Wood Cameras

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About Antique Wood Cameras

Even before the first 19th century cameras were produced, wood was used for their predecessor, the camera obscura, to keep the inside completely dark. Early antique wood cameras (also incorporating brass and leather parts) are mostly box models, but also include view cameras and American red bellows folding (self-casing) cameras. Collectible manufacturer names include Kodak, American Optical, Blair, and Scovill, among others. Wood gave way to handheld cameras in the 1920s.

Collectors seek out not only the cameras but their accessories and actual plates and images taken with them. Some antique wood cameras can be historically significant, as there were a lot of innovative prototype cameras being developed during this period. Also, many wood cameras are delicate or fragile and must be displayed carefully and kept out of direct sunlight. Finally, don't polish the brass - collectors like the tarnish!


Interviews & Articles

An Interview With Antique Wood Camera Collector Rob Niederman

How did I start collecting cameras? Actually, I had an interest in photography as a kid and owned a darkroom …  [more]

An Interview With Vintage Bolex Movie Camera Collector Michael Tisdale

Collecting Paillard-Bolex cameras was something I started doing by accident. It was a combination of several …  [more]

An Interview With Antique Photograph and Camera Collectors Jack and Beverly Wilgus

We both come from families that had collections and we both had collections as children. Jack lost his when h…  [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Antique and 19th Century Cameras

Antique and 19th Century Cameras

Rob Niederman’s homage to (and collection of) late 19th century wood cameras. This site contains extensive galler… [read review or visit site]

Boxcameras.com

Boxcameras.com

If you're into box cameras, this site offers incredible detail on dozens of early models from 1880 to the 1920s. Al… [read review or visit site]

George Eastman House

George Eastman House

This showcase of vintage cameras and photography is plainly designed, but the camera collection and related referen… [read review or visit site]

Collection D'Appareils Photo

Collection D'Appareils Photo

While we couldn't read everthing - it's mostly in French - the images on this site speak for themselves. Its an ext… [read review or visit site]

Magic Mirror of Life

Magic Mirror of Life

Jack and Beverly Wilgus have put together a great trove of information and images of camera obscura-related photos … [read review or visit site]

Bolex Collector

Bolex Collector

Michael Tisdale's great reference site on Paillard Bolex, a Swiss maker of home movie equipment from the 1930s to 1… [read review or visit site]

Photography in Malaysia

Photography in Malaysia

With in-depth information on a variety of cameras and lenses from manufacturers like Canon, Nikon, Olympus, and Lei… [read review or visit site]


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Top eBay Auctions    (get weekly Wood Cameras email)

Status       Display       How this works
Daguerrian Wood Box For Half Plate Daguerreotypes$520.00 Ends Monday 12 bids 26 watchers
Perken, Son & Rayment Half-plate Mahogany Field Camera$201.33 Ends Wednesday 5 bids 55 watchers
French Antique Wood Folding Camera + Bowden Release $129.99 Ends Thursday 1 bid 55 watchers
Clean Japanese Wood Folding Half Plate Camera $102.51 Ends in 19 hours 7 bids 39 watchers
Half Plate Wood Folding Camera W/ Leather Case $102.51 Ends in 19 hours 5 bids 35 watchers
Folmer Graflex Crown Wood/wooden Tripod No. 1 $100.00 Ends Monday 7 bids 13 watchers
Wood, Brass And Leather Tailboard Camera$98.19 Ends Friday 3 bids 13 watchers
Blair Camera Co., Boston, Wooden View Camera- Nice$44.00 Ends Sunday 6 bids 21 watchers
Century Wood Folding Camera With Holders 5x7 Cool....$34.00 Ends Friday 6 bids 25 watchers
Vintage Wooden Camera Extension Bellows Rail 8x10$27.36 Ends Monday 5 bids 39 watchers
Wood Graflex Crown Tripod #4 Top Piece Tilts & Turns Nr$26.00 Ends Monday 2 bids 18 watchers
Antique Benson Victor Wood Tintype Plate Camera Rare $25.27 Ends Monday 2 bids 18 watchers
Mahogany Plate Holders Circa 1900, Thornton Pickard$17.27 Ends in 16 hours 2 bids 22 watchers
Stereo Slide Bar For Brass & Wood Camera More 3d Listed$16.35 Ends in 17 hours 1 bid 9 watchers
2 Old Type Camera Wooden Contact Printing Frames $9.99 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 7 watchers
Film Holder Wood Field Camera Large Format 5x7 8x10 $3.25 Ends Saturday 2 bids 33 watchers

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