Film cameras
Ensign Box Camera User manual
User manual for Ensign Box Camera. 26 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Ensign
- Model / document
- Ensign Box Camera
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 26
- File size
- 4.6 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 2 · Read text
All ENSIGN Cameras
are $uaranteed to give good
r fesults.
If for any reason your Canrera
is not doing as well as you
think it should, ask about it-
either of the dealer from
whom you bought the Camera
or direct of us.
We want you to get the
pleasure from your hobby,
and we will alw'ays be glad
to help and advise you.
Houghton-Butcher (ff;l) [td.
Ensign House, 88.89. High Holborn,
LONDON, W.C.t.View original page 2Page 4 · Read text
Venmo @mike-butkus-camera Ph. 2083 PayPal Name Lynn@butkus.org www.PayPal.me/lynnbutkusView original page 4
Page 6 · Read text
www.butkus.us
risht and open the door, now pull out the Winding
N?u n as f'ar as it will go (see Fig.2), the inside of
the Camera may then be withdrawn.
Notice that the sides are tapered so as to take ths
frl- spoots. There is an lmpty one alrea4y itt positioh on one side, kept in place by metal plates'
^Gentlv pull these metal plates slightly away from the
spool'eirds and the spool can then be taken out'
c
Digitally signed by Mike Butkus
DN: cn=Mike Butkus, o=Butkus camera manuals,
email=mike@butkus.org, Mike Butkus ou=butkus.org,Date: 2024.01.01 15:56:04 -05'00' Fig, 2. c=US
You can see at once how to put a spool in or take it
out on either side. Put th-e inside of the Camera
back, lock the catch and replace the Winding Key
in position.
Now examine the outsido of the Camera' In the *iaat" of the front is the lens opening (Fig' l, A)'
itt" fignt that reaihes the film and makes the image the pri.ut" itttough a round oponing in front of in..posi- i""i""fi"a a ;stop," and the stop already
tion-smallis the LencB-Stop.-which,At B (Fig. l), you will tind a metal plate, when raised half way'
I *iif Uii"S the M'eoruu Stop into position, and when
I
l
I
tView original page 6Page 7 · Read text
pulled out to its fullest extent the Suerr- Stop is in
position. You will learn later what these stops are
for.
Note the Lever D (Fig. I). It controls thenew pat-
tern Automatic Shutter for snapshots and time
exposures. Lever D moves to and fro in a slot.
Each time it is moved either up or down it releases
the shutter, as will be seen if you look in the lens
opening while you move the lever. The " snap " or
"instantaneous " exposure is not long enough some-
times, as you will learn.
Look at C (Fig. l), and you rvill find an indicatorthat can be put either against the letter " I " or the
letter "T." When it is at " I " the shutter gives
its snap exposure, when at " T " (time) the sliding
of lever D opens the shutter, which remains open
till the lever is moved again.
The View Finders, E. E., show in miniature what
rvill be included in the picture and so help in point-
ing the Camera correctly at the subject required.
There is also provided
a Direct-Vision View
Finder (see H, Fig. l).
Look at Fig. 3 and
you will see how
this should be erected
and used. If held with
the Camera against the
eye it will enable you
to sight your picture 66a7
3.correctly at eye level. Fig.
For oblong pictures hold the Camera as in Fig. 3'
4View original page 7Page 8 · Read text
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and lor upright hold the Camera with the handle on top.
As you now understand the construction and
9a1qera, of the you may proceed.-- to-- load -arrlngementsit with a spoot of ENSlGiV"Speedy"f.ifln.
This should alwavs
be done in a sub-
dued iight, not in
bright sunlight.
Take out the inside
of the Camera as
before, and place
tbe spool of film in
the recess H (Fig.
----H4), being careful to
see that the spool is
placed in the posi-
tion shown so that
the paper will lead
out from the back
of the spool.
Having rernoved the paper band. that encircles the.p,pl, pull the r1g,ht round overthe .paper t*" ^ofptat"arollers. and push the end through the longer the
two slits in the empty spool asln Fig. b.
Turn the empty spool round until the paper srips.
and see that the paper is threaded into tire eirplyspool so- that it .will run straight and true frbrir
o-ne.spool _to the other over the rollers. Now put
the inside back into the Camera, close the door, t6ct
the catch-and push irr tbe Winding Xey to e"g&; itView original page 8Page 9 · Read text
into the slit at the top of the empty spool. Turn
the Winding Kev evenly and steadily, watching
the little red window at the back of the camera.
Presently the figure 0 will appear. This is a warning,
Continue tb wind
verv slowlv till
figure I appears,
then stop. Thefilm
is now in position
for the first expo-
sure. When this
has been made,
wind till figure 2 is
Iseen through thewindow, and so on )
until the last (6) has
beenexposed. Then
give ten or twelve www.butkus.us
turns totheWinding
tr.Key and stop. Ftg
To UNLOAD the Camera, take out the inside.
You will find there is still some paper to be
wound. As you wind this keep your thumb pressed
on the spool until the free end of the p.aper comes
under your thumb, then stick this end down with
the gum slip attached to it. You thus prevent the
paper from running slack. Remove the exposed
spool for development. Take out the empty spool
and put it on the winding key side, so that the end
with the slot shows through the round hole in the
metal plate. It is now ready to receive the film from
a new spool which you place on the other side as
before.View original page 9Page 10 · Read text
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MAKIIIG THE EXPOSURES.
INSTANTANEOUS.-The shutter of the Box-
Ensign is always set. The indicator C (Fig. l) m":l be placed against the letter ,.I" that is engrlved
on the metal platg the shutter is then operated by
qushing the lever D (Fig. l) either up or hown witir
the thumb
If the lever is at the top of the slot simply push it down, and vice versa.
Instantaneous exposures on general subjects can only
be given with_ oqen sunlight shining on the object tb
be photographed, and with the large stop in fiont of
, !h" Lens, i.e., Slide B (Fig. l) pushed-right in as far as it will go. If you ari tat iig snapsh6ts where
tle sunlight is unusually strong wittr no near dark ' objepts. or-heavy shadows such is views of the sea, or
L in*tropical climates, then you may draw the Slide Bt- (Fiq..l) half way out to-put th6 medium stop in
position. The smaller the stop the longer the eipo-
sure required-; {ot instance,- whatever the right e-xposure for the large stop you must double it Jor
the medium stop, and dbuble that again for the
small stop.
In making snap exposures be sure to hold the
Cam-era perfectly still. Grasp it firmly in both
hands, and use the thumb to move the exposing' lever steadily, without a jerk.
For a vertical picture hold the Camera with handle
on top.
For a horizontal pictr:re hold the Camera with the
Winding Key at the top.
Point the Camera towards the object to be photo-
7View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
graphed so that the subject is in position in the
finder. Do not let the sun shine on to the Lens.
Hold the Camera perfectly level when taking
subjects with upright lines, such as buildings.
Avoid rapidiy moving objects at close quarters,
especially when moving across from side to side.
The subject should not be less than 12 feet from the
Camera ; it may, of course, be more if desired, but
the objects will then appear relatively smaller in the
picture.
TIME EXPOSURES.-If the light is not sufficienfly
brigl-t fol an instantaneous snap, then a tim-e
expos ure is necessary ; this may only be accom-
plished successfully by placing the Camera on a firm
slppor! such as a wall, table, or a tripod. Place
the indicator._C (Fig. l) against lettef " T," pull
out slide_B _(Fig. 1) until the medium stop i6 infront of the Lens, and set up the Camera in-such a
position that the view desired shows in the Finder.
All being now in readiness place one hand on the
top-of _the Camera to steady it and push the lever D
with the other to open the-shutter i give the propertime (the
ENSIGN Uni-
versal Exposure
meter will tell
you the correct
exposure re-
quired under
any conditions
of lighting), and
push the lever
in the opposite
direction to close
the shutter. Ensign Universal Exposure Meter.
8View original page 11Page 12 · Read text
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AprBn EAcH ExposunB turn a new section of film
into position as described on page 6.
When the last section of film has been exposed,
unload and reload as described on pages 6 and 4.
Developing, Printing and
Enlarging.
No sign of the picture can be seen on exposed film
previous to development.
Until the sensitive fiIm has been developed and fixed
it must not be exposed to light other than that of a
specially-made Dark Room Lamp, such as an
Ensign Lamp, obtainable in large variety from
Is. each.
Before proceeding to Develop, Print or Enlarge, the
following articles should be provided :-
Developing.
Dark Room Lamp, 2 Porcelain Dishes, Easy Roll-
!ilm Developing Dish, Developer, Acid-HypoEixing, Glass Measure, Ensign Film Clips, MascbtPush Pins, Ensign No. I Washer.
Printing.
Gaslight Printing Paper, Printing Frame, I extra
Porcelain Dish, Magnesium Ribbon, Ensign Print
Lifter, Ensign Drying Frame.View original page 12Page 13 · Read text
Enlar$in$.
Aldis-Ensign Vertical Enlarger, Bromide Paper.
To Develop. tI
If developing is to be done in the daytime, then it is I
Inecessary to do so in a room from which all white t:
light is excluded. If it is to be done after dark any
room will do.
Prepare for operations as follows :-
Remove the table-cloth and spread waste newspaper
in case any of the solutions are spilled.
Developer.-Azol is undoubtedly the best to use.It is a highly-concentrated one solution developer, I
prepared from a perfected formula, and requires
only the addition of water to make it ready for use. It is controllable to a remarkable degree by varyirlg 1
the amount of added water.
The amount of developing solution required will
depend on the size of developing dish used. Four
ounces are ample with the Easy Developing Dish.
To mix, dilute I drachm of Azol developer with
four ounces of water. Ensign graduated glass
m€asures are a great convenience for mixing.
They are well made and correctly marked for
drachms and ounces.
Dishes.-Porcelain or enamelled steel dishes are the
r0View original page 13Page 14 · Read text
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most suitable. Ensign Porce-
lain Dishes are made of the
finest Staffordshire porcelain
and in two depths, deep and
semi-deep. Ensign Enam-
elled Steel Dishes are the
best' procurable and are
practically everlasting. At
least three will be required for
developing, fixing and wash-
ing. t he size of the dishes
to be used for Washing and
Fixing must be governed by
the size you are likely to Ensign
enlarge up to. If you intend Tumbler Measure.t'rl making enla,rgements of
12 x 10 inches, then dishes of that size or larger
should be obtained. Place the three clishes on the
table, a large one on the left containing clean
water, the E"sy roll-film developing dish in the
centre for the developing solution, and a large
one on the right to contain the fixing solution.
n Fixing Solution.-Dissolve Acid-Hypo Fixing
Porvder in the proportion of 3 ounces of pow<ler
to 30 ounces of water. See detailed instructions
on the tin.
Dark Room Larnp.-Dark room lamps ^ can be obtained in endless variety. Not all of them,
however, give a safe dark room light. Ensign
llView original page 14Page 15 · Read text
Lamp No. 12 can be
recommended. It has
an outside winder to the
burner and is provided
with ruby glass and
yellow fabric screens,
the former or both for
use when developing
films or plates and the
latter when developing
Bromide paper.
All being now in readi-
ness for developing and Ensign Lamp, No. 12.
the door of the dark
room closed to exclude
all white iight, break tthe paper band encir- rlil unrollcling the spool,
and separate the sensi- 1
tive fiim from the
paper, throw away the
latter and attach an
Ensign Clip to one
end of the film. Soak
the film in the dish
of clean water for one
minute, then, after it
has become thoroughly
rvet all over, hold the
end of the film by the
Ensign clip and lower
the other end of the
film into the " Easy " Easy Roll-Film Developing Dlsh.
l2
!I
.. ,. -,*] ': ' IfView original page 15Page 16 · Read text
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Lamp No. 12 can be
recommended. It has
an outside winder to the
burner and is provided
with ruby glass and
yellor,v fabric screens,
the Iormer or both for
use when developing
films or plates and the
latter when developing
Bromide paper.
AII being now in readi-
ness for developing and Ensign Lamp, No. 12.
the door of the dark
room closed to exclude
all white iight, break
the paper band encir-
cling the spool, unroll
and separate the sensi-
tive film from the
paper, throw away the
latter and attach an
Ensign Clip to one
end of the film. Soak
the film in the dish
of clean rvater for one
minute, then, after it
has become thoroughly
rvet all over, hold the
end of the film by the
Ensign clip and lower
the other end of the
film into the " Easy " Easy Roll-Film Developing Dish.
L2View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
dish containing the developer, allowing the film to
curl naturally at the bottom of the dish (see illustra-
tion).
Raise and lower the hand holding the clip during
development so that the developer can act evenly
over the surface of the film.
The pictures should begirr to show in about a minute
and ihould be sufficientty developed in about eight
minutes. The pictures will, of course, appear in
negative form, the sky and light parts dark and the
shadows and dark portions light.
Fixing.-After de-
veloping, transfer
the film negative at
once to the fixing
bath, care being
taken that the
negative is entirely
submerged and free
Ensign Clip. of air bells.
The Ensign Print Lifter.
To prevent contamination of the developer or
anything else, do not put the fingers in the fixing
bath. Use an Ensign Print Lifter for submerging
or moving the negatives.
I3View original page 17Page 18 · Read text
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The negatives must be left in the fixing bath for not
less than l0 minutes (a little longer will do them no
harm) until all the creamy appearance is entirely
gone. Move them about occasionally during Fixing
to ensure complete fixation of all parts.
Washinp.-After the Negatives have been fixed,
they may be safely taken into the white light, then
they must be thoroughly washed free of Hypo. This
may be accomplished by placing them in running
water for an hour, or by
using an Ensign No. 7
Washer.
" Snowheatt." a re-agent for
eliminating hypo from nega-
tives or prints, may be used
to save time.
Drying.-After washing, place to dry
by pinning films to the edge of a shelf
by one corner, taking care that nothing
comes into contact with either side
whilst drying. Mascot Push Pins are
very convenient, and having strong
glass handles are more easily handled
than ordinary pins.
Notes.-A negative that has been
given the correct exposure in the
Camera should have the sky black, PushMascotPirr.high lights very dark, deepest shadows
clear, and every detail visible. A negative that has
been under-exposed will have the sky black, other
l4View original page 18Page 19 · Read text
l
a
parts thin, and show no detail. Over-exposed nega_
tives have a thin (grey) sky, detail SverywhJre - visible,'but flat and without contrast.
The Ensign Universal Exposure meter gives you
the correct exposure for all-subjects, atso Etops ind general conditions.
If the negative is black all over it is an indication of
by light, which may be caused by white Igqqilg light in the dark room or too long exposor6 to the red lamp.
Keep dishes and measures thorougruy clean.
Set aside one dish for each special purpose, and use it for that only.
very careful with ttre Hypo and Fixing Solution, .Beit is rnost important that it ihould not co"ntaminate
tne developer or anything else.
Printing.
When the film n-egatives are quite dry on both sides
rney are reacly tor printing.
.l'h:lq are many processes of photographic printins.
Dut the one most generally in use is that lirro*n tGaslight, so called-because no dark room is needed.
The,whole pJoge,ss can be carried out in a, *"rt a.y_light or artificial light.
Gasli,ght pape1s are supplied in two grades (speeds)and three surfaces.
Speeds.-Normal (Soft or portrait) is the moresensitive of the two speeds. It is used for-stitn! -oftnegatives and give to effects.
l5View original page 19Page 20 · Read text
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Vigorous (Hard or Slow) is the grade which gives
the best results from average or thin negatives.
Surfaces.-Glossy, Matt and Semi-Matt. The
latter is also known as Art and Satin Art, and is,
perhaps, the most useful for all purposes.
Before commencing to print, the following articles
should be placed ready on a convenient table, and if
in the daytime, from the window, so as toavoid stroirg light ^*^yfalling on the printing paper :-
Gaslight Printing Paper. Acid Hypo Fixing.
No. 4 Printing Frame. Glass Measure.
3 Porcelain Dishes. Ensign Print Lifter.
Developer. Magnesium Ribbon.
Candle and Scissors.
Dlshes (see page l0).-Place 3 dishes in the follow-
ing order : a small one for developinE, on the left ;
one rvith clean water, in the centre; and the other
for fixing, on the right.
Developer (see also pages 9 and l0).-Take 2
drachms of Azol Developer and dilute with 3 ounce
of water and add 9 drops of lO% solution of
Potassium Bromide (prepared by dissolving I ounce
Potassium Bro:ride in 9 ounces of water). F
Fixing Solution.-Dissolve Acid Hypo Fixing IPowder in the proportion of 2 ounces of powder to
30 ounces of water, making up suffrcient to filI
three-quarters of the dish.
I6View original page 20Page 21 · Read text
To Pnrxr.-
PlaceaNegative
in the printing
frame. dull side
uP, and on it
place a piece of
Gaslight print-
www.butkus.us ing paper with
the sensitive
side in contact
Ensign Printing n'rame, No. 4. with the dull
side of the negative. The sensitive side of printing
pap:r cqrls slightly Put on the- hinged -inwards. back of the printing frame and fix down the spririgs.
ExposunB naturali,y varies with density of ndgative
and light employed, which may be gas, electlic or
magnesium, the latter saving much time, as will be
seen on proceeding as follows :-
Place the loaded printing frame on a level and
twelve inches from a lighted candle; now take a
Pistol Flashmeter and thread about three-eights
oJ an-inch of Nlagnesium Ribbon. Slit up theind
slightly with a pair of scissors and hold the ribbon
in the flame of the candle to make the exposure.
The Pistol Flashmeter complete
with Magnesium Ribbon
l.View original page 21Page 22 · Read text
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Take the exposed paper out of the printinq. f5ame,
place it sensiiive side-up in the developing 9]:l 1ilflow the developer evenly over it. Remove lnstantly
any air bells that may aPpear.
If correctly exposed the print should be {"lty gO fo a0 secondi. If ove-r-e-xposed, thedevetoped i"
print oiitt U" too dark ; try another with the printingirame further away from [he Hght. If under-exposed
there will be a lack of detail ; lrint another, using alittle more Magnesium Ribbon. Keeping a print
too long in the developer will cause stains'
After Development is complete, give a -quicl<- rinsein clean water and place in ttre fixing bath for at
ieast I0 to l5 minute^s, moving the prints about from
time to time so that the fixing solution is certain tooperate on every part of each print. Do not put the
nhg"tt in the Fi"ing Solutionio move about or sub-
as the prints, b-ut use an Ens-ign Print Lifter-"ig" and illustrated on page 13'desciibed
If vou like your Prints with a near white margin, use
EisrcN SeB-THhu Masks when printing, suPPlied in packets o{
three assorted
oval and rect-
angular open-
ings. To use
them, first place
the negative in
the printing
frame, dull side
up; on it place
an Ensign See-
Ensign See-Thru Mask. Thru Mask and
l8View original page 22Page 23 · Read text
on the top of that place the printing paper.
After the prints are fixed wash for one hour in run-
ning water, moving the prints about all the time, or you may use " SNowHBenr " Ilypo Eliminator.
Dry.-Prints may be dried by hanging up with T9 clips a string-by pinning up one corner to -over a shelf-or by being laid face downwards on, but not between, blotting-paper-or, better stili, by
the use of an
Ensign Flat
Print Drvins
Frame. Thi;
allor,r's the prints
to quickly Ensign Flat Print Drying n'rame. ,dry ano remaln Der-
fectly flat without curling. The prints are ta'i<en
straight from tire u'ashing water and placed face
downwards on the fabric and left in that position to
dty.
Enlarging.
,,Big prints ca_n be made from " Box-Ensign
negatives in the simplest manner imaginable bv
qsing the Aldis-Ensign High Speed Vertical Enlargei.
trnlarging with this apparatus is easier than mak-ing
contact prints in a printing frame.
You place the negative in a carrier, turn on the
light, lay. the bromide paper or postcard rvhere you
see the picture on the table befole you, and e*pose
for a few seconds. That is all.
'I'here is no bother focussing or pinning up thep_aper to an easel or making exact adjustments.
XIooBr Fl enlarges from a negative 2t;l$ inches topostcard size.
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