An Improved Form of Camera for Obtaining Photographs of Moving and other Objects.
Year: 1888

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Form of Camera for Obtaining Photographs of Moving
and other Objects.
I FRANCIS NOWLAN of 17 Solo Square London County of Middlesex, Artist do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A Photographic Camera the plate carrier of which is in the form of a drum capable
of carrying a number of plates which plates are held in position inside the said
drum by a series of flat spokes and maile to rotate on an axis. The face of the
plate when in position being at right angles to the focal axis of the lens.
By turning a small knob on the outside attached to the axis the plates can be
brought in rotation to face the lens their true position being automatically registered
by a spring such as in use on rotating lens stops.
A Shutter is arranged inside the drum and actuated from the outside which when
desired covers the opening in the periphery of the drum in connection with the lens.
The sides of the drum-complete the exclusion of light one side of said drum may be
attached to the shutter and revolve with it the other side being removable to enable
the plates after exposure to be taken out and fresh ones put in. The removable side
has an opening in its centre to allow a continuation of the axis forming the knob
to project through by turning which knob the plates inside are brought into position
after every exposure light being completely excluded by a slight shoulder surrounding
opening for knob.
On the outside of the periphery of the drum is an opening corresponding in
dimensions with photographic plates carried inside. To this opening is fitted a
telescopic neck to carry the lens. The neck may be either round or square square
by preference. Through said neck the rays of light passing through the lens reach
the sensitive photographic plate inside the drum.
To insure that the object to be photographed shall be accurately projected on the
sensitive plate a finder or sight of a novel type is attached to the Cainera as near
lens as possible and may be fastened either to the neck holding the lens or to the
inside of the knapsack case which encloses the whole apparatus. The said finder

page_text: consists of a small mirror either flat or convex the convex by preference as it may
he selected of such a curvature as will give reflections corresponding in size with
image projected by the lens on the sensitive plate the said mirror thrown back to an
angle of forty five degrees is placed immediately behind two cross wires and
reflecting their intersecting point. Any object in front of the Camera visible in
mirror in conjunction with intersecting wires and viewed from the proper angle in
relation to reflecting surface of mirror will be on the plate in Camera should a
photograph be taken the intersecting point of wires representing the exact centre of
the sensitive plate.
To enable the operator to view mirror from the proper angle an eye-piece or rim
of wire is placed in such relation to the mirror that when the operators position is
correct he can see the reflection of cross wires central with the solid eye-piece. The
operator need not place his eye in close position but may be removed from finder
as far as his eyesight will allow him no screening of the surrounding light is
necessary it being simply a reflection in a mirror having the correct angles regulated
by a combination of a solid eye-piece with reflection of cross wires.
This arrangement allows the operator to obtain photographs of objects on either
side of him without turning his head or body in the direction of the object to be
photographed and to follow such objects about keeping them constantly in position
till he finds the pose or action suitable.
Any existing instantaneous shutter may be used for exposing the plates in the
ordinary manner.
The Knapsack case enclosing all having openings to face the lens and view meter.
A small spirit level will also be necessary.. When focussing is necessary for change
of lens or any special purpose the drum containing sensitive plates can be drawn out.
The telescopic neck being in two parts one sliding inside the other the forward
portion carrying the lens being fixed to front part of knapsack case the drum and
remaining portion of neck drawing away alonge regulating groves and out through
opening at back of knapsack. When the drum is removed for focussing a ground
glass is suspended. inside knapsack on the same plane which the sensitive plate will
occupy when the drum is returned to position. The necessary focus obtained the
drum is replaced a block secured in position while focussing registers the position of
the drum in regulating groves and secures plates in focus.
Dated this 17th day of March 1888.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Form of Camera for Obtaining Photographs of Moving
and other Objects.
I FRANCIS NOWLAN of 17 Soho Square in the County of Middlesex, Artist, 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:
This invention relates to certain details in and connected with the construction of
Cameras for photographic purposes particularly such as are now known by the terms
of " Secret,'
""Detective," and "Instantaneous" Cameras.
The invention consists of certain improvements as hereinafter more particularly
pointed out and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings which
form part of this specification, and in which :-
Fig. 1 represents an elevation partly in section.
Fig. 2 represents a cross section on the line
Fig. 3 represents a cross section on the line y
Fig. 4 represents a cross section on the line
To render the views more explicit an outer box or case A is indicated in all the
figures but as this forms no part of the present invention the details thereof
are omitted.
y
of Fig. 1.
of Fig. 2, and
of Fig. 3.
Within a fixed drum or annular casing B is a secondary drum or movable frame B¹
divided by suitable partitions adapted to hold sensitive plates of any given size.
Said plates may be held against the crossheads of in position so as to be presented
at right angles to the axis of lens C by springs 2, or they may be held in grooves
formed in the partition walls. The drum B is permanently closed at one end by the
ring or cap H which connects together the inner and outer walls of same, and is
covered over at the other end by a removable ring or cover B². Drum B' is caused
to move by means of gear wheel or pinion D which engages with a circular rack I
inside of same, said pinion D being actuated by the land through its connected
spindle and handle D¹. Said shaft carries a second smaller pinion D which engages
with the dise D² marked with numbers corresponding to the number of plates capable
of being carried by drum B, the gear being so arranged that a half turn of the
handle D will enable each plate successively to be brought in front of the lens, the
corresponding number being indicated by the disc, say as shown in Fig. 1 where
disc D is only seen through the opening in a removable cover plate D³ which serves
to cover the pinions and gears. The spindle of the pinions D and D finds a bearing
at one end in the plate M of a semicircular casing forming part of the cover plate D³
and at the other end in a plate B forming part of the casing B. The disc D² also
finds a bearing in this plate B, it being held in place by a bridge piece O as shown
in Fig. 3. When the plate B is in the position as shown in Fig. 2, a receptacle X
is formed which will be found convenient for many purposes. A spring catch d may
be secured to drum B¹, the point of said catch passing into recesses in drum B.so
:

page_text: that as the plate to be exposed reaches its proper position the drum B will be
automatically held, sufficiently firmly for practical use.
A sliding shutter E is arranged so that the lens opening in drum B may be closed
when desired. Said lens opening is preferably the same size as the sensitive plate
to be carried. The telescopic necks E' E' carry the lens C and when the external
box A is employed the lens will be permanently held at the front of the case. To
find the proper focus of the lens employed the drums and part E¹ of the neck are
removed from the back of the case A, a ground glass being placed therein and
shifted about until the desired focus is obtained, the position thus obtained being then
indicated by an adjustable stop e against which the focussing glass is caused to abut.
The focussing glass is then removed and the drums are replaced and run forward
until the base portion B3 strikes against the stop e which indicates that the plate line
is in the same plane as that to which the focussing glass was adjusted. A second
stop e may be then placed at the back of the drum to hold it to its position.
"
To ensure the accurate projection upon the plate of the object to be photographed
a finder" or sight is attached to the camera or case. The said "finder" consists
essentially of a small mirror feither flat or convex, preferably the latter as it may be
selected of such a curvature as will give reflections corresponding in size with the
image projected in the plate. The said mirror f is adjusted and fixed at an angle of
about 45° in a box F, the front and top 2 of which are of glass provided with
cross wires or lines gggg, and these are reflected on the glass. The entire
adjustment should be such that any object in front of camera, visible in the mirror
in conjunction with the intersecting wires or lines and viewed from the proper angle
in relation to the reflecting surface of the mirror will be projected by the lens on the
plate in the camera, the intersecting point of the wires gg corresponding to the centre
of the sensitive plate. To enable the operator to view the mirror from the proper
angle the top wires ggare placed in such relation to the mirror that when the
operator's position is correct he can see the reflection or line of the cross wires or
lines 99 central with the cross wires g'g'. The operator need not have his eye close
to the mirror but may view it from the furthest point his eyesight will allow, no
screening of the surrounding light being necessary it being simply a reflection in a
mirror having the correct angles regulated by a given combination of the top wires.
with the reflection of the cross wires g g. This arrangement allows the operator to
obtain photographs of objects on either side of him without turning his head or body
in the direction of the object to be photographed and to follow such objects till he
finds a pose or action to suit him.
In order that the camera may held in proper position a small flexible line may
be suspended over the mirror, such line carrying a cross-arm with small balls or
knobs at the ends. If the camera be tilted in any given direction the fact will at
once be apparent owing to the knobs on the cross arms not coinciding with the
reflection of the cross lines g g on the mirror as the adjustment is intended to be
such that the knobs and reflection of lines g g will coincide when the camera is level,
as is most clearly indicated in Fig. 4. For suspending the cross arms and knobs I
judge worsted will be serviceable, as while flexible it is also rather sluggish in its
movement. Any suitable instantaneous shutter may be used for effecting the
exposure, and as it may be affixed in various ways and forms no part of my invention,
no description or illustration of same is deemed necessary.
I am aware that it is not new to have a revolving sensitive plate upon different
parts of which a series of pictures may be taken, and I lay no claim to any such
construction of camera but―
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
1st. In photographic cameras a multiple plate carrier or drum carried within a
second or surrounding drum and adapted to hold a given number of plates and to
IL

page_text: 2nd. In photographic cameras a view meter or finder consisting essentially of a
mirror and cross wires or lines adapted to be reflected thereon, and secondary wires
or lines acting as an eye piece or point of view, the parts being so arranged that the
portion of an object reflected on said mirror where the secondary wire appears to
coincide with the reflection of the front cross wires will be also in line for transmission
to the centre of the plate substantially as set forth.
3rd. The general arrangement and construction of parts forming the improved
multiple plate camera substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 20th day of December 1888.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Applicant's Agent.