EMIL KRONKE PATENTED HIS CANE-HANDLE CAMERA IN BRITAIN, GERMANY AND IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1902, 1903 AND 1904 RESPECTIVELY. THE CAMERA WAS MANUFACTURED BY A. LEHMANN OF BERLIN AS THE BEN AKIBA WALKIGN STICK CAMERA. THE ONLY REPORT OF ANY SUBSTANCE APPEARED IN THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN WHICH STATED:
'CANE-HANDLE CAMERA - A GERMAN INVENTOR HAS RECENTLY PRODUCED A MAGAZINE CAMERA, WHICH IS CONTAINED WITHIN THE HANDLE OF A CANE. CANE-HANDLE CAMERAS WERE INVENTED A DOZEN OR MORE YEARS AGO AND WERE DESIGNED ESPECIALLY FOR TRAVELLERS.
HOWEVER THEY PROVED IMPRACTICAL OWING TO THE FACT THAT BUT A SMALL SUPPLY OF PLATES OR FILMS COULD BE CARRIED AT A TIME IN THE CANE. THE CAMERA ILLUSTRATED USES ROLLS OF FILM, A NUMBER OF WHICH MAY BE STORED IN THE HOLLOW CROOK OF THE HANDLE.
THE FILM PASSES FROM ITS ROLLER IN THE MAGAZINE OVER A PLATE, WHICH GUIDES IT IN THE FOCAL PLANE FOR EXPOSURE, THENCE IT IS TAKEN UP UPON THE RECEIVING SPOOL IN A CHAMBER BELOW. WHEN THE ENTIRE FILM HAS BEEN EXPOSED UPON THE RECEIVING SPOOL, THE SIDE FACE OF THE CANE HANDLE IS REMOVED. THE EXPOSED FILM ROLL IS THEN TAKEN OUT, AND A NEW ONE MOVED TO POSITION FOR USE IMMEDIATELY BACK OF THE GUIDE PLATE'.