IMPROVEMENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Bentley Woodbury, of Manor House, South
Norwood, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS."
Sealed the 20th October 1877, and dated the 27th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Bentley Woodbury
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th April 1877.
WALTER BENTLEY WOODBURY, of Manor House, South Norwood, in the County
of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS."
These improvements consist,-
Firstly. In an apparatus for obtaining photographs from a great height by means
of a captive balloon carrying the necessary material, communications for the purpose
of manipulating being obtained by electric currents passed through wires entwined
in the rope or cord connecting the balloon with the earth. In the place ordinarily
occupied by the car I attach a box open at the bottom, to one side of which is
attached the rope or cord connecting it with the earth, and at the opposite side_a
species of sail to act as a rudder or tail to keep the balloon from turning round.
In
the inside of the said box I attach a second box swung on a pivot, so as to enable it
to be always horizontal. In this inner movable box is contained the neces-
sary apparatus for photographing, consisting of the lens, which is placed in the
bottom, a dark slide having two rollers carrying the sensitive tissue, moved by
clockwork, and an electro-magnetic arrangemnt for guiding the movements of the
same, and also working an instantaneous shutter placed immediately over the lens.
The clockwork is set in motion, and arrested by electric communication from the
earth, exposing a fresh length of the sensitive material as required. The instan-
taneous shutter is composed of a disc of metal or ebonite, having an aperture at one
side; this is made, by means of an india-rubber spring, to revolve rapidly in front
of the lens every time it is released by a catch acted on by the electro-magnet,
which is communicated with by the wires twisted in the cord or rope. These wires
are three in number, one to act on the clockwork, one on the instantaneous shutter,
and the third to make the return circuit with the carth. It will easily be seen that
I Prins 11

page_text: the balloon once elevated, the tissue in its place, and the lens properly focussed for
the extreme distance, electric communication can be made with the shutter, thus
giving an instantaneous exposure to the prepared surface. The electric communica-
tion being then transferred to the wire in connection with the clockwork will cause
this to move the required distance, giving a fresh surface for the next exposure, thus
enabling a series of photographs to be obtained while the apparatus is elevated at
the same or different altitudes.
Secondly. In a new form of camera shaped like an ordinary box, the deepest
part or body containing the bellows and slide holder, and the shallow part or lid,
the front to carry the lens. When opened the combined parts of the lid and bottom
being screwed together give the necessary firmness and length for long as well as
short focussed lenses. To determine the position of the lens a marked scale is fitted
into the lid, by which its focus will very nearly be found, accurate adjustment being
made by a slight movement of the hinder part by means of a screw worked from
the front. This camera when closed bears the appearance of an ordinary writing
case or dispatch box.
The slide for holding dry plates is constructed as follows:-A thin wooden frame
joined at the corners has at one end an opening, through which two dry plates
placed back to back can be inserted, a piece of thin metal of a wavy form being
placed between them to act as a spring and keep them in contact with the flame.
When inserted a thin wood or metal shutter closes the opening hermetically against
the light.
Instead of the ordinary wooden slide I employ a sheet of thin flexible metal,
which can be bent to one side during exposure, and again resume its original shape
when closed, or a stouter sheet of metal with a joint, on to which is fixed a thin
flexible piece of metal.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Walter Bentley Woodbury in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th October 1877.
WALTER BENTLEY WOODBURY, of Manor House, South Norwood, in the County of
Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS."
This Invention relates,―
<<
Firstly. To improvements in apparatus for obtaining photographs from a sufficient
height above the surface of the earth by means of a captive" balloon (or balloon
held down by a rope) carrying the necessary photographic apparatus, the necessary
manipulations for the purpose of manipulating such apparatus and obtaining the
photographs being effected by an operator on the earth by means of suitable electro-
magnetic apparatus actuated as desired through insulated wires entwined with or
supported by the rope which connects the balloon to the earth. In the place
ordinarily occupied by the car of the balloon I attach a box of sufficient size, and of
suitable material, open below, and having attached to one side of it the rope by
which the balloon is held. At the opposite side of the box I fix a vertical plane of
as light material as possible, serving as a sail or rudder, the action of the wind upon
which prevents the balloon from turning round. In the inside of the box I suspend
upon a pivot fixed in the top of the first box a second box or camera, which thus
remains always horizontal. This second box or camera is provided with a suitable
photographic lens, pointing downward, at the proper distance above which is
arranged horizontally a dark slide provided with two rollers carrying a sheet or
strip of flexible tissue made sensitive to the action of light in the way well under-
stood and practised. One of the rollers is provided with clockwork, by the revolu-
tion of which the sheet of sensitive tissue is drawn forward from one roller to the
other, as desired, and this clockwork is made to revolve for a sufficient time, when

page_text: desired, by the action of electro-magnetic apparatus connected to it, and set in
operation by completing or interrupting a current of electricity made to pass through
insulated wires passing to the earth either with the rope which holds the balloon or
suspended to such rope. The clockwork may be actuated by a spring retained by
a detent, which can be released by the electro-magnet when required, or it may be
actuated by a detent or driver operating upon a ratchet wheel, and set in motion
by the electro-magnet. Another electro-magnet, actuated by separate insulated
wires, actuates a shutter arranged in front of the lens, which latter can thus be
instantaneously uncovered and reclosed when desired. The instantaneous shutter
may be composed of a disc of metal, ebonite, or other suitable material having an
aperture near one of its sides, and made to revolve rapidly in front of the lens when
required by means of an india-rubber or other spring when released by the catch or
detent already described; or a sbutter made to oscillate from side to side may be
used. Three wires are extended between the balloon and the earth, one to operate
the clock work which actuates the sensitive tissue, one to operate the instantaneous
shutter, and the third to make the return circuit to the earth.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 is in illustration of this part of my
Invention.
A is the balloon; a is the box in place of a car; b, the camera; c, the sheet of
sensitive tissue wound round two rollers, and actuated by the clockwork d, which
is set in motion by electro-magnetic apparatus in the frame e by means of the wiro e'.
The lens fis uncovered when required by the instantaneous shutter g set in motion
by the electro-magnetic apparatus h by means of the wire h¹; the rudder or fan i is
attached to the box a to keep the latter in one position. The wires e¹ and h¹ and
the return wire k are contained in the rope l, by which the balloon and apparatus
described are held to the earth. When the balloon is elevated to its proper position,
with the sensitive tissue in its place, and the lens focussed for the extreme distance,
electric communication can be made with the shutter, thus giving an instantaneous
exposure to the prepared surface. The electric communication being then transferred
to the wire in connection with the clockwork will cause this to move for a sufficient
distance, thus giving a fresh sensitive surface for the next exposure, and so on, thus
enabling a series of photographs to be obtained while the apparatus is elevated at
the same or different altitudes.
I claim the combination with a captive balloon of the photographic apparatus
actuated by means of electricity, conveyed as required through wires supported
by a rope which retains the balloon to the earth, substantially as described and
shewn.
Also the arrangement of a tail or rudder for the purpose of keeping in its proper
position the captive balloon provided with the photographic apparatus, substantially
as described and shewn.
The second part of my said Invention consists of a novel form of photographic
camera, so arranged as to be in the form of an ordinary box with a hinged lid, the
body of the box containing the "bellowes" or expanding part of the camera, and
the shallower part or lid of the box containing the moveable front of the camera
carrying the lens. When opened the bottom of the box is supported upon any
sufficiently rigid stand or frame, and the hinged lid being thrown back carries the
front and lens, and gives sufficient firmness and length for long focussed as well as
for short focussed lenses. To determine the position of the lens I fit a marked
scale into the lid, by which the point to which the front of the camera should be
drawn out is very nearly found, final accurate adjustment being made by means of
a screw working in a nut fixed to a slide moving horizontally in the body of the
box, and carrying the back part of the camera. When closed the apparatus
resembles an ordinary writing case or despatch box. I attach the back part of the
camera to the frame which slides in the box, as already described, by means of a
hinged joint, and I arrange a screw of adjustable length between a joint at the
bottom of the box and a joint at the bottom of the camera, so that the back of the
latter may be thrown more or less out of a vertical plane, if desired. I make the

page_text: sliding frame which carries the front of the camera (in the lid of the box) capable
of turning upon a vertical pin or screw, so that the front of the camera may be
made more or less parallel with its back, if desired.
The slide for holding dry plates is constructed as follows:-A thin wooden frame
joined at the corners has at one end an opening, through which two dry plates
placed back to back can be inserted, a piece of thin metal of a bent or waved form
being placed between them to act as a spring and keep them in contact with the
frame when inserted, a thin wood or metal shutter or cover closing the opening
against light.
Instead of the ordinary wooden slide for uncovering or exposing the plates I I
prefer to use a sheet of thin flexible metal, which can be bent to one side during
exposure, and again resumes its original shape when closed; or a stouter sheet of
metal may be used, only the joint upon which it turns back being formed of a thin
flexible piece of metal
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 2 is in illustration of this part of my
Invention, the box being shewn open, and the camera in its place.
a is the body of the box, and b its hinged lid, both shewn in section; c is the
lens fixed to the front of the camera d, which is hinged to the frame e sliding in the
lid b. The frame e has its ends rounded so as to be capable of turning round the
screw, by which it is fixed when adjusted. g is an adjustable stay for holding
the front c more rigidly; h is a frame which can be made to slide backward and
forward in the box a by means of the screw i, and which has hinged to it the back
of the camera k, the vertical plane of which can be adjusted by means of the variable
jointed screw l. The position of the lens and front of the camera are adjusted in
the lid of the box, and back of the camera in the body of the box, as shewn in dotted
lines.
The whole of the apparatus folds when required into the box, which can then be
closed and locked.
I claim the novel construction and arrangement of photographic camera, one part
of which fits into and is adjustable upon the lid of a box, whilst its remaining part
fits into and is adjustable upon the body of the same box, substantially as described
and shewn in the Drawing.
Also the method of constructing the sliding shutter or its binge of thin flexible
metal, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Bentley Woodbury, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
THAT TEN
דת MTזוודת
WALTER BENTLEY WOODBURY. (L.B.)