IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING STEREOSCOPIC PICTURES, AND IN THE APPARATUS FOR EXHIBITING SUCH OR SIMILAR PICTURES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING STEREOSCOPIC PICTURES, AND IN
THE APPARATUS FOR EXHIBITING SUCH OR SIMILAR PICTURES."-A commu-
nication.
Sealed the 30th June 1854, and dated the 7th April 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th April 1854.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING STEREOSCOPIC PICTURES,
AND IN THE APPARATUS FOR EXHIBITING SUCH OR SIMILAR PICTURES," to be as
follows:-
In the stereoscope two different views of nature are so arranged that each
of them is seen by one of the eyes only, the two being combined into one
image, so as to produce an effect upon the organs of vision similar to that
produced by the solidity of natural objects and the intervening space between
them. The universal joint of the neck enables us to bring the line passing
through the centre of the two eyes into any required position from the hori-
zontal to the vertical, and thus we become instantly familiar with many different

page_text: views of the same object, and are thus enabled to appreciate solids and the
distances between them, not exclusively by the combination of two images
simultaneously formed upon the retina, but by the recollection of images which
have just passed from vision combined with those now in view.
In the stereoscope the images are fixed, as is also the position of the eyes,
and there can consequently be but one image formed upon each retina. It is
proper, therefore, that we should select the two images or pictures which are
to be placed in the stereoscope, in order to give us the most correct idea of the
object represented, and it therefore becomes necessary to determine at what
angle such pictures shall be taken, or what relation the two points of sight
shall bear to each other. Professor Wheatstone, Sir David Brewster, and
others, have given the extremes of the base line of vision, or the distance
between the two eyes, as the points at which the pictures should be taken;
this distance is upon an average 2 inches. In every instance, however, where
this distance has been made use of, the two positions being upon a horizontal
line, the result has been distortion and a misrepresentation of the object, and
after repeated experiments, the Inventor of the present improvements has
discovered that it is necessary that the two points should be separated ver-
tically, an amount equal to the distance which separates them horizontally.
It is not material whether the pictures be taken at the same instant with
two cameras, or with two sets of lenses with the same camera, or whether they
be taken one after the other, provided there be no change of place in the
objects themselves between the times of taking the two pictures.
Before proceeding to describe the method which the Inventor has adopted of
carrying out his improvements I will give the following illustrations:-Suppose
a series of columns supporting a cylinder: If the two points of view be taken
upon the same horizontal line, we are enabled to see round the vertical
columns, and obtain a just appreciation of their solidity; but the second view
of the horizontal cylinder is the same as the first, and it is not relieved from
the back ground at all, but appears to touch all that is behind it; this is the
case with all horizontal lines. In a similar manner, if the position from which
the second view is taken be from a point vertically, above or beneath the first
point, the outline of the vertical columns will be the same, though different
views of the cylinder will be obtained. To unite, therefore, the advantages
resulting from separating the points of view vertically as well as horizontally
is the object of the first part of the present Invention, which consists in taking
the two pictures from the extreme ends of the hypothenuse of a right angle
triangle, one of the sides of which is horizontal and the other vertical, each of
the sides being 2½ inches, or thereabouts, in length.

page_text: Thus, having made one picture, or selected one point of view, there are four
other points from which views may be taken, that will combine accurately
without distortion with the first. These points are the four angles of a square
whose sides are five inches, the first point of view being the centre of the
square or the intersection of its diagonals.
It is evident, that when the first picture is taken, and the camera ranged to
the centre of the views to be pictured, the second position of the lens will,
according to this adjustment, be equally distant, and have the same centre in
the view, so that there will be no change of focus necessary.
The second improvement consists in giving to the pictures of the stereoscope
a panoramic motion into and out of the field of vision by means of machinery.
This, it is believed, has never been accomplished before, they having been
heretofore put in and taken out by hand, as changes were required to be made.
The means proposed for effecting this purpose may be described as follows:-
The pictures or views are arranged in sets, one set being placed in a case on
one side of the instrument, and the other set on the opposite side.
The description of instrument which I propose to use for the purposes of
this Invention is that known as the reflecting stereoscope.
At each side there is an opening, behind which the pictures are brought in
succession, so as to be reflected in the mirrors. The pictures are moved for-
ward to the opening by means of suitable gearing, which, when kept in action,
will move them forward in succession, and by the combination of the two
pictures on the retina of the eyes the most pleasing illusions will be
produced.
5 SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th October 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Edward Newton, Her special licence that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as

page_text: I, the said William Edward Newton, 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 "IMPROVE-
.MENTS IN PRODUCING STEREOSCOPIC PICTURES, AND IN THE APPARATUS FOR EXHIBITING
SUCH OR SIMILAR PICTURES," being a communication from abroad, upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said William Edward Newton, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 William Edward Newton, 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 Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say): :-
This Invention of "Improvements in producing Stereoscope Pictures
and in the Apparatus for Exhibiting such or similar Pictures" has been
communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, in nearly the following
words:-
In the stereoscope two different views of nature are so arranged that each
of them is seen by one of the eyes only, and the two views when seen in the
stereoscope are combined into one image, so as to produce an effect upon the
organs of vision, similar to that produced by the solidity of natural objects
and the intervening space between them. The universal joint of the neck
enables us to bring the line passing through the centre of the two eyes into any
required position from the horizontal to the vertical, and thus we become
instantly familiar with many different views of the same object, and are thus
enabled to appreciate solids and the distances between them; not exclusively
by the combination of two images simultaneously formed upon the retina, but
by the recollection of images which have just passed from vision combined
with those now in view.
In the ordinary stereoscope the images are fixed, as is also the position of
the eyes, and there can consequently be but one image formed upon each
retina. It is proper, therefore, that we should select the two images or
pictures which are to be placed in the stereoscope, in order to give us the most
correct idea of the objects represented, and it therefore becomes necessary to

page_text: determine at what angle such pictures shall be taken, or what relation the two
points of sight shall bear to each other. Professor Wheatstone, Sir David
Brewster, and others, have given the extreme of the base line of vision, or the
distance between the two eyes, as the points at which the pictures should be
taken; this distance is, upon an average, two and a half inches. In every
instance, however, where this distance has been made use of, the two positions
being upon an horizontal line, the result has been distortion and a misrepre-
sentation of the object; and after repeated experiments, the Inventor of the
present improvements has discovered that it is necessary that the two points
should be separated vertically, an amount equal to the distance which separates
them horizontally.
It is not material whether the pictures be taken at the same instant with
two cameras, or with two sets of lenses with the same camera, or whether they
be taken one after the other, provided there be no change of place in the objects
themselves, between the times of taking the two pictures.
Before proceeding to describe the method which the Inventor has adopted
of carrying out his improvements I will give the following illustrations :-
Suppose a series of columns supporting a cylinder: If the two points of view
be taken upon the same horizontal line, we are enabled to see round the ver-
tical columns, and obtain a just appreciation of their solidity; but the second
view of the horizontal cylinder is the same as the first, and it is not relieved
from the back ground at all, but appears to touch all that is behind it; this is
the case with all horizontal lines. In a similar manner, if the position from
which the second view is taken be from a point vertically above or beneath
the first point, the outline of the vertical columns will be the same, though
different views of the cylinder will be obtained. To unite, therefore, the
advantages resulting from separating the points of view, vertically as well as
horizontally, is the object of the first part of the present Invention, which
consists in taking the two pictures from the extreme ends of the hypothenuse
of a right angle triangle, one of the sides of which is horizontal and the
other vertical, each of the sides being two and a half inches, or thereabouts, in
length.
Thus, having made one picture, or selected one point of view, there are
four other points from which views may be taken, that will combine accu-
rately without distortion with the first. These points are the four angles of a
square whose sides are five inches; the first point of view being the centre of
the square or the intersection of its diagonals.
It is evident, that when the first picture is taken, and the camera ranged to
the centre of the views to be pictured, the second position of the lens will,

page_text: according to this adjustment, be equally distant and have the same centre in the
view, so that there will be no change of focus necessary.
Figures 1 and 2 are views of a camera in the two positions in which the
pictures are taken, according to the improved plan; Fig. 3 is a plan of a table
upon the top of a tripod, and upon which the camera is placed.
A is the camera, which does not differ materially from those in common use;
B is the bottom or floor of the same, which is made to extend out all round to
near the size of the table, upon which it rests; C is the table, secured upon
the top of the tripod shaft D, and capable of adjustment thereto by means of
the set screw E. Near the front edge of the table C are three holes a, a', a",
which are united to a groove or gutter I, which is ploughed slightly beneath
the surface of the table. This groove has a depression a two and a half inches
horizontally from the centre of the hole a', and an enlargement y, the same
distance from the hole a", the object of which will be explained hereafter;
b, b, b, are pins projecting from the bottom of the camera, and at such dis-
tances apart, that when the camera is placed upon its table C they shall enter
and pass through the holes a, a¹, a", as seen in Fig. 1, and of such a length, that
when the camera is in the position represented in Fig. 2, the bottom of the
latter shall be two and a half inches above the surface of the table C; c is a
fourth pin, secured to the bottom of the camera, which enters a hole d in the
table, and which is furnished with a screw and nut, by which its length may be
adjusted, and the back of the camera raised or lowered, as may be required.
In operating with the instrument, according to the present improvement, the
instrument is first adjusted to the object in the position represented in Fig. 1; it
is then moved into the position seen in Fig. 2, in which position it is evident
that the centre of the lens is two and a half inches horizontally distant from its
first position, at the same time that it is raised vertically an equal distance.
Without moving the table C, the camera is then pivotted upon the pin b',
which sinks into the depression a, the pin " being moved sufficiently in the
enlargement y of the groove, at the same time that the pin c is lengthened
sufficiently to bring the object again within the range of the instrument, the
other adjustments remaining as before.
The first picture is now taken with the camera in the position represented
in Fig. 2; the pins 6, 6, 6, are then instantaneously placed in the holes
a, a, a, and the second picture is taken with the instrument in the position
shewn at Fig. 1.
By this method, as before stated, stereoscopic pictures may be taken,
which are entirely free from the objections to which those are liable which
are taken from two positions of the camera both in the same horizontal plane.

page_text: It is evident that there are other methods which may be adopted for the
purpose of moving the camera; for instance, it may be jointed to the table by
means of hinged links, two and a half inches in length, or thereabouts, which
shall allow the camera to be put into the two positions required.
I do not intend to limit myself to the exact distance above specified between
the points from which the pictures are taken, as this distance may be slightly
varied without materially affecting the result; neither do I confine myself to
the precise methods which I have adopted of carrying out my Invention; and
I do not claim taking pictures for the stereoscope with the camera placed in
two different positions, or with two lenses attached to the same instrument
when the two points are in the same horizontal line, as this has been done
before.
But what I do claim as new under this head of the Invention and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is, the method above described of taking stereoscopic
pictures, or any mere modification thereof, in which the two positions of the
camera are upon a line making an angle with the horizon.
The second improvement consists in giving to the pictures of the stereoscope
a panoramic motion into and out of the field of vision by means of machinery;
this, it is believed, has never been accomplished before, they having been here-
tofore put in and taken out by hand, as changes were required to be made.
The means proposed for effecting this purpose may be described as follows:-
The pictures or views are arranged in sets, one set being placed in a cover
on one side of the instrument, and the other set on the opposite side.
The description of instrument which I propose to use for the purposes of
this Invention is that known as the reflecting stereoscope. At each side there
is an opening, behind which the pictures are brought in succession, so as to be.
reflected in the mirrors. The pictures are moved forward to the opening by
means of suitable gearing, which, when kept in action, will move them forward
in succession, and by the combination of the two pictures on the retina of the
eyes the most pleasing illusion will be produced.
Fig. 4 is a plan of the reflector stereoscope; Fig. 5, a front elevation of
the same; Fig. 6, a plan of the same, with the top cover removed; Fig. 7
is a plan of the lower box A, B, C, D, of Fig. 5, which contains the ma-
chinery for removing the pictures; Fig. 8 is a section upon the line a, b;
Fig. 9 is an end elevation, the box being removed to show the parts within;
Fig. 10 is a section on y, y, of Figs. 6 and 7, and the view being taken in
the direction of the arrow Z; Fig. 11 is a section upon the line c, d, of
Ti 10

page_text: The stereoscopic plates, with the glass by which they are covered, are firmly
secured in light, rectangular, metallic frames or otherwise, the whole forming
a plate or frame of about three-eighths of an inch in thickness, as seen in
plan at 1 to 24, and 1' to 24', of Fig. 6, and in elevation at n, n, n', n', of
Fig. 9; G, H, and G, I, are the mirrors; b, the lens for magnifying the
pictures.
Motion is given to the plates as follows:-K is a crank attached to the
shaft, which carries four endless screws or worm gears a, which lie imme-
diately beneath and engage with cog wheels c, c, c¹, c', secured to the shafts
d, d, d', d', and by means of which the shafts d, d', are caused to revolve as
the crank is turned. Upon the shafts d, d', are secured cogged segments
e, e¹, e², c³, e', e³, eº, e², seen in Figures 7 and 8, and in elevation at Fig. 9, the
office of which is at certain periods of the revolutions of the shafts d, d', to
engage with the rack n, n, at the bottom of the stereoscope plates, Fig. 9, and
bring them into the position required. The worm gear upon the shaft L is so
arranged that the shafts d, d', with their cog wheels, revolve in the direction
indicated by the arrows upon the upper periphery of the segments e, e¹, and the
shafts d, d', and their cog wheels or segments revolve in the opposite direction,
as indicated by the arrows upon the periphery of the cogged segments e, e
Upon the same shafts d, d', are secured toes or pins g, g', g², g, which in
revolving strike against the pins or arms h upon the shafts i, by which means
the latter are caused to make a partial revolution at stated periods, for a
purpose to be hereafter explained. These rods i to are all secured by means
of straps, boxes, or otherwise, in grooves in the slides in the box Fig. 6. They
are all provided with fingers k, which in one position of the said rods are
revolved into slight grooves made in the side of the box to receive them. The
rod is connected by a strap m or otherwise to the rod i, so that whatever
motion is given to one is communicated to the other, and the same may be
said of the pairs or sets of the same rods. The cogged segments c, the gear
wheel c, and the toes y, are all secured to their carrying shafts by set screws,
for purposes of adjustment. q are flat springs, which bear upon the heads
of the picture frames, and keep them in place by producing a slight
friction.
The crank is connected with its shaft L by a ratchet wheel and pawle in
a well-known manner, so that if the former be turned in the wrong direc-
tion, the pawle slips over the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and no injury to the
machinery results.

page_text: OPERATION.
In Fig. 6 the plates 24 and 24¹ are represented as in the field of vision 1
to 11, and 11 to 11", in the compartments Q, Q'; 13 to 23, and 13 to 23¹,
in the compartments R, R'; and 12, 121, in the passage between these two
divisions of the picture box. As the crank revolves, the cogged segments e, e¹,
and e and e, immediately beneath the picture plates 23, 231, engage with the
|racks n, n, (Fig. 6,) upon their under side, and drive them forward into the fields
of vision, now occupied by 24, 241, these latter being forced into the vacant
spaces P, P'; the pins g, having freed themselves from the pins of the
shafts i, the latter are left free to revolve; and as the plates 24, 24', advance,
they strike against the fingers k, and force them, by revolving the shafts i into
the recesses in the case, as seen in red lines in Fig. 3. The spaces p, p¹, are
now occupied by the plates 24, 24', and the spaces recently occupied by 23, 231,
are left vacant; while this is taking place, the cogged segments e², e³, and e', e',
have driven forward the plates 11, 11', which force the plates 12, 121, into the
vacant spaces S, S¹, the spaces recently occupied by 11, 11', being left vacant.
The plates now remain stationary, the cogs of the segments e no longer
engaging with the racks upon their bottom edge, and the pins g, g³, g², g³, all
come into action, striking against the arms h of the vertical rods i, by which
means the latter are caused to revolve, and their fingers k are forced against
the plates, and the latter are all advanced a distance equal to the thick-
ness of one of them, and the spaces P, P¹, S, S', are again left vacant. The
teeth upon the cogged segments, as the latter revolve, now engage with the
rack n, n, upon the next set of plates, and the operation proceeds as before,
every revolution of the shafts d, d', bringing a new plate into the field of vision,
carrying a new one into the space P, P¹, S, S", and advancing all the plates
in the compartments Q, Q', R, R', a distance equal to the thickness of one
plate, the pictures being in motion about one half the time, and stationary
the other half, whilst the crank K and the shafts L and d, continually revolve.
The pictures are thus brought successively in pairs into the field of vision,
where they remain a short space of time, and may be viewed through the lens
b, one of them being seen by the right eye, reflected from the mirror G, I, and
the other by the left eye, reflected from the mirror G, H; by which combi-
nations the stereoscopic view is obtained, in a manner well known to those
acquainted with this instrument.
What I claim as new in this part of the Invention, and desire to secure by
Letters Patent is, giving to the pictures of a stereoscope or other instrument

page_text: of analogous character, a panoramic motion into and out of the field of
vision.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Fourth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)