Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 27th June, 1895-Accepted, 27th July,
1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
I, CHARLES Howse of 24 Gratitude Road, Easton, Bristol in the County of
Gloucester, Photographic Camera Maker do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
:-
My invention relates to improvements in hand cameras for photographic purposes,
and has for its objects a combination of parts and an economical arrangement of
same by which the artist is enabled to carry a larger number of sensitized plates or
films, in a given space, and place the same one at a time in position for exposure,
and aside after such exposure, more quickly and with less liability to breakage than
obtains with cameras of a like nature hitherto made and used, and which I intend
shall be commercially known as "The Climax Hand Camera."
My invention consists of a preferably rectangular outer case or container in one
end of which is provided a suitable and may be interchangeable lens, fitted with
any form of shutter, while in its upper surface is located a suitable range finder
operated in the usual way, a handle being fixed to the said case by which the whole
may be carried.
Within the said case a space is set apart for the reception of a wood or other block,
to which is pivotted upon a wire and bound thereto in similar manner to that of
leaves in a book, any number of carriers or frames made of xylonite celluloid or
other like thin and transparent material, which are arranged to receive and hold a
like number of sensitized plates or films, and so constructed that the whole of said
carriers and their plates or films may be held in a horizontal position, one upon the
other, by the means of a similarly disposed hinged platform or frame arranged to
fall and permit the lowest or under one of said plates or films, and its carrier, to
fall into a vertical position, when released by the movement of a sliding spring-
retained plate or its equivalent, operated by a handle or other device and its
accessories upon the outer side or other convenient part of the said case or
container. The said fallen and now vertical plate or film is now in a position for
exposure, after which operation the same and its carrier is pushed or drawn beneath
the before mentioned block by the means of a spring bolt or its equivalent, thus
leaving room for the next and the rest of the horizontally retained plates and
carriers to be lowered in like order, until all have been exposed, when the said
carriers may be again charged with a like number of plates or films. The exposed
plates may be removed and developed either during or at any time subsequently to
the exposure of them all.
Suitable hooks, rods, plates, levers, and springs may be employed, when required
to hold, assist in moving, or retaining before or after moving, any of the operative
parts of the entire apparatus.
Dated thin 14th dow of the 1805

page_text: UMELEID DE DULLATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
I, CHARLES Howse of 24 Gratitude Road, Easton, Bristol, in the County of
Gloucester, Photographic Camera Maker, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in hand cameras for photographic purposes,
and bas for its objects a conveniently arranged combination of parts by which the
artist is enabled to carry therein a larger number of sensitized plates or films in a
given space, and place the same one at a time in a position for exposure, and aside
after such exposure, more quickly, and with less liability to breakage, than obtains
with such cameras of this type, as hitherto made and used, and which I intend
.shall be commercially known as "The Climax Hand Camera."
For the purpose of rendering my said invention and the manner of its operation
clearly understood, I have hereunto appended three sheets of drawings, in which
.the same reference letters are used throughout when referring to the same or like
parts.
Fig. 1 Sheet 1 is a perspective external view of the entire apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a detached and slightly enlarged perspective view of two of the carriers
for the sensitized plates or films.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the block which carries the carriers Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is an end elevation of Fig. 3 with carriers mounted thereon.
Fig. 5 is a front elevation of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 Sheet 2 is a perspective view of a portion of an internal partition fixed
within Fig. 1, which carries the mechanism for operating the movements of the
carriers as hereinafter explained.
Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are front elevations of the same partition, illustrating the
manner in which the sliding plate thereon operates, and is operated upon, for
permitting the carriers to fall from a horizontal to a vertical position one at a time,
as hereinafter explained.
Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a wire frame, also contained in Fig. 1.
Figs. 12 and 13 are elevational internal views of so much of that side of the
camera not seen in Fig. 1, as will serve to illustrate the position of Fig. 11 therein
and the manner in which the rise and fall of same is actuated.
Figs. 14 and 15 Sheet 3 are longitudinal vertical sections of the entire camera
taken upon the line A B of Fig. 1 or thereabouts.
Fig. 16 is a longitudinal section of a sliding spring bolt upon the bottom of the
camera, while Figs. 17 and 18 are back and front end views of same respectively,
with the bottom of the camera in section.
Figs. 19 and 20 are horizontal sections taken upon the line C D Figs. 14 and 15.
I carry my invention into effect by constructing of wood, cardboard, or any
desired combination of both, or other material suitable for the purpose, a rectangular
case or container A, which may vary in dimensions according to the size and
number of films to be stored therein, in one end of which (that intended to be the
front) a circular opening B is formed facing the lens, and upon the inner surface of
this end of A any form of shutter may be mounted capable of closing the
aperture B, and opening the same for the necessary exposure, which may be such
as can be operated by a milled thumb hold a or its equivalent. The case A is also
provided with a range or view finder C, and lens C¹ operated in the usual way, and
a handle D by which the whole may be carried.
Within the case A is fixed in a suitable position, a vertical partition E, provided
with an aperture b, and facing this is mounted a suitable and may be interchangeable
lens F, arranged to slide horizontally upon guides cc' for focussing purposes, which
may be effected by any of the well known methods common to such cameras.
The

page_text: back end of the case A, is provided with a sliding door d arranged to slide in
grooves e, and when in position is fastened by clips or buttons f.
The wooden or other block G (shewn detached by the enlarged view Fig. 3) is
provided with a pair of wires or plates 9 g, screwed or otherwise fixed thereto in
such a manner as to stand out a suitable distance from the front and bottom thereof,
and upon these are mounted, before fixing, the number of carriers. H the block G is
constructed to carry.
The said carriers H may be constructed from xylonite, vulcanite, celluloid,
vulcanite-fibre or very thin metal, and preferably of rectangular form, one or both
eides of which may be provided with a slit or opening, into which is slid the film
or sensitized plate h, (shewn by dotted outline partly inserted by Fig. 2). The
upper ends of the said carriers are provided with apertures jj and through these
pass the wires or plates g g, of the block G, so that the desired number of carriers
are bound thereon in a manner similar to that of the leaves of a book, as shewn at
Fig. 4.
The lower or free ends of the carriers H are each provided with a recess k, on
either side of the centre of the width of same, and in mounting the carriers upon
the block G in the manner stated, I arrange that the said recesses occur alternately
with each other as shewn by Fig. 5, and always with the sensitized face of the
plates or films uppermost when the carriers are horizontal as at Figs. 4, 5, 14 and 15.
The block G is arranged to slide into the back end of the case A, and rests upon
ledges (Fig. 12 and 13) and is there suspended as shewn in Figs. 14 and 15.
In each side of A, at the back end, a groove m is formed (Figs. 12 and 13) which
receives a wire frame n (Fig. 11) and this is retained in its highest position therein
by the tension of springs such as o, at each side of A, (Fig. 12) and is forced to
its lowest position (Fig. 13) when force is brought to bear upon the ends of a pair
of plates p, pivotted one on each side of A, the lowering of which presses upon
extensions on the frame n.
Referring again to the partition E, and to the Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Upon the
back face of E is mounted a narrow platform or ridge s, and upon this rests and
slides to and fro a plate J, kept in a vertical position by spring clips t and t', fixed
upon E or the roof of A. The plate J has upon the lower edge of its outer face
an extension plate K, slightly less in width than the apertures k in the carriers H.
The plate J also carries a pair of arms vv pivotted thereon at land, the
upper ends of which have pins & and are connected by suitable springs w and w¹ to
a pin a¹ on the plate J.
A platform L is pivotally mounted, level with the ridges by the meaus of
studs M thereon passing through holes in the sides of A, and upon one of said studs
is fixed, outside A, a button or finger hold M¹ by the means of which the plat-
form L may be raised and lowered.
The partition E also carries a pair of rods O and O', arranged to slide vertically
through brackets P P and the ridges, the upper ends of said rods terminating in
inwardly inclined hooke, capable of engaging with the studs or pins of the
arms vas hereinafter explained. The lower ends of O and O1 are pivotally
connected to the lower ends of a pair of rods R. R', the upper ends of which are
pivotally connected to the platform L, and from the foregoing it will be understood
that the raising and lowering of L would simultaneously raise and lower both the
rods O and O₁
The bottom of A is provided with a groove, in which slides a bolt S, (Fig. 16)
retained therein by the means of screwed plates T T¹. One end of said bolt has
an upraised portion V, and at its opposite end an upraised portion V₁, in the latter
of which an aperture z is formed through which passes a spiral spring W, one end
of which is connected at W' to the case A while its opposite end is connected
at W" to the bolt S. 1 do not confine myself absolutely to this form of spring but
may employ any other suitable for the purpose whose tension (like W, would
operate to keep the bolt S in the position shewn by Fig. 19. The manner of
operation is as follows.

page_text: The block G having been placed resting upon the ledges within A, with its
carriers H in a horizontal position, and each charged with a sensitized plate or
film h, the free end of the lower carrier would then rest upon the projection K of
the sliding plate J. The platform L would then be raised to its horizontal position
by the aid of the button M', whereat it may be retained by frictional contact with
the sides of A, or by the aid of a spring, or other suitable means, if necessary.
The back d of the camera may now be slid into the grooves e and fastened as before
mentioned by buttons or the like f, when the entire apparatus will be complete and
appear in section substantially as at Fig. 14.
Let it be assumed that the sliding plate J is now in the position shewn by Figs. 6
and 7, that is to say, as far to the right on the partition E as it will go, and that the
lower carrier H has its aperture k clear of the projection K on J, so that the solid
portion of the end of H may, as before stated rest thereon. The upper or hooked
ends of the vertical rod O¹ would now be over and engaging with the pin of the
arm v³, and when the artist desires to take a picture, he would first lower the plat-
form L into a vertical position by means of the button M¹, the path described by
which is shewn by a dotted line in Fig. 14, and by the agency of the rods R R', the
said lowering of L would simultaneously lower the rods O O', the latter of which
would pull down the arm v' against the tension of its spring w', and by reason of
the said arm, in its descent, describing a portion of a circle the radius of which is
greater than the distance between the pivotted end of v and the rod O¹, the
plate J is consequently pushed to the opposite side of the partition E, as shewn by
Fig. 8, thereby placing the projection K of J, under the aperture k of the lower
carrier H, which permits the said carrier to fall.
By reference to the dotted line in Fig. 15, which represents the path of the
carrier in its descent, and comparing this with the path of the platform L in its
descent (Fig. 14), it will be understood, that although the said carrier has been
released from K as stated, it would not fall entirely until the platform L was clear
of the path of H, prior to which the platform L would have operated upon the wire
frame n, (hereinafter explained) and by colliding with the upraised portion V,
would have pulled the bolt S. from its position in Fig. 19 to that shewn in Fig. 20,
thereby placing the parts V and V' in the positions shewn by dotted outline in
Fig. 14 and by full lines in Fig. 15, the latter of which would leave the path of the
falling carrier clear, and permit this to abut against, and be arrested by, the horizontal
portion of the frame n, thus placing the said carrier in a vertical position, as shewn
in Fig. 15, when, by again raising the platform L to its former horizontal position,
the stop V would be released, and the bolt S would fly back, by the tension of its
spring W, to its former position, with its stop V now abutting against the fallen
carrier H, thus holding this firmly between Vi and n as shewn in Fig. 15, ready for
exposure at the will of the operator.
The raising of the platform L as stated, would also cause the rise of the
rods OO, the hook of the former of which would now engage with the pin of
the arm on the plate J, as shewn in Fig. 9. When the next and lowest of the
horizontal carriers H is to be lowered, the platform L would be lowered as before,
and this time, the lowering of the rods 0 0', would cause the former of these to
pull down the arm v, and so push the plate J back again to the right of the
partition E, as shewn in Fig. 10, which operation would place the projection K
thereof beneath the aperture k of the carrier now to be released and lowered in
the same manner as was the first. The operation and uses of the wire frame n are
as follows.
The slight jar caused by the impact of the lower end of the first lowered
carrier H, would have the effect of placing the said carrier slightly out of vertical
truth, as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 15, which would automatically assume
a true vertical position when released from the wire n at its lower end. At the
commencement of the fall of the platform L, the end of this would collide with,
and depress the plates p, the path of which is indicated by a dotted line in Fig. 12,
and by reason of these resting upon the projections r, the frame n would be thereby

page_text: pushed down, as shewn by Fig. 13, and release the lower end of the previously
fallen carrier H, which would immediately assume a vertical position, so that
directly the falling platform L released the plates p, the tension of the depressed
springs o would again raise the frame n, the lower end of which would now be in
front of the vertical carrier H, ready to receive and arrest the carrier now falling,
thus preventing this from colliding with the previously lowered carrier. The
raising of the platform L again to permit exposure, as previously described, would
place the hook of the rod O' again in connection with the pin of the arm vlas
at first stated, and shewn by Fig. 7, ready for operation in connection with the
lowering of the third carrier, in the same manner as the first, and this operation
may be continued until all the carriers have been lowered and the films or plates.
therein exposed one at a time, when the whole of them would be suspended
vertically beneath the block G, and may be removed and developed any time
subsequently, and the carriers be again charged with fresh plates or films and
placed in the camera ready for use when required.
20
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is.
1st. The improved hand camera for photographic purposes, and the several parts
constituting the same, connected, combined and operating substantially as and for
the purposes herein described and shewn by the drawings hereunto appended.
2nd. In an improved hand camera for photographic purposes, the combination
of a case or container A, provided with a range or view finder C C' handle D, lens.
aperture B, and any suitable shutter in general use, and having a lens F, sliding in
guides c c for focussing purposes, operated by any suitable gear. The carriers H,.
each provided with an aperture k, and constructed to receive and hold a sensitized
plate or film h, and mounted in book leaf form upon a block G, by the means of
wires or plates such as 9 g, and the manner of placing same horizontally in A, and
releasing them one at a time for exposure, by the operations of a platform L, and
sliding plate J and its accessories, connected and operating substantially as and for
the purposes herein described and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
3rd. In combination with the apparatus set forth in the preceding claim, the
construction and use of a plate J, having a projection K, and a pair of pivotted
arms and v, provided with suitable springs to and w¹, and arranged to slide
horizontally upon a vertical partition E in A, for releasing one at a time the
horizontally disposed carriers H, when operated upon by rods O O', actuated by
rods R R¹, by the rise and fall of the platform L, operated by a button or its
equivalent M', connected, combined and operating substantially as and for the
purposes herein set forth and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
4th. In combination with the apparatus set forth in the two preceding claims, the
construction and use of a frame ", forming an arrestor for the fallen carriers H,
and arranged to be lowered for releasing such carriers by the agency of a plate p,
operated by the lowering of the platform L, and to again rise to receive the next
carrier by the tension of a spring such as o. The bolt S, with stops V V₁, sliding
in plates T T', and provided with a suitable spring such as W, and the manner of
operating the same, in conjunction with the frame n by the action of the
platform L, substantially as herein described and shewn by the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 27th day of June 1895
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1 Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, Londou, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.