Improvements in Folding Cameras, and in Dark Slides for Cameras.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Folding Cameras, and in Dark Slides for Cameras.
We, HENRY HILL and EDWIN GLADSTONE PRICE, trading as Price, Hill & Co.,
of 4, Berry Street, Clerkenwell Road, London, Mechanicians, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to folding photographic cameras and also to dark slides
for cameras and has for its object:
(1) To produce a very compact camera simple in construction and use and
which can be readily set up or extended ready for use, and also easily folded
into very small compass when out of use, and
(2) To produce an improved dark slide for cameras.
According to our present invention we proceed as follows: —
CAMERA.
Attached to one end of a plate or frame or framework of metal or other suit-
able material which forms one side of our camera we attach advantageously a
"back" or mount which carries the dark slide or changing box thereon; this
hinged "back" when the camera is in use stands at nearly right angles with
the aforesaid frame or plate or side of our camera and when not in use can be
folded or closed down upon the said plate or side of the camera.
This hinged "back" is provided with two hinged wings or gusset-like pieces
which are (or may be) normally pressed outwardly by springs so that when the
hinged back is raised from the plate or side of the camera the springs cause the
two hinged wings or gussets to move outwards until they are stopped by project-
ing pins and so automatically hold the hinged back (which carries the dark slide
or changing box) rigid at the proper angle to the plate or side of our camera i.e.
at right angles to the axis of the lens.
Instead of these hinged wings or gussets being automatically forced outwards
by springs as aforesaid we may if desired arrange same with any suitable knob
or attachment or other suitable means to move same outwards when setting up
the camera and provide spring catches or other suitable means to hold same
rigidly in position until it is desired to again fold the camera.
Or if desired instead of these wings or gussets being hinged to the "back" as
aforesaid they may be hinged to the side of the camera and operate as before.
The plate or frame of metal or other material which forms the side of our
camera is at the opposite end to the hinged back bent at a suitable angle to form
a base for the shutter and has mounted thereon said shutter and finder or finders
and the angle at which it is bent brings the lens axis at right angles to the hinged
back when set up.
Or the lens and finder or finders or the "front" carrying same may be arranged
and mounted and secured to the said plate or frame forming the side of the
camera in any other desired and suitable manner for instance the front may
66
"

page_text: some suitable flexible light-tight material with the exception of the opening in
the hinged back and shutter and finder or finders so that the whole forms a
camera capable of being instantly set up for use and when not required can be
folded down into a very small compass.
DARK SLIDE.
According to our present invention we construct a special dark slide for the
above camera as follows:-
In a suitable frame advantageously of thin sheet metal we mount suitable
springs which act outwardly and other springs, which act in the direction of the
plane of the sensitive surface this said frame having a rabbet or bead or equiva-
lent in one or more parts fixed across one end or side and one or more springs
with turned-over edge or edges at the opposite end these said springs acting
against the edge of the plate or sensitive surface to force same under said
rabbet etc. and there retain same while the outwardly acting spring
or springs force said plate or sensitive surface outwards against said rabbet
and against the turned-over edges of the first described springs and thereby the
sensitive surface is exactly brought up to register.
The plates or sensitive surface can thus be readily inserted in the dark slide
from the front (instead of from the back as usual in the well-known double dark
slides) and equally readily removed also from the front.
A shutter (advantageously of thin metal) being provided to slide in the frame
(which is also advantageously of metal) close to said sensitive surface, and metal
or other suitable runners or tongues are provided on the outside of the frame to
slide in the guideways or grooves which are provided on the camera to receive
same, or the guideways or grooves may be partly dispensed with and the runners
or tongues on the outside of the back may be held by a guideway and spring
catch or other suitable means provided to receive same.
These dark slides may be made double i.c. two of same may be arranged or
constructed back to back. Also these dark slides may be used for any cameras
(other than our above-described cameras) for which they may be applicable; and
furthermore cameras constructed according to our present invention may be used
with any other dark slides or changing boxes which may be applicable.
.9741 .:11 ניד
dof T... 1907
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in Folding Cameras, and in Dark Slides for Cameras.
We, HENRY HILL and EDWIN GLADSTONE PRICE, trading as Price, Hill & Co.,
of 4, Berry Street, Clerkenwell Road, London, Mechanicians, do hereby declaro
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:-
This invention relates to folding photographic cameras and also to dark slides
for cameras and has for its object:-
(1) To produce a very compact camera simple in construction and use and

page_text: which can be readily set up or extended ready for use, and also easily folded
into very small compass when out of use, and
(2) To produce an improved dark slide for cameras.
According to our present invention we proceed as follows:-
CAMERA.
Attached to one end of a plate or frame or framework of metal or other suit-
able material which forms one side or side-wall of our camera we attach (advan-
tageously by hinging) a "back" or mount which carries the dark slide or chang-
ing box thereon; this hinged "back" when the camera is in use stands at an
acute angle (nearly right angles) with the aforesaid side of our camera and when
not in use can be folded or closed down upon or towards the said side of the camera.
Suitable means are provided according to this invention to fix and hold said
folding back rigid with the sensitised material therein in correct position opposite
the lens i.c. with such sensitive surface at right angles to the longitudinal axis
of the lens for instance this hinged "back" is provided with two hinged wings
or gusset-like pieces which are (or may be) normally pressed outwardly by springs
so that when the hinged back is raised from the plate or side of the camera the
springs cause the two hinged wings or gussets to move outwards until they are
stopped by projecting pins and so automatically hold the hinged back (which
carries the dark slide or changing box) rigid at the proper angle to the plate or
side of our camera i.e. at right angles to the axis of the lens further outward
movement of the hinged back being prevented by any suitable means for instance
same may be-hinged-bound or the flexible light-tight material or cover herein-
after described may limit the extent of movement of said hinged back.
Instead of these hinged wings or gussets being automatically forced outwards
by springs as aforesaid we may if desired arrange same with any suitable knob
or attachment or other suitable means to move same outwards when setting up
the camera and provide spring catches or other suitable, means to hold same
rigidly in position until it is desired to again fold the camera.
Or if desired instead of these wings or gussets being hinged to the "back" as
aforesaid they may be hinged to the side of the camera and operate as before.
The plate or frame of metal or other material which forms the side of our
camera is at the opposite end to the hinged back bent at a suitable angle to form
a base for the shutter and has mounted thereon said shutter and finder or finders
and the angle at which it is bent brings the lens axis at right angles to the hinged
back when set up.
66
Or the lens and finder or finders or the front" carrying same may be arranged
separately and mounted and secured to the said plate forming the side or side-
wall of the camera in any other desired and suitable manner at an obtuse angle
to said side-wall for instance the "front" may be formed independently of said
side and then rivetted or otherwise suitably attached thereto at a suitable obtuse
angle or so as to be adapted to be fixed in position at such angle.
We cover the whole of our camera or so much of it as necessary or desired (with
the exception of the opening in the hinged back and shutter and finder or finders)
with some suitable flexible light-tight material so that the whole forms a camera
capable of being instantly set up for use and when not required can be folded
down into a very small compass.
DARK SLIDE.
According to our present invention we construct a special dark slide for the
above camera as follows:-
In a suitable frame advantageously of thin sheet metal we mount suitable
springs which act outwardly and other springs which act in the direction of the
plane of the sensitive surface this said frame having a rabbet or bead or equiva-
lent in one or more parts fixed across one end or side and one or more springs
with turned-over edge or edges at the opposite end these said springs acting
against the edge of the plate or sensitive surface to force same under said

page_text: rabbet etc., and there retain same while the outwardly acting spring
or springs force said plate or sensitive surface outwards against said rabbet
and against the turned-over edges of the first described springs and thereby the
sensitive surface is exactly brought up to register.
The plates or sensitive surface can thus be readily inserted in the dark slide
from the front (instead of from the back as usual in the well-known double dark
slides) and equally readily removed also from the front.
A shutter (advantageously of thin metal) being provided to slide in the frame
(which is also advantageously of metal) close to said sensitive surface, and metal
or other suitable runners or tongues are provided on the outside of the frame to
slide in the guideways or grooves which are provided on the camera to receive
same, or the guideways or grooves may be partly dispensed with and the runners
or tongues on the outside of the back may be held by a guideway and spring
catch or other suitable means provided to receive same.
These dark slides may be made double i.e. two of same may be arranged or
constructed back to back. Also these dark slides may be used for any cameras
(other than our above-described cameras) for which they may be applicable; and
furthermore cameras constructed according to our present invention may be used
with any other dark slides or changing boxes which may be applicable.
We will now proceed to further describe our present invention with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the camera-extended, and having the dark slide
fixed in position.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the camera-folded, and also having the dark slide
attached.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2 (that is looking in the direction of the arrow 3
Fig. 2) with the dark slide removed.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 44 Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of one side of the dark slide with the shutter thereof with-
drawn.
Fig. 6 is a local view showing the catch (for holding the sensitive surface)
held back.
Fig. 7 is a cross section on the line 7-7 Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the
arrow 6 showing the said spring catch and means for holding same back (as
shown in Fig. 6).
Fig. 8 is cross section of Fig. 5 on line 7—7 looking in the direction of the
arrow 8.
CAMERA.
a is the fixed front carrying the lens b and also carrying any suitable con-
struction of shutter in the shutter case c such shutter being of any suitable type
but advantageously of the self-capping character which does not require setting
but which will give an exposure by simply causing said shutter to travel across
the lens aperture for instance by means of a knob such as c¹.
To this lens front a one or more suitable view finders d may be attached in
the usual or any suitable manner for instance one horizontal view finder and one
vertical view finder.
Also this lens front a has fixed thereto or if desired formed integrally therewith
the side e at an obtuse angle to said front a this front a and side e being advan-
tageously formed out of a single sheet of metal bent to the form shown at Fig. 4
and in order to lighten the camera as much as possible we cut out the five circular
holes eeee and e as shown in Fig. 3 or this side plate or frame c may be
forced as a frame or in any other suitable manner provided same is sufficiently
rigid in itself and also rigid with respect to the lens front a.
To the back end of this side plate e is hinged at e¹ the folding back or hinged
frame which latter is formed in any suitable manner and adapted to receive and
hold thereon the dark slide (or it may be a changing box or a focussing screen, etc.)

page_text: in any suitable manner for instance we provide the channel or turned-up edge f¹
in which one edge of the dark slide is inserted the upper edge of said dark slide-
being held by the spring knob or spring catch f²; or instead of the latter a second
channel similar to f¹ only inverted may be fixed or formed along the top edge
of the frame f so that the dark slide, changing box, etc., may be slid in edgewise
along said channels f¹.
To the inside face or inner side of said frame f we attach two gusset-like pieces
or wings g each of the latter being hinged at g¹ to said frame f with a spring g³
combined therewith in such wise that each wing g is normally pressed by its said
spring goutwards i.e. against the stop pieces e fixed on the inside face of the
frame e while when the end g of each said wing g is pressed inwards so that said
wings are brought into position or plane parallel to the plane of the frame f
thereby the springs g3 are under tension so that when the frame f is raised up from
its folded position (with the gusset pieces a folded parallel therewith) as in Figs. 2
and 3 thereby these springs will force said wings outward into position at right
angles or thereabouts to the plane of said frame when the latter has been sufficiently
raised to permit said folded wings g to thus extend themselves until they are
brought to rest against the stops e in which position these wings 9 serve to hold
the said frame f rigid with the plane of the sensitive surface in the latter at right
angles to the longitudinal axis of the lens b such wings or gussets g preventing
the frame f from being folded down again close to the side e unless and until the
ends g of said wings are pressed inwards towards one another while on the other
hand the frame is prevented from being opened too far by any suitable means
such for instance as struts or stays (not shown) or by reason of the frame f being
hinge-bound with respect to the side c.
Any suitable flexible light-tight material his fixed to and fitted closely around
said frame and completely encloses the side or metal frame e and also such
material h is fitted closely around and to the edge of the lens front á all in a light-
tight manner.
Thus to set the camera up for use it is only necessary to swing out the frame f
upon its hinge e¹ from the folded position shown in Fig. 2 into the extended
position shown in Fig. 1 and thereupon the spring wings or gusset-like pieces g
will automatically swing outwards into the position shown in Fig. 4 and thereby
the camera is erected and held rigid for use.
It will be obvious that the spring-mounted gusset-like pieces or wings g instead
of being hinged to the frame f may be hinged along the lower edge g³ thereof to
the fixed side e so that when the frame f is lifted or moved outwards thereby the.
wings thus mounted would swing outwards until they come to rest against stops
provided on the inside face of the frame f and thus act as before to hold the latter
rigid with respect to the lens front and side e this arrangement permitting the
camera to be folded or collapsed as before.
DARK SLIDE.
Our improvements on the dark slide are as follows:-
The end of the plate or sensitive surface i is first inserted under a ledge
against which latter said plate is pressed outwardly by means of the flat spring k
so as to bring same "up to register" in the usual and well-known manner.
The other end of said sensitive surface i is caught and held by a spring catch /
which acts as follows:-
A spring m is fixed towards its end m¹ to the bottom of the dark slide while
its other and free end normally presses upwards transversely to the path of travel
(i.e. the horizontal path of travel) of the spring catch 7 so that by pressing back
spring catch against or towards the surrounding frame n of the dark slide thereby
the spring m is freed and moves outwardly in front of the catch and holds the
latter in this position as shown in Fig. 6 when no plate is in the dark slide.
Upon the insertion of the plate i in the dark slide as aforesaid i.e. by first in- .
serting the end of said plate under the ledge ; then next the other end i of said

page_text: plate is pressed downwards and bears down with it the spring m until the latter
is passed below or passed clear of the spring catch 7 which is consequently released
and thereupon snaps over the end of the plate i as shown in Fig. 5 and thus
holds this end of the said plate up to register the aforesaid spring m acting in
conjunction with the spring k in thus keeping the plate up to register the said
spring m also serving to eject or raise the end 23 of the plate i when the catch
is pressed back clear of said plate.
A similar arrangement (of springs m and k catch and ledge 2) is provided on
the opposite side of the "double" dark slide constructed as shown in Figs. 7
and 8; or the dark slide may be arranged as a "single" dark slide if desired.
Fig. 9 is a local sectional view on line 9-9 Fig. 5 (on an enlarged scale) show-
ing special form of construction for keeping the sensitive surface i in the dark
slide light-tight-this construction consisting of the swelling groove or channel n¹
formed in the frame n of the dark slide on each side of the sliding shutter z and in
the space or stuffing box n³ thus formed on each side of said shutter z respectively
we introduce any suitable soft packing material advantageously a fibrous thread
or yarn such as of wool or worsted which is compressed within said grooves n*
and thereby forms a light-tight packing on each side of the sliding shutter z
against which latter said packing presses or bears.
oo are the runners or projecting edges top and bottom of said dark slide by
which the latter is held in position on the back of our aforesaid camera or the fore-
going means for mounting and securing sensitive surfaces in a dark slide may
be used with any other dark slide for the above or any suitable camera.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A photographic folding camera having a lens front such as a and a rigid side
wall such as e rigidly connected at an obtuse angle to one another as shown and
having hinged thereto at e¹ a folding back or hinged frame such as f the latter
carrying therein or thereon the sensitive surface and adapted to fold down
towards the aforesaid rigid wall e in combination and acting in conjunction with
a flexible light-tight material enclosing the aforesaid parts and means to fix and
hold said folding frame or back f rigid-with the sensitized material therein in
correct position opposite the lens substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before set forth.
2. A photographic folding camera having a lens front and side such as a and e
in combination and acting in conjunction with a hinged frame such as f hinged
at e to the side e so as to be capable of folding down close to the latter while its
movement in the opposite direction is limited when same is at right angles to the
longitudinal axis of the lens, a spring-mounted gusset-like piece or wing such
as g at each side of said folding frame and hinged thereto stops such as e* to limit
the outward movement of the ends g* of said wings g, suitable light-tight flexible
material enclosing the aforesaid parts and means to limit the outward movement
of said hinged frame f substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-
before set forth.
3. A photographic folding camera constructed and arranged to act substantially
in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as illustrated in
the drawings hereunto annexed.
4. In dark slides for cameras having a fixed ledge such as ; and spring such as
ka spring catch such as in combination and acting in conjunction with a
spring such as m substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
5. In dark slides for cameras-the combination with the sliding shutter z of
such dark slide, of a stuffing box such as n¹ arranged on each side of said shutter z
and a packing of any suitable soft material provided in each said stuffing box
substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described.

page_text: 6. Dark slides for photographic cameras constructed and arranged to act sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illus-
trated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 27th day of April 1898.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,. W C.,
Agents for the Applicants.