Jonathan Fallowfield, London
The 'Facile', circa 1890
| An attractive mahogany detective camera which held 12
glass plates, 4¼ x 3¼ inches. Used by London photographer Paul Martin to
capture candid street scenes in the 1890s. The camera was designed to be
held under the photographer's arm, and additionally wrapped in brown paper,
completing the disguise of a
typical parcel.
The brass Rapid Rectilinear lens had four wheel-set apertures, all hidden behind the sliding wooden front panel. The leather carry strap and hardware are likely a period addition to bolster the comfort of lugging the Facile around; the camera weighed a hefty six pounds when fully loaded with glass plates. The Facile was offered in several different combinations of exterior (polished wood, leather, paint) and lenses from 1890 through about 1897, but remains a hard to find model in collecting circles today. In the collection of Rob Niederman is an impressive example that has a brass carrying handle and leather straps further adding to the disguise of this important camera. |
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