BoxCameras.com - Blair Camera Co. Hawk-Eye Detective Camera (first model, leather covered variation) 1890-1893

Blair Camera Company
Hawk-Eye Detective Camera,
(first model, leather-covered variation) 1890-1893

This is the first version of the Blair Hawk-Eye Detective camera. What makes it special, ironically, is its plain leather exterior. McKeown's camera guide makes no mention of this camera with a leather covering, so this can be considered a less common version of what is already a fairly scarce camera.

The camera is similar to other Blair Detective cameras - it takes 4 x 5 inch negatives in double plate holders. It could be used in hand or on a tripod. There is a dial at rear which focused the camera; the photographer could use an engraved distance scale on the side of the camera, or open the rear door and focus via ground glass. The plate holder would move forward or back when the focusing knob was turned as opposed to the lens or lensboard moving. There was also an internal bellows extending back from the lensboard to the plate or rollfilm holder.

Also in the Collection is the exposed wood variation of the short body Blair Detective, which is complete with ground glass, plateholders, and the original Blair Rollfilm holder. The rollfilm holder could also have been used in this model, since the only difference between the two is the exterior.

Short body Blair Detective Cameras