American Challenge Swivel Bed Camera. 1882 - 1886

New to my collection, taking over 25-years in trying to find any version. (I first became aware of this specific camera in 2000 when helping a friend acquire it.) Regardless, it is rarely seen and mostly unknown to camera collectors.

This is the first monorail camera made in America. It's the small 3.25 x 4.25 inch format model and, at this time, the only known example. The other five known cameras are the larger 4 x 5 inch format.

The camera came with documented provenance back to the time a daily newspaper in Northeastern Massachusetts bought it in the early 1880s from Jas. W. Queen & C0., Phila.