IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES IN THE OPEN AIR
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Edward Merritt, of Maidstone, in the
County of Kent, Drawing Master, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES IN THE OPEN AIR."
Sealed the 23rd January 1855, and dated the 1st August 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Edward Merritt
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st August 1854.
I, THOMAS EDWARD MERRITT, of Maidstone, in the County of Kent,
Drawing Master, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES IN THE OPEN
AIR" to be as follows:-
My first apparatus is an improved camera for taking photographs in the
open air without exposing the operator to the inconvenience of using the
ordinary screen, which entirely encloses the head. This camera has its lens
fitted to a tube, which is adjusted so as to bring the lens to the proper focus
by sliding it forward by a rack and pinion movement. The focussing glass
slides vertically in a slot at the back of the camera. At the hinder part of the
camera is fitted a box capable of containing from 12 to 20 prepared papers,
each of which is placed between two glasses, held together by a slip of paper
pasted at their edges, so that the papers may be ready for use when required.

page_text: A screw of quick pitch passes through the back of the box, for the purpose of
bringing the glasses forward in succession into the focus of the camera.
Beneath the camera and the box is formed a chamber, in which is fitted a tray
deep enough to hold the glasses edgewise, and divided into as many com-
partments as the box is capable of holding glasses. A slit is formed through
the box into the chamber beneath, just behind the focussing glass, and is closed
by a slide, which can be shifted, so as to allow each glass after having been
used to fall into the tray in the chamber, the tray being shifted as it is required
to receive a glass, so as to bring forward a fresh compartment for it to fall
into. By this arrangement any number of pictures can be taken in succession
without the light having access to them. The pictures remain in the tray
until a convenient time for developing the images on them.
My second apparatus is a spring holder, for holding prepared plates of glass
used when obtaining photographic pictures by the collodion process. This
holder consists of a small frame with a spring or springs to retain the glass in
position. The frames holding the glasses in this manner are employed with the
camera before mentioned.
My third apparatus is a closed box for containing one or more prepared
papers or glasses for taking photographic pictures in the open air with a
camera of the common description.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Edward Merritt in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 1st February 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
EDWARD MERRITT, of Maidstone, in the County of Kent, Drawing Master,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Edward Merritt, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Edward
Merritt, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Thomas Edward Merritt, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,

page_text: exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES IN THE OPEN AIR," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Edward Merritt, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Edward Merritt, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say:-
The object of my Invention is to enable photographic pictures to be taken
in the open air without exposing the operator to the inconvenience of using
the ordinary screen, which completely encloses the head; and my Invention
consists,―
First, in certain additions to a camera, whereby it is adapted for the said
purpose. The camera, so far as regards the lens, focussing glass, &c. is of the
ordinary description; the lens being fitted to a sliding tube, which is adjusted
by a rack and pinion movement, and the focussing glass sliding vertically in a
slot at the back of the camera. My additions are as follows:-At the hinder
part of the camera I fit a box capable of containing any required number of
prepared papers or glasses. Each of these papers is placed between two pieces
of plain glass, which are held together by a strip of paper pasted at their edges,
and the prepared glasses are held in frames of the description herein-after
mentioned. A screw of quick pitch passes through the back of the box, for the
purpose of bringing the prepared papers or glasses forward in succession into
the focus of the camera. Beneath the camera and the box I fit a receptacle
or chamber (which may be either fixed or removeable at pleasure), and in this
I place a tray deep enough to hold the prepared papers or glasses edgewise,
and divided into as many compartments as the box is capable of holding papers
or glasses; or I make use of the sliding tray only, without the receptacle or
chamber. I form a slit through the bottom of the box, just behind the focus-
sing glass, and I close the slit by a slide, which can be shifted, so as to allow
each paper or glass after having been used to fall into the tray beneath, the
tray being shifted as it is required to receive a paper or glass, so as to bring
forward a fresh compartment for it to fall into. By this arrangement any

page_text: number of photographic pictures can be taken in succession in the open air
without the light having access to them. The pictures remain in the tray until
a convenient time for developing them.
Second, my Invention consists in a spring holder, for holding prepared plates
of glass used when obtaining photographic pictures by the collodion process.
This holder consists of a small frame, (which may be composed of white
japanned tin or other suitable material,) with a spring or springs to retain the
glass in position. The frames holding the prepared glasses may be employed
with my improved camera, as before mentioned.
And, third, my Invention consists in a close box for containing one or
more prepared papers or glasses for taking photographic pictures in the open
air with a camera of the common description.
Figure 1 of the Drawings annexed is a longitudinal section, and Figure 2
a side elevation, of a camera, having the additions which constitute the first
part of my Invention applied thereto. A is the camera; A', its slide; and B
is a dark chamber at the back thereof; C is a screw; and D, a plate attached
thereto, for bringing the papers or glasses into the focus of the camera; E is a
rack and pinion for focussing; F is a sliding plate, which closes the commu-
nication from the chamber B to the receptacle G beneath; II is a recess for
the sliding plate F to be moved into when the communication between the
chamber B and the receptacle G is to be opened; H¹ is a tightening screw for
securing the chamber B to the camera; I is a box or tray, divided into com-
partments, which slides in the receptacle G; J is a sliding bar attached to the
tray I; and K is a slot in which the bar J slides; L is an index handle to the
bar; and M is an index for regulating the movement of the box; N is a door
to the receptacle G, for the removal of the tray I.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of a modification of the foregoing arrange-
ment; and Figure 4 is a frout view of the same. In this case the receptacle
or chamber G is dispensed with, and the box or tray I is furnished with cars
O, O, which slide in the grooves P, P, formed at the bottom of the camera.
Figure 5 is a detached view of the box or tray I, when thus formed.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the glass frame or holder, which constitutes
the second part of my Invention. A is the frame; and B, the prepared glass.
Figure 7 is a view of the focussing glass employed with the camera, before
described.
Figure 8 is a perspective view, and Figure 9 a cross section, of an improved
bath for developing collodion pictures taken in the camera, before described.
This bath is adapted to the camera in the same manner as the box or tray
shewn in Figure 5, that is, by means of ears O, O, which slide in the grooves

page_text: P, P. a is a cell into which the photographs are dropped; b, a cell into which
the solutions are poured; and c, a perforated partition, the use of which is to
admit the liquids without injury to the photographs; d is a corked spout for
drawing off the used liquids.
The mode of using my improved camera for paper practice is as follows:-
The paper should first be thus managed to prevent soils during develope-
ment, cut the sensitized papers about half an inch larger every way than the
glass; place a piece of this between two perfectly clean glasses, turning the
edges over the upper or back glass; then take a piece of common writing
paper, about a quarter of an inch larger every way than the glass, which place
over the back or upper glass, and turning them both over, so that they rest on
this writing paper, gum the narrow edges on to the rim of the front glass,
when they will be secure and ready for the dark chamber.
The papers, having been prepared as just described, are placed in the dark
chamber B, and the slide A' is shut down as usual. The focus is obtained by
the focussing glass (Figure 7), which is then removed, and the dark chamber
put in its place and secured by the tightening screw H'.
To obtain a
photograph, the first paper is brought forward by the screw C and plate D till
it drops on the sliding plate F. In doing this, care must be taken not to press
it too tightly, or it will not drop freely into the receptacle. The slide A' is now
drawn up to admit light through the lens to the paper. After sufficient
exposure the slide is shut down, and the sliding plate moved back into the
recess provided for it. The photograph will now drop into the first division o
the sliding box I. This completes the operation for the first photograph. In
order to obtain a second, replace the sliding plate, bring forward the next
paper, and adjust the sliding box, by moving the index handle one degree
forward, which will bring the next division immediately under the sliding plate.
Proceed as in the last operation.
When the detached receptacle is applied, which renders the camera much
more portable, it is thus managed:-The photograph having been taken as
before, the camera is drawn so far back as to allow of the ears of the receptacle
being placed in the grooves. The first division is brought under the sliding
plate, and the picture allowed to drop into it, when it is secured by the india-
rubber loop Q, Figure 5, so as to prevent the access of light. The receptacle
is now removed till required for another photograph, when the like treatment
is repeated, and so on, for any number.
For collodion practice, the glasses having been collodionized and placed in
their holders, are packed in the dark chamber precisely as the papers were,
A photograph having been obtained, the gutta percha bath is filled with

page_text: pyrogallic acid (or other developing solution), and placed in the grooves of the
camera in the same manner as the detached receptacle, bringing the cell a
under the sliding plate, so that the photograph when taken may be dropped
in, the lid of the bath being open. The lid is then shut by the finger, and
the bath removed, when, after sufficient time for developement, the solution
is poured off by the corked spout d into a bottle, as, if filtered, it will do
repeatedly. The lid is moved so as to uncover the cell b, and hyposulphite
of soda or cyanide of potassium poured into it, when it will pass through the
perforated partition c, and fill the cell in which the picture is. After thus
fixing the photograph, it may be safely exposed to day-light and washed.
After each developement the bath should be thoroughly washed.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as my
Invention is,
First, the addition to a camera of a dark chamber to contain prepared
papers or glasses, and a box or tray to contain the photographic pictures until
a convenient time for their developement, whether the said box or chamber is
fixed to or capable of being detached from the camera.
Second, the construction of a frame for holding collodionized glasses in the
manner herein-before described.
And, third, the use of a closed box or case for holding prepared papers or
glasses to be used when taking photographic pictures in the open air.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Edward Merritt, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of January, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
THOMAS EDWARD MERRITT.
(L.S.)