E. & H.T. Anthony & Co.
Manhattan View
Anthony Catalog 1891, p. 2
Manhattan Outfit in the
Anthony 1889 Catalog (Amateur Outfit, Equipment No. 2 in the
Anthony 1887 Catalog), 5x8
Label, brass, below lens
board on front standard: "E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. - Manufacturers -
591.Broadway.N.Y."
Stamps, three patent dates:
Label, paper, on the inside
of a plate holder fitting the Manhattan: "Victor Holder. - Patented,
Feb. 9th, 1875. - Dec. 28th, 1886. Sept. 30th, 1890 - Nov. 4th,
1890".
1) "Pat. May 18, 1886" (focusing attachment and side mounted
thumbscrew for swing; these features do not appear to be present on the
Manhattan)
2) "Pat. Nov. 11, '84" (clamp hooks for making bed rigid; also
does not appear to be present on the Manhattan)
3) "Pat. Feb. 20, '83" (plate holder attachment)
A 5x8" Manhattan Outfit
with case and tripod.
It has an accessory Anthony's Universal
Finder clipped to the rear standard.
Bottom
Top
Label,
nickel-plated brass, below lens
board on front standard: "E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. - Manufacturers -
591.Broadway.N.Y."
The lens board itself is stamped "98"
Stamps, three patent dates:
Anthony "Zephyr"
plate holder, which fits this camera. What appears
to be Anthony's Climax Tripod. Yet another 5x8" Manhattan Outfit
with case and tripod.
Mono
Sterreo Bottom Top Label,
nickel-plated brass, below lens
board on front standard: "E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. - Manufacturers -
591.Broadway.N.Y." Stamps, three patent dates:
Anthony "Zephyr"
plate holder, which fits this camera. Lens extender, installed with mono lens.
The resulting image can just barely be focused in the camera (shown). Cabinet card of S.J. Routledge, Pratt Mines,
Alabama, which came with the camera, and is presumably the back stamp
used by by
the photographer. Inside of carrying case cover: "S.J. Routledge, Pratt
City,
Ala". Date Introduced: 1889 ;
Years Manufactured: 1889 - c.1892 The name Manhattan was not
used prior to 1889; these same cameras were formerly known as
Amateur
Outfits #1, #1½, #2, and #3; in some years they were cherry. By
1891, they were mahogany,
and presumably of lesser finish quality than the otherwise
similar
Champion cameras, which, in turn, were of lesser quality than
the N.P.A.
The photographed camera above has a non-folding bed, and a rather crude
varnish finish. The plate holder is held at the bottom by small,
brass springs, and held at the top by the hinged, brass clip.
Someone may have added the two side clasps for extra hold. References:
1) Stamped on both sides: "Pat. May 18, 1886" (focusing attachment and side mounted
thumbscrew for swing; these features do not appear to be present on the
Manhattan)
2) "Pat. Nov. 11, '84" (clamp hooks for making bed rigid; also
does not appear to be present on the Manhattan)
3) "Pat. Feb. 20, '83" (plate holder attachment)
The tripod head came with the camera. A set of legs that fit were
added to the outfit.
The tripod only has two legs.
Note the accordian-like septum at the bottom of the photo.
1) "Pat. May 18, 1886" (focusing attachment and side mounted
thumbscrew for swing; these features do not appear to be present on the
Manhattan)
2) "Pat. Nov. 11, '84" (clamp hooks for making bed rigid; also
does not appear to be present on the Manhattan)
3) "Pat. Feb. 20, '83" (plate holder attachment)
Construction: rear
focus via push-pull; no swing; reversing by
two tripod mounts; bed does not fold (apparent from
the size of the camera and box above)
Materials: cherry or mahogany body; cherry
base; black fabric bellows; brass hardware, varnish
finish
Sizes Offered: #1=4x5; #1½=4¼x6½;
#2=5x8; #3=5x8 stereo
Notes:
Descriptive Catalogue and Price List of
Photographic Apparatus, E. &
H. T. Anthony & Co.
(New York, NY), 1889, p. 40
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Equipments
and Materials for Amateurs, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY),
January 1890, p. 2
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Equipments
and Materials for Amateurs, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co., New York, NY,
January 1891, p. 2-3
