Share your favorites on Show & Tell

Correcting Prism for Daguerreotype Cameras. c.1840s - early 1850s

In Cameras > Camera Accessories > Show & Tell and Cameras > Wood Cameras > Show & Tell.
sanhardin's loves244 of 3191 Happy Easter 1929 Crystal Gasoline Porcelain signHandel Teroca - Slag glass lamp
38
Love it
0
Like it

SEAN68SEAN68 loves this.
Daddy_NobucksDaddy_Nobucks loves this.
vintagelampvintagelamp loves this.
hotairfanhotairfan loves this.
rustyboltzrustyboltz loves this.
snowman3snowman3 loves this.
usedcarladyusedcarlady loves this.
Beachbum58Beachbum58 loves this.
MooreAntiqueMooreAntique loves this.
sugargirlsugargirl loves this.
ehuntehunt loves this.
JohnKratzJohnKratz loves this.
jscott0363jscott0363 loves this.
f64imagerf64imager loves this.
Chevelleman69Chevelleman69 loves this.
WhenIsraelbelievesWhenIsraelbelieves loves this.
farmladyfarmlady loves this.
ttomtuckerttomtucker loves this.
trukn20trukn20 loves this.
Lady_PickerLady_Picker loves this.
mtg75mtg75 loves this.
AntigueToysAntigueToys loves this.
WalkingthefloorWalkingthefloor loves this.
BenBen loves this.
sanhardinsanhardin loves this.
LongingsLongings loves this.
shughsshughs loves this.
CisumCisum loves this.
TreyTrey loves this.
vcalvcal loves this.
fortapachefortapache loves this.
WatchsearcherWatchsearcher loves this.
BHIFOSBHIFOS loves this.
AnythingObscureAnythingObscure loves this.
vetraio50vetraio50 loves this.
officialfuelofficialfuel loves this.
dav2no1dav2no1 loves this.
blunderbuss2blunderbuss2 loves this.
See 36 more
Add to collection

    Please create an account, or Log in here

    If you don't have an account, create one here.


    Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate


    Posted 2 years ago

    rniederman
    (343 items)

    The daguerreotype image correcting prism shown in this post is an accessory I’ve been trying to find and acquire for decades. It’s rare. Nearly all collecting colleagues have never seen an example. In fact, it’s so obscure that a Google search only produces comments about these accessories. Nearly all remarks, however, are copied from other posts. No pictures or detailed descriptions and information. Even though the reversed image problem was widely documented since the 1839 invention of photography, for some reason these accessories are described conceptually. Maybe this is due to their limited practical use and advertising.

    A few of my early photography ephemera mention prisms and mirrors but rarely have illustrations or product details. A well-known collector once told me: “The thing is so rare that even its shadow is collectable.” Actually, he was referring to my Argus 12-Shot Repeating Camera (posted here on Show & Tell), but in my opinion his comment also applies here.

    As a note, prisms were available for later process and copy cameras, but this post is about true Daguerreian era accessories made from 1839 to the early 1850s. I also contacted the George Eastman Museum (GEM) Technology Curator. The GEM collection has a couple mirrors and Todd (the Curator) kindly shared pictures. To fix this historical oversight, I am researching these curious accessories and the variety of ingenious methods invented to laterally correct images in camera or afterward. My intent is to write a paper.

    So, here is a sneak peek of a dag era correcting prism mounted on a historically correct camera.

    As background, several years ago I posted a small, cased daguerreotype image which started an informative Show & Tell conversation about why dags and tintypes are laterally reversed left-to-right (flopped). For example, signs on buildings are backwards. I made a second post that includes a picture (from a white-paper) of an 1842 French daguerreotype camera with correcting mirror and summarized the concept. I also mentioned knowing of only two sold over a period of decades and a desire to acquire one for my collection.

    Recently, a collector and good friend mentioned having a Daguerreian prism and wondered if I was interested. He knew I was attracted to his other daguerreotype accessories. I saw a couple cell phone pics, paid his asking price and now have it in my collection.

    The correcting prism is well made, heavy and deeply patinaed. The silvered portion of the prism is nearly perfect because it is protected by the brass enclosure. In contrast, correcting mirrors have front silvered surfaces. Unfortunately, front silvered mirrors are exposed to the environment and easily tarnish. Cleaning is a delicate process.

    I was able to make a crude adapting ring for the prism assembly and fit onto the lens hood of my c.1850 American Chamfered daguerreotype camera. Once mounted, I learned why these are practically non-existent. I discovered new challenges of aligning and composing. It is counterintuitive to years of normal camera operation. The image also darkens slightly which means exposures need to be a little longer.

    In a nutshell, correcting prisms and mirrors are a challenge and my belief is very few photographers tolerated the complications. The public eventually accepted flopped dag and tintype portraits because it was the same as looking in a mirror. Daguerre, inventor of the daguerreotype, also admitted to not using correcting accessories. Regardless, a few intrepid daguerreotypists used prisms and mirrors. Otherwise, these represent an interesting footnote in the evolution of photography.

    logo
    Camera Accessories
    See all
    Vintage Graflex Flash Lot Parts And Flash Gun
    Vintage Graflex Flash Lot Parts And...
    $102
    Kodak retina Rangefinder camera Lot, IIIC, II, Ia, IIa, Ib, Etc
    Kodak retina Rangefinder camera Lot...
    $103
    Kodak retina Rangefinder camera Lot, IIIC, II, Ia, IIa, Ib, Etc
    Kodak retina Rangefinder camera Lot...
    $21
    Vintage wooden Tripod made in USSR Soviet for Theodolite Nivelir Camera
    Vintage wooden Tripod made in USSR ...
    $148
    logo
    Vintage Graflex Flash Lot Parts And Flash Gun
    Vintage Graflex Flash Lot Parts And...
    $102
    See all

    Comments

    1. Trey Trey, 2 years ago
      WOW !!! Great Find :)
    2. rniederman rniederman, 2 years ago
      Thanks!
      Michael
      dav2no1
      BB2
    3. rniederman rniederman, 2 years ago
      Thanks!
      fortapache
      Watchsearcher
      BHIFOS
      AnythingObscure
      vetraio50
    4. rniederman rniederman, 2 years ago
      Thanks!
      Longings
      shughs
      Cisum
      Trey
      vcal
    5. rniederman rniederman, 2 years ago
      Thanks!
      AntigueToys
      Walkingthefloor
      Ben
      sanhardin
    6. rniederman rniederman, 2 years ago
      Thanks!
      ttomtucker
      trukn20
      Lady_Picker
      mtg75
    7. rniederman rniederman, 2 years ago
      Thanks!
      JohnK
      jscott0363
      f64imager
      Chevelleman69
      WhenIsraelbelieves
      farmlady
    8. SEAN68 SEAN68, 2 years ago
      beautiful camera!!!
    9. rniederman rniederman, 2 years ago
      Thanks!
      Sean
      usedcarlady
      MooreAntique
      sugargirl
      ehunt
    10. rniederman rniederman, 2 years ago
      Thanks, Beachbum58!
    11. rniederman rniederman, 2 years ago
      Thanks!
      hotairfan
      rustyboltz
      snowman3
      usedcarlady
    12. rniederman rniederman, 2 years ago
      Thanks!
      Daddy_Nobucks
      vintagelamp
    13. rniederman rniederman, 1 year ago
      Thanks, Sean!

    Want to post a comment?

    Create an account or login in order to post a comment.