Improvements in connection with Photographs and other Pictures, and Apparatus for Exhibiting the same.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1892-Accepted, 23rd July, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in connection with Photographs and other Pictures,
and Apparatus for Exhibiting the same.
I JOHN DEWE, now residing at the Hotel Metropole, Northumberland Avenue,
London, W., Gentleman, 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 :-
My invention relates, Firstly to an improved apparatus for the exhibition of
photographs and other pictures, the object of which is to impart thereto, a
series of natural and realistic effects capable of being changed or varied indefinitely at
the will of the operator. Secondly, of a manner of treating or preparing the
photograph or other picture to be exhibited therein.
I will first describe the apparatus, and in order that the manner of constructing
and operating the same may be clearly understood, I have appended hereunto
drawings fully illustrating the same.
Fig. 1, is a front view of the apparatus open as it would appear when in use or
when ready for use.
Fig. 2, is a back or reverse view of same.
Fig. 3, is an enlarged sectional view of part of same taken upon the line A. B.
Fig. 1.
Fig. 4, is a side view of the apparatus as it would appear when viewed from the
right to left of Fig. 1, or from left to right of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5, is an enlarged view of the rack at the side of the apparatus employed
for adjusting the more or less vertical position of the front frame when in use.
Fig. 6, an enlarged side view of the apparatus as it would appear when closed
or not in use.
The apparatus consists of a rectangular hollow base or tray A, with which
photographs or other pictures, and the smaller accessories of the apparatus may be
packed when closed as at Fig. 6, to the front of which is hinged a rectangular
frame B, the shape and size of which corresponds with that of A. The sides
of B, are each provided with a longitudinal slot, in which is caused to slide
shutters C, C, the combined widths of which equal that of the width of B. The
sides of the frame B, are each provided between the outer face thereof and the
shutters C, C', with an internal groove a which may if necessary extend in a
downward direction to any distance required and upwardly as far as the upper
cross stile of B, at which point the said grooves are curved in a more or less
circular form and extend in a downward direction between the shutters C, C¹, and
the back of B. A jointed horizontal shutter D, is caused to slide within the
grooves a so that when the lower or front end is pushed upwards the upper or
pointed end passes along the curved part of a and descends at the back of B. This
will be clearly understood by reference to Fig. 3, which is an enlarged sectional
view taken upon so much of the line A. B. Fig. 1, as is necessary to render this
part of the frame B, perfectly clear. A sheet of perfectly clear white or crystal
glass E, is mounted within the frame B, at the back of C, C, and D, and it will be
easily understood that the sight or exposed surface of E, may be extended or
diminished in width by the shutters C, C', and in height by the shutter D, as
required. To the upper surface of the frame B, is hinged a solid or perfectly
opaque shade F, the dimensions of which coincide with that of B, and so
hinged thereto as to be capable of folding down upon the outer face thereof
when the apparatus is not in use, and retained so closed by any suitable means,
which for convenience may be by that of hooks b, b' on the lower stile of B,
engaging with studs c, c upon the upper edge of F, and when the apparatus is

page_text: in use the said shade F, may be kept elevated by the means of a rule jointed
stay d, or any suitable equivalent therefor.
To the back of F, is hinged a shade F1 capable of closing or folding within
the thickness of F, and rendered adjustable to any angle by the means of a
cord e' one end of which is attached to F', and passes therefrom over a pulley
or the like within a hole fin F, and under a guide g to a.
..milled; headed. roller h
mounted upon the lower surface of the outer face. of B. Upon the back of F',
are two or more vertical slides G, G' for extending either or both sides of F',
as may be needed. The shade F¹ when shut up into F, may be retained in
that position by buttons or the like i, or any suitable equivalent therefor.
To the lower surface of the back of the frame B, is hinged a frame H, in
which is loosely placed two sheets of glass j both of which may be plain or
crystal or one plain and the other ground as may be desired. The said frame H,
is rendered adjustable to any angle by the means of a screw clamp or any
suitable equivalent therefor and the frame B, may be retained in an elevated
position when the apparatus is in use by the means of legs J, pivotted thereto at
each side and engaging with racks m, fixed upon the outer surfaces of the sides of the
base A, or by any other suitable means. The formation of these racks is shewn more
particularly by the enlarged view, Fig. 5.
Within the base A, and occupying the width thereof, I provide an adjustable
reflector or reflector holder, consisting of preferably, three pieces n, n¹ n" made of
any light material, such as tin, cardboard, or very thin wood, and jointed together
by any suitable means, so that they may be adjusted at any angle relatively to each
other, or the base A. The piece may be hinged to A, near to B, and the angle thereof
adjusted by the means of a cord o, one end of which is connected thereto, and.
extends therefrom in an upward direction through a pulley hole p in B, and
continues therefrom in a downward direction outside B, and is connected to a milled
headed roller p mounted upon the outer lower surface of B, as shewn at
Figs 1, 2, and 4. To the piece is connected a cord r which extends upwardly
therefrom over a recess or through a slot in the frame H, and through a pulley
hole in B, and in a downward direction outside B, to a similar roller upon the.
frame B. The piece n" is similarly connected by a cord which extends upwardly
therefrom through a hole or slot in the frame H, and continuing on passes through
a pulley hole in B, and downward to a roller all also upon the face of B, the
construction of the apparatus will now be fully understood and the manner of
operation is as follows-
3
The photograph or other picture to be exhibited is rendered translucent, by
saturating the same in oil or melted spermaceti or other material and these when
dry may be tinted upon certain parts of the back or front or both therefrom in order
that the different lights may be rendered more or less prominent and effective and if
the photograph or picture be that of a landscape or the like, I prefer to remove.
the sky therefrom leaving only the sharp outline of the picture.
The picture so prepared is then placed upon the front of the glass E and the
shutters C, C and D adjusted until the picture only or so much thereof as is
required can be seen, when viewed from the front of the apparatus. The apparatus
is then so placed that a strong natural or artificial light is brought to bear either
directly or obliquely upon the back of the picture. The shade F, being to shade
such light from the eyes of the observer. The shade F1 with its slides G and G¹
is then adjusted if necessary in order that the power of the light may be more or
less moderated according to the effect needed, and by a suitable disposition. of
coloured silvered, gilded or tinted papers or cards or other media laid upon any or
all of the pieces n, n n these may be so angulated or adjusted that the light falling
thereon may be reflected therefrom upon the back of the picture, and various and
numerous effects thereby proluced. When the picture be that of a landscape, the
sky part of which has been removed as before described, I may place between the
glasses in the frame H, transparent papers or the like tinted or artistically painted
to represent the sky previously removed, and by a suitable adjustment of the

page_text: frame H, a marvellous perspective effect is produced which may be still further
enhanced by a suitable adjustment of n, n¹n so that the light or shade may be
reflected therefrom upon the back of the media placed between the glasses ; or
ny n'n be lowered and the frame F¹ depressed so as to partly obstruct the light,
various effects may be obtained to numerous to be particularized herein.
if
I may in some cases such for instance as when the picture is small or microscopic
objects are being displayed, arrange a powerful lens mounted upon a suitable
stand fixed to and in the front of A, through which the pictures and the various
effects produced may be viewed.
16,
n¹
The apparatus when not in use may be collapsed or folded by shutting H, up
close to B, and fixing it by the clamps k shutting the shade F' up to F and fixing
it by the buttons i, . F may then be folded down upon the face of B, and retained
there by the junction of b, with c, c'. The cords s, r, o, being slackened
would fall into A, and n" be folded upon n', the reflecting media and the pictures
employed may then be packed upon the top of n, n' n" and by raising the legs J,
from m B, would shut down upon A, and may be thereto fastened by the means of
n hook upon A, engaging with a stud u upon the top of B, or by any other
suitable means.
The apparatus would then appear as at Fig. 6, and may be enclosed
within a leather or other case or a handle or the like may be fixed upon H, by
which the whole may be carried.
I prefer to construct the whole of the apparatus of wood with the exception of
such parts as are glass as described, or necessarily of metal, but with these
exceptions I may construct the apparatus of any material suitable for the purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
1st. In an improved apparatus for the exhibition of photographs and other
pictures the construction and use of the apparatus herein described and the method
of preparing the photographs or other pictures therefor the whole combined
connected and operating substantially as herein described and shewn.
2nd. The apparatus herein described and shewn consisting of a base of case A,
with a frame B, hinged there having a glass E and horizontal sliding shutters C, C',
and vertical compound shutter D, sliding within grooves a with shade F, hinged
to the upper surface of B, with jointed stay d and shade- F' hinged to F, and
carrying slides G, G. The frame H, hinged to B, and carrying glasses j and
adjusted by a screw clamp k. The pieces n, n'n" hinged together and capable
of folding within A. The stay or legs J engaging with racks or their equivalent m
for retaining the elevation of B. The manner of adjusting or angulating the several
parts by the cords e, o, r, s, operated by the milled headed reels h, p', s¹ and p" or
their equivalents the whole connected, combined and operating substantially as and
for the purposes herein stated and shewn by the appended drawings.
3rd. In combination with the apparatus set forth in the preceding claim the
manner of preparing photographs or other pictures by rendering them translucent
and afterwards painting or tinting them upon the back or front or both and by
removing therefrom the sky or other parts for enhancing the prospective effect
thereof, substantially as herein described.
Dated thin 11th daw of Tune 1800
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.