Improvements in the Mounting, Storing, and Manipulation of Sensitized Plates and Films.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 28th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 17th Feb., 1900
Improvements in the Mounting, Storing, and Manipulation of
Sensitized Plates and Films.
I, JOHN EDWARD THORNTON, of Rokeby, Oldfield Road, Altrincham, in the
County of Cheshire, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows;-
-
The improvements forming the subject of this invention relate to the mounting,
storing, and manipulation of sensitized plates, films, and similar surfaces of a
flat nature.
The object is to mount the plates or films (hereinafter called "plates") in such
a way that they can be packed by the manufacturer in a form of packing or stor-
age case of sufficiently cheap construction, that the cost is little if any more than
the ordinary style of packing; and of such design that the packing case itself
may be placed in the camera and used as a dark slide or means for holding the
plate in position for exposure; and also as a magazine or transferring case wherein
the position of the plates may be successively changed after each exposure, so as
to bring a fresh unexposed plate to the front each time; and further as a storage
case in which the plates may remain after exposure, for any desired period; and
further as a "daylight" packet of plates, that is to say, a packet which may be
taken direct from the manufacturer or shop, and placed in the camera for use,
without going to a dark room, and likewise removed from the camera in daylight
after the whole or any portion of the plates have been exposed, also without a
dark room; and finally to obtain all these important features in the form of a
thin flat package, which is not only convenient to carry in the pocket, but is
convenient for use in practically all or most of the cameras that are made to take
dark slides.
In carrying out my invention I use plates or flat films of the ordinary kind, and
enclose each one in what I may term two sheaths, in the form of shallow dishes,
which fit over each other so as to form a box and lid. just large enough for the
plate.
Any convenient number of these sheathed plates, a dozen for example, are placed
in a case or box of special construction. This forms the packing and storage case,
and also the exposing chamber or magazine. It is preferably used in the camera
by the aid of an intermediate adaptor, which is grooved or otherwise arranged in
the usual way to fit the camera back, and which takes the said packing case at
the back, and may be provided with a draw out shutter of the usual type at the
front. If preferred, this adaptor may be dispensed with and the case used direct
in the camera if the latter is made to fit.
This case may be constructed in several ways, but is preferably made in two
parts, viz; a case and a draw off lid. The lid froms the front of the case, im-
mediately before the front of the first plate, and when the case is in position in
the camera or adaptor the lid or front may be drawn off sideways, leaving the
front sheathed plate abutting against a turned over rim or stops on the front of

page_text: the case, thereby keeping the front one in the plane of the correct focus of the
lens. Both the box and lid, (or body and front) of the case are turned over to
form a rim on three sides, but not on-the fourth, the two cut away parts being so
placed that the lid can be drawn off sideways, leaving the box open at the opposite
side. This lid may be placed at the back, out of the way, until required again 5
when it is desired to remove the pack from the camera.
The back sheath may have an extension or tag on one side, which may be the
full width of the plate, or less, as desired. This tag is for the purpose of lifting
or pulling the plate out of its position in the pack when manipulating the plates.
The front sheath may also have a tag, preferably smaller or narrower, or other- 1
wise of different form from the back tag. The purpose of this is to enable the
front sheath to be drawn off clear of the plate, which remains firmly embedded
in the back sheath. This front tag may conveniently bear a printed number
corresponding with the position of the plate in the pack.
The sheaths may have instructions, advertisements spaces for writing in details 1
of exposure, or any other matter printed on their surface.
These sheaths may be made of any suitable material, for instance thin metal,
cardboard, paper, and the like, but I prefer black paper rendered sufficiently in-
pervious to light.
This black paper may be readily bent or moulded to the correct form in a
press, the operation being aided if necessary by heated dies or by moistening the
paper.
The back sheath is made to cover the back of the plate and all the four edges,
and is then turned over on to the front for about one eighth of an inch or less
all round. Thus no light whatever can gain access to the plate except at the
front, and this is covered with the front sheath, which completely covers the front
and sides, and if desired may overlap the back a little though this is hardly
necessary. The opposite edge from the tag is rendered sufficiently flexible that,
although it is bent at right angles from the front, so as to protect that edge of
the plate, yet it is capable of readily straightening out as the tag is pulled to
remove the front sheath.
Inside the case I place a suitable and simple form of spring, operating against
the back of the plates in the pack to keep them close together and up to correct
focus at the front, and also to guard against ingress of light between the camera
or adaptor and the front plate.
I may also place a dummy or board in the pack to receive the pressure of this
spring, and to serve as a guard or indicator to prevent exposing the plaies twice.
In using the pack as bought from the maker it is placed in position in the
camera or adaptor, and the front cover drawn off and placed out of the way.
When the operator desires to make an exposure he pulls No. 1 front tag which
removes the front sheath or cover, leaving No. 1 plate uncovered opposite the
lens. This cover is then thrown away. After exposure of the front plate, the
back one is removed from the back by lifting it up by means of the lifting tag,
and is pushed down in front of the plate that has just been exposed. The opera-
tion is thus repeated until the whole of the plates have been exposed, each being
gradually pushed towards the back of the pack in succession.
The lid of the pack is then replaced and the pack may be removed from the
camera.
When it is desired to temporarily remove the pack from the camera to focus
a picture upon the ground glass, it is preferable to remove the adaptor bodily (for
which purpose the adaptor shutter may be inserted to cover the front plate), or
the pack may be removed when an intact plate is in position at the front but has
not had its covering sheath removed.
The above describes the general construction of the pack, but the details may
he varied without departing from the general principle of the invention as set
forth at the commencement of this specification. The following are some modifi-
cations which in practice may be desirable.

page_text: The front sheath may cover both the front and back of the sheathed plate, like
an envelope, being drawn off as described.
The front and back plates only in the pack may be loose and capable of being
lifted, the remainder being prevented from lifting by turned over ribs or flanges
at the top of the case, or by ribs in the side of the case fitting into notches in
the paper sheaths, or by any other suitable means.
The paper forming the back sheath may be attached to the plate if desired, by
soluble cement such as gum, which will dissolve when the plate put into the
developer and permit the paper sheath to be readily removed and thrown away.
To guard against ingress of light between the exposed plates, the spring at
the back of the pack is usually sufficient, as it presses them close together but
if not, the sheaths may be moulded or formed with rabbets, or tongues and grooves,
in such a manner that one sheathed plate fits into the next and so prevents light
getting between.
Improvements in the Mounting, Storing, and Manipulation of
Sensitized Plates and Films.
I, JOHN EDWARD THORNTON, of Rokeby, Oldfield Road, Altrincham, in the
County of Chester, Manufacturer, 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 improvements forming the subject of this invention relate to the mounting
storing and manipulation of flat sensitized plates either of glass celluloid or other
material and in the appliances therefor.
The invention is designed to amount the flat plates so that they may be packed
by the manufacturer in a package or storage case of cheap construction so that
the cost will be very little in excess of that of the ordinary packing and of such
a design that the package or case itself may be placed in the camera and used as
a dark slide or vehicle for holding the plates in position during exposure and also
as a magazine or transferring case wherein the position of the plates may be
successively changed after exposure to bring a fresh unexposed plate to the front
and further as a storage case in which the plates may remain stored after ex-
posure for any desired period. It further provides a "daylight" packet of plates
which may be taken from the manufacturer or shop and placed direct into the
camera without a dark room and be subsequently removed from the camera in
daylight after the whole or any number of the plates have been exposed; and
finally the storage or containing case forms a thin flat package which is convenient
to carry in the pocket and is capable of being used in most of the cameras that
are constructed to take dark slides.
The invention consists essentially in enclosing the plates each in two opaque
sheaths one at the back attached thereto and the other removably covering or en-
closing the front out of which the plate can be drawn and in a case or package into
which a number of such sheathed plates can be packed and subsequently held
whilst the front covering sheath is withdrawn, and in which they can be trans-
ferred from hack to front and be exposed in succession without light reaching
any but the front plate when the latter is uncovered.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

page_text: Fig. 1. Front elevation of plate enclosed in the two sneatus.
Fig. 2 Longitudinal section of same.
Fig. 3. Longitudinal section of plate and back sheath after the other sheath
has been removed.
Fig. 4. Sectional detail showing a modified arrangement for temporarily secur- 5
ing the removable sheath.
Figs. 5 to 8. Sections of other modifications for securing the removable sheath.
Fig. 9. Front view of embedded wire loop.
Fig. 10. Extended blank of front or removable sheath.
Fig. 11. Front elevation of same partly folded to enclose the plate.
Fig. 12. Longitudinal section of same (Fig. 11).
Fig. 13. Front elevation partly in section of package or storage case for the
plates.
Fig. 14. Longitudinal section of same on line - Fig. 13.
Fig. 15. Longitudinal section of same with a light-tight valve or mouth.
Fig. 16. Plan of same (Fig. 13).
Fig. 17. Front elevation partly in section of adaptor or holder for the package
or storage case.
Fig. 18. Longitudinal section of same on line y--y_(Fig. 17).
Fig. 19. Sectional plan of same on line - Fig. 17.
Fig. 20. Front elevation partly in section of package or storage case filled with
plates and placed in the adaptor.
Fig. 21. Longitudinal section of same on line Fig. 20 showing position
of plates before any have been exposed and ready for insertion in camera.
Fig. 22. Longitudinal section of same showing position of plates after all have
been exposed and the package or storage case removed from the camera.
Fig. 23. Longitudinal section of same showing plate in position for exposure
and the removable sheath partly removed.
The plates are made of glass celluloid or other suitable material coated with
sensitive emulsion and are of any ordinary kind.
Each plate a is enclosed in two opaque sheaths made preferably of black paper
impervious to light or of cardboard thin metal or other opaque material in a thin
sheet. The black opaque paper is readily moulded to shape in a press by suitable
dies which may be heated or the paper moistened. The inner sheath b is attached
to and covers the back of the plate and the four edges and is turned over on to
the face of the plate a extending thereon about one-eight of an inch.
It may be either folded over and applied to the plate or it may be secured to
the plate by soluble gum or other cement or adhesive material which will readily
dissolve in the developer to permit of the sheath being easily removed. The
bottom edge of the sheath is extended below the plate to form a tag or projecting
piece by which the plate may be held in position in the package or storage case e
The outer removable sheath c covers the face of the plate and is preferably of a
size and shape to completely enclose or envelope the plate a and inner sheath b
It may be made from a sheet of black opaque paper cut to suitable shape_and
folded over upon itself at the back and top end. See Figs. 10, 11 & 12. It is
preferably so shaped as to provide a double thickness over the face of the plate a
when folded over it. The flap lies against the front of the cover the exterio
piece is folded over the top edge of the plate to prevent light entering and the
side pieces b¹ are turned over the back. At the top edge a strong lifting tag
or extension is formed by strips cut out of or attached to the cover. The lifting
tag i serves as a handle and may have the number of the plate printed upon it
The sheath is thus folded over the top and two side edges of the plate a and at the
bottom edge extends some distance below the plate where a light tight joint of a
loose or easily severed character is formed with the retaining tag d of the inne
sheath b.
The retaining tag d is formed with a hole or slot j to engage with a projection
1

page_text: or pink and the inner side of the package or storage case e to prevent it being
pulled back when inserted in position.
The retaining tag d may be strengthened by a metal strip / clamped upon it
Figs. (1 to 4) or by a wire m (Fig. 5) or wire loop n (Figs. 8 to 9) inserted into it.
The bottom edges of the outer sheath care preferably made light tight and
secured to the retaining tag d of the inner sheath 6 by the metal strip / clamped
upon it the upper edges of the strip being clamped sufficiently loosely to permit
of the outer sheath being readily pulled or drawn away when desired (see Fig. 2).
Or one edge of the inner sheath and one edge of the outer sheath may be folded
together as in Figs. 4 & 5 or the retaining tag d of the inner sheath b and the
bottom edges of the outer sheath o may together be stamped or pressed into a rib
or corrugation as in Fig. 6. or they may be stamped or pressed together by a series
of pin holes or perforations as in Fig. 7.
Thus when the sheath plate a is inside the outer sheath a the bottom of the
latter is interlocked with the retaining tag d on the bottom of the inner sheath b
forming a light tight joint. The joint is also sufficiently tight to permit of the
sheathed plate a being lifted when the outer sheath c is lifted by the lifting tag
or handle i without any danger of the plate dropping out and yet sufficiently slack
or loose to permit of the sheath c being withdrawn at will to uncover the plate a
when the plate is firmly held by the retaining tag d or loop n.
Each plate when thus sheathed and enveloped can be freely handled in daylight
without danger of fogging or injuring the sensitive coating thereon.
Any number of these sheathed plates say six or a dozen are placed or packed in
a package or storage case e which also forms an exposing chamber or magazine
when placed in a camera and finally a storage case for the exposed plates.
The storage case e (See Figs. 13 to 16) may be made of cardboard sheet metal or
other suitable cheap material. It is preferably stamped from sheet metal open
at the front with two long slits on top o and pone at the hack and the other at
the front. The back slit o serves for drawing out the plates and the front slit p
formed by the rib for inserting them again prior to exposure.
The front slit p may be lined with plush or similar material to form a light
tight valve. On the inner front edge is formed a pin or projecting catch & with
which the hole or slot j of the retaining tag d engages when the plate a is in
position for exposure and which holds the plate whilst the outer sheath c is re-
moved.
The top of the package or storage case e is open at from o to the rib pl to
allow of the handles or lifting tags i to project and inside the case e is attached
an opaque flexible covering strip r which in the first instance projects down in
front of the plates but as the plates are successively moved back after exposure
by the insertion of the next plate the strip is carried back with them and
forms a light excluding cover across the top as shown in Fig. 22. The cross
ribs pl serves to provide a light tight joint or aperture and also to secure the
case e to the adaptor w.
In the package or case e when filled with plates a spring division plate or
dummys is placed. This plate is elastic and capable of expanding to the thick-
ness of two or more plates to take up the space occupied by the removable
sheaths c when such have been removed. It may be made of cardboard or other
suitable material doubled into U shape and fitted with a suitable spring.
As the plates a are successively exposed the division plates is gradually moved
to the back and after the last plate has been exposed this division plates is drawn
up out of the package or case e and reinserted in the front thereof to close the
front aperture and protect the last exposed plate from light.
In addition to the division plate or dummys a second blank plate t is inserted
in the pack with a spring u to press up and hold the plates successively in the
position for focussing and exposure.
The package or case e is preferably employed in the camera by the aid of an
intermediate adaptor w Figs. 17, 18 & 19 which is constructed or arranged with

page_text: .
grooves or otherwise to fit the camera back. The adaptor to takes the package or
case e at the back (See Figs. 20 to 23) and may be provided with a draw out
shutter w¹ of the usual type at the front.
The separate or loose adaptor w may be dispensed with the front of the case or
package e being made to correspond with and fit into the camera back.
A separate adaptor such as w is however preferred because the cost of this part
of the apparatus is only incurred once for each camera thereby reducing the cost
of the packet of plates.
The adaptor is provided at the top with a longitudinal slit or aperture through
which the enveloped plates are inserted and this slit is lined with plush or other
material to form a light tight mouth piece or valve.
The case e is filled with the desired number of sheathed or enveloped plates a-
say 6 or 12 for example and the blank plates or dummies and t and is then
ready for insertion in the adaptor or camera and in this form or condition the
user purchases it.
To use the case e it is placed in position in the adaptor or into the camera
direct and secured thereto by any suitable kind of fastening. The back enveloped
plate is then lifted from the rear of the pack by means of its lifting tag or
.handle and is placed in front of the pack before the spring division plates and t
by pushing it down as far as possible through the light tight valve in the
adaptor w. Thereupon the slot j in the plate retaining tag / engages with a
bar stud spring stud or other device attached either to the adaptor w or to the
case e and is thereby securely held. The lifting tag is then firmly pulled which
causes the outer sheath c to become detached from the sheathed plate a. Con-
tinued pulling enables the envelope to be completely withdrawn from the case e
through the light tight valve leaving the plate a behind in position for exposure.
After exposure the operation is repeated with another developed plate and so
on till all are exposed the fresh plate taking the foremost position and pushing
the exposed ones back. When all are exposed the blank division plate is also
removed and placed at the front (as shown in Fig. 22). This closes the front of
the pack and protects the plates from light when the pack is removed from the
camera.
Sealing strips of gummed paper metal or other material may be attached to
the case to enable it to be further closed and its contents protected from light
after removal from the adaptor or camera.
Or it may be placed in an envelope for that purpose.
When it is desired to temporarily remove the pack from the camera to focus
a picture upon the ground glass it is preferable to remove the adaptor bodily (for
which purpose the adaptor shutter 10 may be inserted to cover the front plate),
or the pack may be removed when an intact plate is in position at the front but
has not had its covering sheath removed.
The case itself may be provided with a draw out shutter similar to w¹ to permit
its removal from the adaptor or camera in daylight whenever a front plate is
not protected by an envelope.
The sheaths may have instructions advertisements spaces for writing in details
of exposure or any other matter printed on their surface. Or they may be
printed on the back of the case itself.
The envelope or sheaths c may be thrown away when drawn off or may be kept
for filing negatives in and may be temporarily placed at the back of the exposing
case if provision is made for that purpose or in the operators pocket or other
convenient place.
In order to make the sensitive plate absolutely secure against light fog so that
it may be freely handled in brilliant sunshine I prefer to protect the plate with a
double thickness of paper all over. For that reason I form the envelope with two
thicknesses of paper at the front and one at the back therefore when the sheathed
plate is in the envelope there are two thickness of paper at the front and one at
the back and all four edges of the plate. Although the invention is primarily

page_text: designed for transparent negative plates it may also be equally applied to opaque
positive plates in which case the opaque backing sheath would be dispensed with.
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. A photographic plate constructed with or without an opaque paper back
attached to and protecting the back and a loose removable opaque paper sheath
covering and protecting the front the said opaque back sheath or envelope being
provided with a retaining tag at the bottom to retain the plate in position while
the loose sheath is removed substantially as described.
2. A pack or package of photographic plates comprising a number of enveloped
plates protected front and back encased in a light cheap and portable casing for
insertion direct into the camera or an adaptor such pack or package being packed
or put up by the manufacturer and used by the operator without transferring the
plates to a change box or the like substantially as described.
3. A day light loading packet of photographic plates comprising a number of
sensitive plates rendered opaque at back and each having a removable opaque
sheath or envelope covering the front and in combination therewith a light cheap
portable packing case into which the plates are packed and sealed by the maker
and which is to be used as the exposing case in a camera the plates being suc-
cessively transferred from back to front of the pack and the front covering then
removed and an opaque covering plate to finally close the pack and permit of its
removal from camera again in daylight substantially as described.
4. A pack or package of photographic plates comprising a number of plates each
provided with a loose removable sheath covering and protecting the front placed
in a metallic (or other) light cheap and portable casing constructed at the top with
slits or slots through which the plates can be withdrawn and inserted and a slot
through which the lifting tags project and at the bottom with a projecting pin
or catch with which a retaining tab attached to the plate engages or equivalent
device to retain the plate in position whilst the removable sheath is withdrawn
substantially as described.
5. The combination with a number of protected sensitive photographic plates
placed in a storage packing or casing of thin metallic or other material of an
adaptor which fits the camera and into which the casing or package is fitted sub-
stantially as described and shown.
6. A sensitive photographic plate constructed with protecting sheaths back
and front substantially as and for the purpose described and shown with reference
to either of the figs. of the drawings.
7. A loose removable protective sheath for sensitive photographic plates con-
structed substantially as described with reference to Figs. 10 11 & 12 of the
drawings.
8. A package or casing for a number of sensitive photographic plates sub-
stantially as described and shown with reference to Figs. 13 to 23 of the drawings.
9. A pack of sensitive photographic plates constructed and arranged substan-
tially as described and shown.
10. An adaptor for a pack of sensitive photographic plates constructed sub-
stantially as described and shown with reference to Figs. 17 to 23 of the drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1899.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.