Blair Camera Co., (Boston, MA)
Blair Hawkeye Roll Holder Variation 2 - c. 1898
Notes:
The Boston Camera Co. marketed the first Hawkeye Detective Camera 1888-1890. It was a focusing 4x5 box camera with a ground glass viewing/focusing screen. The company was purchased in 1890 by the Blair Camera Co., and continued to produce the Hawkeye. The Hawkeye design had, like many hand or self-casing cameras of the time, a storage area behind the focusing screen. This space originally stored 3-4 plate holders, but it was also perfect to house a roll film holder. Blair's version of a roll holder for the Hawkeye does not disassemble, like the Eastman roll holders; rather, upon unfastening the two small clips at the top enough to yank on the finger-ring, the entire mechanism pulls up and out, leaving the wooden shell behind. Made in 4x5 and 5x7 to match the sizes of Hawkeyes.
References:
Illustrated Catalogue and Price List of the Hawkeye and All Styles
of Tripod Cameras and Accessories, Blair Camera Co. (Boston, MA),
1896, p. 19
Catalogue of
Photographic Apparatus and Supplies, Blair Camera Co. (Boston, MA),
1897, pp. 26-27
Catalogue of Hawk-Eye Cameras and Photographic
Supplies Season of 1898, Blair Camera
Co. (Boston, MA), 1898, pp. 32-33
