Improvements connected with Photographic Cameras and Stands.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left. 14th May, 1892-Accepted, 18th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL, SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Photographic Cameras and Stands.
I, ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL Electrical Engineer, of Southwell House, Southwell
Gardens London S.W. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
ollows:-
My invention consists of a photographic camera fixed to and forming the handle
of a stick in the manner to be described, & forming a combination which may be
sed as a walking-stick. The axis of the lens is at right angles or nearly so with
the line of the stick which bears on its end a conical pointed ferrule or spike by
which it may be fixed in the ground.
The handle containing lens and forming the camera is of an egg-shape (about the
size and shape of a guillemots egg) and is fixed on the stick near its smaller end. ·
The "lensslides in an "embracing tube" or cylindrical aperture in the smaller
end of the handle in such a way that if pushed home (in focus for distant objects)
the back of the lens will be vertically over the centre line of the stick, or nearly so.
For focussing objects very close at hand the lens can be slid forward in its
"embracing-tube," distances being marked on the tube into which the lens or
lenses are screwed ("lens-tube") so that if a mark, say 3 ft. is just uncovered by
the end of the "embracing-tube" the lens will be in focus" for objects at that
distance from it. The lens can be slid right out of its "embracing-tube" and used,
in conjunction with a separate enlarging apparatus"
"for producing enlarged
The lens-tube has a slot, through
positives from the negatives taken in the camera.
$3
In order to insert them
which diaphragms with various apertures may be inserted.
the lens tube must be pulled half out of the embracing tube until this slot is
uncovered. The diaphragms are made so as not to project outside the lens-tube.
A sensitive plate or film is placed at the larger end of the egg-shaped handle, the
changing of plates or films being accomplished by hand or by an automatic
The method I prefer for changing plates
changing box" or "roller slide."
(square rectangular or round) by hand is by means of a "changing-bag" of some
light-tight" Hexible material, having two apertures, the one to admit the larger
end of the egg-shaped handle and the other for the hand of the operator. The
former aperture is made light-tight when the bag is in use by a stiff ring covered
with velvet on its inside and the latter by elastic bands closing round the operator's
wrist. With this arrangement I make the larger end of the handle a removeable
cap, fitting on with a "bayonet-joint" the plates being kept in a box within the -
changing-bag.
The removal of the above cap and changing of plates is done by the hand
of the operator inside the bag, the cap being replaced before the bag is taken off.
The plate when in position rests with its four corners in notches cut in a
projecting ring in the interior of the handle.
The handle is hollowed out to allow of the free passage of light from the lens
to the sensitive surface, the "instantaneous shutter" (presently to be described)
being supposed open. The smaller end of the egg-shaped handle consists of a
removeable cap covering the lens and fitted to the rest of the handle by a "bayonet-
joint."
A shutter with an "up-and-down" notion works in grooves immediately behind
the back of the lens and in a plane at right angles with the axes of the lens. These
grooves extend a short distance down into the upper part of the stick which upper
part may be of metal tube such as brass and of an internal diameter greater than
the diameter of the back-leus.
The up and down motion of the shutter is produced by a crank capable of being

page_text: revolved by a spring. The shutter is connected to this crank either directly or by
an intermediate connecting-rod.
The crank axle revolves on an axis parallel to the axis of the lens, its bearing
being in a block fixed to the inside of the hollow upper portion of the stick. This
block contains also, vertically above the hearing of the crank-axle, (the stick being
supposed vertical), the bearing of a catch by which the shutter may be released
(and the "exposure" made). The axles of both crank and catch project on the
outside of the stick, a short distance under the larger end of the handle. The
projection of the crank-axle bears a small button by which the crank may be
revolved by hand in a direction opposing the tension of the spring by which it is
actuated and so "winding up" the mechanism.
The catch directly releases the crank and serves also to check its motion after
one revolution. In order to effect. this it is made in the form of an ordinary clock
escapement, with two short curved arms one on each side of an axis, so that when
one arm is on a level with the top of the crank and about to release it, the other is
below the crank and in a position to intercept it. In the normal position of the
catch the latter arm stands clear of the crank and the former intercepts it. This
position is maintained by a spring. The projecting end of the catch axle is bent
round so that an upward pressure of the finger raises the arm holding the crank and
releases it. The crank will then revolve and the shutter will uncover and re-cover
the back of the lens. If the finger be removed and the pressure again applied the
crank will revolve once more. Each revolution will be slower than the last until
the actuating spring is slack, when the crank should stand in its lowest position
with the back of the lens exposed. This is the position in which time exposures
are made by means of the cap covering the front of the lens which is kept uncovered
during an instantaneous exposure. The actuating spring may be a spiral with
the inner end fixed directly to the crank-axle and the outer to the bearing-block.
Or it may consist of a straight helical spring extending down a hole in the interior
of the stick and rotating the crank by a thread wound round a drum on the crank-
axle. The end of the spring not attached to the thread may be fixed to the lower
end of a rod or stiff wire fastened at its upper end to the bearing-block & projecting
down the centre of the spring.
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The speed of the shutter is increased by "winding it up" (rotating the crank) or
diminished by successive pressures on the catch. The whole mechanism of the
"instantaneous shutter" described above (with the exception of the "vertical
grooves") is fixed to the "bearing-block" and is thus casily detachable. The
metal portion of the stick, to the interior of which the bearing block is fixed screws
or slides into a socket fixed to the lower part of the stick. (The upper hollow
portion of the stick must be sufficiently large to allow of the free revolution of the
crank.)
The "
camera and shutter" may be detached from the socket and lower portion
of the stick and fitted to some form of tripod stand which may be constructed to
fold up into a form resembling a stick.
But for ordinary use the spike (previously mentioned) will be found a sufficient
support. As to material I prefer to make the "handle" of the stick as well as
the actual shutter of the "instantaneous shutter" of ebonite. The stick may be of
wood stained black, with an iron or steel spike, the upper or hollow portion of the
stick and the "embracing tube," crank," "catch" and "lens-tube" of brass bronzed
black on the outside.
Dated this 12th day of August 1891.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Photographic Cameras and Stands.
1, ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL of Southwell House Southwell Gardens, London S. W.
Electrical Engineer 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 consists of a photographic camera fixed to and forming the handle
of a stick in the manner to be described, forming a combination which may be used
as a walking-stick. The arrangement will be understood by reference to the figures
which are sectional elevations of the upper parts, forming the "handle" of the
stick. The axis of the lens (a) is at right angles or nearly so with the line of the
stick which bears on its lower end a conical pointed ferrule, or a spike, by which
it may be fixed in the ground.
The handle, containing the lens and forming the camera is of an egg-shape as
shown in Fig. 2. The lens (a) slides in an "embracing-tube" (o) or cylindrical
aperture in the smaller end of the handle in such a way that if pushed home, (in
focus for distant objects), the back of the lens will be vertically over the centre
line of the stick (YZ), or nearly so. For focussing objects very close at hand the
lens can be slid forward in its "embracing-tube distances being marked on the
"lens-tube" (the lens-tube with its lenses I have called for simplicity the "lens,")
so that if a mark say 3 ft. is just uncovered by the end of the embracing-tube, the
lens will be in focus for objects at that distance.
The lens can be slid right out of the embracing-tube and used, in conjunction
with a separate "enlarging apparatus for enlarging the negatives taken in the
camera. The lens tube has a slot through which diaphragms may be inserted when
the lens is drawn sufficiently far out of the embracing-tube to uncover this slot, (not
shewn in the figures). The diaphragms are so made as not to project outside the "
lens-tube. The sensitive plate or film (K) is placed at the larger end of the egg-
shaped handle & the changing of plates or films may be accomplished by an
automatic changing-box or roller-slide. [But the method I prefer for plates
(square, rectangular or round) is by means of a changing-bag having two apertures,
the one to admit the larger end of the egg-shaped handle, and the other for the
band of the operator. The former aperture is made light-tight by a stiff ring
covered with velvet or other suitable material on its inner surface, and the latter
by elastic bands (closing round the wrist). With this arrangement I make the
end of the handle (J) removable, fitted on with a bayonet joint (not shown in
figure), the plates being kept in a box within the changing-bag. Changing of
plates is done by the operator's hand inside the bag and the plate when in position
rests with its corners or edge in notches or in a groove cut in a projecting ring in
the interior of the handle.]
The handle is hollowed out to allow of the free passage of light from lens to
sensitive surface. Its smaller end consists of a removable cap (H) covering the
lens and fitted to the rest of the handle (P) with a "bayonet-joint" (not shown in
figure).
An instantaneous shutter with an up-and-down motion works in a vertical groove
immediately behind the back of the lens extending a short distance down into the
upper portion of the stick.
The stick may be of wood or other suitable material with the exception of its
upper part which I prefer to make a metal tube.
The reciprocating motion of the shutter is produced by a crank (C) capable of
being revolved by a spring within the cylindrical box (D).
The actual shutter (B) which covers and uncovers the lens is connected to this
crank, either directly, as in the figures, or by an intermediate connecting rod or a
slot. The crank-axle revolves on an axis parallel to the axis of the lens, its
bearing being in a block (L), fixed to the inside of the upper or hollow portion of

page_text: the stick. This block contains also, vertically above the bearing of the crank axle.
the bearing of a catch F, G, by which the crank may be released and the exposure
made.
The axles of both crank and catch project on the outside of the stick a short
distance below the larger end of the handle. The projection of the crank-axle
bears a small button (E) by which the crank may lie rotated by hand in a direction
opposing the torsion of the actuating spring and so "winding-up" the shutter. The
catch G directly releases the crank and serves also to check its motion after one
revolution. In order to effect this it is made somewhat in the form of an ordinary
clock escapement, with two short arms one on each side of an axis, so that when
one arm is on a level with the top of the crank and about to release it, the other is
below the level and in a position to intercept it. In the normal position of the
catch, (when not pressed), the latter arm stands clear of the crank and the former
intercepts it. This position is maintained by a spring (M). The projecting end
of the catch-axle is bent round (F) so that an upward pressure on it raises, the arm
holding the crank and releases it thus making the exposure. If the pressure be
removed and reapplied the crank will revolve again. Each successive revolution
will be slower than the last until the actuating spring is slack, when the crank
should stand in its lowest position with the back of the lens exposed. This is the
position in which "time exposures are made by removing the cap H. The latter
is kept off during an instantaneous exposure. The actuating spring may be a
spiral enclosed in a cylindrical box (D) as in the figures. It
Its inner end would be
fixed directly to the crank axle & the outer to the cylindrical box. The "speed
of the shutter may be increased by winding it up" by means of the button E, or
diminished by successive pressures and releasals of the catch. The whole
mechanism of the shutter (except the vertical grooves) is fixed to the bearing-
block L, and is thus easily detachable.
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The metal part of the stick, to which the bearing block is fixed (preferably
screwed), slides or screws into a socket fixed to the lower portion.
Camera and shutter may thus be detached and fitted to some form of tripod
stand, which may be so constructed as to fold into a form resembling a walking
stick. But for ordinary use the spike (previously mentioned) will be found
sufficient support.
As to materials, I prefer to make the handle (H, P, J) as well as the shutter (B)
of ebonite. The stick may be of wood, stained black, with an iron spike; the
actuating spring & the spring M of steel, and the rest of the metal work of the
shutter and the upper or hollow portion of the stick of brass.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is performed, I declare that what I claim is
1) The combination of a photographic camera of small size with a stick in such
a manner that the combination may be used as a walking-stick, substantially as
herein described.
2) The combination of a photographic camera adapted for both "time" and
"instantaneous exposures" with a stick forming the stand thereof in such a manner
that the combination may be used as a walking-stick substantially as herein
described.
3) The combination of a walking-stick having a pointed ferrule or spike with a
photographic camera, and forming the stand thereof, substantially as herein
described.
4) The improved instantaneous shutter and release-catch, substantially as herein
described.
A. CAMPBELL.