E. & H.T. Anthony & Co.

Amateur Equipment  or Outfit (#'s 1-8B), Variation 1.0
 (Non-Folding Platform)

 

 

Amateur Photographic Equipments & Materials, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co., New York, NY, Sep. 1886, p. 5

 

Anthony's Amateur Equipment No. 1 c.1882 (c.1882 table): 5x5 ground glass frame, 4x5 plate holder (inserts either horizontally or vertically), non-folding bed, plain wood with ebonized (painted) finish, no lens board, no rise, no swing
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625.anthony.amateur.equipment.ebony4x5d-750.jpg625.anthony.amateur.equipment.ebony4x5e-750.jpg
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625.anthony.amateur.equipment.ebony4x5-bottom-1500.jpg

 

 

 

Anthony's Amateur Equipment No. 1 c.1885 or later (c.1885 table and c.1887 table): 5x5 ground glass frame, 4x5 plate holder (inserts either horizontally or verically), non-folding bed, mahogany wood with stained and varnished finish, no lens board, no rise, no swing, single achromat "EA" lens.
 745.anthony-amateur.outfit.no.1a-retake-4x5a-w.case&holder-2000.jpg
745.anthony-amateur.outfit.no.1a-retake-4x5a-cam.only-1500.jpg
 745.anthony-amateur.outfit.no.1a-retake-4x5c-750.jpg
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745.anthony-amateur.outfit.no.1a-retake-4x5f-gg.up-1500.jpg
745.anthony-amateur.outfit.no.1a-retake-4x5f-gg.down-1500.jpg
745.anthony-amateur.outfit.no.1a-retake-4x5-bottom-1500.jpg

Top:  Stamp on the moving platform of the rear standard: "Pat. Feb. 20, '83".
Bottom:  Stamp at the rear end of the main platform frame: "E. & H.T. Anthony & Co.".
 745.anthony-amateur.outfit.no.1a-retake-4x5-stamp.rear.end.of.platform-1500.jpg

Serial No. "76", stamped between the front and rear standards, on the rear standard.

 

 


 
 

Date Introduced: - ; Years Manufactured: c.1882 - 1886
Construction: rear focus via push-pull; optional swing; reverse by changing holder position or by two tripod mounts; 3-piece lens board if present
Materials: optional body; cherry base track; black fabric bellows; brass hardware
Sizes Offered: (A=No Swing; B=Single Swing=N.P.A; #1/1A=4x5; #1½/1.5B=4¼x6½; #2/2B=5x8; #4=vertical 4x5; #6=#5 w/ lens; #7B=6½x8½; #8B=8x10
Notes:

     From available catalogs, the camera known as Anthony's Amateur Equipment varied in design not only over time, but by Anthony's model number.  Depending upon the model number, the camera would be made of different wood, would be painted or varnished, have a folding or non-folding bed, or have other features.  The tables below detail the exact configuration according to catalogs.  As a useful, easy to remember distinction, Anthony's Amateur Equipment has been split into three variations: Variation 1.0 includes cameras having non-folding beds, Variation 2.0 includes cameras having folding beds made rigid via a long thumbscrew from the front of the camera, and Variation 2.2 includes cameras having folding beds made rigid via a short thumbscrew from the back of the camera.

Amateur Equipment (#s 1-8)  - June 1882
     Anthony's Amateur Equipment c.1882 was a simple camera, offered in a limited variety.  At this time, Amateur Equipment was the only model in the catalog, and the name represents an almost bewildering number of variations, best represented in chart form:

Anthony's Amateur Equipment (#1-8) - c.1882
Number Ground Glass Size Wood Lens Type Mono Lens Board and Lens Stereo Lens Board and Two Lenses Finish Bed Type Rising Front Focusing Screw Swing
1 5x51 Plain (Basswood or Similar) Single Achromat No (The Lens is installed directly into camera body) No Ebonized (Black Paint) Non-Folding No No No

1 No. 1 and No. 4 have a square bellows and back, allowing the plate holder to be positioned for horizontal or vertical format, without the necessity of moving the camera
1½ 4¼x6½ Plain Single Achromat No (The Lens is installed directly into camera body) No Ebonized Non-Folding No No No
2 5x8 Plain Single Achromat Yes No Ebonized Non-Folding No No No
3 5x82 Plain Single Achromat Yes Yes Ebonized Non-Folding No No No

2 No. 3 is the same as No. 2 with the addition of a second lens board having two lenses for stereo photographs, and a stereo septum to separate the photos inside the bellows
4 5x51 Mahogany Single Achromat Yes No Varnish Folding, with Long Screw from the Front to Make the Bed Rigid Yes Yes No
5 5x8 Mahogany Single Achromat No, But Extra Lens Board Yes Varnish Folding Yes Yes No
6 5x8 Mahogany Single Achromat with Push-Pull Focus Yes Yes Varnish Folding Yes Yes No
7 6½x8½ Plain Single Achromat with Rack and Pinon Focus Yes No Ebonized Folding No Yes No
8 8x10 Plain Single Achromat with Rack and Pinon Focus Yes No Ebonized Folding No Yes No

Amateur Equipment (#s 1-8) - May 1885 - September 1886
      By the May 1885 Anthony Catalog, other field camera models had been introduced, namely The Patent Bijou Camera, The Novel View Camera, and the Model Stereo Box.  The Amateur Equipment was still listed, as follows throughout 1886.  Changes from 1882 are marked in light blue:

Anthony's Amateur Equipment (#1-8) - c.1885
Number Ground Glass Size Wood Type of Lens(es) Mono Lens Board and Lens Stereo Lens Board and Two Lenses Finish Bed Type Rising Front Focusing Screw Swing Back
1 5x51 Plain (Basswood or Similar) Single Achromat No (The Lens is installed directly into camera body) No Stain & Varnish Non-Folding No No No

1 No. 1 and No. 4 have a square bellows and back, allowing the plate holder to be positioned for horizontal or vertical format, without the necessity of moving the camera
1½ 4¼x6½ Plain Single Achromat No (The Lens is installed directly into camera body) No Stain & Varnish Non-Folding No No No
2 5x8 Plain Single Achromat Yes No Stain & Varnish Non-Folding No No No
2A (New Number) 5x8 Plain Single Achromat Yes No Stain & Varnish Folding w/ Patent Hooks No No No
2B (New Number) 5x8 Plain Single Achromat Yes No Stain & Varnish Folding w/ Patent Hooks Yes No Yes
3 5x82 Plain Single Achromat Yes Yes Stain & Varnish Non-Folding No No No

2 No. 3 is the same as No. 2 with the addition of a second lens board having two lenses for stereo photographs, and a stereo septum to separate the photos inside the bellows
4 5x51 Mahogany Single Achromat Yes No Varnish Folding, with Long Screw from the Front to Make the Bed Rigid Yes Yes No
5 5x8 Mahogany Single Achromat No, But Extra Lens Board Yes Varnish Folding Yes Yes No
6 5x8 Mahogany Single Achromat with Push-Pull Focus Yes Yes Varnish Folding Yes Yes No
7 6½x8½ Cherry Single Achromat with Rack and Pinon Focus Yes No Varnish Folding No Yes No
8 8x10 Cherry Single Achromat with Rack and Pinon Focus Yes No Varnish Folding No Yes No

Amateur Equipment (#s 1-8) Variation 2 - August 1887 - January 1889
      By the August 1887 Anthony Catalog, even more field camera models had been introduced than were offered in 1885-1886. But the Amateur Equipment was still listed, but, again, expanded to cover even more options, including more "B" versions.  All cameras are now mahogany, only the No. 4 retains a focus screw, and the name The N.P.A. Camera is introduced to refer to a camera having folding bed (with Patent Hooks), a rising front and swing movement.  Changes from 1885 are marked in light blue:

Anthony's Amateur Equipment (#1-8) - c.1887
Number Ground Glass Size Wood Type of Lens(es) Mono Lens Board and Lens Stereo Lens Board and Two Lenses Finish Bed Type Rising Front Focusing Screw Swing Back
1 4x5 horizontal Mahogany Single Achromat No (The Lens is installed directly into camera body) No Varnish Non-Folding No No No
1B (New Number, and Also Called The N.P.A. Camera) 4x5 horizontal Mahogany Single Achromat Yes No Varnish Folding Yes No Yes
1½ 4¼x6½ Mahogany Single Achromat Yes No Varnish Non-Folding No No No
1½B (New Number) 4¼x6½ Mahogany Single Achromat Yes No Varnish Folding Yes No Yes
2 5x8 Mahogany Single Achromat Yes No Varnish Non-Folding No No No
2A 5x8 Mahogany Single Achromat Yes No Varnish Folding w/ Patent Hooks No No No
2B (Also Called The N.P.A. Camera) 5x8 Mahogany Single Achromat with Instantaneous (Drop) Shutter Yes No Varnish Folding w/ Patent Hooks Yes No Yes
3 5x82 Mahogany Single Achromat Yes Yes Varnish Non-Folding No No No

2 No. 3 is the same as No. 2 with the addition of a second lens board having two lenses for stereo photographs, and a stereo septum to separate the photos inside the bellows
4 5x51 Mahogany Single Achromat Yes No Varnish Folding, with Long Screw from the Front to Make the Bed Rigid Yes Yes No

1 No. 4 has a square bellows and back, allowing the plate holder to be positioned for horizontal or vertical format, without the necessity of moving the camera
5 (Also Called The N.P.A. Camera) 5x8 Mahogany Single Achromat No (No More Extra Lens Board) Yes French Polish Folding w/ Patent Hooks Yes No Yes
6 5x8 Mahogany Single Achromat with Push-Pull Focus Yes Yes French Polish Folding w/ Patent Hooks Yes No Yes
7B (Replaces No. 7, and Also Called The N.P.A. Camera) 6½x8½ Mahogany Single Achromat with Rack and Pinon Focus Yes No French Polish Folding w/ Patent Hooks Yes No Yes
8B (Replaces No. 8, and Also Called The N.P.A. Camera) 8x10 Mahogany Single Achromat with Rack and Pinon Focus Yes No French Polish Folding w/ Patent Hooks Yes No Yes

     By 1889, the designation Amateur Equipment was dropped, and the No. 1, No. 1½, No. 2 and No. 3 became the Manhattan Camera, in cherry wood and later mahogany.

     Compare the numbers 1-8 with American Optical's Dry Plate Outfits #1-8 - each number refers to the same size plate regardless of manufacturer.

     An "Equipment" usually refers to just the camera, while an "Outfit" would include a lens, wooden case, tripod, and possibly a dark cloth.

     This model may be distinguished from the Champion model by its construction.  Note that, in the Amateur Equipment Cameras, both the front and rear standards have a solid block of wood underlying the box-jointed part.  The Champion and later NPA models  are  made with the box-jointed part placed directly on and overlapping the bed, a neater but perhaps trickier construction.  Rival Scovill's cheap model Ne Plus Ultra also had the solid block underlayment type of construction.
 

 

 


References:
Anthony's Amateur Equipments, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY),  June 10, 1882, pp. 2-5
 Anthony's Illustrated Catalogue of Amateur Photographic Equipments, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY), May 1883, pp. 5-8
Descriptive catalogue and price list of the photographic apparatus manufactured by E. & H. T. Anthony & Co., E. & H. T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY), distributed by J. Haworth (New York, NY), February 1884, pp. 41-44
The Photographic Times and American Photographer, Vol. XIV, No. 158, New Series No. 38, Scovill Mfg. Co., February 1884, ads p. 48 (in an ad for Wilson, Hood & Co.
Anthony's Photographic Bulletin, Vol. 15, No. 11, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY), November 1884, inside front cover.
Illustrated Catalogue of Amateur Photographic Equipments & Materials, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY),  September 1885, pp. 3-8
Catalogue No. 7, T. F. Indermill (St. Joseph, MO), Oct. 1, 1885, p. 97 (No.'s 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 only)
Illustrated Catalogue of Amateur Equipments and Materials, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY), September 1886, pp. 5-11
 

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