Improvements in Workmen's Time Recorders and Watchmen's Tell-tales.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 12th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 17th June, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Workmen's Time Recorders and Watchmen's
Tell-tales.
€
I, WILLIAM HENRY WITHAM, Sanitary Engineer, of 11, Langton Road, Brixton,
in the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention relates to apparatus for recording the time, at which each work-.
man enters or leaves a factory or other premises, or the time, at which a night
watchman visits given localities, and has for its object, to avoid any doubt as to
the identity of the person who has set the apparatus in motion.
For this purpose I combine a clockwork with a photographic apparatus and
accessories in such a manner, that every time the apparatus is set in motion, if
will photograph the face of the person standing before it, and also a clock dial,
so as to show the time, at which the photograph was taken.
The apparatus chiefly comprises a sensitised film mounted on rollers and adapted
to travel a given distance every time a button is depressed; a clock provided
with a small dial and a suitably placed reflector; a pair of lenses, one for pro-
jecting on the film a picture of the operator, and the other for projecting a picture
of the clock dial; an instantaneous camera-shutter adapted to act for both lenses
at the same time, and, in the case of electric lighting, to close and open the circuit
of an electric lamp.
By depressing a button, the shutter is caused to act for both lenses, and the
rollers carrying the sensitised film are caused to revolve a given distance.
The apparatus may have a lid connected with the clockwork, so that every
time the lid is opened and closed for taking out the film, the clockwork is auto-
matically wound up.
Instead of photographing a clock dial, the apparatus may be adapted to
photograph a portion of a revolving dial or of an endless tape or strip which is
caused to travel at a uniform speed by clockwork and graduated so as to show
the time of day at which the said strip passes before the lens.
Dated this 13th day of July 1898.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Workmen's Time Recorders and Watchmen's
Tell-tales.
I, WILLIAM HENRY WITHAM, Sanitary Engineer, of 11, Langton Road, Brixton,
in the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
Price 8d1

page_text: what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described in and by
the following statement:-
This invention relates to apparatus for recording the time, at which each work-
man enters or leaves a factory or other premises, or the time, at which a night
watchman visits given localities, and has for its object, to avoid any doubt as to
the identity of the person who has set the apparatus in motion.
For this purpose I combine a clockwork with a photographic camera and
accessories, in such a manner, that every time the apparatus is set in motion, it
will photograph the face of the person standing before it and also indicate the
time at which the photograph was taken.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of an apparatus embodying my
invention; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same along line U-U of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 a transverse section along line X-X of Fig. 2, looking towards the
front: Fig. 4 is a section along line Y-Y looking towards the back; Fig. 5
a transverse section along line Z-Z of Fig. 2, looking towards the front; Fig. 6
a perspective view of the apparatus; Figs. 7 to 9 represent parts of a photographic
shutter actuating mechanism suitable for this apparatus.
The apparatus chiefly comprises a photographically sensitised surface, prefer-
ably a movable film A mounted on a roller B and adapted to travel a given
distance, every time a button n¹ is pressed in, a clock D provided with an ordinary
dial or other time indicator and illuminated by a suitably placed reflector; a
pair of photographic lenses F & placed one above the other, one for projecting
an image of the operator, and the other for projecting a picture of the clock dial;
a double camera shutter or a pair of shutters adapted to act for both lenses at the
same time, and, in the case of electric lighting, to close and open the circuit of
an electric lamp.
The entire mechanism is enclosed in an outer box G provided with a hinged
door g, and the principal parts are attached to an inner box H, which forms a
dark chamber and can be removed bodily, after the door g has been opened.
In the example shown by Fig. 2, the fresh film is wound off a vertical roller
or reel B, and guided between two feed or transporting rollers K, K', which are
covered with india-rubber and geared together by tooth-wheels k, k¹. The axle
of the roller K extends through the bottom of the box containing the film holder
and carries a ratchet wheel M, by means of which the rollers may be set in
motion. This is effected by a spring pawl attached at one end to a horizontal
push bar N and adapted to enter with the other end between the teeth of the
wheel M. The push-bar N extends through the front wall of the box G, and is
provided with a button . The forward motion of the push bar is produced by
hand and limited by the button n'; the return motion is produced by a spring O
and limited by the head o of the push bar.
The front wall of the box G has a large opening, into which is fitted a receiving
tube C, which, if desired, may be closed by a glass disc or window, and the
lens F and the film A are so arranged, that if a man holds his face in front of
the said opening, a clear portrait may be projected on the film.
The clock is placed on a shelf d above the said opening, and the lens F¹ is so
arranged, that an image of the clock dial may be projected on the film above the
said portrait, if the clock dial is properly illuminated. This is effected by means
of the reflector E, which receives light through a glass panel e fixed in the top of
the box G.
The said lenses F, 1 are mounted on a pair of tubes placed at an acute angle to
each other and provided with a double shutter adapted to be operated by the motion
of the push bar N.
In the construction represented by the drawings, each lens tube is covered by
a disc P or P¹, formed at one arm of a horizontal lever, the other arm of which
is connected with a vertical rod Q carrying at its lower end a friction roller q.
For lifting the said rod Q, the push bar N is provided on one side with a lug n²,

page_text: the top of which forms an inclined plane, so arranged, that by pushing the rod N
forward, the friction roller q will be caused to roll up the inclined plane and
thereby to remove the discs 1', P from the respective lens tubes. As soon as the
push bar is released, it will be drawn forward by the spring O, and the shutter
will be caused to descend by a helical spring q¹.
The push button is placed so as to stop the bar N, when the roller g has reached
the highest point of the lug n²
In the drawing a is a brake-spring for the rolled-up film, al a device for holding
the film in place during its exposure, and a² a guide for conducting the exposed
film into the lateral store room S, which forms part of the dark chamber. The
inner box or dark chamber H is constructed like a door adapted to slide in the
outer box G; m is a stationary retaining pawl, to prevent the ratchet wheel from
turning backward.
The means for operating the shutters and for transporting the films may,
however, be similar to those used in other photographic apparatus. A pneumatic
time shutter may, for instance be used. An example of a device for providing
three different lengths of exposure is illustrated by Figs. 7 & 9 of the accom-
panying drawings. Instead of an ordinary clock dial or an image of same, any
other suitable time indicator may be brought within the range of one of the lenses.
In some cases a clock dial or other suitable time indicator may be placed within
the box in close proximity to the front opening of tube C, and a single lens
may be so arranged, as to project an image of the face and of the time indicator
on the sensitized film.
.
The clock employed is preferably a seven days clock, adapted to indicate not
only the hour of the day, but also the day of the week, on which the photograph
was taken.
The apparatus may be used for photographing not only the face of the workman,
but also the number of his ticket, the ticket being held in front of the clock
by means of a wire introduced through a slot in the top of the box. In this case
each workman would, on his arrival, secure his ticket to a wire and introduce it
through the top of the box, then hold his face before the front opening and operate
the shutter.
In some cases an optical projecting apparatus for producing an image of the
workman's face, may be combined with a mechanical printing apparatus mounted
in or near the dark chamber and adapted to record on a movable sheet the time
when the photograph was taken. If the apparatus is to be used at night, it may
be provided with a flash light.
Fig: 8 is a plan of the push bar, and Fig. 9 a modification of the same suitable
for opening the shutter for a given space of time, independent of the time during
which the operator presses on the button of the push bar. In this case the vertical
shutter bar Q is provided with an intermediate hinge joint q, and the push
har R, Fig. 9, has in addition to the inclined planer a pair of lugs and r²
attached to the bar R by means of short levers or springs. If a short exposure
desired, the lever carrying the lug is turned towards the lug r, until the lug l
forms the continuation of the same.
ig
If now the push bar, which has a longer stroke than the bar N, is pushed
forward, the roller q will first roll up the inclined plane r and then over the lug r
situated immediately behind the same. As soon as the roller has passed the lug r',
it will drop down, together with the shutter bar Q', and the shutters will be
closed. If the push bar N is drawn out again by hand, the lug will push
against the roller q and cause the lower part of the rod Q to turn forward on
the hinge q, until the roller q has passed the lug r, after which the lower part of
the bar Q will again be vertical, Fig. 7.
The hinge must be so constructed that it will allow the lower part of the bar Q
to turn from its vertical position towards the front of the box G, but not towards
the back of same, Fig. 7. A spring may be provided for this purpose.
If a longer exposure is desired, the arm carrying the lug is turned towards

page_text: the bar R, until the lug 2 forms the continuation of the lug r. In that case
the drawing out of the push bar R will cause the roller q to roll up the incline r,
then over the lug r¹ and then over the lug, after which the bar Q¹ will descend
and close the shutters.
I am aware, that it has been proposed, to suspend a photographic camera in a
compartment of a railway carriage, in order to take views of the interior of the
compartment, but there was no clock attached to the photographic apparatus, nor
was there a separate device for recording the time on the travelling film, and I
do not claim the said apparatus or combination.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. A workmen's time recorder, comprising in its construction a box having an
opening for the admission of light, and in proximity thereto a time indicator, a
sensitized surface situated in a dark chamber secured to the said box, an optical
projecting apparatus adapted to project on the said sensitized surface an image
of any object situated in front of the said opening and in proximity thereto an
image of the said time indicator, means for operating the optical projection
apparatus and for shifting the sensitized surface at every operation, substantially
as described.
2. A photographic portrait camera and time recorder, comprising in its con-
struction a photographically sensitized surface situated in a dark chamber and
adapted to move in the same, a pair of photographic lenses and lens-tubes adapted
to project separate images on the sensitized surface, a clockwork time indicator
situated within the range of one of the said lenses so that an image of the said
indicator may be projected on the sensitized surface while the other lens projects
on the same an image of external objects, an optical shutter adapted to control
the passage of light through the lenses to the sensitized surface, and mechanism
for operating the said shutter and for shifting the sensitized surface, the whole
being adapted to operate substantially as described.
a
3. A workmen's time recorder, comprising in its construction a box having
front opening and a glass roof for the admission of light, and containing a time
indicator operated by clockwork and a mirror adapted to illuminate the said time
indicator, a sensitized surface situated in a dark chamber secured to the said box,
a pair of lenses mounted between the said sensitized surface and the said opening
and adapted to project on the sensitised surface separate images, one being an
image of any face appearing before the front opening and the other an image
of the said time indicator, mechanism for controlling the passage of light through
the lenses to the sensitised surface, and mechanism for shifting the sensitized
surface at each operation, substantially as described.
4. The method of recording the time at which a person visits a given locality,
which consists in projecting on to a sensitized surface adapted to be shifted at
intervals, a photograph of the said person and producing in proximity thereto a
time record, the photographic shutter and the sensitized surface being adapted
to move in unison, and their motion being controlled by the said person at the
time of visiting the said locality, substantially as described.
.
5. A combined portrait camera and time recorder constructed and adapted to
operate substantially as described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated 1 1141
1900
FAIRFAX & WETTER.
Agents.
37 and 39, Essex Street, Strand, London.