EARLY FOLDING GLASS HALF PLATE CAMERA, circa 1930

Folding Box Camera from around Victorian times, modified in the 1930's, as with most of these cameras the original lens has been removed, this one with an Iris assembly so that the lens can be interchanged with that of another. The original lens would have been very basic, focusing would have been possible by extending the bellows or retracting it, the lens would have had a removable cover instead of a shutter for exposure times from seconds to minutes, as the emulsion on the glass plate was much slower than later roll films. When fast emulsions became available lenses with internal irises, for depth of field, as well as fine focusing arrived so the old lens became obsolete. There is no evidence of a plate holder as this would have come with the glass plate, as an assembly. Age given is probably when the iris assembly was added; the camera body could be Victorian. Also the lens has a broad arrow indication Government Issue, but has no connection with the camera body.

Bruce Hammond Collection

Your comments:

• I think this is an artist's aid. It would produce an inverted image of a brightly lit scene which could be used to help an artist with the perspective.
  
  
  .......... Richard, Datchet, 23rd of March 2010
  
  
• This "large iris" was a normal way to permit easy and quick lens changing. It has the great advantage that it can hold lenses of any diameter and does not rely on matched threads! I have used a couple of cameras with this type of mount and it is surprisingly rigid and light tight.
  .......... Roy, New Forest UK, 4th of April 2009
  
  

A1618