IMPROVEMENTS IN TAKING INSTANTANEOUS PHOTOGRAPHS OF OBJECTS IN MOTION
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, of the Firm of Brandon and
Morgan-Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings,
London, and 1, Rue Laffitte, Paris, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TAKING INSTANTANEOUS PHOTOGRAPHS OF OBJECTS IN MOTION." A commu-
nication from abroad by Edward Maybridge, of San Francisco, California,
Photographer.
Sealed the 20th December 1878, and dated the 9th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th July 1878.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firin of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 1, Rue Laffitte,
Paris. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TAKING INSTANTANEOUS PHOTOGRAPHS OF OBJECTS IN
MOTION." [A communication from abroad by Edward Maybridge, of San Fran-
cisco, California, Photographer.]
This Invention of improvements in taking instantaneous photographs of objects
in motion has reference to that branch of photography which is known as instan-
taneous photography, and it applies more particularly when the object to be photo-
graphed is in rapid motion.
The principal object in view is to take photographic views of horses that are
moving rapidly under speed, in order to determinate the posture, position, and
relation of their limbs in different portions of their step or stride.
The Invention relates,―
First. To a double-acting slide by which to give the nearest approach to an
instantaneous exposure.

page_text: Secondly. To an electro-magnetic apparatus and trigger, by which the horse or
other moving object is made to operate the slide at the exact moment that it is in
the focus of the camera.
And, Thirdly. To a novel background, which is graduated or marked so as to
gauge the position of the horse and the posture of his limbs, all as herein-after more
fully described.
The apparatus of necessity must be arranged in connection with a race or other
track, over which the horse is made to pass under speed.
Referring to the accompanying Drawings, in which,-
Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a perspective, shewing the slide, frame, track, and back
ground.
Figure 2, Sheet 1, is an end sectional view, shewing the camera, slides, track, and
back ground.
Figure 1, Sheet 2, is a section of the slide frame, shewing the trigger, lever,
armature, and electro-magnets.
Figure 2, Sheet 2, shews a photographic card picture, with horse delineated
upon it.
Figure 3, Sheet 2, shews the contact plates and draw thread.
Let A represent the track along which the horse is made to pass under speed!; on
one side of the track is placed the photographic camera B, the tube of which is
directed across the roadway or track. Immediately in front of the camera tube is
placed the frame D, in which the double-acting slides c, d, are arranged. The two
slides are mounted in the frame side by side in parallel planes, so as to stand across
the end of the camera tube. Each slide has an opening e in it, which will usually
be as wide as the diameter of the camera tube, but in some instances it is made
less.
The slide C is connected by one or more springs with the top of the frame D,
while the slide d is similarly connected with the bottom of the frame, so that when
the two slides are drawn to their respective inactive positions the solid portions of
each slide is opposite the opening in the adjoining slide, and a solid plate is pre-
sented in front of the camera tube. To set these slides the upper one is drawn
down, and the lower one is drawn up until the openings e pass each other, and the
solid portions come opposite the openings again, thus straining the spring r, in which
position both slides are secured by a single lever fand trigger g. The lever f
catches lightly upon the trigger g, and the opposite end of the trigger is connected
with a lever G, which is pivoted at its middle to the outside of the frame, and the
opposite end of which carries an armature h. I, I, are electro-magnets, which are
attached to the side of the frame under the armature. A wire j leads from these
magnets to the battery, which may be conveniently located, while another wire k
leads across the track either underground or overhead, as herein-after explained.
The background L is placed on the side of the track or roadway opposite that
on which the camera and slide are located, so that the horse must pass between
them.
It is preferable to paint this background white, so that the horse will stand out
in better relief, and his position and posture more distinctly shewn in the photo-
graph.
Near the bottom of this background is painted or otherwise delineated several
lines or stripes, l, at different calculated spaces apart, so that the distance of the
horse's feet from the ground at the instant the photograph is taken will be shewn
upon the picture by the position of the feet with relation to the lines.
On the rear side of the background are secured two metallic spring plates m; m,
Figure 3, Sheet 2, so that one will be slightly distant from the other. The wire 'j,
which leads from the magnets L, is attached to one of these plates, and the other
plate is connected by a wire with the battery. For a running horse I then attach
one end of a strong thread o to the outside plate m, and stretch it across the track
at the proper height, so that the horse will run against and break it as he passes.

page_text: The strain upon the thread when the horse runs against it will draw the outer
plate m against the under plate, and complete the circuit, thus electrifying the
magnets so as to draw the armature against them and release the trigger. The
instant the trigger is released the springs r draw the slides c, d, in opposite direc
tions, so that the sensitive plate in the camera is instantaneously exposed as the
openings e pass each other. The camera is so located with reference to the slides
that it is directly opposite the openings when they coincide with each other, so that
a full exposure is had.
For a trotting horse I operate the outer spring plate m to make the connection
with the under one by causing one of the wheels of the sulky or vehicle to pass
over the connection o' that draws the plates together.
In order to take several successive views I employ a number of cameras and slides
in connection with a single background of the required length. In this case I place
the cameras at regular intervals apart, and make a separate circuit and operating
device for each. I also paint or otherwise mark the background with vertical lines
S, S, at regular intervals apart, and number them successively by painting the
numerals upon them. These vertical lines will then shew the position and progress
of the horse, and his posture at each exposure.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the condition O
C..
the said William Morgan-Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office. on the 7th
January 1879.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 1, Rue Laffite, Paris.
." IMPROVEMENTS IN TAKING INSTANTANEOUS PHOTOGRAPHS OF OBJECTS IN MOTION."
A communication from abroad by Edward Maybridge, of San Francisco; California,
Photographer.
This Invention of improvements in taking instantaneous photographs of objects
in motion has reference to that branch of photography which is known as instan-
taneous photography, and it applies more particularly when the object to be photo-
graphed is in rapid motion.
The principal object in view is to take photographic views of horses that are
moving rapidly under speed, in order to determine the posture; position, and relation
of their limbs in different portions of their step or stride.
The Invention relates,-
First. To a double-acting slide, by which to give the nearest approach to an
instantaneous exposure.
Secondly. To an electro-magnetic apparatus and trigger, by which the horse or
other moving object is made to operate the slide at the exact moment that it is in
the focus of the camera.
And, Thirdly. To a novel background which is graduated or marked so as to
guage the position of the horse and the posture of his limbs, all as herein-after more
fully described.
The apparatus of necessity must be arranged in connection with a race or other
track over which the horse is made to pass under speed.
Referring to the accompanying Drawings, in which,
Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a perspective, showing the slide frame, track, and back-
ground.
Figure 2, Sheet 1, is an end sectional view, showing the camera, slides, track,
and background.
Figure 1, Sheet 2, is a section of the slide frame, showing the trigger, lever,
armature, and electro-magnets.
Figure 2, Sheet 2, shews a photographic card picture, with horse delineated
upon it.
Figure 3, Sheet 2, shows the contact plates and draw thread.
Let A represent the track along which the horse is made to pass under speed; on
one side of the track is placed the photographic camera B, the tube of which is
directed across the roadway or track. Immediately in front of the camera tube
is placed the frame D, in which the double-acting slides c, d, are arranged. The
two slides are mounted in the frame side by side in parallel planes, so as to staud
across the end of the camera tube. Each slide has an opening e in it, which
will usually be as wide as the diameter of the camera tube, but in some instances it
is made less.
The slide C is connected by one or more springs r with the top of the frame D,
while the slide d is similarly connected with the bottom of the frame, so that when
the two slides are drawn to their respective inactive positions the solid portion of
each slide is opposite the opening in the adjoining slide, and a solid plate is pre-
sented in front of the camera tube. To set these slides the upper one is drawn
down, and the lower one is drawn up, until the openings e pass each other, and the
solid portions come opposite the openings again, thus straining the spring r, in
which position both slides are secured by a single lever fand trigger g. The lever f
catches lightly upon the trigger g, and the opposite end of the trigger is connected
with a lever G, which is pivoted at its middle to the outside of the frame, and the

page_text: opposite end of which carries an armature h. I, I, are electro-magnets, which are
attached to the side of the frame under the armature. A wire leads from these
magnets to the battery, which may be conveniently located, while another wire k
leads across the track, either underground or overhead, as herein-after explained.
The background L is placed on the side of the track or roadway opposite that
on which the camera and slide are located, so that the horse must pass between
thém,
It is preferable to paint this background white, so that the horse will stand
out in better relief, and his position and posture more distinctly shown in the
photograph.
Near the bottom of this background is painted or otherwise delineated several
lines or stripes l, l, at different calculated spaces apart, so that the distance of the
horse's feet from the ground at the instant the photograph is taken will be shown
upon the picture by the position of the feet with relation to the lines.
On the rear side of the background are secured two metallic spring plates m, m,
Figure 3, Sheet 2, so that one will be slightly distant from the other.
The wire j',
which leads from the magnets L, is attached to one of these plates, and the other
plate is connected by a wire with the battery. For a running horse I then attach
one end of a strong thread o to the outside plate m, and stitch it across the track
at the proper height, so that the horse will run against and break it as he passes.
The strain upon the thread when the horse runs against it will draw the outer
plate m against the under plate and complete the circuit, thus electrifying the
magnets so as to draw the armature against them and release the trigger. The
instant the trigger is released the springs draw the slides c, d, in opposite direc-
tions, so that the sensitive plate in the camera is instantaneously exposed as the
openings e pass each other. The camera is so located with reference to the slides
that it is directly opposite the openings when they coincide with each other, so that
a full exposure is had.
For a trotting horse I operate the outer spring plate m to make the connection
with the under one by causing one of the wheels of the sulky or vehicle to pass
over the connection of that draws the plates together.
In order to take several successivo views I employ a number of cameras and
slides in connection with a single background of the required length. In this case
I place the cameras at regular intervals apart, and make a separate circuit and
operating device for each. I also paint or otherwise mark the background with vertical
lines s, s, at regular intervals apart, and number them successively by painting the
nunerals upon them. These vertical lines will then show the position and progress
of the horse and his posture at each exposure.
By this means the true posture of several noted trotting horses has been obtained
while they were travelling under a high rate of speed, and as many as twelve views
have been taken at different stages of a single stride of about eighteen feet,
showing the exact position of the limbs and their distance from the ground at each
stage.
Having thus described the Invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters
Patent is,
First. A double-acting slide for the instantaneous exposure of sensitive plates,
consisting of the slides c, d, mounted in the frame D, each of which is provided with
an opening e, one of said slides being connected by a spring with the top of the
frame, while the other is similarly connected with the bottom of the frame, in com-
bination with the lever f and trigger g, substantially as above specified.
Second. The improvement in taking instantaneous photographs of objects in
motion, consisting in operating the slide which exposes the sensitive plate by an
electric current which is established or broken by the object which is to be photo-
graphed, substantially as above specified.
Third. The slides c, d, set by means of the lever f, trigger g, and centrally pivotted
lever G, with its armature h in combination with the electro-magnets I, I, wires j, k,
battery and metallic spring plates m, m, when said metallic spring plates are drawn

page_text: into contact so as to complete the electric circuit by the passing object coming in
contact with the thread o or other device, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Fourth. The background L provided with horizontal gauge stripes or lines l, l;
substantially as and for the purpose described.
Fifth. The background L provided with horizontal gauge stripes or lines 1, 1,
and vertical gauge stripes or lines 8, 8, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Sixth. The improvement in delineating animals under motion, consisting in
making instantaneous photographs of said animals while they are moving on a
background which is provided with lines to indicate the posture and position of the
animals' feet and limbs, substantially as above specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.