Improvements in Dark Chambers for Photographic Purposes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 27th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 30th Nov., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Dark Chambers for Photographic Purposes.
1. CHARLES HENRY STANBURY, of 91 Fleet Street, in the City of London, Trunk
and Portmanteau Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In portable chambers as at present constructed the head of the operator generally
enters the chamber, and he therefore suffers from a want of ventilation.
According to the present invention one of the sides of the chamber is provided
with an opening (or openings) of sufficient size for the eyes of the operator in such
a way that he can see through the opening whilst his nose and mouth are outside
the chamber. This opening is surrounded by a ring or binding of sufficient rigidity
to keep it in shape, and yet sufficiently flexible to allow it to fit closely to the
face straps being provided which pass around the back of the head, so that the ring
can be closely pressed against the face, no spaces being left through which light
can enter.
One side of the chamber is provided with an opening for the introduction of
the plates to be treated. This opening is closed by a sliding curtain or panel which
enters a groove formed between two thicknesses of the fabric forming the chamber,
and slides in this groove in such a way that when closed light cannot enter around
its edges. Apertures with sleeves are provided for the admission of the hands in
the usual way.
There is a sink in the bottom of the chamber-this may conveniently be made of
a sheet of india rubber having above it a plate of perforated metal, holes being
provided for tubes for the supply and escape of the necessary water.
The chamber is made in such a way that it can be folded into a very smali compass.
The bottom is made of two boards or frames hinged together. Two of the vertical

page_text: sides opposite to each other are made of rectangular frames hinged one to each
of the halves of the bottom. The uprights of these frames are also hinged in the
middle. The top and remaining two vertical sides consist merely of fabric stretched
between the frames forming the other sides. The chamber can thus be folded
into a flat package of small thickness and of a size equal to half of the bottom
when opened.
The chamber is so made that it can conveniently be fixed to the ordinary photo-
graphic tripod in place of the camera.

page_text: I, CHARLES HENRY STANBURY, of 91 Fleet Street, in the City of London, Trunk
and Portmanteau 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:-
In portable chambers as at present constructed the head of the operator generally
enters the chamber, and he therefore suffers from a want of ventilation.
According to the present invention one of the sides of the chamber is provided with
an opening (or openings) of sufficient size for the eyes of the operator in such a way
that he can see through the opening whilst his nose and mouth are outside the
chamber. This opening is surrounded by a ring or binding of sufficient rigidity to
keep it in shape, and yet sufficiently flexible to allow it to fit closely to the face straps
being provided which pass around the back of the head, so that the ring can be closely
pressed against the face, no spaces being left through which light can enter.
One side of the chamber is provided with an opening for the introduction of the
plates to be treated. This opening is closed by a sliding curtain or panel which enters
a groove formed between two thicknesses of the fabric forming the chamber, and slides
in this groove in such a way that when closed light cannot enter around its edges.
Apertures with sleeves are provided for the admission of the hands in the usual
way.
There is a sink in the bottom of the chamber-this may conveniently be made of a
sheet of india rubber having above it a plate of perforated metal, holes being provided
for tubes for the supply and escape of the necessary water.
The chamber is made in such a way that it can be folded into a very small compass.
The bottom is made of two boards or frames hinged together. Two of the vertical
sides opposite to each other are made of rectangular frames hinged one to each of the
halves of the bottom. The uprights of these frames are also hinged in the middle.
The top and remaining two vertical sides consist merely of fabric stretched between
the frames forming the other sides. The chamber can thus be folded into a flat
package of small thickness and of a size equal to half of the bottom when
opened.
The chamber is so made that it can conveniently be fixed to the ordinary photo-
graphic tripod in place of the camera.
In order that my said invention may be more fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed,
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
ה

page_text: The front a of the chamber, which is preferably made of fabric, is provided with an
opening of sufficient size for the eyes of the operator; it is at the apex of a pyramid
whose sides are of fabric, an arrangement which permits of slight movements of the
head. The opening is surrounded by a ring or binding c of sufficient rigidity to keep
it in shape and yet sufficiently flexible to allow it to fit closely to the face. Straps d, à,
provided to pass around the back of the head.
The back of the chamber is provided with an opening e, this is closed by a curtain
which slides between the two thicknesses f, of the material forining the back.
Apertures provided with sleeves g, y, are made in the sides for the admission of the
hands. There is a sink in the bottom of the chamber made of india rubber and having
above it a perforated plate of metal h (Figure 4), the openings for the admission and
exit of water are not shown, they may be in any convenient positions. The bottom of
the apparatus is made in two parts j, j', which are hinged together at j². The two
vertical sides connecting the front and back are hinged at 3 to the edges of the
bottom. These sides are made in halves k, k, hinged together at k². Hinged
stays 1, 2, and bolts m are provided to keep the parts firmly in position when the
chamber is in use.
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 I
claim is :-
1. A dark chamber for photographic purposes having an opening or openings of
sufficient size for the eyes of the operator so that he can see in, whilst his nose and
mouth are outside, the edges of the opening or openings fitting closely to the face to
exclude light substantially as described.
2. A dark chamber for photographic purposes having an opening which can be
closed by a curtain or panel sliding in grooves formed between the two thicknesses of
material forming the chamber substantially as described.
3. A dark chamber for photographic purposes having three of the sides hinged
together, and each of the three sides formed of two pieces hinged together substantially
as described.
4. Dark chambers for photographic purposes substantially as described and shown
in the drawings.
Dated this 26th day of October 1888.