History
Reading Josepho’s photobooth patent
What US 1,631,593 tells us about seating, mirrors and lighting.
A patent drawing can feel like a secret map of the booth. Here it also reminds us that controlling a portrait means controlling where the person sits and how light reaches their face.
Two dates to keep apart
US 1,631,593 lists filing on 27 March 1925 and publication on 7 June 1927. Josepho is the named inventor. The document cannot be described as first filed in 1927 simply because that year appears in its publication record.
Evidence: Primary patent
More than a camera box
The specification discusses positioning and illumination, including directing and diffusing light with mirrors to reduce shadows. It describes one apparatus design, not every later machine’s chemistry or flash arrangement. Lighting is treated as engineering rather than something the sitter must improvise.
Evidence: Primary patent
How to use the document
Start with the drawings, then examine the numbered claims and metadata. Optical character recognition can garble old words, so consult the scanned original when a detail matters. A patent alone does not establish a ticket price, studio opening date, or customer count; those require separate evidence. Distinguishing these sources makes the invention more interesting, rather than less.
Sources & further reading
Sources for the specific facts and product descriptions above. Our worked examples, interpretations and practical suggestions are original editorial guidance.
- Anatol M. Josepho — US patent 1,631,593Primary patent