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Early Multiple Lens Wood & Brass Field Cameras

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Wood Cameras146 of 283Anthony Champion Stereo (c.1888) with historically important 1872 lensesCentury Camera
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    Posted 11 years ago

    rniederman
    (343 items)

    This is a sampling of early multi-lens field cameras in my collection. They range in dates from the mid-1860s (the 9-lens collodion camera) to after 1900 (the Royal Mail 15-lens postage Stamp Camera). Years ago, I saw a stunning camera with 36-lenses but was unable to acquire it.

    Multiplying cameras were invented in the mid-1800s as an inexpensive way to create multiple pictures on a single plate. What’s interesting is that the camera with the most lenses isn’t necessarily the biggest. The two lens camera (front row) by Anthony is a classic 5 x 8 inch format field style that makes stereoviews.

    The larger 9-lens and 4-lens cameras (rear row center & right) have wide backs that allow the plate holder to shift horizontally and vertically to cover a single 5 x 7 inch tintype plate with lots of small ‘gem’ images. I have a couple uncut tintypes posted here on CW. The 15-lens Royal Mail Stamp Camera (smallest of the group) makes postage stamp size images on small 3¼ x 4¼ inch plates.

    Wood construction is primarily polished (lacquered) mahogany bodies mounted on cherry bases; and they display nicely with accessories such as uncut tintypes, magnifiers and such.

    logo
    Wood Cameras
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    Polaroid SX-70 Model 2 - Walnut Wood Replacement Cover
    Polaroid SX-70 Model 2 - Walnut Woo...
    $32
    Rare 5x7 Rochester Optical New Model Improved Camera Dry Plate No 2 Lens Nickle
    Rare 5x7 Rochester Optical New Mode...
    $375
    J. Lancaster Le Meritoire Antique Mahogany & Brass Camera, 1889
    J. Lancaster Le Meritoire Antique M...
    $325
    FOLDING CAMERA KODAK # 2 FOLDING POCKET A ANTIQUE CUSTOM CAMPHOR WOOD
    FOLDING CAMERA KODAK # 2 FOLDING PO...
    $170
    logo
    Polaroid SX-70 Model 2 - Walnut Wood Replacement Cover
    Polaroid SX-70 Model 2 - Walnut Woo...
    $32
    See all

    Comments

    1. scottvez scottvez, 11 years ago
      Great collection rob-- thanks for sharing!

      scott
    2. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, Phil!
    3. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, blunderbuss2!
    4. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, Designer!
    5. Hardbrake Hardbrake, 11 years ago
      Very very nice collection, have you ever taken a picture with any of them? The loading of of glossy enlarging paper in place of a plate would be interesting to see what results you receive. Either way, very nice cameras Hardbrake
    6. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, mustangtony!
    7. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks Hardbrake! About your question ... I have not taken pictures with these specific cameras, but used to do it years ago with others. The challenge with glossy paper (or modern negative material) is to put it into a sheath to ensure the paper or neg lies flat. Holders for these cameras are designed for thicker rigid materials (i.e. glass or tintype plates). Shooting on paper would create a negative. If shooting paper, the coolest thing to try is creating a real paper negative as was done with the calotype process.
    8. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, Longings!
    9. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, AntigueToys!
    10. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, Sean!
    11. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, vetraio50!
    12. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, officialfuel!
    13. officialfuel officialfuel, 11 years ago
      My pleasure Rob! You have an outstanding collection!

      Michael
    14. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, Michael ... appreciate the comment.
    15. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, egreeley1976!
    16. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, leighannrn!
    17. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, walksoftly!
    18. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, Bootson!
    19. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, chrissylovescats!
    20. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, shughs!
    21. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, toolate2!
    22. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, sanhardin!
    23. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, trukn20!
    24. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, crswerner!
    25. gluepot gluepot, 11 years ago
      Great collection of cameras, and nice of you to share these very well taken photographs. I wonder if you have a photo of the the 9-lens collodion camera by itself, and whether you would mind if I use it to illustrate - with full credit, of course - an article that I'm writing about gem tintypes and Wing's Multiplying cameras for my blog Photo-Sleuth, please?
      http://photo-sleuth.blogspot.co.nz/
      You're welcome to contact me directly on gluepot@gmail.com
      Regards, Brett
    26. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, mtg75!
    27. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Hi gluepot ... thanks for the note. I will contact you via e-mail and send some images. In regards to Wing cameras, I own two. Are you also aware of Mike Kessler's definitive article on Simon Wing and his cameras?
    28. gluepot gluepot, 11 years ago
      Thanks Rob, for your kind reply.
    29. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Glad to help, gluepot.
    30. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, Chevelleman69!
    31. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, John!
    32. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, epson233!
    33. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, gargoylecollector!
    34. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, pw-collector!
    35. musikchoo musikchoo, 11 years ago
      Great Collection !! The one in the Front on the right reminds me of extreme BUG EYES !! (:-D) (:-D) (Sorry, It just jumped out at me !!)
    36. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, musikchoo! You're right ... the camera has a bug-eyed look - probably because the barrels are highly polished nickel plated brass which makes them jump out. Compare that with my recent post of a similar (same model) with a brass lens pair.
    37. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, Sean!
    38. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, epicurean!
    39. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, Don!
    40. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, petey!
    41. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, DrFluffy!
    42. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, MattyG!
    43. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, f64imager!
    44. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, tom61375!
    45. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, Manikin!
    46. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, windwalker!
    47. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Long forgotten thanks to Scott!
    48. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks!
      aghcollect
    49. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks!
      junkcollector
      michaeln544
    50. scottvez scottvez, 8 years ago
      I added images of the multi lens camera-- please take a look when you have the time:

      http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/170908-6-lens-multiplying-camera?in=activity

      Thanks.

      scott
    51. rniederman rniederman, 8 years ago
      Thanks, Camera_turk!
    52. rniederman rniederman, 6 years ago
      Thanks!
      Vynil33rpm
      Johnsmith
    53. rniederman rniederman, 4 years ago
      Thanks, rickzog4!

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