![Bellows Plate Camera](https://coimages.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/314/915/large_y2012_0016_0001__0004_.jpg)
Bellows plate camera with bag and equipment
- Made:
- 1890-1895 in Manchester
![Double Dark Slides](https://coimages.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/479/48/small_thumbnail_smg00248814.jpg)
![Bellows plate camera made by James Furnivel of Ardwick Green](https://coimages.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/245/294/small_thumbnail_cd0120_014_050708_y2012_16_1_ja_furnival_camera.jpg)
Bellows plate camera made by James Furnivel of Ardwick Green, Manchester, in around 1890, with canvas bag, a box with four photographic lenses, four waterhouse stops in a small leather booklet, six wooden double darkslide plates and a red cardboard box containing papers with measurements.
Furnivel was in business as a maker of clock cases from 1855. In around 1857 he got into camera making while making camera cabinet work for J B Dancer, an early Manchester photographer. In 1842 the earliest known surviving photographic image of Manchester was taken by John Benjamin Dancer (1812 – 1887) from the roof of the Royal Exchange.
Mr J A Furnivel was a clock case maker by trade working in Ardwick just a mile southeast of Manchester city centre. During the mid 1800s, Manchester saw an explosion of pioneering scientific instruments and precision toolmakers. Furnivel’s skills as a clock case maker integrating precision mechanical pieces with intricate woodwork transferred well to creating cameras and camera equipment.
Furnivel gained a good reputation within the Manchester Photographic Society (founded in 1855), with one member stating, “Mr J A Furnivel’s deservedly well-known camera can only be obtained direct from the maker. We may add that the Manchester-made camera is a thoroughly sound affair, and we can recommend it, having used one for years past.” The Photographic Record. The organ of the Manchester Photographic Society. Vol 1 (1890).
Furnival was working during an exciting time in Manchester’s photographic technology development, being contemporary with James Mudd, photographer (1821-1906), J T Chapman, camera maker (1843-1907) and Thornton-Pickard, camera maker (founded 1888) and John Benjamin Dancer renowned scientific instrument maker and inventor of microphotography (1812 – 1887).
Details
- Category:
- Photographic Technology
- Object Number:
- Y2012.16
- Materials:
- wood (unidentified), glass, metal (unknown), canvas (textile) and paper (fibre product)
- type:
- bellows camera
- credit:
- Gift of Manchester Microscopical and Natural History Society
Parts
![Bellows Plate Camera](https://coimages.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/314/915/large_y2012_0016_0001__0004_.jpg)
![Canvas Bag](https://coimages.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/479/48/large_smg00248814.jpg)
Canvas Bag
- Materials:
- wood (unidentified) , brass (copper, zinc alloy) , cotton (textile) , leather , metal (unknown) , cardboard and paper (fibre product)
- Object Number:
- Y2012.16.2
- type:
- photographic equipment
![Photographic Lenses](https://coimages.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/479/451/large_smg00249438.jpg)
Photographic Lenses
- Materials:
- leather , velvet , satin , glass , metal (unknown) , brass (copper, zinc alloy) , wood (unidentified) and cardboard
- Object Number:
- Y2012.16.3
- type:
- lenses
![Waterhouse Stops](https://coimages.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/480/46/large_smg00250496.jpg)
Waterhouse Stops
- Materials:
- leather , metal (unknown) and paper (fibre product)
- Object Number:
- Y2012.16.4
- type:
- photographic equipment