John Robert Johnson
was a Gentleman well known in connection with chemistry and photography. John was born on 15th February 1816 in West Witton, Yorkshire. I n his early life he became a chemist and studied for some years in France. While he was there he found time to study other sciences. [caption id="attachment_32045" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Pantascopic camera Pantascopic camera[/caption] He invented the Pantascopic camera with John A Harrison(one of the first camera to be able to take panoramic photos on glass plates) and had a business at 3 Red Lion Square London. He also patented a way to purify gas in 1845. In 1850 he came up with a way to fix colours in fabric made of cotton and other fibres. In 1852 he invented a way to fix colour in printing and dyeing. In 1866 he secured a patent for waterproofing leather, canvas and other fabrics. He carried on inventing and securing patents until 1875.
Leamington Spa Courier 19th Feb 1881
The late Mr J.R. Johnson – In a recent issue of the Courier we announced the decease of Mr J.H. Johnson, of Myton View, a gentleman well known for many years in connection with photography, as well as in many other branches of industry. The following further particulars, which we extract from the British Journal of Photography of Saturday last, will be read with interest:- Mr John Robert Johnson was born on the 15th February 1816, at West Witton, Yorkshire and died at his residence at Coten End, Warwick, on the 30thult. Of angina pectoris. In early life Mr Johnson’s bent led him in the direction of chemistry, though he by no means confined his attention to that branch of science. He studied some years in France, having been for some time a pupil of the celebrated Chevreut, with a view of qualifying himself for the profession of chemist; but that he found time and opportunity for the study of other sciences the records of the Patent Office sufficiently testify. In photography he will be best remembered as one of the inventors of the pantascopic camera, and subsequently as one of the founders of the Autotype Company, and for some years its managing director. So far back as 1845 we first find Mr Johnson’s name as patentee of improvements in "materials employed in constructing and working atmospheric railways". In the same year he patented a method of "purifying gas, and treatment of products of gas works". In 1850, "a method of fixing colours in fabrics made of cotton and other fibre". In 1852 "fixing the colouring matter of madder in printing and dyeing," and the "manufacture of type and raised surfaces for printing". In 1853 we find "type and articles used in letter-press printing." In 1854, "manufacture of type and other raised surfaces for printing." In 1859, "machinery, for manufacturing printing types." And in 1862, a second patent for the same. In this same year we have his first photographic patent, viz, for the phantascopic camera. In the next year a patent was secured for the manufacture of lubricating compounds. In 1866 for "Waterproofing leather, canvas, and other fabrics; and in 1868 for "Repeating firearms." In 1869 the "Double transfer" carbon patent was taken out, and in the following year a second one for "Improvements in the manufacture of tissue." In 1871 he took out another patent in connection with lubricating compounds, followed, in 1872 and 1874, by two more improvements in printing machinery. In 1875 three patents are recorded, dealing respectively with the "Treatment of Sewage", "Type Writing Machine" and "Tramway Rolling Stock".