IMPROVEMENTS IN STEREOSCOPES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Clark, of Rathbone Place, and of 53,
Chancery Lane, both in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEREOSCOPES." -A communication
from abroad by John Francis Adams, of the Oity, County, and
State of New York, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 10th August 1869, and dated the 29th March 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th March 1869.
I, ALEXANDER CLARK, of Rathbone Place, and of 53, Chancery Lane,
3 both in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEREOSCOPES," to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates to new and important improvements in
instruments used in viewing stercoscopic or. photographic pictures, and

page_text: consists mainly in the use of magnets for receiving and holding the
pictures in the proper position for being viewed.
It also consists in binding the ends of the card, pictures, or views with
iron or other suitable material to be acted upon by the magnets, and in
the method of delivering a single card or picture to the magnets and
discharging it therefrom, by which arrangement any desired number of
cards or pictures may be received and discharged from a revolving
cylinder, as will be herein-after more fully described.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Figure 1 represents a
vertical section of the instrument through the lines x, x, of Figure 2; 1
Figure 2-is-a-side elevation partly in section or with the upper portion
broken away to show the method of detaching a single picture from the
bottom of the pack of pictures; Figure 3 represents a side view of the
detaching button; Figure 4 is an edge view of the same; Figure 5
gives an edge view of a picture showing the binding on its ends for
receiving the magnets. Similar letters of reference indicate corre-
sponding parts.
A represents the box or case which contains the cylinder, the ends of
which support the cylinder, pivots, as seen in dotted lines in Figure 2;
B, B, represent hand wheels, cranks, or crosses on the pivots for turning
the cylinder; C. is the cylinder, formed. by connecting two principal
heads D, D, by two or more cross pieces E, which support a central head
or partition F. The pivots upon which the cylinder revolves are secured
to the heads D, and the cross pieces E are screwed to the heads, as seen
in the Drawing. Upon the inner sides of each of the heads D magnets G
are placed, one or more in number, according to the diameter of the
cylinder or the number of pictures or views which it may be desired to
exhibit at each revolution of the cylinder. In this example of the
Invention I place two magnets on each head with their faces flush, or
about: flush, with the edge or periphery of the heads, and pointing in
opposite directions, as seen in Figure 1, where the magnets are shown
in dotted lines. The heads may be octagons, as shown, or made in any
other desired shape. The upper portion of the case A is made so as to
enclose a greater or less number of card pictures, as représented at H, H,
the pictures being shown in red color. I, I, Figure 2, represent
transversely placed pieces, which are secured in grooves, so that they
may be readily removed, upon the under sides of which are the detaching
buttons J, J, secured to the parts I by central pivot screws, as seen in

page_text: Two cards.
the buttons
Figure 3. These buttons are formed of four (more or less) wings K, K',
so connected together that the pairs do not revolve in the same plane,
but so that while the pictures are supported by two wings of one pair
(as for instance, one of the wings of each button marked K¹) one of
each of the wings marked K revolve in a plane the thickness of a card
higher, so that they pass over and detach the lower card, being placed
and revolved at each end of the pack, as seen in Figure 2.
are thus detached at every revolution of the buttons, and
are so arranged in relation to the magnets that when a picture is so.
detached it drops square on to the magnets, which hold it by means of
the binding m on the ends, as seen in Figure 5. This binding on the
ends of the picture is attracted by the magnets and held by such
attraction with sufficient force to keep the pictures in place on the
cylinder while the latter is revolved or being carried to the proper
position or focus for viewing. After the picture has been viewed the
cylinder is turned a part of a revolution, or until the picture is carried
down beneath the cylinder, where it strikes a trap or plate n which stops
its further progress; the motion of the cylinder being continued it slides
from the magnets and drops into a drawer or box beneath. The manner
in which the detaching buttons J are revolved is by means of the
projecting wires.o in the heads D, which are placed opposite the magnets
on the same side of the cylinder, as seen in the Drawing. These wires
engage with the wings of the button, so that each pair of wires on each
head turns the button one-fourth of a revolution while the buttons
are turned, so that the lower card or picture is detached or separated
from the rest; they are also turned so that the pack of pictures above
are supported as before stated. P represents the lenses.
In operating with the instrument the pictures are placed loosely in a
pack so that they rest upon the buttons J, as represented in the Drawing.
The cylinder is then revolved by means of the cranks or wheels B. When
the magnets of one side of the cylinder point upward a picture is dropped
by the revolution of the buttons (or rather by a half revolution for each
picture), which is caught by the magnets and held until it is carried by
the continued motion of the cylinder into the proper focus. When
viewed sufficiently the cylinder is carried around until the other pair of
magnets point upward, another picture is then dropped and caught, when
by the continued revolution of the cylinder the first picture is discharged
by the trap n and the next carried into focus, and so on for any number
of pictures, amounting to scores or hundreds if desired.

page_text: •
Any suitable arrangement may be made in constructing the case A for
the management of the light, for delivering the pictures to the huttons,
and securing them after their discharge from the magnets.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 20th August 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
CLARK, of Rathbone Place, and of 53, Chancery Lane, both in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Clark, Her special licence
that I, the said Alexander Clark, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Clark, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEREOSCOPES, a communication to me from abroad by John Francis
Adams, of the City, County, and State of New York, in the United
States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Alexander Clark, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
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 Alexander Clark, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings

page_text: hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):-
This Invention relates to new and important improvements in instru-
ments used in viewing stereoscopic or photographic pictures, and consists
mainly in the use of magnets for receiving and holding the pictures in
the proper position for being viewed.
It also consists in binding the ends of the card, pictures, or views
with iron or other suitable material to be acted upon by the magnets,
and in the method of delivering a single card or picture to the magnets
and discharging it therefrom, by which arrangement any desired number
of cards or pictures may be received and discharged from a revolving
cylinder, as will be herein-after more fully described.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Figure 1. ⚫represents a
vertical section of the instrument through the lines x, x, of Figure 2;
Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section or with the upper portion
broken away to show the method of detaching a single picture, from
the bottom of the pack of pictures; Figure 3 represents a side view of
the detaching button; Figure 4 is an edge view of the same; Figure 5.
gives an edge view of a picture showing the binding on its ends for
receiving the magnets. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts.
A represents the box or case which contains the cylinder, the ends
of which support the cylinder pivots, as seen in dotted lines in Figure 2;
B, B, represent hand wheels, cranks, or crosses on the pivots for turning
the cylinder; C. is the cylinder, formed by connecting two principal
heads D, D, by two or more cross pieces E, which support a central
head or partition F. The pivots upon which the cylinder revolves are
secured to the heads D; and the cross pieces E are screwed to the heads,
as seen in the Drawing. Upon the inner sides of each of the heads D
magnets are placed, one or more in number, according to the diameter
of the cylinder or the number of pictures or views which it may be
desired to exhibit at each revolution of the cylinder. In this example
of the Invention I place two magnets. on each head with their faces
flush, or about flush, with the edge or periphery of the heads, and
pointing in opposite directions, as seen in Figure 1, where the magnets
are shown in dotted lines. The heads may be octagons or made in any
other desired shape; in the Drawing they are, octagonal. The upper
portion of the case A is made so as to enclose more or less a number of

page_text: card pictures, as represented at H, H, the pictures being shown in red
color. I, I, Figure 2, represent transversely placed pieces, which are
'secured in grooves so that they may be readily removed, upon the under
sides of which are the detaching buttons J, J, secured to the parts I
by central pivot screws, as seen in Figure 3. These buttons are formed
of four (more or less) rings K, K', so connected together that the pairs
do not revolve in the same plane, but so that while the pictures are
supported by two wings of one pair (as for instance, one of the wings of
.each button marked K') one of each of the wings marked K revolve in
a plane the thickness of a card higher, so that they pass over and
detach the lower card, being placed and revolved at each end of the
pack, as seen in Figure 2. Two cards are thus detached at every
revolution of the buttons, and the buttons are so arranged in relation
to the magnets that when a picture is so detached it drops square onto
the magnets, which hold it by means of the binding m on the ends,
as seen in Figure 5. This binding on the ends of the picture is attracted
by the magnets and held by such attraction with sufficient force to
keep the pictures in place on the cylinder while the latter is revolved
.or being carried to the proper position or focus for viewing. After the
picture has been viewed the cylinder is turned a part of a revolu-
tion, or until the picture is carried down beneath the cylinder, where
it strikes a trap or plate n, which stops its further progress; the motion
of the cylinder being continued it slides from the magnets and drops
into a drawer or box beneath. The manner in which the detaching
buttons J are revolved is by means of the projecting wires o in the
heads D, which are placed opposite the magnets on the same side of the
cylinder, as seen in the Drawing. These wires engage with the wings
of the buttons, so that each pair of wires on each head turns the button
'one-fourth of a revolution while the buttons are turned, so that the
lower card or picture. is detached or separated from. the rest; they are
also turned so that the pack of pictures above are supported as before
stated. P represents the lenses.
In operating with the instrument the pictures are placed loosely in a
pack, so that they rest upon the buttons J, as represented in the Drawing.
"The cylinder is then revolved by means of the cranks or wheels B.
When the magnets of one side of the cylinder point upward a picture
is dropped by the revolution of the buttons (or rather by a half revo-
"lution for each picture), which is caught by the magnets and held until

page_text: it is carried by the continued motion of the cylinder into the proper
focus. When viewed sufficiently the cylinder is carried around until
the other pair of magnets point upward, another picture is then dropped
and caught, when by the continued revolution of the cylinder the first
picture is discharged by the trap n and the next carried into focus, and
so on for any number of pictures, amounting to scores or hundreds if
desired.
Any suitable arrangement may be made in constructing the case A
for the management of the light, for delivering the pictures to the
buttons, and securing them after their discharge from the magnets.
-
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention
to be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, ―
1st. In combination with a stereoscope the use of magnets, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein shown and described.
2ndly. The metallic binding m, or its equivalent, on the ends of
stereoscopic or photographic pictures, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
3rdly. The buttons J in combination with a stereoscope for delivering
the pictures singly from the pack when constructed, revolved, and
operating substantially as described for the purposes set forth.
4thly. The method of discharging the pictures from the magnets,
substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Clark, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.