New or Improved Toy Photographic Camera.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 1st May, 1891--Accepted, 6th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Toy Photographic Camera.
I, JAMES GAGE of 8 and 10 Pembroke Place, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Manufacturer of Novelties, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
The invention has for its object a photographic camera of very simple and inex-
pensive construction, and adapted to be used more especially as a toy or by young
persons for the purpose of experiment or amusement.
In carrying out the invention I form the camera of any suitable shape. In the
front is provided a hollow sleeve or the like, in which the focussing slide is mounted.
This slide is composed of a tube of cardboard or the like in which the lens is
placed, one end of the tube having a collar or washer of similar material and the
other a movable cap.
When placed in the sleeve aforesaid, with the collar on the inside and the cap
placed on the tube, the light is prevented from penetrating into the camera, and
acting on the sensitized surface of the plate, or paper. In the top of the camera
is a slot, adapted to receive the focussing screen and the dark slide. It is padded or
provided with a piece of black fabric on the side, whereby light is prevented from
penetrating when the screen or slide are in place.
The focussing screen in my model apparatus is composed of a piece of wood or
card board having a hole in the centre covered with a screen of thin paper, such
as tracing or tissue paper. The dark slide is of similar substance, and is made of
two parts glued or otherwise fastened together in such a manner that the shutter
can move vertically between them. One of said parts has an opening to receive
the sensitized plate or paper, the other one is without any opening. The shutter is
provided with stops to regulate the opening and closing, so that it cannot be pushed
home or drawn out too far. When the slide is drawn out, it is so arranged that
the plate can be just inserted, the extreme edge of the shutter engaging the edge
of the plate, and preventing the plate accidentally falling out.
The model apparatus above described is composed of wood and cardboard, but it
will be understood that, for cameras of better quality, metal or other material may
be employed, and various slight alterations in construction may be introduced
without departing from the nature of the invention.
The mode of action of my model apparatus is as follows
:-
The object to be photographed is focussed on the focussing screen, by sliding
the lens tube by the fingers until the image comes out quite sharp on the screen.
The cap is then put on the tube, the focussing screen is replaced by the dark slide
containing a sensitized plate or piece of sensitized paper, the shutter is drawn up,
and the plate exposed in the usual way by removing the cap.
Dated this 29th day of September 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Toy Photographic Camera.
I, JAMES GAGE of 8 and 10 Pembroke Place, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Manufacturer of Novelties, do hereby declare the nature of this
5 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 has for its object a photographic camera of very simple and

page_text: inexpensive construction, and adapted to be used more especially as a toy or by
young persons for the purpose of experiment or amusement.
Reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings and to the figures
and letters of reference marked thereon, similar letters of reference indicating
like parts in each of the figures :-
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the camera, with focussing screen
in position;
Figure 2 a section on line x of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 is a part sectional view with focussing screen removed, the dark slide
and shutter taking its place;
Figure 4 is a plan of Figure 1, a part being, for convenience, broken away.
In carrying out the invention, form the camera A of any suitable shape.
In the front is provided a hollow sleeve B or the like, in which the focussing
slide C is mounted. This slide is composed of a tube of cardboard or other
suitable and similar material in which the lens D is placed, one end of the tube C
having a collar or washer E of similar material, and the other a movable cap F.
A diaphragm or washer E', having a central opening for admitting the rays of
light, serves to support the lens in a proper position. The diaphragm or washer
may be cemented or otherwise suitably fixed in the slide C.
When the focussing slide C with the lens D is placed in the sleeve B aforesaid,
with the collar E on the inside and the cap F placed on the tube or sleeve B,
the light is prevented from penetrating into the body of the camera, and acting on the
sensitised surface of the plate or paper hereinafter mentioned. In the top of the
camera is a slot G, adapted to receive the focussing screen and the dark slide. It
is padded or provided with a piece of black fabric H, suitably slit to allow of
the introduction of the screen or slide, the pendent flap h of which acts as a
pad, whereby light is prevented from penetrating when the screen or slide is
in place.
The focussing screen I is composed of a piece of wood or cardboard, having a
hole in the centre covered with a screen of thin paper i¹, such as tracing or tissue
paper. The dark slide J is of similar substance, and is made of two parts jl j³,
(forming the backing for the front frame 2) glued or otherwise fastened together
in such a manner that the shutter K can move vertically between them. One of
the said parts, 2, has an opening to expose the sensitised plate or paper L, the
other one is without any opening, but has a depression or seating j³ for the sensitised
plate or paper L. The shutter K is provided with stops kk to regulate the opening
and closing, so that it cannot be pushed home or drawn out too far. When the
slide is drawn out, it is so aranged that the sensitised plate or paper L can be just
inserted, the extreme edge of the depression or seating 3, of the shutter engaging
the edge of the plate L, and preventing the plate L accidentally falling out.
The apparatus above described is composed of wood and cardboard, but it will
be understood that, for apparatus of better quality, metal or other material may be
employed for the various parts, and various slight alterations in construction may
be introduced without departing from the nature of the invention.
The mode of action of my model apparatus is as follows:-
The object to be photographed is focussed on the focussing screen I, by sliding
the lens tube C by the fingers until the image comes out quite sharp on the
screen. The cap'F is then put on the tube B, the focussing screen is replaced by
the dark slide J containing a sensitised plate or piece of sensitised paper L, the
shutter K is drawn up, and the plate exposed in the usual way by removing
the cap.
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. The new
cleave (R) and a slot the 11
or improved toy photographic camera formed with a hollowed

page_text: slit to form a flap, all substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described,
and as shown on the accompanying sheet of drawings.
2. A toy photographic camera having its focussing slide formed of cardboard or
other suitable and similar material, constructed and arranged substantially as herein-
before described and shown.
3. The new or improved toy photographic camera taken as a whole, consisting of
the body proper of the camera arranged with a focussing screen and dark slide, the
former consisting of a frame containing a screen of thin paper and the latter of a
frame of two parts (for holding the sensitized plate or paper, and allowing of its
exposure) between which a shutter can slide, all arranged substantially as herein-
before described and shown.
4. A new or improved toy photographic camera constructed, formed and arranged
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
Dated this 29th day of April 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.