Improvements in Portable Photographic Apparatus adapted to Take Views.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 21st Apr., 1892-Accepted, 21st May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable Photographic Apparatus adapted to
Take Views.
WILLIAM FORD STANLEY of 13 Railway Approach, London Bridge S.E.
Optician do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to construct a camera with its stand or tripod for
taking large views, in so portable a manner, that the whole apparatus may be
easily carried by one man, also to make the camera in a special light manner with
arrangements for enclosing or boxing up the whole of the parts liable to damage, so
that when closed the outer parts of the camera form a box or suitable case, to
contain the camera, focussing screen and a number of double dark_slides.
stand is constructed so that it packs in a small space, with a form of slide specially
adapted to this camera that will not jamb or stick in its parts, if wetted or exposed
to damp. And an arrangement for holding the camera steady, when upon the
stand.
To carry my invention into effect I construct my apparatus as follows
The
The camera, a convenient size of which is for carrying plates 15 × 12, but
it can be adapted to any size, is formed within a case, just large enough in width
and depth to carry the dark slides and the thickness through is governed by the
number of dark slides to be carried, three is a convenient number holding six
plates, these with the focussing screen are placed against the back of the case, and
just in front of them a suitable frame which the dark slides or focussing screen
bear against, and the bellows body of the camera is attached. This frame comes
about the centre of the case and is fitted with a spring piece at its upper part to
bear against, the dark slides and prevent any possibility of light entering. The
front portion of the case contains the folded bellows body and wood front for
carrying the lens, the bellows is tapered so as to fold more compact and is of
oblong form so that the lens front may be fitted with a peep hole or lens for
focussing from the front, this peep-hole is fitted with a suitable light-tight shutter.
The front of the case is hinged so as to open down and form the base board of the
camera, it being held in its position by suitable metal ties which clamp by set
screws running in slides upon the sides of the case, the inside of this flap is provided
with slides in which the lens front of the bellows body moves, fitted with suitable
means for clamping the lens front to focus in any desired position.
The top of the case is hinged at the back part so as to open for changing and
operating the dark slides. The dark slides are made as light as possible and
provided preferably with vulcanite shutters. The focussing screen is preferably
formed by stretching a sheet of drawing paper on a suitable frame. Space is left
at the back of the case behind the dark slides to contain the shutter of a dark
slide when it is removed for taking a photograph. Suitable arrangements are made
in the bottom and one side of the case for attaching to the stand for either portrait
or landscape views and locks catches and other fastenings are provided for keeping
the hinged flaps closed, to box up the instrument when out of use.
The stand is made of a usual sliding form with either one two or three slides
and as light as possible, consistent with strength, but with the following essential
difference that as hitherto all sliding camera stands have been made to slide by
means of square grooves on each side of one piece and square projections upon the
other so that if the wood gets swollen at all by wet or damp the slides jamb or
stick thus causing a considerable amount of inconvenience to the user, with this
improved stand instead of making square grooves and square pieces to slide in
them, I make the grooves and sliding pieces ✓ shape and provide a suitable

page_text: clamping arrangement round the legs so that by slackening back the clamping
screws the sides are perfectly free to run easily and when in any desired position
they are clamped with greater rigidity by means of the clamping arrangement.
The clamps are preferably made by bands of metal encircling the lower part of
each section provided with a suitable screw arrangement at one side by which the
legs are clamped together. By this arrangement it will be seen that the slightest
turn of the clamping screws will cause the slides to fit quite tight or by release be
perfectly free, no matter whether the wood is swollen by wet or not.
The steadying arrangement is made as follows. In any suitable position upon the
camera, preferably on the large flap that opens down forming the base, a stud is
affixed and round this stud a cord passes to two suitable spikes preferably fitted
with handles, by which they are pressed into the ground, and the cord is provided
with an arrangement for adjustment, preferably similar, but on a small scale to that
used for tent ropes, the cord runs through eyes in the handles of the spikes so that
no other fastening is necessary, and is tightened up by the above described means
thus forming a stay in two ways from the camera to the ground, to prevent the
effect of wind upon the camera.
The whole of the camera and fittings is provided with a suitable waterproof
canvas case, which is constructed to be carried knapsack fashion upon the back of
a person, the said case being also fitted with a suitable handle for carrying by
hand if desired.
Various modifications may be made and any suitable materials used.
Dated thin 14 1
TI
1. T. TALLACK,
28, Hatton Garden, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable Photographic Apparatus adapted to
Take Views.
WILLIAM FORD Stanley, of 13 Railway Approach, London Bridge, S.E.
Optician, 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:-
The object of my invention is to construct a camera with its stand or tripod for
taking large views in so portable a manner that the whole apparatus may be easily
carried by one man, also to make the camera in a special light manner with arrange-
ments for enclosing or boxing up the whole of the parts liable to damage so that
when closed the outer parts of the camera form a box or suitable case to contain
the camera, focussing screen, and a number of double dark slides. The stand is
constructed so that it packs in a small space, with a form of slide specially adapted
to this camera, that will not jamb or stick in its parts if wetted or exposed to
damp. And an arrangement for holding the camera steady when upon the stand.
To carry my invention into effect, I construct my apparatus as follows:-
:-
The camera, a convenient size of which is for carrying plates 15 x 12, but it can
be adapted to any size, is formed within a case just large enough in width and
depth to carry the dark slides and the thickness through is governed by the number
of dark slides to be carried, three is a convenient number holding six plates these
with the focussing soreen are placed against the back of the case, and just in front
of them a suitable frame which the dark slides or focussing screen bears against and
to which the bellows body of the camera is attached. This frame comes about the
centre of the case and is fitted with a spring piece at its upper part to bear against
the dark slides and prevent any possibility of light entering. The front portion
of the case contains the folded bellows body and wood front for carrying the lens
the bellows is tapered so as to fold more compact and is of oblong form so that the

page_text: lens front may be fitted with a peep hole or lens simple or compound to form a
focussing glass for focussing from the front, this peep hole is fitted with a suitable
light tight shutter to cover it when out of use. The front of the case is hinged so as
to open down and form the base board of the camera it being held in its position
by suitable metal ties which clamp by set screws running in slides upon the sides
of the case, the inside of this flap is provided with slides in which the lens front
of the bellows body moves fitted with suitable means for clamping the lens front
to focus in any desired position.
The top of the case is hinged at the back part so as to open for changing and
operating the dark slides. The dark slides are made as light as possible and
provided preferably with vulcanite shutters. The focussing screen is preferably
formed by stretching a sheet of drawing paper on a suitable frame. Space is left
at the back of the case behind the dark slides to contain the shutter of a dark
slide when it is removed for taking a photograph. This space is fitted with
grooved sides to fit the shutter which is entirely removed from the dark slide and
it will be seen that this forms a much more compact arrangement than the old form
of hinged shutter which is drawn up and hinged down on top. Suitable arrange-
ments are made in the bottom and one side of the case for attaching to the stand
for either portrait or landscape views and locks, catches and other fastenings are
provided for keeping the hinged flaps closed to box up the instrument when out
of use.
The stand is made of a usual sliding form with either one, two, or three slides,
and as light as possible, consistent with strength, but with the following essential
difference, that as hitherto all sliding camera stands have been made to slide by
means of square grooves on each side of one piece and square projections upon the
other so that if the wood gets swollen at all by wet or damp the slides jamb or
stick thus causing a considerable amount of inconvenience to the user, with this
improved stand, instead of making square grooves and square pieces to slide in
them, I make the grooves and sliding pieces V shape and provide a suitable
clamping arrangement round the legs so that by slackening back the clamping
screws the slides are perfectly free to run easily, and when in any desired position
they are clamped with greater rigidity by means of the clamping arrangement.
The clamps are preferably made by bands of metal encircling the lower part of
each section provided with a suitable screw arrangement at one side by which the
legs are clamped together. By this arrangement it will be seen that the
slightest turn of the clamping screws will cause the slides to fit quite tight or
by release be perfectly free, no matter whether the wood is swollen by wet or
The steadying arrangement is made as follows:-
not.
In any suitable position upon the camera, preferably on the large flap that
opens down forming the base, a stud is affixed, and round this stud, a cord passes
to two suitable spikes preferably fitted with handles by which they are pressed
into the ground or they may pass to studs fitted to the feet of the stand. The
cord or cords are provided with an arrangement for adjustment, preferably similar
but on a small scale to that used for tent ropes, the cord runs through eyes in the
handles of the spikes or over the studs so that no other fastening is necessary, and
is tightened up by the above described means thus forming a stay in two ways
from the camera to the ground to prevent the effect of wind upon the camera.
The whole of the camera and fittings is provided with a suitable waterproof
canvas case which is constructed to be carried knapsack fashion upon the back of
a person, the said case being also fitted with a suitable handle for carrying by hand
if desired.
Various modifications may be made, and any suitable materials used.
In the accompanying drawings
Fio 1 represents a side elevation of the camera onened out, vartly in section.

page_text: Fig. 3 a perspective view of camera boxed up when out of use and an elevation
of stand packed.
Fig. 4 is a plan of the box part of the camera with top removed showing positions
of the parts when closed.
Fig. 5 is a cross section of one of the legs showing the V grooved slide.
Similar letters denote corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the main body or box part of the camera into which the whole apparatus closes.
B. the front which hinges down to form the base board. C. the tapered bellows
body. D. the lens front. E. the peep hole for focussing with lens for focussing
inserted the bellows body and part of lens front being shown cut away in Fig. 1.
so that it may be seen more distinctly this lens is shown to withdraw when not
required and the aperture is closed with shutter E. but it may have a fixed lens
fitted with light tight cap, if preferred. F. is the hinged part of the top of the case,
the upper part of the side of the case being cut away so as to show the positions of
focussing screen dark slides etcetera. G. is the frame to which the bellows body is
attached and carrying spring piece G¹ to press against dark slides to keep light
out. H. is the focussing screen, I the dark slides. It will be seen that the
positions of focussing screen and dark slides are interchangeable so that either
may be brought to the front part. J. is the recess at the back for containing the
shutter of the dark slide when withdrawn this recess is grooved on each side to
receive the shutter. K. is a sliding stay generally made of metal tube to support
the lens front of camera which is adjustable by one end sliding into the other and
fixing by screw shown about the centre. This stay is held by a small plate attached
to it by a screw in lens front and is hinged at the case end to fold down when out
of use, L the brackets for supporting the base board when opened out, these slide
in suitable slides inside the sides of the case and are provided with binding screws
to fix them in any required position in the slides. M. is the top pair of slides of.
one of the legs carrying on the insides of each the V projections. N is the clamping
arrangement and O the lower slide carrying on each of its sides the ✓ grooves into
which the V projections upon M slide. P studs for attaching cord or cords Q
for steadying camera from the effects of wind. R handled spike to push into
ground.
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 :
1. The use in combination, with portable cameras, of the various parts so formed
that when closed up the main case boxes in the whole of the apparatus and forms
a suitable case, protecting its contents.
2. The use in combination with photographic cameras of a peep hole arrangement
in the lens front for focussing which peep hole may be used to focus by the naked
eye or to pass a suitable lens through to focus by, or to be fitted with a suitable
lens for focussing the image upon the focussing screen.
3. The use in combination with photographic cameras of the steadying cord
arrangement as described and illustrated at P, Q. & R, Fig. 1.
4. The use in combination with photographic camera stands of ✓ or conical
shaped projections and grooves for the sliding parts of the legs as described and
illustrated.
5. The use in combination with photographic cameras of a suitable recess of the
dark slide compartment to receive the shutter of a dark slide when removed.
6. The improvements in and connected with portable photographic apparatus
substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 21st day of Anril 1809
H. T. TALLACK,
Agent for Applicant.