IMPROVE- MENTS IN STEREOSCOPES
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Colleton Cooke, of George Yard, Lombard
Street, in the City of London, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEREOSCOPES."
Sealed the 14th January 1857, and dated the 26th July 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Colleton Cooke
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 26th July 1856:
I, GEORGE COLLETON COOKE, of George Yard, Lombard Street, in the City
of London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEREOSCOPES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to the employment in stereoscopes of conical,
pyramidal, or trumpet-mouthed tubes for the eye pieces, in place of cylindrical
tubes, the object being to present a larger field of view to the spectator.
Into these tubes I fit larger lenses than those now used, in order that no
obstruction may be presented to the rays of light emanating from the pictures,
and that the eyes of the spectator may be enabled to travel freely over the
surface of the pictures.
Secondly, to the introduction to stereoscopes (at the ball of the eye piece)
of short-sighted and meniscus, plano-convex, or double convex lenses, fitted in

page_text: light frames, hinged to the sides of the eye pieces, and moved into and out of
position by means of levers projecting to the outside of the instrument, (or the
lenses may be screwed into the bottom of the eye pieces,) the one kind of
lens to render the pictures visible to short-sighted persons, and the other to
magnify or increase the size of the pictures when viewed through the instru-
ment. I also propose to introduce colored glasses, similarly fitted and hinged,
for the purpose of throwing a tint over the pictures, and thus subduing the
Snowy appearance so common to photographs.
Thirdly, to the introduction to stereoscopes of a tray, ledge, or support
about midway between the bottom of the box and the eye pieces, for the
purpose of holding the pictures when the magnifying lenses are brought
into use.
Lastly, this Invention relates to the application to stereoscopes, immediately
above the space occupied by the picture, of a blackened double "passe-
partout," or frame, for the purpose of preserving uniformity of size to the
pictures, as well as to prevent any light being reflected from their margin.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Colleton Cooke in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 26th January 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
COLLETON COOKE, of George Yard, Lombard Street, in the City of London,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
George Colleton Cooke, Her special license that I, the said George Colleton
Cooke, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
George Colleton Cooke, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEREOSCOPES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
George Colleton Cooke, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,

page_text: should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of tho said Invention,
and in what manner. the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Colleton Cooke, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention of improvements in stereoscopes relates, firstly, to the appli-
cation to stereoscopes of conical, or pyramidal, or trumpet-mouth tubes for
the eye pieces; in place of the ordinary cylindrical tubes usually employed
for this purpose.. The object of this improvement, in conjunction with other
improvements hereafter described, being to increase, the field of view; I am
also enabled to use larger lenses than usual, and therefore less impediment or
obstruction than heretofore is offered to the rays emanating from the picture,
and the eye of the observer is enabled to range more freely over the field of
view.
My improvements relate, secondly, to the adaptation to the eye pieces of
stereoscopes of additional moveable lenses of various kinds, adapted to different
kinds of sight, for the purpose of assisting the observer in viewing the pictures.
These additional lenses may be either meniscus, concave, plano-convex, or
double convex, as may be required, and they are adapted to the instrument in
such a manner that they are moved into and out of use by means of small
levers projecting through the sides of the box. If thought desirable, these
lenses may be colored or plain; colored glasses may be adapted to the instru-
ment in a somewhat similar manner, so as to throw any particular tint or color
over the picture when viewing the same. These lenses or glasses may either
be placed immediately below the eye pieces, as would be most desirable. for
persons having a short or defective sight, or they may be placed about half way
between the picture and the eye pieces, as would be best if it be desired to
magnify the picture. If magnifying lenses of short focal distance are employed
and placed immediately under the ordinary lenses; then the picture must be
brought nearer to the eye, for which purpose I adapt to the inside of the
instrument, about midway between the bottom of the box and the eye pieces a
ledge, shelf, or tray, upon which the picture is to be placed.
My last improvement relates to the adaptation to stereoscopes, immediately
above the space occupied by the picture, of a double "passe-partout," or

page_text: frame, for the purpose of preserving uniformity of size in the pictures, as well
as to prevent any light from being reflected from their margin and confusing
the cyc.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn various views of stereoscopes
with my improvements adapted thereto.
Fig. 1 is a front view of one of my improved instruments; Fig. 2 is a
transverse vertical section of the same, shewing the interior construction and
arrangement of the parts; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section.
The body of the instrument is seen at a, a, and the door or lid, whereby
light is admitted to and reflected on to the picture, is seen at 6 in Fig. 1;
c, c, are the conical, pyramidal, or trumpet-mouthed eye pieces, which con-
stitute the first improvement; d, d, d, d, are the moveable additional lenses or
glasses, which are secured in thin metallic rims or frames, and-mounted-on
centre, pins or shafts e, e; they are also provided with handles f, f, which
project through the sides or other part of the instrument, as shewn in the
Drawings, so as to admit of the lenses inside being moved up and down or
into and out of use when required. It will be seen that there are two or
more of these movable glasses adapted to each eye piece. This need- only
be done when it is required to make the instrument suitable for various sights.
Instead of adapting the additional magnifying lens to the eye piece, as shewn
in the Figures at d, d, I sometimes place it midway between the eye piece
and the picture, as shewn at d*, d*, (Figures 2 and 3,) and make the same
movable, as before, by means of bandles or levers f*, f*, projecting from
the frame through the sides of the box. If preferred, however, these lenses
may be made fixtures, as shewn in the sectional view, Fig. 4. When the
magnifying lenses are adapted to the eye pieces, as shewn at d, d (Figures
1 and 2,) the picture must be brought nearer to the eye, for which purpose it
may be placed on a ledge or shelf, as at 9, 9 (Fig. 3), or slidden into a groove, as
at h, h, (Fig. 4,) in which case the large magnifying lens d** may of course be
dispensed with. In Fig. 3, i, i, is a double "passe-partout," adapted to the
bottom of the stereoscope box, a space being left beneath it to admit a picture,
as at j, j. Fig. 5 represents a front view of the double "passe-partout."
Having now described my Invention of "Improvements in Stereoscopes,"
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I claim,-
First, the use of conical, pyramidal, or trumpet-mouth eye pieces in com-
bination with the additional magnifying lenses, for the purpose of increasing
the field of view.
Second, the adaptation to stereoscopes of moveable additional lenses or

page_text: glasses, for the purpose of rendering the instrument more applicable to various
kinds of sights.
Third, I claim the application of magnifying lenses as shewn, and the use
of a ledge or shelf to receive a picture in position about half way between
the eye pieces and the base of the box.
Fourth, I claim the use of a double "passe-partout," or frame, in the
manner and for the purpose above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Colleton Cooke, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-sixth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
(L.B.)