Ensign Rollfilm/Plate camera

Folding camera for 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 inches. Fitted with Ross combinable lens F: 5 1/4 inches f/5.9-32, No. 102860. Front component F: 9 1/2 inches, f/11, rear 8 inches f/11. Compur shutter 1/2/5/10/25/50/100/200/B/T. Rack and pinion focusing, double extension. Lever rising, sliding cross front. Brilliant relfecting rotating finder with level. Back with removable panel to permit use of focusing screen and single metal plateholders. With focusing screen. Houghtons Limited.

Ensign Rollfilm/Plate camera, made by Houghton-Butcher Manufacturing Company in London, c. 1920.

Fitted with Ross combinable lens F: 5 1/4 inches f/5.9-32, No. 102860. Front component F: 9 1/2 inches, f/11, rear 8 inches f/11. Compur shutter 1/2/5/10/25/50/100/200/B/T. Rack and pinion focusing, double extension. Lever rising, sliding cross front. Brilliant relfecting rotating finder with level. Back with removable panel to permit use of focusing screen and single metal plateholders. With focusing screen.

This is a folding camera primarily for use with rollfilm, however a removable panel in the back meant plates could also be used. Folding cameras were popular in the early twentieth century, they could be folded up to a compact size, the bellows kept the light out. Folding cameras became less popular with the development of 35mm film in the 1930s.