Similar to Collins Patent Field Camera Mahogany & exposed plate holders C 1885

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Similar to Collins Patent Field Camera Mahogany & exposed plate holders C 1885:
$202.50

Up for sale is everything seen in the pictures. The camera, exposed plate holders, and glass plates and wood levels. We have a great example of a English field camera circa 1885. There is nothing written on the camera to distinguish whom manufactured it. From looking up pictures, my best guess is that the camera has a lot of the same properties of the Collins Patent Field Camera. At least it used its patents!

The early wooden cameras were originally used with glass plates and eventually, cut sheet film held in “dark slides”. These were light-proof film holders that had to be loaded up in the darkroom. Once inserted into the camera, a light-proof sheath was withdrawn allowing the light to reach the film once the shutter was fired.

Construction: Mahogany, dovetail joints. Square cornered, leather bellows.Format: 6 ½\" x 4 ¾\" plates held in double dark-slides.Focusing: Bellows. Double extension
Attributes: Removable lens panel. Turntable in base (McKellen\'s patent).Movements:Rising front, tilting front, swing front, tilting back.1 double dark-slide. Case.For you knowledge, a T. J. Collins\'s patent covers a method of attaching the front standard to the baseboard. The standard is loosely attached by pins to two saddles which slide along tracks on the focusing frame. The saddles have a slot cut in them, a cam can be moved which closes the slot and so tightens the saddle to the track. A certain amount of swinging front movement is provided by the pins. The saddle arrangement does not work particularly well. The camera carries a lot of brass work.There was a time, before titanium, aluminum, steel and plastic, when cameras were made out of wood.