1880s Wooden Detective Camera, Italian
or French
Manufacturer Unknown
| This attractive, polished-wood detective camera was probably made in
Italy or France during the mid- to late-1880s. It features a
variable speed sector shutter (not self-capping) and a simple lens. In the
picture above, the round focusing knob is seen at the right front of the
camera, while the shutter control is the small dial at top left. The camera takes quarter-plate (3¼ x 4¼ inch) negatives.
Although it may have been supplied originally with a ground glass, none is present. However, in keeping with the detective camera concept, the focusing knob has engraved marks for 5, 10, 50, and 100 (I assume meters, but could be feet), so that it could be scale focused on a subject without attracting undue attention. The shutter release is on the bottom of the camera and not visible in the picture above. It could easily be triggered while holding the camera under one's arm. The camera also has a single horizontal tripod mount for longer or prepared exposures. |
Surprise! I found these beautiful red bellows
inside when I removed three suspicious screws on the camera's bottom
This leads me to believe that this camera had a previous life, with these
bellows as the proof. Any thoughts?
The oddly placed screws from the camera's base
which yielded the hidden red bellows.
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