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Photographers & Their Cameras - 1870s CDV with 4-lens American wetplate

In Photographs > Cartes-De-Visite > Show & Tell and Cameras > Wood Cameras > Show & Tell.
Wood Cameras152 of 283Royal Mail Stamp Camera, 1907-15Blair Special Folding Hawk-eye, c.1896
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    Posted 11 years ago

    rniederman
    (343 items)

    As a collector of really early photographic apparatus, I search intently for pictures of photographers and their cameras, but more pointedly, images with cameras in my collection are desired. Early pictures of photographers and their cameras are hard to find, and I owe Scott (scottvez) many thanks for pointing out this albumen CDV on eBay. Okay ... it was one of those tough decisions ... retail price vs. something rare that hits the core of my collecting. (Collecting won out.)

    The camera appearing in this CDV was made by the American Optical Company or Scovill Manufacturing; yet it’s interesting to note that in the 1870s American Optical was a division of Scovill Mfg. So the maker isn’t all that mysterious. The CDV itself was found with other images in an 1877 dated album.

    From a camera collecting point of view, the 4-tube camera shown in this CDV is highly coveted and appears to be the 5 x 5 inch version of my 5 x7 inch model. So it’s great to now have a matching image.

    One other interesting item of note about the cloth held by the photographer; it probably served two purposes. First, it was a 'dark cloth' to view faint images on the ground glass. Its second purpose was likely to serve as a shutter. After composing the image and loading a wet plate, the cloth would be draped over the lenses, removed briefly, and replaced to make an exposure.

    logo
    Cartes-De-Visite
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    100 CDV Carte De Visite Photo SLEEVES Pack/Lot ARCHIVAL SAFE Quality 1.5mil Poly
    100 CDV Carte De Visite Photo SLEEV...
    $8
    100 CDV+100 CABINET CARD Photo SLEEVE Pack/Lot ARCHIVAL SAFE Quality 1.5mil Poly
    100 CDV+100 CABINET CARD Photo SLEE...
    $22
    Antique 1800's Tintype CDV Framed Photos Lot of Men Women & Children Portraits
    Antique 1800's Tintype CDV Framed P...
    $5
    MANFRED VON RICHTHOFEN The Red Baron German WWI FLYING ACE 1917 Aviation CDV RP
    MANFRED VON RICHTHOFEN The Red Baro...
    $8
    logo
    100 CDV Carte De Visite Photo SLEEVES Pack/Lot ARCHIVAL SAFE Quality 1.5mil Poly
    100 CDV Carte De Visite Photo SLEEV...
    $8
    See all

    Comments

    1. scottvez scottvez, 11 years ago
      I love photographers with their camera!

      Now it is your turn to return the favor and find me some trench art!

      scott
    2. ericevans2 ericevans2, 11 years ago
      The price is only money, Rob. The image is for life!
    3. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks blunderbuss2 and mustangtony!
    4. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, Scott! ... I'll look for trench art yet, although I've been reading your posts, there is so much to learn.
    5. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks Eric and valentino97!
    6. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, vetraio50!
    7. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, walksoftly!
    8. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      To accompany the CDV, I added a picture of my larger model of the same 1870s 4-tube wet plate camera. Now to find the matching wooden stand!
    9. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, AmberRose!
    10. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks Manikin and nldionne!
    11. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, officialfuel!
    12. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks Sean and f64imager!
    13. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, mtg75!
    14. gluepot gluepot, 11 years ago
      A wonderful example linking photographer with camera - a very lucky find, and your suggestion that the price reached required some tough decision-making doesn't surprise me. Can I assume that this particular camera would have been used to produce 4 CDV-sized images on a suitable glass plate?
    15. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks for the note, gluepot! And yes, this camera could produce four (4) CDV sized images with the correct mask in the back.
    16. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, MichiganMillsJr!
    17. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, Brett!
    18. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, Sean!
    19. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, gargoylecollector!
    20. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, Moonstonelover21!
    21. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, Phil!
    22. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, vanskyock24!
    23. rniederman rniederman, 8 years ago
      Thanks!
      Windwalker
      BCHMuseum
    24. rniederman rniederman, 8 years ago
      Thanks!
      Thomas
      Celiene
    25. HalloweenGreene HalloweenGreene, 8 years ago
      I did not know there was such a camera with 4 tube camera. Learned something new and interesting. Thanks my man!

      Oh and have you ever exposed a plate with it?
    26. rniederman rniederman, 8 years ago

      Hi HalloweenGreene ... thanks for the 'love' and comment. Interestingly, I tried acquiring a 36-tube Roberts wet plate view camera a long time ago. That's the most lenses I am aware of on a factory camera.

      Here's a CW post of mine of cameras with up to 15 lenses. http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/91814-early-multiple-lens-wood-and-brass-field-c

      I have shot pictures with some of these older cameras but not with any of the multi-lens cameras. Someday when I have time I'll try it out. It's more difficult than you think because all the lenses have to be aligned to focus at the same point.

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