IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CAMERAS FOB PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE WITH,
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sigismund Theodor Stein, of Frankfort-on-the-
Maine, in the Empire of Germany, Doctor of Medicine, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CAMERAS FOB
PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE WITH,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sigismund Theodor
Stein at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 10th April 1873.
I, SIGISMUND THEODOR STEIN, of Frankfort-on-t
n-the-Maine, in the
Empire of Germany, Doctor of Medicine, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CAMERAS FOR
PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH, TOGETHER
WITH THE PROCESS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
"
The Invention is designed for the purpose of enabling photographic
pictures or views to be taken by what is known as the "wet process
without the employment of a separate and detached "dark room."

page_text: "
The improvements consist in providing cameras designed for taking
photographic pictures with a self containing "dark room or space in
which the several processes of "sensitizing" the plate preparatory to
exposure, and the subsequent operations of "developing" and "fixing"
can be performed with facility; the improvements may be thus
described :-
A recess or space is formed in the camera which is designed for having
inserted therein, in suitable slides, a hollow case or receptacle, which I
call a "heliopictor" preferably made of glass or bitumenized wood or
other material suitable for containing photographic chemicals.
One side of this hollow frame or case is provided with a space into
which the focussing or object glass is inserted, and which when such
glass is not there can be hermetically closed by a yellow glass frame,
which is pressed and maintained against the sides of the frame by strong
springs; the opposite side of this hollow frame from the object plate is
formed of a yellow glass wall through which the interior of the enclosed
space or chamber and the various operations performed therein as herein-
after described can be seen; this yellow glass wall extends from the top
to about two-thirds of the distance of the depth of the " heliopictor
the space below being constructed in the form of an enclosed receptacle
for containing chemical liquids.
"
The side of the "heliopictor" is provided with a hole through which
the faucet or stem of a glass or bitumenized funnel supplied with a tap
can be inserted; the said hole, in order that it will be capable of always
excluding the light, is provided with a spring closer or flap.
The mode of using the camera will now be understood on reference
to the following description:-When the object to be taken has been
clearly focussed, the object plate is withdrawn, and the glass plate upon
which the photograph is to be taken is then prepared for this purpose
by pouring over its surface a solution consisting of the following com-
ponents, viz., 100 parts of water, 25 parts of fresh mixed albumen, 10
drops of glacial acetic acid, and half a part of iodide of potassium; it is
then substituted for the object plate previously withdrawn, in which
position it forms one side of the enclosed receptacle or "heliopictor."
At this time the bent faucet of a glass funnel is inserted in the side
hole of the "heliopictor," the side spring slide or shutter being raised
for this purpose, the funnel in this position is in direct communication

page_text: with the lower portion of the "heliopictor," into which is then poured
out of a qualified graduated measure as much nitrate of silver solution
as will fill the space below the view or yellow pane; at this time the
communication between the funnel and the "heliopictor" is closed, and
the case quickly turned into a position that will cause the silver solution
to run over the surface of the collodionized glass plate, which operation
is continued until the streaky appearance first caused by the flow of
the silver solution over the plate assumes a uniform surface. This and
the other processes requiring a a chemical light are all controlled by the
operator through the medium of the yellow glass or view pane.
The "heliopictor" with the prepared sensitized plate is now inserted
in the slide of the camera, the dark slide of which is then raised and
the sensitized plate exposed to the object it is intended to portray in
the ordinary manner.
After sufficient exposure the slide is again closed and the undeveloped
plate is placed in a position to receive the solution employed for de-
veloping the picture. The space in the "heliopictor" occupied pre-
viously by the sensitized plate now receives the yellow frame first
mentioned through which the light is reflected, and which enables the
operator when the developing solution is poured into the "heliopictor"
(in the manner previously described when sensitizing), to determine when
such process has sufficiently advanced, at which time the "heliopictor"
is placed in a vertical position and the liquor allowed to run out of the
receptacle, to effect which the faucet and funnel employed for admitting
the solution is reversed or turned downwards.
The "heliopictor" is then by placing the funnel in its first position
supplied with fresh water for washing the developed picture, the water
as used being constantly discharged therefrom by the reversed or down-
ward turn of the funnel.
When sufficiently washed the picture is fixed with hyposulphite of
soda or other fixing solution and then well washed in the usual manner.
The "heliopictor" previous to the fixing process being ready for
employment again.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Sigismund Theodor Stein in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 29th September 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SIGISMUND
THEODOR STEIN, of Frankfort-on-the-Maine, in the Empire of Germany,
Doctor of Medicine, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Sigismund Theodor Stein, Her
special licence that I, the said Sigismund Theodor Stein, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Sigismund
Theodor Stein, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CAMERAS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES,
AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH, TOGETHER WITH THE PROCESS EMPLOYED
THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Sigismund
Theodor Stein, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the 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 Sigismund Theodor Stein, 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 accompanying
Sheet of Drawing, and to the figures and letters of reference placed
thereon, similar letters of reference being placed upon and denoting
similar parts in each of the Figures respectively :-
-
My improved apparatus consists of a camera with a small case,

page_text: partially formed of a plane of yellow glass a, (Fig. 2,) the depth of this
frame or <<
heliopictor" is regulated by the size of the lens and of the
camera; the larger the photographic picture the deeper the case, but
this depth will not exceed two inches for the largest size of pictures.
The heliopictor can be adapted for use with all ordinary cameras and
lenses. Within the heliopictor there is a moveable glass frame v, v,
(Fig. 3), which can also be made of bituminized wood or of india-rubber
and the back of which is covered to about one-quarter of its height by a
vertical plate b. On the side towards the cover of the apparatus the
frame is flat polished to be covered by a dull polished focussing glass 8, 8,
(Figures 2 and 4), the dull side below. Between the focussing glass and
the frame, if the latter is made of bituminized wood or of india-rubber,
there is inserted a packing of soft patent rubber. If the frame is made
of glass a packing is not wanted. If the glass rests upon the frame,
against which it is pressed by means of the four powerful springs x, x,
of the cover of the plate holder h (Fig. 5), which also carries a small
yellow plate y that is to be closed, there is a perfectly hermetical locking
and the van for the silver bath is ready, the glass which is to be im-
pregnated with iodide of silver itself forming its bottom.
This van is like a half-covered cup. To bring the solution of silver
into the apparatus there is on the side a round hole e (Fig. 1) corre-
sponding exactly with a hole d (Figures 1 and 2) in the frame. This
opening is to be closed by a slide fitted to the side of the case, which
slide is always pressed down by a spring i, and can be lifted at ƒ. In the
hole d is tightly fitted a rectangular pipe with a cock c, above which is
fitted a little glass funnel 7. When the pipe is put into the hole the
slide K will be held up by the resistance of the pipe, but the moment
the pipe e, d, is removed the slide falls down, and the hole is closed,
shutting out the light. The loop q serves to pull up the slide g and the
> bolt r to close it; at w there is a spring to lay the focussing glass across
and hold it fast.
Secure the dull focussing glass by the spring wo upon the frame
v, v, v, v, then introduce the heliopictor into the camera, and move the
sliding portion of the camera until the image on the ground glass is as
distinat ac nossible

page_text: III.
Then take a clean piece of plate glass of convenient size, dip it in
water, pour on it a solution of-
800 grammes, say 28 ounces,
Distilled water
-
Fresh beaten albumen
-
25
و,
"
14 drachms,
Glacial acetic acid
-
10 drops
"
10 drops,
Iodide of potassium
0.50 grammes 28 drachms,
وو
and then dry it; or these albumenized and dried plates may be prc-
viously prepared ready for use. Pour on the albumenized plate iodized
collodion in the usual manner. When the collodion drying on the lower
edge feels soft as butter, place the plate with its collodionized side upon
the frame v, v, put on the cover h, and by means of the springs p, p,
and pushing forward the four small bolts x, x, press it firmly upon the
polished border of the frame or the soft surface of the india-rubber.
The heliopictor is thus closed and placed vertically.
IV.
Then introduce the pipe c of the funnel into the hole e, d, the cock
being open and the spring slide K being pulled up at f. Pour in
through the funnel 1, using a properly graduated measure, as much
nitrate of silver solution (1 nitrate of silver, 10 distilled water, 1 drop
of nitric acid) as is required to fill the space b with liquid nearly to the
level of the yellow glass a. Then close the cock, and rapidly turn 2
the case so that the yellow plate comes uppermost, and the solution of
silver will at once run over the collodionized glass plate. By moving
the case up and down the formation of the white layer of iodide of
silver will be facilitated, and will be effected equally over the plate in
about two minutes. The process will be controlled by the yellow plate. 3
When the liquid ceases to run down in streaks place the apparatus
again vertically, and the pipe l, c, e, being turned down, and the cock
opened at m, the solution of silver will run out to the last drop, and
can be immediately returned through a filter of blotting paper to the
bottle which contains the supply of liquid. When this is done remove 3
the pipe with its cock, and the slide K will in a moment by means of
the pressure of the spring i close the hole d against the light.
.

page_text: Now again put the heliopictor into the camera, undo the bolt, draw
up the slide 9 with the yellow glass to the loop q, open the cover of
the objective and expose the objective according to the weather.
VI.
When sufficiently exposed close the cover of the objective, push on
the slide 9, and close with the bolt r (Fig. 2), then to develope the
picture take out the plate holder, and insert a second pipe furnished
with cock and funnel e, d, into the frame v, v, drawing up the spring i
by for this purpose. Then open the cock, pour through the second
funnel the liquid required for developing the picture (tyrogallic acid
or ferrum sulphuricum for example) in the same manner as the solution
of silver. Now lay the apparatus horizontally, so that the liquid for
developing the photographic picture at once flows over the plate, this
being at once controlled by means of the yellow plate through which
the light from the opposite small yellow plate can shine. If sufficiently
developed the apparatus is to be placed vertically again, and after
turning the pipe let the developing solution flow away at m. After
that the pipe will be turned upward and sufficient water must be
poured into the funnel to clean the plate. Let the water run out in a

page_text: Mistakes in the process are impossible, the operation being antomatic.
VI.
Finally anybody can immediately make good photographs with this
apparatus.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sigismund Theodor Stein, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.