CHAMBERS OR TENTS FOR THE PURPOSES OF PHOTOGRAPHIC MANIPULATION IN THE FIELD, AND OF CONTAINING AND TRANSPORTING THE NECESSARY APPARATUS
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edgar Cox at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th April 1866.
I, EDGAR Cox, of Weymouth, in the County of Dorset, Photographer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE
DARK CHAMBERS OR TENTS FOR THE PURPOSES OF PHOTOGRAPHIC MANIPULATION IN
THE FIELD, AND OF CONTAINING AND TRANSPORTING THE NECESSARY APPARATUS," to
be as follows:
This Invention has for its object improvements in portable dark chambers
or tents for the purposes of photographic manipulation in the field, and of
containing and transporting the necessary apparatus, and is as follows:-I
make use of an oblong or other conveniently formed box or case having a lid
or cover binged to it at one side. To this lid or cover is hinged or jointed au
additional part or flap, which turns down and lies beneath it when the box or
case is closed. To each end of the box or case is hinged a flap corresponding
in length with that of the combined lid or cover and flap before mentioned, so
that on placing them together with the lid or cover and its flap in a vertical
or nearly vertical position they may join and be secured together by thumb-
screws or otherwise at their corresponding sides or edges, so as to form three
sides of a parallelogram or analagous figure. Within the box or case and
beneath the cover and flaps described is situated a washing trough or sink for

page_text: enabling the plates in course of preparation to be washed as required, and
above it (when the chamber or tent is in use) is situated a tap or cock, which
at other times is removed and carried in the trough or sink, which is also at
those times made to contain a cistern capable (when the cover and flap are
placed in their vertical position) of being suspended outside, and connected
by india-rubber tubing or otherwise with the tap placed above the washing
trough or sink as described, the waste water from which is carried off by
means of a similar tube attached when working to the outside of the box or
case. Within the box or case, and beyond the ends of the washing trough
or sink, are trays or cases for carrying the chemicals required for immediate
use, the tap, india-rubber tubes, and other miscellaneous articles, as also a
stand for such bottles as may for the time be in use when an operator is
working. A deep recess extending below the level of the trough or sink is
provided for containing the bath, which when in use may be raised partially
out of the recess and made to rest upon a ledge or shelf, which may be drawn
out or let down for the purpose. In operating the necessary amount of non-
actinic light is admitted to the chamber or tent by means of windows of
coloured glass in the raised flap of the cover of the box or case, all other light
being excluded by means of a tent cloth or cover stretched across and secured
to the tops or around the edges of the flaps, and after passing over a
removeable frame carried by the flaps descending loosely at the back of the
operator, around whose waist it is then secured in such manner as to prevent
the passage of light between his body and the cloth, the straight edge of
which is secured by screws and slips or otherwise to the front of the box or
case, the necessary air being admitted through the box by a suitable channel
excluding light. The box or case is formed with a door giving access to a
space (situated beneath the trough or sink and trays before mentioned), in
which may be carried the tent cloth or cover and necessary instruments, as
also such chemicals as it may be necessary to carry in addition to those carried
for immediate use above. In order to transport the box or case from place
to place as required, and to support it (when opened and in use) at a suitable
beight for the convenience of the operator, I make use of a four-wheeled
carriage, which may if desired be made to take in pieces, and upon the frame
of which the box is carried. The carriage is also constructed with a water
tank ör reservoir, in which water may be carried for the supply of the small
cistern before referred to as required, and is farther provided with suitable
arrangements for carrying the requisite tripods and other similar appliances.
In order to meet those cases in which it n.ay be necessary to dispense with
the carriage, as in ascending mountainous passes and elsewhere, the upper

page_text: part of the box with the cover, flaps, trough or sink, and other necessary
details, may be made capable of removal from the box or case, so as to be
carried with the tent cloth and other apparatus by poles or otherwise, and set
upon portable legs capable of being screwed or otherwise attached to it.