The subject of the patent is the rising front arrangement which is by rack and pinion. The front standard is held steady by two side struts, on one side of the front standard there is a locking nut to clamp it to the strut, on the other side there is a pinion wheel that operates in a rack situated behind the front standard and moves the lens board, there is also a locking ring. On this example the front standard attaches to the baseboard by two spring clips but other cameras incorporating the patent use other methods.

The patent was taken out in the name of Charles Howell at the time he was associated with the Midland Camera Co. Some 'Royal Letters Patent' cameras are plainly finished, as is this one, others are of superior wood with ebony binding, other features also differ. A camera from Marlow Brothers that incorporates this patent also exists, possibly Marlow re-badged some M.C.C. cameras (Marlow was taken over by the distributors Hurman Ltd. around this time) or obtained a licence for the patent.