IMPROVEMENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS, AND IN SUPPORTS FOR THE SAME, PARTS OFAL
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Smith, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS, AND IN SUPPORTS FOR THE SAME, PARTS OF
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Smith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th July 1881.
GEORGE SMITH, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS, AND IN SUPPORTS
FOR THE SAME, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO
OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to ordinary cameras used for the purpose of obtaining
photographic pictures, and to supports for such cameras, and it has for its objects
improved methods of construction and arrangement of that part of the camera in
which are carried the glass used for focussing and the sensitive plate upon which
the photographic picture is obtained, and of the stand upon which the camera is
supported.
In cameras as ordinarily used for the purpose of obtaining photographic pictures
it is frequently found necessary in order that the desired picture should be obtained
in the most favourable position and in its best aspect, that the sensitive plate.
should be adjusted in a position not at right angles to the axis of the lens, but
inclined either by leaning forward its upper or lower edge, or by advancing one or
other of its sides, or by a combination of both movements; and facility for these
movements is provided by making the back of the camera (which carries the
sensitive plate) capable of moving to a sufficient extent round a horizontal axis, a
screw being provided by which it is fixed when adjusted, whilst the frame within
which it fits and moves as described is itself capable of moving to a sufficient
extent round a vertical axis, a second screw being used to fix it when adjusted.
The flexible or sliding body of the camera is connected to a second outer frame
within which the frame last described works.
In order to put my Invention in operation I connect the back of the flexible
body of the camera to the front edge of a frame. which is arranged to support in
the proper position either the ground glass upon which the picture is focussed or.
the slide containing the sensitive plate upon which the picture is to be taken.
At the centre of the lower side of this frame, preferably recessed into it, I make.
parallel with the plane of the frame a horizontal pin or joint, upon. which is fitted,
a corresponding edge upon the upper end of a screwed bolt, the lower end of

page_text: which after passing through a suitable washer and through a hole in the base
board of the camera is provided with a nut by which it can be tightened or
loosened as required by hand. By this arrangement when the nut is loosened the
frame can be inclined backward or forward more or less as required round the
horizontal pin or joint at its lower edge, and at the same time either of its ends can
be brought more or less backward or forward, the screwed bolt turning in the hole
in the base board, and when the desired position of the picture upon the ground
glass has been exactly obtained the nut is tightened and the frame is held firmly
and securely in its position. Or instead of the arrangement described the screwed
bolt may be provided with a fixed head or handle below, by which its upper end is
screwed into a corresponding screwed hole in the horizontal pin or bolt.
If it is desired that in addition to the movements described the camera back
should also be capable of being raised or lowered at either end, I make the upper
end of the screwed bolt in the form of a sphere or a segment of a sphere fitting
into a corresponding recess formed in. or attached to the frame, the screwed end of
the bolt projecting downward through a hole of sufficient size at the lower side of
the recess and passing through a washer curved upon its upper side and sufficiently
thick to allow the desired vertical movement of the end of the frame before it
enters the hole in the base board, and is fitted with the nut. By this method of
arrangement the frame, together with the focussing glass, is capable of being
adjusted in any desired position and fixed by turning the nut.
In another method of arrangement for the same purpose I make the bolt with a
spherical head at its lower end, and I pass it up through a hole in the base board
of the camera large enough to allow it to move to a sufficient extent in any
direction, and the end of the bolt is then screwed or otherwise firmly fixed to the
lower edge of the frame.
Below the spherical head I fix to the base board a cover, through which passes a
thumb screw, the extremity of which may be pressed when desired against the
spherical head so as to retain the latter in any desired position.
By my Invention the back of the camera containing the focussing glass or the
sensitive plate is very easily and quickly adjusted into any desired plane relatively
to the lens, and is fixed in its position with a single screw.
The apparatus is very simple and cheaply made, and by its use time is saved
and great facility of adjustment gained as compared with photographic cameras as.
ordinarily made.
In order to support the camera of the kind described, or of other kinds, I use
three legs, each of which consists of three pieces preferably of wood.
The upper
end of one of these pieces is fixed between the lower ends of the other two pieces at
a short distance from their extremities by means of a pivot or wire passing through
them and rivetted at its ends, so that when not in use the centre piece can be
folded between the outer pieces, and when required for use it is folded and turned
…downward, a transverse, stop being fixed upon its upper extremity to adjust it in
its proper position.
-=
The upper extremities of the two outer pieces are provided with transverse holes
which, when the pieces are separated or bent apart, fit upon corresponding pins fitted
into the edges of recesses cut in the base board of the camera or in a separate board
or frame of wood or metal upon which the camera is supported. Or the pins may
be fixed upon the pieces which form the legs, and the holes to receive them may
be made in the base board or frame.
When the three legs which form the support are unfolded.and adjusted in their
places as described they form a tripod support which is light, but at the same time
very firm and steady. When they are removed they can be folded up in a very
compact and portable form.
Supports constructed in the method described are very simple, cheap, and
effective, and may be used for other purposes, such as to support telescopes, reading
deoke-on-other-antiales-cs-well-00-photographic cameras

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th January
1882.
GEORGE SMITH, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS, AND IN SUPPORTS
THE SAME, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO
OTHER PURPOSES."
FOR
My present Invention relates to ordinary cameras used for the purpose of
obtaining photographic pictures and to supports for such cameras. It has for its
objects improved methods of construction and arrangement of (first) the back of
the camera, or that part of it in which are carried the glass used for focussing, and
the sensitive plate upon which the photographic picture is obtained, and (second)
the stand upon which the camera is supported.
In cameras ordinarily used for the purpose of obtaining photographic pictures
it is frequently found necessary, in order that the desired picture may be obtained
in the most favourable position and in its best aspect, that the sensitive plate
should be adjusted and held in a position not at right angles to the axis of the
lens, but, inclined by leaning forward either its upper or its lower edge, or by
advancing one or other of its vertical edges, or by a combination of both move-
ments and facility for these movements is ordinarily provided by making the
back of the camera which carries the sensitive plate capable of moving to
a sufficient extent round a horizontal axis, a screw being provided by which it is
fixed when adjusted, whilst the frame within which it fits and moves as described
is itself capable of moving to a sufficient extent. round a vertical axis, a second
screw being used to fix it when so adjusted. The flexible or sliding body of the
camera is connected to a second outer frame within which the frame last described
works.
In order to put my present Invention in operation. I connect the back of the
flexible body of the camera to the front edge of a frame, which supports in the
proper position the ground glass upon which the picture is focussed, and the slide
containing the sensitive plate upon which the picture is to be produced.
At the lower side of this frame, preferably recessed into it, I arrange and fix a
horizontal pin or joint in a position parallel with the plane of the frame, upon
which pin is fitted a corresponding eye upon the upper end of a screwed bolt, the
lower end of which after passing through. a hole in the base board of the camera
(preferably with the intervention of a suitable washer) is provided with a nut, by
which it can be tightened or loosened by hand as required."
By this arrangement when the nut is loosened the frame can be inclined
backward or forward more or less as required round the horizontal pin or joint
at its lower edge, and at the same time either of its ends can be brought more or
less forward or backward, the screwed bolt turning freely in the hole in the base
board. When the desired position of the picture upon the ground glass has been
exactly obtained, the nut is tightened and the frame held firmly and securely in
its position; or instead of the arrangement described the screwed bolt may be
provided with a fixed head or handle below, by which its upper end is screwed into.
a corresponding screwed hole in the horizontal pin or bolt which turns in corre-
sponding bearings fixed to the frame. In the accompanying Drawing, which is in
illustration of iny Invention, the last described method of construction is shewn
in Figures 1, 2, and 3. Figure 1 is a view of the camera, and Figures 2 and 3
shew on a larger scale the method by which the back is adjusted and fixed. .

page_text: a (Figure 1) is the front of the camera provided with a flexible body b, the back
of which is fixed to the frame c, into which fit the focussing glass and the slide
carrying the sensitized plate.
The lower edge of the frame c is rounded in end view, as shewn, and has fitted
into it a frame carrying sockets, in which revolves a cylindrical pin, into which is
screwed by a head below the baseboard d of the camera the screw h.
In Figures 2 and 3 e is the frame carrying the sockets in which the pin f turns,
and g is the screw screwed into the pin f. When it is required to adjust and fix
the position of the frame c it can be inclined backward or forward round the pin f
or laterally round the screw g (as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1), and when
adjusted it can be instantly fixed by tightening the latter by the head h.
The side of the frame c is shewn fitted with similar apparatus to be used when
the camera is placed horizontally instead of vertically.
Instead of the arrangement already described I sometimes make the upper end
of the screw bolt in the form of a sphere or a segment of a sphere fitting in a
corresponding recess formed in or attached to the lower side of the frame, the
screwed end of the bolt projecting downward through a hole of sufficient size at
the lower side of the recess, and passing through a washer rounded upon its upper
surface, and sufficiently thick to allow the necessary amount of movement to the
frame c. The lower end of the screw then passes through the baseboard, and is
fitted with a nut.
By this method of arrangement the frame c and focussing glass are capable of
being adjusted in any desired position and fixed by the nut, the head of the bolt
forming a universal joint. Instead of the arrangement just described the upper
sphere may be made loose, the upper end of the screw being screwed into it from
below by means of the head upon its lower end.
In a modified arrangement for the same purpose the bolt may be made with a
spherical head at its lower end, and is passed up through a hole in the baseboard
of the camera large enough to allow it to move to a sufficient extent in any
direction, and the upper end of the bolt is then screwed or otherwise firmly fixed
to the lower edge of the frame c. Below the spherical head I fix to the baseboard
a cover or plate through which passes a thumb screw, the upper end of which can
be pressed against the spherical head, so as to retain the latter firmly in any
desired position.
The different methods of arrangement described are shewn in Figures 4, 5, and 6.
In Figure 4 the pin has a spherical head m below, and is passed up from below
through a hole in the baseboard d against the plate n fixed upon the latter, the
upper end of the pin 7 being fixed to the lower edge of the frame c. A plate o is
fixed below the board d, and the tightening screw p is screwed through it from
below by the head r. In Figure 5 the screw bolt has a sphere m at its upper
end which fits in the recess n attached to the lower edge of the frame c. The
lower end of the screw passes through the baseboard d, and is fitted with the
nut r.
In Figure 6 the sphere m is shewn loose, the screw being screwed into it from
below the baseboard d by the head . By my Invention, as described and shewn 4
in the Drawing, the back of the camera containing the focussing glass or the
sensitive plate is very easily and quickly adjusted into any desired plane relatively
to the lens, and is fixed in its position by a single screw. The apparatus is very
simple and cheaply made, and by its use great facility of adjustment is gained as
compared with photographic cameras as ordinarily made. For the purpose of 5
supporting cameras of the kind above described, or of other kinds, I use a novel
arrangement of tripod or three legged stand, each leg of which consists of three
pieces, preferably of wood. The upper end of one of these pieces is fixed between
the lower ends of the other two pieces at a short distance from their extremities
by means of a pivot or wire passing through the three pieces and rivetted at its 5
ends, so that when not in use the centre piece can be folded between the outer
pieces, and when required for use it is unfolded and turned down, a transverse

page_text: stop or plate being fixed upon its upper end to secure its adjustment in the proper
position. The upper ends of the two outer pieces are provided with transverse
holes, which when the pieces are separated or sprung open fit upon corresponding
pins fitted into the edges of recesses cut in the baseboard of the camera or in a
separate board or frame of wood or metal upon which the camera is supported.
Metal plates or sockets may be screwed upon the ends of the pieces to fit upon
the pins, or the pins may be fixed upon the pieces which form the legs, the holes
to receive them being made upon the baseboard or frame.
When the upper ends of the outer pieces are sprung open as described, the
leverage upon their lower ends grips and holds the centre piece tightly between
them without the necessity for any other fastening.
Figures 7, 8, and 9 represent one of the compound legs of a support constructed
according to my Invention, the legs being shewn extended in Figure 7, and closed
in Figures 8 and 9. a is the central leg, its upper end being pivotted at b to the
lower ends of the outer legs c and d. The upper ends of the legs c and d are
provided with holes or sockets at e and f, and when extended, as shewn in Figure 7,
they are bent or sprung open, and fitted upon pins in the base board or frame as
described.
g is a plate or stop fixed to the end of the leg a to retain it in its position
against the legs c and d. The elasticity of the legs c and d when sprung open, as
shewn, keeps them in position and renders them sufficiently rigid, and the lower
ends of the outer pieces hold the centre piece tightly between them at h and i.
When three compound legs constructed as shewn which form the support are
unfolded and adjusted in their places as described, they form a tripod support
which is light, but at the same time very firm and steady, When removed they
can be folded up in a very compact and portable form, as shewn in Figures 8
and 9. An ordinary sliding leg may be substituted for one of the compound legs
described.
Supports constructed in the methods described and shewn are very simple,
cheap, and effective, and may be used for other purposes, such as to support
telescopes, reading desks, or other articles, as well as photographic cameras.
Having now described my Invention and the manner in which it is to be
performed, I do not claim the precise methods of construction and arrangement of
the different parts, as herein before described and shewn, which may be modified
to suit varying circumstances, but I claim,-
The methods of connecting the back of a camera to its baseboard by means of a
pin or bolt, round which it can be adjusted into any desired plane relatively to the
axis of the lens, and when adjusted can be fixed in its position by a single screw
or nut, substantially as described and shewn in the Drawing.
Also the method of constructing the compound leg of a tripod support, consisting
of three pieces pivotted together, so that when unfolded and the two outer pieces
sprung open and attached to a baseboard or plate they hold the centre piece firmly
between them without the necessity for any other fastening, substantially as
described and shewn in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Smith, have hereunto set my hand
and seal. this 7th day of January, in the year of our Lord 1882.