Improvements in Photographic. Developing Tents and Changing Bags.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd "Dec., '1890
Complete Specification Left, _22nd Sept., 1891-Accepted, 5th_Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic. Developing Tents and Changing Bags.
WILLIAM RITCHIE BAKER 9 Belmont Villas, Chemist, Wallington, Surrey
.do hereby declare the nature of this invention, to be as follows:-
"
My invention consists of, a shallow box of any convenient, size, which is, lined
with waterproof material and fitted for use as a sink, water supply, and drain pipes
being attached if required. This is also provided, with a stage or table, of vulcanite
of about the width of the sink,, and. of sufficient breadth at the top to prevent any
liquid spilt upon it dripping into a fixing, or other bath kept, beneath.
The sides of the box are rather thick so that a groove of about 4.in. wide
by in. deep can be sunk in, their substance, which will contain a square, of stout
wire. The lid is formed of two doors which open, on either side, and have the outer
ends supported by short legs which let down when; required. Two other squares of
wire are made, but smaller than the first mentioned, so that they will lie in the tray
when the apparatus is packed up. They are provided with feet so, that they can be
fixed in an upright positions at each end of the open doors.
A cover is now made of, suitable non-actinic, material, which will be fastened to,
and kept rextended by, these frames and form; a kind of waggon head shaped
enclosure, which will fold up and go into the box when, not jin. use.
The middle parts of the long sides are fixed to two, of the sides of the, iron frame
in the groove, and, to the other sides of this, pieces of material are fastened, which
extend to the bottom of the frames at the ends of the doors. White light, is thus
excluded but the sink in the centre can be freely used.
At the bottom of one side, the material of the bottom,and, side, is, not joined, but
is continued for about half a yard. so as to form a kind of sleeve, by means of which
articles can be passed into or from the tent, without,admitting light, if one end is
closed, before the other is opened.
In order to see within I make, an opening just, large enough, to admit the eyes,
and, over this Inattach a band with a corresponding, opening, that, fits closely to the
face and fastens behind the head. Suitable sleeves- are made, for the, hands,, and
covers are provided both for them and the eye opening, so that the tent can be left
and returned to without letting in the light.
When the, sides are formed of more than, one thickness,of,,material, the inner
ones can; be arranged as curtains so that the light, may be regulated.
Avhead rest may also be provided if found necessary.
I do not confine myself to the materials or shapes,, mentioned in the above
description, but would, adopt any that would be most suitable for the purpose, and
to secure greater portability when only a tent to change plates, and not, to develope
in was required, would do away with the sink, and, box, altogether.
*Dated this 20th dex of Donambar 1800
W.RITCHIE BAKER.
40
'COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Developing Tents and Changing Bags.
I, WILLIAM RITCHIE BAKER, 9 Belmont Villas Wallington, Surrey, Chemist
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
45 following statement:-
¿My-improvements consist of a new kind of eye piece which is, held closely

page_text: against the face by elastic bands and a light folding frame work that supports the
material that forms the sides of the tent. This is quickly opened and when closed
occupies but little space and packs into the box which contains the tent.
eyes.
The eye piece consists of a piece of soft leather of sufficient substance, cut into
the form shown in Fig. 1A with an opening B in the centre to admit the
This is lined on the inside with some soft pliable material C, such as wash leather
and projects beyond it at C C C forming three flaps. The bottom one is
tucked up between the eye piece and the sides of the nose to prevent light entering
that way, whilst the two others adapt themselves to the sides of the face. An
elastic band is attached to the back of the eye piece at D' D" D so as to finally
hold it in position when placed round the head and fastened at the back by the
hook and eye with which the ends are provided.
The lower clastic band which may be narrower than the other, to which it is
attached at its extremities and is kept in its position by passing through three rings
at E E E or it might be stitched down at one or all of these places.
In order to make the eye piece fit any sized head the bands may be furnished
with hooks and eyes buckles, or any other suitable means to enable them to be
shortened or lengthened as required. The clastic band between D and D may
be rather shorter than the leather so as to ensure the top of the eye piece being
pressed firmly against the forehead when in use.
Instead of leather velvet india rubber or any other suitable material might be
used for the eye piece and if it were sufficiently pliable the flaps C C C would
be formed of it and the lining might not be necessary. The opening for the
eyes B might be enlarged so as to admit the nose as well. The bands need not
necessarily be made elastic and might be made in one piece to be slipped over the
head instead of being fastened.
1 form the box which encloses the whole apparatus when packed up of any
"convenient form and shape, and line the interior with zinc or any other waterproof
material so that it will serve as the sink when the tent is in use, and provide a-tap-
or other means of drawing off the water. The sides are made ratlier thick-and
grooved as shown in Fig. 2. The groove A is sunk about half an inch below the
inner side B and contains a frame F of brass wire or other suitable material-that-is
kept in the groove by a projection C. On the opposite side is hinged a piece of
wood E so that it can be raised into the position shown by the dotted lines when it
is desired to remove the frame F from the groove A. To the frame F are attached
the parts of the sides of the tent that surround the sink which are thus kept in the
groove A. and light is prevented from entering within it. The lid of the box would
generally be formed of two parts hinged to opposite sides as shown in Fig. 3 from
the layer of which a support D would be let down and be fixed by the cross piece
catching on the screw head L. The other might be supported by a piece of
metal E fitting over a screw head F, the pivot H being so placed as to allow it to
keep the lid either open or closed. At the corner of the lids in the positions
marked A sockets or other means of attachment for the feet of the wire
frames B and C would be provided. These frames would be rather shorter than
the length of the box and one might be made wider than the other that they may
pack more conveniently in the box, the feet then going into holes made in the sides
for them: A covering-of-opaque or non-actinic material is attached-to-the-
frames B and C and fixed along the bottom to the frame F Fig. 2 as far as
it goes. The lids K and I Fig. 3 are covered in a similar manner by pieces of
material reaching from the bottom of the frames B and C to the other two sides
of the frame F. A window of non-actinic material might be made in the side B or
other convenient position and furnished with a blind or other means of regulating
the light, and a light tight door or opening might be made in the side C or else-
where if desired, but the interior could be exposed by removing the feet of the
frame B Fig. 3 from their sockets and raising the hinged piece of wood E Fig. 2.
The frame F can now be tilted upon end and B rested upon it, whilst water is
placed in the sink and other arrangements made for developing. Light tight

page_text: sleeves are put in the sides G to admit the hands, and over them is placed the eye
piece before described. When in use the whole forms a completely closed waggon
shaped enclosure in which the sink can be freely used.
In order to obtain greater portability I may dispense with the sink and only
make the box just large enough to contain the tent and frames when folded up,
and instead of the frames being separate from the lid or lids of the box they may
be hinged or attached in any manner to them or the sides of the box itself, so
that they will lie closely in the box when packed up. One or more frames might
be used and the lid or lids of the box instead of being open as seen in Fig. 3
might stand upright and take the place of one or more of the frames in supporting
the sides of the-tent.
Instead of the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 the apparatus might be made in the
form of two shallow boxes of equal depth hinged together, each having a frame
that fits closely round the sides pivoted to its free end so that it will either stand
upright or fold down in the box. This would be placed in the bag Fig. 4 through
the larger sleeve and the frames afterwards raised when they would keep the sides
from collapsing, and be kept in position by a catch or fastening. The sleeves or
openings in the sides would be provided with elastic or other means of securing
them in a light tight manner round the wrists.
I do not confine myself to the exact shape shown in Fig. 4 as it might be
advantageous to have the sleeves in another position or the bag could be made
square so that it might be used as a focussing cloth as well. It might also be
made for use as a changing bag and as such would not require any box or frame
work. A window of non-actinic material, guarded by a blind, would admit light
into the bag, if made with opaque sides and allow it to be regulated as desired.
The box or case described above may be made of wood metal or other suitable
substance in the sides of which the groove A Fig. 2 may be sunk with or without
the raised outer side. D which may be either increased in height or done away with
altogether. In order to prevent the possibility of light getting past the frame F,
if it should be raised against the projection C, the sides of the tent may be
continued a little below it so as to hang down into the groove.
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:
Claim 1. An eye piece for photographic developing or changing bags as Fig. 1,
made of leather, with a lining of a thinner kind projecting beyond it and forming
the flaps CCC and furnished with elastic bands and having an opening for
the eyes B substantially as described.
2. A portable developing tent having the eye piece shown in Fig. 1 made of
opaque or non-actinic material supported by moveable frames attached to the
corners of the lids of the box which forms the sink of the apparatus when in use,
and the case for it when closed, as Fig. 3. The opaque material is connected with
the box by means of the frame F and the groove A in Fig. 2. It is also furnished
with sleeves, windows, and other arrangements as described.
3. In a portable developing tent the combination of eye piece and tent supported
by moveable frames attached to the sides or lids of the box that forms the case for
the apparatus when closed and may be used as the sink, and provided with sleeves,
windows and other arrangements substantially as described.
4. A portable developing tent connected with the box or sink by means of the
groove A. and frame F in Fig. 2.
5. In a photographic changing bag the combination of the eye piece Fig. 1 and
the bag shown in Fig. 4 made of opaque material and furnished with sleeves and a
non-actinic window that has a blind which can be partly or entirely withdrawn
according to the amount of light required.
6. A light frame work to be used within the bag Fig. 4 made of two shallow
boxes of equal depth hinged together. Each has a light frame hinged to its free

page_text: end that lies closely round its sides-but can be raised into an upright position when
within the bag.
7. A box to be used within the bag Fig. 4, having two light frames the size-of
its interior hinged to two opposite sides so that they will either fold into the box or
stand upright. The lid or lids opening outwards also assist in keeping the sides of 5
-the bag-distended.
Dated th: 20.1 1
1001