An Improved Photographic Camera:
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1890-Accepted, 24th-Jan., 1891*:
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Photographic Camera:
I, RUDOLF STIRN, Manufacturer, of 34, Sebastian Strasse, Berlin, in the German
Empire, 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 :-
The present invention relates to the construction of photographic apparatus, and its
object is to construct the camera in such manner that the front part of the same in
which the lensos or objectives are mounted, is adjustable by which a three-fold purpose
is attained viz. the employment of the camera for stereoscopic purposes, 2 for the
production of large photos (cabinet size) and for the production of two smaller photos
(cartes de visite) side by side. The manifold employment of one and the same
camera, without having to remove the films and by simply adjusting the lens box offers
the photographer many advantages. First the apparatus may be employed for various
purposes and secondly it enables the photographer to change from one style of photo-
graphing to the other without causing any further inconvenience whatever. Through
the displacement of the lens box one of the lenses is brought into a central position
with the exposing chamber, the partition necessary for taking stereoscopic photos,
is folded down in the empty part of this chamber, and simultaneously shades, for
limiting the size of the cabinet photo are automatically brought into position.
In taking cartes de visite both lenses are employed, one after the other, whilst the
lens box takes the same position as when used for taking stereoscopic photographs.
For this the lenses besides being provided with the necessary shutter mechanism
for instantaneous or time exposures, have extra covers (u u¹).
In order to more fully describe my invention so that it can be carried into effect, I
refer to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters denote similar paris,
throughout the several views.
Fig. 1 shows a horizontal section through the camera with the lenses in position for
making cabinet photographs.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line xx Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is the top of the exposing chamber, seen from underneath, on an enlarged
scale and showing the mechanism for automatically actuating the shades and the slide
covering the slot left open, on displacing the lens box.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of the adjustable lens box with the means for actuating the
mechanisin illustrated in Fig: 3 and arranged as shown underneath the top of the
exposing chamber.
Fig. 5 shows the spring shutter device arranged behind the front plate of the lens
box.
The arrangement and construction of the exposing chamber a as far as regards the
device for holding raising and changing the sensitive films does not materially differ
from those already known. The stereoscope partition is attached in the centre of
the exposing chamber and the shades c c on the sides of the same -on-hinges, in such
manner that, by means of springs wound on the hinge pins, the partition may be
brought into a central vertical position in the chamber, and simultaneously the
shades c c folded back automatically flat on the sides of the same, by the action of
the springs.
The movement of the partition bas also of the shades c c against the action.of their
springs, is effected by means of the following mechanism :-
To the rear side of the lens box is attached a ledge or strip e having its one end
formed to a ledge and serving, on shifting the lens box, preferably arranged
to slide in grooves-to fold down the partition & against the action of its springs.
The partition is arrested in its vertical position by means of the stop o. The ledge e
Il cl

page_text: b
after having folded back the partition 6 passes over the edge of the same preventing
it from springing back.
On the upper part of the rear plate d of the lens box, an angular projection fis
arranged, which when the former is shifted, operates the levers hh pivotally attached
to the cover of the exposing chamber and connected together by the rod by striking
the end of the lever and forcing the same to move on its pivot. The rod g so con-
nects the two levers (Fig. 3) that when is actuated moves in the opposite
direction. These levers actuate the side shades c c attached by means of spring
hinges to the sides of the exposing chamber. The mechanism is so arranged that on
shifting the lens box so as to bring one lens only into position the shades c c¹ are
folded out as shown in Fig. 3 against the tendency of their hinge springs, so as to
limit the size of the cabinet photo.
C
In order to close the aperture or slot formed at the side on shifting the lens box a
cover or slide is arranged under the influence of a spring . When the case is
shifted this cover is pushed forward by means of the spring closing the space left
open and striking the stops arranged at the top and bottom of the exposing
chamber. The cover or slide k is guided by the guide pieces n n' also arranged on
the top and bottom of the exposing chamber. The projection m and back end of
-ledge e serve-to-push-back-the-cover and strain the spring when the lens box is
shifted back.
The apparatus hereinbefore described, is completed by the shutter mechanism
The shutter
represented in Fig. 5 as also by the focusing device with lens =.
mechanism, which forms no part of the present invention is of the well known con-
struction and arranged for taking instantaneous and ordinary photos. It consists in
the main of the stops 1, 2, 3, 4, arranged on the shutter disc s which is provided with
two openings arranged diametrically opposite to each other.
This disc has a spring, which may be wound up by means of the button p so that it
has a tendency to turn in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5. The lever pivoted
-at its end and projecting through the side of the case, is provided with two stops 5
and-6-so-arranged that when it is depressed out of its normal central position, the
-disc s revolving under the pressure of its spring the stops 2 or 4 will pass over-the
lever stops 5 & 6 being nearer the centre of the disc. But the stop 3 will be arrested
as it is further from the centre of the disc and the stops 5 6 lie in its way. On
depressing the lever the disc will therefore make half a revolution before being arrested.
If however the lever he raised the stops will stand in the way of the points or stops 2
or 4 and consequently the dise will make a quarter of a turn only, whereby the holes
therein will be brought opposite the lenses and the plate may be exposed as long as
necessary.
It is obvious that my camera may be arranged for plates of any size without
departing from the nature of my invention and also wish it to be understood
that can arrange the lens case to make a circular motion instead of a horizontal
sliding motion by slightly modifying the construction without however in any way
departing from the nature of the invention herein before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a
photographic camera, an adjustable lens box in combination with the
automatically operated partition b, side shades ce and slide k, -all parts-acting.in
combination with each other in the manner and for the purpose substantially as
described.
2. A photographic camera having the various mechanisms arranged and operating
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 22nd day of December 1890.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Associate Agent.