Improve
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 26th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 4th May, 1889
Improvem
1, PETER (CHARLES, Merchant, of the firm of Charles, Reynolds and Company, of
26 and 27, Milk Street, Cheapside, in the City of London, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by Eloi Eugêne Narcisse
Derogy, of 33, Quai de l'Horloge, Paris, in the Republic of France, Optician) to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in portable cameras intended for use in
instantaneous photography but also applicable for employment where a long exposure
is allowed. A camera constructed according to this invention is specially adapted to
Tulfil the requirements of detectives.
The body of the improved camera consists of a rectangular box having in front a
screened aperture for the reception of the lens and provided at the top and bottom with
sliding lids for the admission of unexposed plates and the withdrawal of plates that
may have already been exposed. The said rectangular box is formed with a central
horizontal partition over which slides a receptacle containing two compartments
arranged one above the other; the said horizontal partition forming the division
between these two compartments. The upper comparment is adapted to contain a
series of unexposed plates arranged parallel with, in close proximity to and behind
one another. Each plate is backed by a darkened sheet or may, if preferred, be
mounted in a frame provided with a darkened back; these sheets or frames being
by preference of metal and serving as screens to prevent the passage of light.
Each plate, after exposure, is permitted to fall, through a slot in the suid horizontal
partition, into the lower of the two compartments in the plate-receptacle; the said
slot being normally covered by a spring-actuated slide operated, when it is desired
to permit an exposed plate to fall, by means of an external hand-lever. The sides of
the plate-receptacle are formed with a series of grooves for the reception of the
several plates; the lid of the same is likewise grooved, the top of each of the plates
lying within one of the grooves, the passage of luminous rays to any unexposed
plate or plates being hereby further prevented. The plate-receptacle is fitted at the
bottom with a rack engaging with a pinion mounted in the body of the camera.

page_text: The pinion is turned by means of an external button or finger-piece; the plate-
receptacle being thus caused to slide within the body of the camera in either direction,
according to whether it be desired to charge or empty the same or to bring tho
unexposed plates successively into the proper position for exposure. The latter end
is easily accomplished by forcing in turn onch unexposed plate against a suitable stop
or stops provided for the purpose. An indicator is fitted at the side of the camera
for denoting the number of unexposed plates romaining within the plate-receptacle.
The lens, if movable, may be actuated by means of rack and pinion mechanism.
In its normal position it is arranged so that all objects beyond a given distance,
say twenty feet, may be in proper focus. When the lens is adjustable, an indientor
is preferably provided outside the body of the camera in order to show the proper
positions for different distances.
A revolving shutter is employed, rotating, by preference, behind the lons and
mounted upon a horizontal spinille formed or provided with a pinion adapted to
engage with a toothed driving wheel driven by a coiled spring. The latter is
wound, as occasion may require, from outside the case by means of a key or handle.
The shutter is held and prevented from moving until the proper time by a
pivotted catch operated by means of an external finger-piece. The said pivotted catel
is preferably furnished with a tail-piece adapted to engage with the shutter after the
latter has rotated the requisite distance; the said tail-piece being disengaged and the
catch again thrown into action when the finger-piece is returned into the normal
position. Brake-mechanism is employed for the purpose of regulating the speed at
which the revolving shutter is permitted to rotate. Such mechanism may comprise a
leather disc mounted on a shaft carrying a pinion engaging with the toothed driving
wheel; a spring bearing against the said disc. The pressure exerted by the said spring
may be regulated by means of a cam or a screw; an indicator being provided on the
cam-shaft or on the scrow in order that the brake-mechanism may be adjusted to
pornit the shutter to revolve at the proper speed. For a slow exposure, a special and
independent catch is provided, which, when in operation, holds the shutter in such a
position that the aperture or one of the apertures therein is immediately bohind
the lens.
The camera is furnished with suitable view-finders, and means are provided for
enabling legs or supports to be attached when desired.
Dated this 26th day of June 1888.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Portable Photographic Cameras.
I, PETER CHARLES, Merchant, of the firm of Charles, Reynolds and Company, late
of 26 and 27, Milk Street, Cheapside, and now of 72 and 73, Fore Street, Cripplegate,
in the City of London, do hereby declare the naturo of this invention (a com-
munication to me from abroad by Eloi Eugênn Narcisse Derogy, of 33, Quai de
l'Horloge, Paris, in the Republic of France, Optician) and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in portable cameras intended for use in
instantaneous photography hut also applicable for employment where a long exposure
is allowed. A camera constructed according to this invention is specially adapted to
fulfil the requirements of detectives.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents in perspective a portable camera
embodying the prosent improvements; Fig. 2 being a longitudinal section thereof
drawn to an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 shews in end elevation the partition carrying the
revolving shutter and the mechanism by which the same is operated; Fig. 4 being an
enlarged view of the brake employed for regulating the speed at which the shutter
aforesaid is permitted to revolve.
The body a of the improved camera consists of a rectangular box having in front
a screened aperture a' for the reception of the lens b and provided at the top and
bottom with sliding lids a² and a for the admission of unexposed plates and the
withdrawal of plates that may have already been exposed. The said rectangular box
is fitted with a central horizontal partition a over which slides a receptacle c
containing two compartments c and arranged one above the other; the horizontal
partition forming the division between these two compartments. The upper
compartment c¹ is adapted to contain a series of unexposed plates arranged parallel
with, in close proximity to and hehind one another." Each plate is backed by a
darkened sheet, or may, if preferred, be mounted in a frame provided with a darkened
back; these sheets or frames being by preference of metal and serving as screens
to prevent the passage of light. Each plate, after exposure, is permitted to fall,
through a slot in the partition a* into the lower compartment c; the said slot being
normally covered as shewn in Fig. 2 by a spring-actuated slide a operated, when it
is desired to permit an exposed plate to fall, by means of an external hand-lever d.
The slides of the plate-receptacle are formed with a series of grooves for the reception
of the several plates; the lid c³ is likewise grooved, the top of each of the plates lying
within one of the grooves, the passage of luminous rays to any unexposed plate or
plates being hereby further prevented. The plate-receptacle is fitted at the bottom
with a rack e engaging with a pinion c* mounted in the body of the camera. The
pinion is turned by means of an external button or finger-piece c; the plate-receptacle
being thus caused to slide within the body of the camera in either direction, according
to whether it be desired to charge or empty the same or to bring the unexposed plates
successively into the proper position for exposure. The latter end is easily
accomplished by forcing in turn each unexposed plate against a suitable stop a or
stops provided for the purpose. An orifice e is formed in the body of the camera for

page_text: exposing one of a series of numbers on the plate-receptacle c and thus indicating the
number of unexposed plates remaining within the receptacle aforesaid; the numbers
on the latter being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.
The lens b, il movable, may be actuated by means of rack-and-pinion mechanism.
In its normal position, it is so arranged that all objects heyond a given distance, say
twenty feet, may be in proper focus. When the lens is adjustablo, as represented in
Fig. 2, an indicator is preferably provided outside the body of the camera in order to
shew the proper positions for different distances.
A revolving shutter frotating, by reference, behind the lens and mounted upon a
horizontal spindle, is employed; the latter carrying a pinion f" adapted to engage
with a toothed driving wheel ƒª driven by a coiled spring enclosed within a harrel.
The spring is wound up, as occasion may require, from outside the case by means of a
key or handle. The shutter is held and prevented from moving until the proper
timo by a catch h (Fig. 2) pivotted on a pin g (Fig. 3) and operated by means of
an external finger-piece g'. The said catch is preferably furnished with a tail-piece,
shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, adapted to engage with the shutter after the latter has
rotated the requisite distance; the said tail-piece being disengagod and the principal
end of the catch again thrown into action when the finger-piece is returned into the
normal position. Brake-mechanism, such as illustrated in Fig. 4, is employed for
the purpose of regulating the speed at which the revolving shutter is permitted to
rotate. Such mechanism may comprise a leather disc i mounted on a shaft carrying
a pinion engaging with the toothed driving wheel f³; a spring bearing against the
said disc. The pressure oxarted by the said spring may be regulated by means of a cam k
or a screw; an indicator being provided on the cam-shaft or on the screw in order
that the brake-mechanism may be adjusted to permit the shutter to revolve at the
proper speed. For slow exposures, a special and independent catch, which may be
controlled by a thumb-screw 1, is added to the apparatus. When in operation this
catch holds the shutter in such a position that the aperture or one of the apertures
therein is immediately behind the lens.
The camera is furnished with suitable view-finders; and means, such as the
socket m, are provided for enabling legs or supports to be attached when desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :—
1. The improved construction of portable photographic camera arranged and
operating substantially as sot forth.
2. In a photographic camera, the employment of a revolving shutter actuated by a
coiled spring adapted for the storage of sufficient power to operate the shutter
repeatedly, according to the number of plates to he exposed.
8. In a photographic camera, a shutter arranged to revolve in one direction only
and driven by a coiled spring, the rotary movement of the shutter being controlled by
a catch, substantially as set forth.
4. In a photographic camera, a revolving shutter provided with brako-mechanism
for enabling the speed of rotation to be regulated, substantially as described.
5. In a photographic camera, the combination, with a spring-driven shutter arranged
to give a series of successive exposures, of a plate-receptacle containing a series of
plates for successive use, substantially as set forth.
Dated the 26th day of March 1889.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, D.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.