The objects on display in the Kodak Gallery explore the history of photography, from the invention of photography to the digital revolution.
Photographic Technology
1948-1953
Polaroid Land Model 95 made by Polaroid in the United States, 1948-1953. Folding camera for self processing film packs 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 inches. Lens with rotating plate with apertures marked 1-8. T/I shutter. Lever focusing. Folding optical frame finder with front ball sight on spring stalk. Accessory show. Flash synchronized, bayonet fitting. No.0570942.
Photographs
1862
Thompson's Revolver camera, serial number 44, manufactured by A Briois, Paris 1862. Camera body engraved: `Thompson Invtr, A Briois, 4 rue de la Douane, Paris, Brevete SGDG, No.44'
1839 (original); c. 1988 (replica)
Replica of Daguerre-Giroux camera. Sliding box camera for daguerreotype plates up to 300x220cm. Plate holder replica of original in Museum of Science, Oxford. Achromat lens; sliding lens cover. Ex-Cromer Collection (donated April 1950). Stand is a modern replica by Science Museum workshop about 1988.
1841
Daguerreotype camera made by Voigtlander & Sohn, Wien. All metal camera for circular daguerreotype plates 95mm in diameter. Petzval lens c.f/3.8; conical focusing screen holder; darkroom loaded; camera rests on telescopic stand with three levelling screws. Plate holder and lens hood possibly reproductions. No 81.
1915-1920
Quarter-plate `Cameo' camera manufactured by W Butcher & Sons, London, 1915-1920, used to make a `second phase' of `Cottingley fairies' photographs between 1918 and 1920. Lukos II symmetrical lens back, made by Wollensak Optical Co. of USA.
1902-1917
Quarter-plate `Midg' camera manufactured by W Butcher & Sons, London, 1902-1920, used by Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths to make the first two `Cottingley fairies' photographs in 1917.
c 1897
Thornton-Pickard 'Amber' camera with three blockform double darkslides. Sold by Sands, Hunter & Co. Stand camera for 4 3/4 x 6 1/2 inch plates. Ensign Anastigmat lens, Series VIIN No 3, f/7.7-32, Serial No 171064. Thornton-Pickard roller blind Time & Inst shutter /15/40/90/T. Rack and pinion focusing on back and front, double extension. Swing back. Swing out focusing screen (glass missing). Reversible back. Pendulum and spirit levels. Sliding rising front. Serial No 7432F. With 3 blockform double darkslides.
1932-1936
Solid-body coupled rangefinder camera for 35mm film 24x36mm. Zeiss Tessar lens F:5cm f/2.8-22, No 1543338. Tube errected, helical focusing coupled to coincidence type rangefinder (faulty), depth of field scale. Metal vertical running focal plane shutter 23/50/100/200/500/1000/T. Direct vision optical finder, seperate from rangefinder. Rotary frame counter; accessory shoe. Lens interchangeable, on three point bayonet mount. Sliding mask for tele lens over viewfinder. No A U 65520.
1840-1848
A daguerreotype of Jabez Hogg and Mr Johnson, 1843; Jabez Hogg photographing Mr Johnson in Richard Beard's studio, c 1843. A daguerreotype from 1843 which is thought to be the first photograph showing a photographer at work. The image depicts Jabez Hogg photographing W S Johnson in the studio of Richard Beard.
1839-1842
Calotype camera with lens and metal focussing cover, (mahogany), c 1839-1842. Camera owned and used by William Henry Fox Talbot; made by Andrew Ross. During 1838 and 1840 Talbot purchased a number of cameras to make photogenic drawings from the London instrument maker, Andrew Ross. Equipped with simple lens there is also an inspection hole in the lens panel above the lens that was use to check that the image was centrally located on the sensitive paper and correctly focused.
Printed Materials & Ephemera
1922
Book: `The Coming of the Fairies' by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. First edition, London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd., 1922. Illustrated. Leather (?) bound.
Laboratory Medicine
1851-1900
Flask, clear glass, for pouring, European, second half 19th century.
1836-1840
Camera with hole and cork for focussing, and rack for raising, c 1836-1840. Camera used by William Henry Fox Talbot. During 1838 and 1840 Talbot purchased a number of cameras to make photogenic drawings from the London instrument maker, Andrew Ross. This camera may derive from this source. Equipped with simple lens there is also an inspection hole in the lens panel above the lens that was use to check that the image was centrally located on the sensitive paper and correctly focused.
c. 1800
Camera Obscura, sliding box construction with hinged ground glass screen cover, c.1800.
1888-1898
Anschutz patent instantaneous camera, c. 1893. Made by C.P. Goerz, Berlin? Focal plane shutter box camera for 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 inch plates. Fitted with a Goerz Extra Rapid Lynkeioskop lens Series C No.1 f/7.7-43.8 No. 8532 and an Anschutz focal plane shutter 25/40/50/65/87/130/260/520/1000. With rack and pinion focusing on lens barrel. Large folding frame viewfinder. With a ground glass screen and folding hood and lens cap. C.P. Goerz. Overall: 205 mm x 164 mm x 182 mm.
c. 1858
100x122mm black rectangular union case. 'The Washington Monument, Richmond, VA.' by S Peck & Co. Die-engraver F. Goll. Trade paper inside. Design only on one side. Lined with dark red plush with formal motif. Plain oval gilt mat and patterned pinchbeck frame. No frame.
Circulation
1885-1895
Wet collodion sensitising bath c 1890; closed; with brass carrying handle.
c. 1857
122x100mm dark brown union case 'The Gypsy Fortune Teller' by A. P. Critchlow and Company. Trade paper inside. Design both sides. Lined with purple plush with formal design in centre. No mat or frame. No picture.
Enamelled hanging advertising sign. Blue enamelled metal 'All 'Kodak' Supplies' in white. Franco Signs, London, W1.
c. 1865
Shell cameo brooch with wet collodian photograph of man on reverse, c.1865 (size 2"x2 1/2" )
1865-1875
Half-plate (6 1/2"x4 3/4") dark slide for twelve lens repeating, back wet plate camera, c 1870.
c. 1845
85x100mm black Morocco leather book-type case. Front inlaid with mother-of-pearl and gold leaf in bouquet of flowers design. Gold leaf in scrolls around edges. Black lacquered with gold leaf scrolls. Lined with patterned red plush and gold leaf pattern around inside edge. Pinchbeck frame. 53x65mm daguerreotype three quarter length portrait in profile of young woman seated by table. Face and hands tinted pink.
1880-1914
Pearlware vase with pale blue and pink floral decoration on sides, gilding to rim and handles and surround for photograph, Königlich privilegierte Porzellanmanufaktur Tettau of Bavaria, about 1900. Transfer print on base reads 'Kgl Priv Tettau'. Body of vase has carbon print of author Rudyard Kipling in sepia, fired-in, with gold decorative border.
Wooden tray 237x327mm; originally waterproofed. Traces of crystals in angles. Used for fixing?
85x100mm red Morocco leather case with two latches. Lined with plain red plush. Rectangular gilt mat with domed top. Bound but not framed. 58x70mm daguerreotype three quarter length portrait of elderly lady seated with book. Wearing white poke bonnet. Fully tinted with gilt on book. Slight tarnishing along bottom edge.
Wooden plate drying rack; with 4 blank glass plates.
1845-1855
Hand vice for 100 x 75mm daguerreotype plates; three adjustable and one fixed clip. Top of D shaped handle missing.
1875-1885
The Patent Revolving Album 9. Walnut carte-de-visite automatic viewer holding 26 cartes-de-visite in 13 holders, on walnut cradle with carved legs. Key in bottom.
Double sensitising box for daguerreotype process. Wooden case with two compartments containing china dishes; remains of supporting coil springs in case (very corroded), sliding frosted glass covers; sliding plate holder for 4 3/4 x 6 1/2" plates.
Pharmacy-ware
Brass weight to weigh 4 grains, made by Maw, Son and Thompson, London, 1870-1901
Photograph album with black lacquer covers. Front cover is ornamented with large figure of an eagle in mother of pearl, on branch made of none with mother of pearl flowers and two mother of pearl small beads. All pages and cover interiors are covered with hand painted silk showing Japanese scenery and flowers.
Folding wooden drying rack for 24 plates, 4 1/4 x 3 1/2 inches or larger.
Plate storage box of wood, 15 x 9 x 11cm, overall for quarter plates. Fitted grooves for twelve plates floating internal lid with brass spring, sliding lid with lock. Hand dovetailed. Perhaps for storing cleaned glass plates for wet Collodion process.
Early mahogany photographic printing frame, hinged wooden box with glass front/top (13 1/2" x 10 1/4" x 2 1/2")
Brass weight to weigh 40 grains, made by Maw, Son and Thompson, London, 1870-1901
Brass weight to weigh 6 grains, made by Maw, Son and Thompson, London, 1870-1901
Brass weight to weigh 50 grains, made by Maw, Son and Thompson, London, 1870-1901
Twelve lens repeating, back wet plate camera, c1870.
One of two retouching desks
Triangular section sloping glazed earthenware stand for supporting daguerreotype plates during washing.
1871-1920
Clear glass flask, spherical body, long tubular neck, possibly English, 1871-1920.
Measuring cylinder, clear glass, marked in ounces, English, second half 19th century
Clear glass measuring cylinder with circular base pontil marked, and lip, measuring to 16 fl.ozs, probably English, 1851-1900
1801-1900
Two funnels, glass, probably English, 19th century
1835-1845
Camera with lens and metal focussing cover, (deal wood), c. 1840. During 1838 and 1840 Talbot purchased a number of cameras to make photogenic drawings from the London instrument maker, Andrew Ross. This camera may derive from this source. Equipped with simple lens there is also an inspection hole in the lens panel above the lens that was use to check that the image was centrally located on the sensitive paper and correctly focused.
Ground glass focussing screen for Twelve lens repeating, back wet plate camera, c 1870.
Sensitising tank for 6 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch plates. James Edwards and Sons.
Oval ceramic 177x133mm with gilt edge; fired-in carbon transfer; hand and shoulders portrait of bearded man.
c. 1853
90x97mm dark brown union case by S. Peck (Trade Paper on back says 'S Peck's Patent Feb 5th 1856 - H. Halverson's patent Aug 7th 1855 - assigned to S. Peck'). Die cast by H. W. Hayden, from picture by Sir Thomas Lawrence 'The Calmady Children'. Shows two young girls close up in a field. Back is mostly plain with grape design in centre and leaf design in four corners. Lined with purple plush with formal motif. Oval gilt patterned matt. Pinchbeck frame. 60x70mm collodion positive by J. TImms, 31 High Holborn, London. Three quarter young gentleman seated almost full face. Some tinting. Nice trade card backing picture.
Brass weight to weigh 70 grains, made by Maw, Son and Thompson, London, 1870-1901