Apparatus for Igniting Flash Powder in Taking Photographs by Artificial Light.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Feb., 1898-Accepted, 7th May, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Igniting Flash Powder in Taking Photographs by
Artificial Light.
I, AUGUST WEISS, Photographer, of 3, Meisengasse, Strassburg, Alsace, Germany,
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 my invention is to provide means by which the igniting of flash
powder is effected instantaneously from the interior of the body of powder without
any danger, and without preambulatory noise or development of light for the pur-
poses and by the reasons fully explained in my British Patent Specification filed
16th December 1897 No. 29832.
I attain this object by the apparatus represented in the accompanying draw-
ings, of which
Figure 1 is a top view and Figure 2 a sectional view on line x, x of Figure 1, and
Figures 3 and 4 similar views of a modification thereof.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 are a top view, a broken front view, and a sectional view
respectively of a detail of the latter.
The essential feature of my present invention consists in that a priming com-
position or a lucifer match is ignited and at the same time introduced into the
Hash powder by a rapid turning movement of a carrier-pivoted to the supporting
plate of the flash powder.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 a plate 62 is provided with a stud 64 and a bell
crank lever 65, 66, pivoted to a headed pin 67 fixed to the said stud. Lever arm 65,
carries a slotted end piece 68, and a screw 69 for receiving and holding the match 23,
the rear end of the latter being guided in a socket 70 of lever arm 66 and adjusted by
an adjusting screw 71. Lever 65, 66, is actuated by a spring 72 coiled on its nave and
fixed with one end to the head of a pin 67 and bearing with its other end against
a pin 73 of lever arm 65. The lever is caught against the pressure of spring 72
by a spring catch 74 entering a slot provided in the rear wall of plate 62.
A rubbing surface 75 is secured by means of holders 76, 77, 78, to a flat spring 79
coiled on a fixed stud 80 and limited in its stroke by a stop pin 81.
By these means, when depressing the projecting end piece 82 of spring catch 74,
lever 65, 66, will be released and rapidly carried round by spring 72, igniting the
match by rubbing action on the yielding rubbing surface 75 and introducing the
same through a slot 82 in the front wall of plate 62 into the flash powder 27 placed
in front thereof.
The stroke of lever 65, 66, is limited by arm 66 and a stop provided with a
cover 83 of soft material in order to avoid noise and the lever may be restored
again to its initial position by means of a string 84 attached to a projecting stud 85.
In order to lengthen the supporting plate of the flash powder for taking large
groups I make use of two movable plates 86, 87 provided with bent edges 88, 89
90 and 91, 92, 93 and of a guide channel 94 fixed to the front wall of plate 62.
The movable plates are guided in the said channel by means of bent guide

page_text: strips 95, 96, 97, 98 allowing thus of lengthening the supporting table by more
or less pulling out the movable plates.
The box or casing of the apparatus has been provided for carrying the same,
whilst the cover 63 may be polished on its inner side thus serving as a reflector
in its upright position 631 Figure 2, when using the apparatus.
Referring to the modification of my invention represented, Figure 3 in top
view and Figure 4 in sectional view on line y, y, of Figure 3, a spring actuated
frame 751 is pivoted to a pin 76¹ and provided with edge borders 75* for receiving
the outer part of a match box, not shown on the drawing. Frame 75 is held in
position against the pressure of spring 791 by a stop pin 81¹ the rubbing surface of
the match box thereby yieldingly entering the circular path of the head of
match 23. The latter is supported by a square channelled receptacle 65' fixed
to a plate 66¹ the bent ends of which are pivoted to a stud 67. The match is
introduced into the said channelled receptacle through a slot 83* of the rear wall
of plate 621 and kept in position by a cover plate 691 and a flat spring 68¹ its rear
end bearing at the same time against the rear wall 65 of the channelled receptacle.
The fastening screw is dispensed with in the present modification as the match
when passing on the rubbing surface is pressed inwards and towards the abut-
ment 65*
The match carrier 651, 66¹, is actuated by a spiral spring 721 and caught against
the pressure thereof by a tooth 821 of a flat spring 74 A string 74, is connected
to the latter passing outwards through an opening of plate 621. By pulling the
string the channelled receptacle 65 will be released and rapidly carried round
to the position represented in dotted lines until arrested by pin 831 the match
thereby being ignited on the rubbing surface of the match box and introduced
into the flash powder 27.
Parts 671, 74, 831 are preferably mounted on a plate 62 fixed to the bottom
plate 621. A screw nut 771 is provided to the latter for screwing and fastening
the apparatus to a stand or support.
When taking large groups the supporting table of the flash powder is lengthened;
by channel plate to be mounted on its ends and represented as concerning the left
hand channel plate in Figures 5, 6 and 7 in top view, broken front view and
sectional view on line y, y, of Figure 5 respectively. The said channel plate con-
sists of a bottom plate 861 provided with edge borders 881, 891, 90¹. Border 88¹
is cut away at 911 and a tongue piece 92¹ is provided to the right hand underside
of the bottom. By these means the channel plate can be put upon the edge of the
table and kept in position by the tongue piece. A similar channel plate serves
for lengthening the table on the right hand end.
It has been observed that the box or casing form of the apparatus represented
in the drawings serves for carrying the same as the additional plates for the powder
supporting table can be placed within the box and the latter easily carried about
in the pocket. However the invention is not restricted to that special feature.
The box or casing and the cover can be dispensed with and the igniting device
simply be mounted on a supporting plate as represented in my above mentioned
specification if such special purposes be out of question.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In an apparatus for igniting flash powder in taking photographs by artificial
light, the combination of a supporting plate for the flash powder, a stationary
elastically yielding support for a rubbing surface or a match box, a spring actuated
carrier for a priming composition or a lucifer match pivoted to the supporting
plate for the flash powder, a catch for locking the said carrier, and means for
releasing the same from the catch substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. In an apparatus for igniting flash powder in taking photographs by artificial

page_text: light the combination of a supporting plate for the flash powder, a stationary
elastically yielding support for a rubbing surface or a match box, a spring actuated
carrier for a primary composition or a lucifer match pivoted to the supporting
plate for the Hash powder, a catch for locking said carrier, means for releasing
the same from the catch, and an additional plate or additional plates to be applied
to the said supporting plate in order to lengthen same, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
3. In an apparatus for igniting flash powder in taking photographs by artificial
light, the combination of a supporting plate for the flash powder, an igniting
device and a box or casing provided with a cover and covering the apparatus sub-
stantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this wist day of foo
ww
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said A. Weiss.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said A. Weiss.