Search our collection | Science Museum Group Collection

The Demon Detective camera

Photographic Technology

1889

Polyfoto camera

Photographic Technology

1933

Pantascopic camera No 32

Photographic Technology

1862

Century Model 46 plate camera

Photographic Technology

1900-1907

Beck Field camera

Photographic Technology

c. 1889

Ensign Rollfilm/Plate camera

Photographic Technology

c. 1920

Fowke's Bellows camera

Photographic Technology

1856

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.

Calotype camera used by William Henry Fox Talbot, c 1841

Photographic Technology

1839-1842

Ottewill folding box camera

Photographic Technology

1853

Magazine plate camera in form of book, for 38 x 38mm plates. Lens missing, guillotine shutter with tension adjusting knob, plate carried in metal holder then pushed from upper compartment into focal plane and then into the lower compartment by sliding rod. Number on plate holder back visible through red window. No 1742. Marion & Co, 1934. Invented by Dr Rudolf Krugener.

Kruegener's patent book camera No 1510

Photographic Technology

1884-1894

Compass miniature camera

Photographic Technology

1937

Jos-Pe colour camera Uka model (professional)

Photographic Technology

c. 1925

Universal Special Pattern B camera

Photographic Technology

c. 1909

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.

Anschutz Patent Instantaneous camera

Photographic Technology

1888-1898

Twelve lens repeating, back wet plate camera, c1870.

Twelve lens repeating, back wet plate camera, c 1870

Photographic Technology

1865-1875

Improved 'Academy' Quarter Plate Camera

Photographic Technology

c. 1875

Plate camera with bellows

Photographic Technology

c.1888

Shew's Xit Eclipse quarter plate camera, made by J F Shew & Co. London. Collapsing A form, wooden camera for RR lens, rotating aperture plate f/8,11,16,32. Rotary shutter T/I. Helical screw and lever focusing inf.- 1 1/2 yards. Shew removable , reflecting finder. No focusing screen. (M477)

Eclipse plate camera

Photographic Technology

1896

Studio camera by Charles G Collins, St John's Wood, 1870-1889. Sliding body camera for 6 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch plates. The lens panel slides into back. RAck and pinion focusing over approx 20cm, exposed rack on basebaord. Vertical swing repeating back. Ground glass focusing screen hinges downwards. Fitted with a single wooden darkslide. With DAllmeyer 3D lens cat no.0657. Charles G. Collins.

wet-plate studio camera

Photographic Technology

1870-1889

Camera, British Rail, Underwood dryplate camera in leather case.

Underwood dryplate camera in leather case

Miscellanea & Curiosities

Camera, dryplate, ex York Carriageworks, in case with engraved label North Eastern Railway carriage and wagon dept. drawing office York.

Plate camera, North Eastern Railway

Tools of the Trade & Personal Accessories

Dry Collodion Plate Camera

Photographic Technology

c. 1860

Protype box-type rollfilm camera for 80mm wide roll film 95 x 80mmm. 'Parcel' or 'Tombosa' camera. Fitted with a rapid rectilinear lens, sliding plate with three apertures sliding focusing uncalibrated, rotating shutter, adjustable tension, single reflecting finder, film wound without backing paper, friction roller, indicates correct windon., pressure plate pinched by lever to be slackened when winding off. Camera covered with cardboard case with apertures for controls, lens, etc. Surrounded by leather straps and carrying handle, to resemble brown paper parcel. Henry N B Good of Devises. 1889. never produced commercially.

Tombosa Detective Camera

Photographic Technology

1889

Kodak No 3 Folding Quarter Plate Camera

Photographic Technology

1905

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.

Early camera used by William Henry Fox Talbot, c 1838

Photographic Technology

1836-1840

Box magazine plate camera for 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 inch plates. Rouch instantaneous doublet lens No 7023 with 4 Waterhouse stops, Thornton Pickard Roller Blind shutter built in behind lens 15/25/40/60/80, released by pneumatic tube (perished). Two reflecting finders with covers. Sliding lens cover, bag type plate changer built in with 12 metal plate holders. Sliding body focusing. W.W. rouch. 1888.

Rouch's Eureka Detective Camera

Photographic Technology

1888

ICA Bebe camera for paltes or cutfilm 2 1/2 x 3 1/2". Press strut design. Lever operates focusing mechanism. Helical focusing mount carrying Tessar f.4.5 12cm lens in specially deisgned dial Compur shutter, speeds 1 sec 1/200sec. With optical viewfinder. c.1922

ICA Bebe camera

Photographic Technology

1922

Ilexpo studio camera for 10 x 8 inch plates. No 69356. Fitted with a Bausch and Lomb Zeiss portrait Unar lens No 9 1b ex. foc. 14 3/4 inches f.4.5-22.6, no 645916. Soft focus adjustment, calibrated 1-4. Rack and pinion focusing mount. No 645916. 2 blade (one broken) studio shutter behind lens I/B. pneumatic operation. Rack and pinion focusing on rear panel. Worm and rack adjustment swing back both movements. Reversible back with sprung ground glass screen. Overall: 505 mm x 380 mm x 820 mm.

ilexpo studio camera

Photographic Technology

Wallace Heaton, London. Folding camera for 2 1/2 x 3 1/2" plates; Zodellar Anastigmatic lens F:105mm f/3.8; rimset Compur shutter 1-1/250 sec. delayed action; reflecting finder; wire frame finder missing; optical frame finder added; rack and pinion focusing; double extension; screw rising front; in leather case with 4 single metal darkslides.

Zodel Regular camera

Photographic Technology

c. 1930

Thornton Pickard Ruby camera. Quarterplate folding camera, brass and mahogany. Bellows plate. Rising and swing front. Double focussing pinions - front and back Pendulum level. Built-in tripod fittings. No.3193A. Fitted with Cooke lens 1259. No 3193.

Thornton Pickard Ruby camera

Photographic Technology

1899-1905

Speed Graphic Camera 5"x4". Kalart Synchronized Range Finder; Supermatic shutter by Eastman Kodak; Kodak Ektar lens 1:4.7, 127mm, No FT4583; flash arm attached, fitted with Phillips Photoflux Type PF48 flashbulb (1982-5028/2).

Speed Graphic Camera

Photographic Technology

c. 1950

Shew 'Eclipse' 1/4-plate camera, with 3 slides, 1890.

Shew 'Eclipse' 1/4-plate camera, with 3 slides, 1890

Photographic Technology

1890

Goerz Tenax folding bellows camera for rollfim No.120, 2 1/4 x 3 1/4". DRop-front pull-out type. With worm gear mechanism, focusing range 3ft to infintiy. Fitted with Goerz Dagor F.6.8 105mm lens in a Dial set Compur shutter, speeds 1-1/150 sec B. & T. With brilliant optical waist-level viewfinder attached to front standard. All metal construction with leather covering. c.1920

Goerz Tenax folding bellows camera

Photographic Technology

c.1920

Folding hand camera for plates 9 x 12cm. Fitted with a Goerz Kalostigmat lens F: 13cm f/6.8-36 No.421500. Ibso shutter 1/2/5/10/25/50/100/B/T. Rack and pinion focusing, double extension, lever worked sliding rising front, cross front. Brilliant reflecting finder with spirit level. Ground glass focusing screen (broken). C.P. Goerz.

Goerz Tenax plate camera

Photographic Technology

1912

Folding camera for 10 x 15cm plates. Lens and shutter missing. Rack and pinion rising front, sliding cross front - considerable movement. Rack and pinion focusing. Sliding double extension. Folding optical frame finder. Ground glass focusing screen. Provision for rollable stereo septum (missing).

Voigtlander Alpin camera

Photographic Technology

1907-1928

Patent field camera by A J Melhuish of London. A 10 x 8 inch Kinnearpattern camera with brass rear standard and applied label 'Melhuish's patent. Patented November 10, 1859 and December 28 1859'.

Patent Field Camera by A J Melhuish of London

Photographic Technology

1860-1862

No. 3 Eastman plate camera series C; (back says series D). Kodak, 1901-1902

Kodak No 3 plate camera Series C

Photographic Technology

1901-1902

Ernemann Cronos 'B' folding bellows camera for negative size 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 using plates or cutfilm. Drop-front pull-out type with lever focusing. Fitted with a Nostar Anastigmat F.6.8 105mm lens mounted in a Zeiss Ikon everset shutter with speeds 1sec-1/100 B. & T. Lens panel has rising front and side movement. With ground glass screen and brilliant waist-level viewdinedr with spirit level. Metal construction with black leather cover. c.1924

Ernemann Cronos 'B' folding bellows camera

Photographic Technology

c.1924

Folding camera for 9 x 12cm plates. Originally fitted with a Rodenstock Doppel anastigmat eurynar lens F:135mm f/6.8-45, No. 47028. Compound shutter 1/2/5/10/25/50/100/250/B/T but the lens has been exchanged for a 2454. Has a sliding rising front, with sliding focusing. With an Optica frame finder automatically erected when camera is opened and the original backsight replaced. Hooded focusing screen. Ernemann.

Ernemann pocket plate camera

Photographic Technology

Busch folding bellows camera hand camera ffor plates or sheetfilm size 31/4 x 4 1/4". Drop-front pull-out type. With rack and pinion focusing. With red leather bellows. Triple extension and rising front and side movement. Fitted with Busch Anastigmat Omnar Series 11 f.5.6 5 1/2" f.1 lens in a Unicum Bausch & Lomb shutter with speeds1sec to 1/100sec B. & T. With brilliant waist-level viewfinder. Of mahogany with nickel plated fittings with black leather cover. c.1912

Busch folding bellows camera hand camera

Photographic Technology

1905

The Challenge wooden folding bellows camera for negatives 3 1/4" x 4 1/4". With rack and pinion focusing. Fitted with a fixed focus doublet lens about 6" f.1 and with wheel stops. Mounted in a Thornton Pickard roller blind shutter (time and instantaneous). Lens panel of rising front movement. Mahogany with brass fittings. Lizars, c1895.

Lizars 'The Challenge' folding belows plate camera, c 1895

Photographic Technology

1890-1900

Goerx Tenax folding plate camera for negatives 9x12cm. Drop-front pull-out type wuth Ernemann Doublet lens F.11 135mm f.1 mounted in a everset 3 speed shutter. With brilliant waist-level viewfinder attached to front standard. All metal and wood body with black leather cover. c.1923

Goerx Tenax folding plate camera

Photographic Technology

1923

Folding camera for 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 inch plates. Lens missing. 41mm ID flange. Rack and pinion focusing. Double extension. Sliding rising front. Swing back. Reversible back with Lancaster patent swing out ground glass screen. J Lancaster and son.

Lancaster 1896 Instantograph camera

Photographic Technology

Salex focal plane plate camera. A collapsing strut-form camera for 3 1/4 inch by 4 1/4 inch plates. Fitted with a Salex Anastigmat B lens, F: 13.5cm, f/4.5-36 in helical focusing mount. Focal plane shutter 15/25/50/100/150/250/500/1000/. Set by pulling put cocking knob and winding blind edge to marks in focal plane frame. With simple flap shutter attachment to lens for time exposure. Optical frame finder. Made in Italy for the City Sale and Exchange, London. 'Salex' is derived from an abbreviated form of the retailer's name - the City Sale and Exchange. This company never actually made cameras but sold other makers' products under their own name. this camera was probably imported from Italy or Germany.

salex focal plane plate camera

Photographic Technology

1907

Kamera-Werkstatten, Dresden. Folding camera for 9x12cm plates. Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar lens F:13.5cm, f/4.5-36, No 65277. Compur shutter, wheel-set, 1/2/5/10/25/50/100/200/B/T. Rack and pinion focusing. Sliding rising front. Brilliant reflecting rotating finder. Ground glass focusing screen. With one metal darkslide and Rollex patent rollfilm back for 120 rollfilm.

Etui camera

Photographic Technology

1920

Ernemann miniature plate camera, made by H. Ernemann, Dresden. For 1 3/4" x 2 1/2" plates. Self erecting folding form. No. 213130. Ernemann Detective Aplanat F:80mm, f.6.8 - 18. Shutter 1/2/5/25/50/100/Z/O (not working). Lever focussing; two reflecting brilliant finders on base plate. Focussing screen. With filmpack adaptor.

Ernemann miniature plate camera

Photographic Technology

1920

Lenoar folding bellows plate camera for plates or cutfilm 2 1/2 x 3 1/2". Drop-front pull-out type. Fitted with Leonar Periscope lens F.II mounted in a Leonar shutter with I., B. & T. settings. With ground-glass screen and brilliant waist-level viewfinder. Metal construction with black leather cover. c.1914

Leonar folding bellows plate camera

Photographic Technology

c.1914

Folding plate camera. 1904

folding plate camera

Photographic Technology

1904

Folding plate camera for plates or cutfilm 9 x 12cm. Drop-front pull-out type with rising front and side movement. Double extension bellows worked by rack and pinion. Fitted with a Polyplan F.7.2 135mm lens mounted in a Vario 3-speed shutter 1/25 -1/100B.T. Back ground glass and brilliant waist-level viewfinder. Made of wood and metal with leather cover. c.1914

folding bellows camera

Photographic Technology

c.1914

Contessa Nettel folding bellows camera for plates or sheet-film size 3 1/4 x 4 1.4". Has double extension anmd focusing is by rack and pinion. Front panel has rising front and side movement. Fitted with a Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar F.4.5 150mm lens mounted in a dial set Compur shutter with speeds 1 sec to 1/150 B. & T. With back of ground glass and brilliant waist-level finder on front with spirit level. All metal construction with black leather cover. C.1922

Contessa Nettel folding bellows camera

Photographic Technology

c.1922