A Portable Photographic Operating Chamber.
Year: 1899

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Portable Photographic Operating Chamber.
I, FELIX SCHAETZKE, of 13, Friedrich Strasse, Bochum, Westphalia, in the
Empire of Germany, Photographer, 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 the present invention is to provide a photographic operating
chamber which shall be capable of being made available, in a very short time,
for the taking of views or portraits, whether in confined spaces or in the open,
and which shall also be capable of being as easily taken to pieces for transport.
Further, to render the taking of views or portraits entirely independent of the
state of the weather or the light, by the employment of a special arrangement of
parts, so that the operations may take place either by day-light or by artificial
light (electric, acetylene, magnesium, and so on), or even with a combination of
day-light and artificial light.
This object will, in the main, be carried out in the following manner:-Frames
composed of iron or wooden (or, say, bamboo) rods, easily detached one from
another (and which, in some cases, may be strengthened at the corners by cross
pieces), are secured, on two sides thereof, to a skeleton framing, which is made to
rest securely upon the floor or ground surface by means of suitable feet. In the
three vacant sides of the so-formed three-sided chamber, cross wires are fixed,
and upon the latter (always in accordance with the actual amount, or desired
amount, of light) are hung a certain number (more or less) of light frames, covered
with wire gauze or other suitable medium, said frames being capable of being
moved sideways, as required. If the operation is not to be effected by day-
light, there will also be provided, preferably below the frame forming the roof,
a reflector or mirror suspended at an angle, and capable of angular adjustment,
so that a portion of the light desirable from a source outside the chamber, shall
be thrown in a suitable manner upon the object, and another portion be available
for the required front lighting.
In the accompanying drawing,-
Figure 1 represents an operating room of this kind in perspective, ready for
use, and in which the lighting of the object takes from above, and to the left.
Figure 2 shews a frame to be fastened to the skeleton framework, for the purpose
of moderating the light; whilst
Figures 3 and 4 represent an example of the manner of connecting the abutting
sides of this frame, in order to prevent the penetration of light through the
interstices or joints.
The photographic chamber will, for the principal part, be formed of three
main frames only, the separate parts of which consist of rods a (say, for example,
bamboo canes or the like), which are secured in a suitable manner, either hori-
zontally or vertically; and across the frames formed by the rods a, are attached
wires b. The connection of the parts a of the framework may, for example, be
effected conveniently by means of tubular T or angle pieces c, or in any other
suitable manner; it must, however be so effected, that the said parts a of the
framework shall be capable of being quickly, and without much trouble, taken
apart, in order that the whole apparatus may be stored with ease in a comparatively
D
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page_text: small space.
The framing which forms the roof of the chamber is, in like
inauner, formed of rods a, and here, also, two parallel rods are connected together
by means of wires b. These wires b, serve not only as regards the vertical side
walls of the chamber, but also as regards the roof, for the securing or holding of
frames d, which are covered with a material through which light can pass, such
as wire gauze or the like, as seen at Figure 2. The sides of the frames d which
abut against each other are rabetted, so that when they come together, they make
a perfectly close joint. The formation of the rebate may be of different kinds, but
by way of example, the most simple kind for horizontal & vertical abutting edges
is shewn at Figures 3 and 4, in order to make it possible to employ a side light
for the illumination of objects to be photographed. It is advantageous, as may
been from Figure 1, to provide, at the front portion of the chamber, a reflector
or mirror g, which will be capable of turning on a hinge h, so that the same may
be altered in position in accordance with the amount of light which it is desired to
admit. In order that the chamber so fitted together may stand securely and
rigidly, it is advisable to provide the lower ends of the rode a with feet i, which
rods a, near the angular connecting pieces, are also provided with wire struts k or
the like.
If, for the illumination of the object to be photographed, (as shewn at Figure 1),
it is desired that the light shall arrive from the left-hand side, whilst the right
side is to to thrown into shadow, the frames d, shewn at Figure 2, will be
suspended on this right side. These frames carry, for this purpose, at their upper
and lateral edges, hangers or hooks 7, which take over the wires 6, in order that
they may be held securely in place. By means of similar hooks l, the frames d,
shewn in Figure 1, on the right-hand side, will also be suspended upon the
wires b, and will also be correspondingly fastened on the roof of the chamber.
It is possible therefore, by employing a greater or less number of frames d, which
are also laterally adjustable, to protect, for example, the right side of the chamber
against the entry of light, & thereby to maintain the shadow portions
more or less dark, whilst on the left-hand side, (according as more
fewer frames, in the same manner, are hung up or otherwise,
smaller or greater amount of light for the illumination of the object
may be allowed to enter, & thus it is possible to obtain the desired artistic
effect in a far better manner than with glass-houses or rigid structures. By
altering the position of the reflector y, the aforesaid illumination can be materially
increased in the way well known. Instead of the frames covered with wire gauze,
similar frames provided with reflecting surfaces may be suspended, either inside or
outside of the chamber, at suitable spots.
or
a
At its rear end the chamber is kept open, so that the natural landscape may
serve as a background, when photographing a person or other object. The
operator will also be able, when erecting the chamber, to adapt the position thereof
to the situation of the sun at the time. If, instead of natural light, artificial
illumination is to be employed, it is possible to close in all sides of the chamber,
or only a portion thereof, with the frames d (placed together, and one over the
other, or in several layers), in order to obtain the requisite lighting effects; or
light from an artificial source may be brought into requisition, in addition to the
natural light, in accordance with the effect desired to be produced & the particular
object that is photographed.
It is evident that, in place of the hollow angular connecting pieces for the rods a,
any other suitable method of fastening may be employed. The securing of the
frames d upon the frames formed out of the rods a, may also be effected in any
other suitable manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
A portable photographic chamber characterized by the combination of an onen.

page_text: framework (a), capable of being easily taken to pieces, with loose removable
frames (d), covered with wire-gauze or other material capable of admitting light,
and for moderating the amount of, or regulating, such light, as shewn & described.
Dated this 30th day of August 1899.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.