Improvements in the Manufacture of Cameras.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Cameras.
I, JOHN EDWARD THORNTON, of Rokeby, Oldfield Road, Altrincham, in the
County of Chester, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide an improved construction of metal
or part metal cameras, whereby cheapness and accuracy can be combined with a
high class and better finish than hitherto.
In making cameras according to this invention I prefer to use sheet aluminium
(or an alloy of same), which is cut or "blanked" out by a press or other suitable
means. The blank is then covered with leather or other convenient covering
material, for which purpose the leather is cut a little larger than the blank,
overhanging the edges of it all round. These overhanging edges of the leather
are turned over on to the opposite sides of the blank. The leather may be secured
to the blank by coating one or the other with paste or other adhesive all over, or
it is often sufficient to apply the paste to the edges only.
The next operation is to turn over the edges of the blank, so as to produce a
rim of double thickness all round. The object of this is to enable comparatively
thin metal to be used and yet obtain great strength and stiffness of the edges,
and also to give a better finish to the edges. The leather is of course gripped
between the metal, and therefore perfectly secured in position; in fact it is often
possible to dispense with paste entirely and to use this means alone for securing
the leather. The leather is stretched tightly upon the metal owing to the edges
of the metal being turned over after the leather has been put on.
We have now a leather covered sheet metal blank, and it is only necessary to
bend or otherwise shape this into its proper finished form, and to secure the joints
firmly together, to complete the finished article. This operation is done by the
aid of formers, dies, jigs, or other suitable means, such as are well known and
understood. The jotting may be done in various ways, according to the shape of
the blank and of the finished article. For instance in making a camera body of
elongated box form, open at the two ends, the joint or seam would be produced
either by hooking the adjacent edges into each other and then clinching them
together, or a lap joint, rivitted, screwed, or otherwise secured may be used
instead. These ordinary methods are well understood.
The box or other article is afterwards ornamented at the corners, joints, and
other desired places, by heated press tools or other convenient means.
In order to stiffen the body, baseboard, front, box, or other part of a camera, I
form indented or raised stiffening ribs, by pressing in suitable dies. This may
be done either before or after the metal has been bent into shape.
In some styles of cameras it is desirable to make certain parts, such as the
inside of baseboard and body and also the front board, look like polished
mahogany. This may be done by printing or otherwise coloring the metal in
imitation thereof, or by covering it with paper or similar flexible material likewise
rD 977

page_text: made to imitate. I prefer, however to cover such parts with a thin veneer or
layer of polished mahogany or other suitable wood. This can be readily polished
in sheets or lengths, cut up by a press or other convenient means, and attached
firmly to the metal by first cementing them together with paste, glue, or other
suitable cement, and securing the edges by turning the metal over upon them.
If the metal is first leather covered, the finished effect will be that of a piece of
polished mahogany, covered with leather on the opposite side and having a
narrow border of leather round the edges of the polished side. If desired that
the turned over edges shall be flush with the polished surface of the veneer, the
latter may be rabeted round the edges for the metal to fit into. The whole is
clinched in a press to complete. It produces a cheap and yet first class finished
result, and warping and bending is entirely prevented.
It is desirable to back the veneer with cloth or paper to prevent splitting. This
backing also serves the purpose of enabling the veneer to be attached to the
metal more securely by means of the paste.
I find it sometimes advantageous to cover the metal blank with paper pasted
on, before applying the leather. Thin paper enables better attachment to be
obtained between metal and leather.
Cameras manufactured on the lines herein described have all the appearance
of first class leather covered wooden cameras, whilst they are more cheaply pro-
duced, much lighter in weight, sufficiently strong for their purpose, and will
stand rougher usage.
I, JOIN EDWARD THORNTON, of Rokeby, Oldfield Road, Altrincham, in the
County of Chester, Manufacturer, 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 object of this invention is to provide an improved construction of metal or
part metal cameras whereby cheapness and accuracy can be combined with a high
class and better finish than hitherto.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Fig. 1. Perspective view of rectangular case to form a box camera.
Fig. 2. Perspective view of folding camera opened with part of bellows cut
away.
Fig. 3. Perspective view of base-board of camera.
Fig. 4. Enlarged section showing relative positions of metal sheet and leather
cover in the blank
Fig. 5. Enlarged section on line z-z Fig. 1, showing turned over edges of the
metal and stiffening ribs or grooves.
Fig. 6. Enlarged section on line y-y Fig. 1, showing method of jointing the
two edges of the metal.
Fig. 7. Enlarged section on line - Fig. 2.
Fig. 8. Similar section showing a modification.
Fig. 9. Enlarged section on line 10- Fig. 2.
Fig. 10. Similar section showing a modification enlarged.

page_text: Fig. 11. Section on line vv Fig. 3, showing the method of forming and
stiffening the edge of the lid or cover.
All the rigid parts of the camera I make from aluminium sheets stamped out
by a press or other means to the desired shapes. Thus the body or case A the
front or lid B the lens carrier or support C are all stamped from or made of sheet
aluminium a.
The aluminium sheet is rolled or formed in the usual way and is preferably on
one surface printed coated or enamelled with a covering composition 6 to exactly
represent in appearance mahogany or other wood. It is then stamped to the
desired shapes for the different parts of the camera and the blank is covered on
the plain side with leather paper cloth or similar flexible material c. The cover-
ing leather paper or cloth c is cut a little larger than the corresponding aluminium
metal blank the edges d of the cover extending or overhanging beyond the edges
of the blank all round.
The flexible covering c is secured to the aluminium blank a by any suitable
adhesive material applied all over the surface or to the edges only as desired.
The overhanging edges d of the flexible covering care turned over onto the
opposite side of the aluminium blank a as shown in Fig. 4.
The edges of the covered aluminium blank a are next turned over upon them-
selves and upon the flexible cover c to produce a rim of double thickness along
each edge for the purpose of giving stiffness and rigidity to the article. By this
construction comparatively thin aluminium sheet can be used whilst obtaining
great strength and rigidity at the edges.
The flexible cover c of leather or other material is by the same operation turned
over into the interior and is there gripped between the two surfaces of the
aluminium. It thereby presents a complete cover or finish to the edges and is
also perfectly secured in position. Paste or adhesive material may in some cases
he dispensed with between the cover c and the aluminium a the cover being alone
secured by the gripping of its overhanging and overturned edges d by the metal.
The turning over of the aluminium a and cover c together to stiffen the edges
stretches the leather tightly on the metal and presents a very good finish.
In this way an aluminium blank a has been formed covered with leather or
other flexible material e preferably manufactured to resemble or look like leather
and it is now only necessary to shape or bend this into proper form for the
various parts of the camera and to secure the joints finely together to complete
the finished article.
This operation is done by the aid of formers dies jigs or other suitable means
such as are well known and understood. The jointing may be done in various
ways according to the shape of the blank and of the finished article. For instance
in making a camera body of elongated box form open at the two ends as in
Fig. 1 the joint or seam E would be produced either by hooking the adjacent
edges into each other and then clinching them together; or a lap joint rivetted
screwed or otherwise secured may be used instead. These ordinary methods are
well understood.
The box or other article is afterwards ornamented at the corners joints and
other desired places by heated press tools or other convenient means.
In order to stiffen the body A baseboard B front C box or other part of a
camera I form indented or raised stiffening ribs e by pressing in suitable dies.
This may be done either before or after the metal has been bent into shape.
In some styles of cameras it is desirable to make certain parts such as the
inside of the body A the inside of the baseboard B and the front or lens carrier C
look like polished mahogany. This may be done by printing enamelling or
colouring the surface of the metal or by covering same with paper or other similar
flexible material made to imitate or resemble the grain of the mahogany or by
covering with or inserting a thin veneer 9 or layer of polished mahogany or other
ornamental wood as in Figs. 8 and 10.

page_text: The enamel or printing will preferably be applied to the aluminium sheets
before being cut or shaped but if so desired may be after being cut or shaped.
The metal being first leather covered the finished effect will be that of a piece
of polished mahogany covered with leather on the opposite side and having a
narrow border of leather round the edges of the polished sides. If desired that
the turned over edges shall be flush with the polished surface of the veneer the
letter may be rabetted round the edges for metal to fit into. The whole is
clinched in a press to complete. It produces a cheap and yet first class finished
result and warping and bending is entirely prevented.
It is desirable to back the veneer with cloth or paper to prevent splitting. This
backing also serves the purpose of enabling the veneer to be attached to the
metal more securely by means of the paste.
I find it sometimes advantageous to cover the metal blank with paper pasted
on before applying the leather. Thin paper enables better attachment to be
obtained between metal and leather.
Cameras manufactured on the lines herein described have all the appearance of
first class leather covered wooden cameras whilst they are more cheaply produced
much lighter in weight sufficiently strong for their purpose and will stand
rougher usage.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:
-
1. A photographic camera constructed of aluminium sheet covered at one side
with a covering of leather or other flexible material turned over at the edges
and clinched by the turning of the metal and at the other side coated or covered
in imitation of polished mahogany or other woods substantially as described.
2. A photographic camera comprising in its construction leather covered sheet
aluminium having the edges of the leather first turned over the aluminium blank
and subsequently doubled between and clamped by the edges of the metal sub-
stantially as described.
3. A photographic camera constructed of sheet aluminium printed enamelled
or coloured on one or both sides in imitation of polished mahogany or other
wood substantially as described.
4. A photographic camera comprising in its construction leather covered
aluminium turned over and stiffened at the edges the leather forming the outside
of the camera and enamel painting printing or veneer on the inside substantially
as described.
5. A photographic camera substantially as described and shown.
December 1899.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.