Anthony Novelette View Camera Variation 0.5

E. & H.T. Anthony & Co.

Novelette View Variation 0.5 (sliding metal plate to make platform rigid)

Illustrated Catalogue of Amateur Equipments and Materials, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY), September 1886, p. 13

4x5", square front

Label, on top of the front standard

Patent stamps, rear of platform frame:
"Pat. Nov. 11, '84" (clamp hooks for making the platform rigid)
"Pat. Mar. 28, '82" (bellows that revolve at the front standard)
"Pat. Feb. 20, '83" (revolving bellows and the means of attaching the rear standard)

Date Introduced: - ; Years Manufactured: c.1886 - 1897
Construction: rear focus via push-pull but with fine-focusing screw; single or double swing; reversing by rotating bellows and back; plywood lens board
Materials: mahogany body; cherry base; black fabric bellows; brass hardware
Sizes Offered: 4x5; 4¼x6½; 5x7 (added "recently" per Feb. 1888 Anthony's Photographic Bulletin), 5x8 (shown); 6½x8½; 8x10; in 1891, add 10x12; 11x14
Notes:

Anthony Novel models and Novelette models share the characteristic that they all have bellows that rotate along with the rear standard, except for Novel Variation 1.0. Novels are generally more robust (read: heavier) than Novelettes, For example, Novels have a ground glass frame that is about 1 inch wide, whereas Novelettes have a ground glass frame that is only about 1/2 inch wide.

There are three main variations of Novelette and two sub-variations of Variation 1. Their basic focusing, tilt, and rise mechanisms are also the same throughout. Their differences are in the platform design, and, in the case of the sub-variations, whether they have a round or square front.

Novelette Variation 0.5: has a frame-type platform constructed of solid cherry. The rigidity of the base is supplied by shifting a large brass plate backwards until it lodges half on the main part of the platform and half on the rear platform extension. This type of mechanism seems to be confined to the smallest examples of Novelettes, e.g., 4x5. It is too bad this mechanism wasn't used for larger cameras, as it generally supplies a tight fit and flat platform, even after 120 years, a claim that cannot be made for Anthony's patent hooks used in the other variations.

Novelette Variation 1.0 Round Front: Variation 1 has a frame-type platform construction, and differs from Variation 0.5 only in that the platform is made rigid by use of Anthony's patent platform hooks, one on each side of said platform. They have the advantage over, say, a thumbscrew, by being very quick. They have the disadvantage of tending to loosen over time, which, given the inevitable pull from the bellows, makes the rear platform extension have a slight angle to the main platform. This really doesn't affect the process of taking a photo through the camera, but it does present a problem to someone like me documenting what the camera looks like while trying to make various planes of the camera end up parallel in said photo. The difference between the Round Front Variation and the Square Front Variation is the shape and size of the front standard.

Novelette Variation 1.0 Square Front: The difference between the Round Front Variation and the Square Front Variation is the shape and size of the front standard. The Square Front Variation has about the smallest (and yes, square) front standard that can accommodate a single lens. The bellows tapers down sharply from the rear standard to this small front standard. In contrast, the Round Front Variation is designed to stereo work, and has a lens board wide enough to accommodate stereo lenses. The bellows necessarily does not taper as much as in the Square Front Variation, and also needs more wood in the front standard to allow for the rotating of the bellows. This extra wood comprises the round parts (top and bottom) of the front standard.

Novelette Variation 2.0: has a solid plywood base instead of the frame-type base of the other variations. Variation 2.0 was described by Christie's auction house (where it was auctioned) as a "Bicycle Novelette", and referred to by William Marder in his Anthony book (where it was illustrated) as "early". The Anthony Bicycle Equipment (a 3¼x4¼" view camera) actually more resembles the Novelette Variation 0.5 in that both have the shifting brass plate as a way to make the folding platform rigid and metal tubes to support the front standard. However, the Bicycle Equipment does not have a revolving bellows, the claim to fame for all Novels and Novelettes, and therefore cannot be a Novelette. I suspect that either 1) Bill Marder was correct, and this variation is a early one, or 2) Variation 0.5 and Variation 2.0 are merely alternate ways to construct a small format camera such as a 3¼x4¼" or 4x5".

The tripod screw of the Novelette is neatly stored by screwing it into the bottom of the front standard.

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