E. & H.T. Anthony & Co.
Victor View Variation 1
E. &
H.T. Anthony "Zephyr" Plate Holder For
picture taking, the dark slide was pulled from the opposite end as the
loading end. The patent date: Feb. 27,
1883, was stamped onto one side of each Zephyr plate holder. Date Introduced: 1889 ;
Years Manufactured: 1889-c. 1897
E. & H.T. Anthony catalog, 1895,
p.12
4¼ x 6½, one of
five examples of Victor View Variation 1 here.
Label, brass, on top of the rear standard:
"E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. - 591 Broadway - New York".
The spring-loaded hardware is just beneath the label; when the plate
holder slides in from the right, the ground glass frame slips over the
outside of the holder; the right angle bend in the slot allows the
spring tension to be relieved while the holder is sliding.
Three stamps of patents, top to bottom:
1) "Pat. Nov. 11, '84", clamp hooks for
making the platform rigid (but this camera does not have clamp hooks),
2) Pat. May 18, 1886", thumbscrew on
right side to lock the forward/back swing,
3) Pat. Mch. 27, 1888", spring back.
As seen on other Anthony cameras, one of the
patent dates apparently refers to a patent whose details are not present
on this camera. It would seem that Anthony stamped every camera
with all patents currently in force, rather than the worker having to
look up or figure out which patents were applicable - certainly an easy
way to ensure that a patent was not missed on a given camera.
Another 4¼ x 6½:
camera, original Anthony canvas case, tripod legs, tripod head, dark
cloth (lying on top of the case), two Anthony plate holders, and one
Anthony Fairy Print Frame (just left of the case).
View from underneath camera. On the far
right is a tripod screw, held in a threaded holder screwed to the frame.
Label, brass, on top of the rear standard:
"E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. - 591 Broadway - New York".
Same three stamps of patents. as above, top to bottom:
1) "Pat. Nov. 11, '84", clamp hooks for
making the platform rigid (but this camera does not have clamp hooks),
2) Pat. May 18, 1886", thumbscrew on
right side to lock the forward/back swing,
3) Pat. Mch. 27, 1888", spring back.
Yet another 4¼ x 6½.
These are nice little cameras - no wonder so many survived with their
cases. When this one was purchased, it did not have its hardware
or springs for the ground glass frame, although the frame itself was
present. That hardware was scavenged from a 5x7 Victor, which,
being nearly the same size, used the exact same hardware as the 4¼ x 6½.
Rear
45° View - Ground Glass Frame in
for Focusing.
The springs are engaged, pressing the ground glass frame onto the camera
back.
Rear
45° View - Ground Glass Frame
Locked Out for Easy Insertion of Plate Holder
The springs are prevented from engaging by
the L-shaped slot for the ground glass frame pivot hardware.
Rear
45° View - Ground Glass Frame
Locked Out - Plate Holder Partially Inserted.
When the plate holder has been fully inserted, the ground glass frame
would be pushed towards the left to allow the springs to again engage,
pressing the ground glass frame firmly onto the plate holder and the
plate holder onto the camera back.
Bottom
Top
Label, brass, on top of the rear standard:
"E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. - 591 Broadway - New York".
Three stamps of patents, top to bottom:
1) "Pat. Nov. 11, '84", clamp hooks for
making the platform rigid (but this camera does not have clamp hooks),
2) Pat. May 18, 1886", thumbscrew on
right side to lock the forward/back swing,
3) Pat. Mch. 27, 1888", spring back.
As seen on other Anthony cameras, one of the
patent dates apparently refers to a patent whose details are not present
on this camera. It would seem that Anthony stamped every camera
with all patents currently in force, rather than the worker having to
look up or figure out which patents were applicable - certainly an easy
way to ensure that a patent was not missed on a given camera.
The Zephyr fit many Anthony camera models of this era. Below, two
stirrup-shaped clips have been pulled out, allowing the end to be
removed. The plates are slid in or out from this end.
6½x8½
Label, brass metal: "E. & H.T. Anthony & Co.
- 591 Broadway - New York"
Same three stamps of patents. as above, top to bottom:
1) "Pat. Nov. 11, '84", clamp hooks for
making the platform rigid (but this camera does not have clamp hooks),
2) Pat. May 18, 1886", thumbscrew on
right side to lock the forward/back swing,
3) Pat. Mch. 27, 1888", spring back.
8 x 10
Metal label, top of rear
standard
Patent Stamps, front of platform
Construction: front and
rear focus via rack and pinion (two gear
tracks on top of base rails); single swing; reversing by two
tripod mounts
Materials: mahogany or
Circassian walnut body; mahogany or walnut base; black fabric
bellows; brass hardware
Sizes Offered: 4x5; 4¼x6½; 5x7; 5x8;
6½x8½; 8x10
Notes: could be had as just camera, or
equipment: camera & canvas case & lens & tripod
References:
Not in The International Annual of Anthony's
Photographic Bulletin, Vol. I, July 1888, page 53 (summary of
Anthony current products).
The International Annual of Anthony's Photographic Bulletin,
Vol. II, 1889,
W. J. Harrison and A. H. Elliot, eds., E. & H. T. Anthony & Co. (New
York, NY),
ads p. 53
The International Annual Anthony's Photographic Bulletin, Vol. III,
1890-1891, W. J. Harrison and A. H. Elliot, eds.,
E. & H. T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY), ads p.
101
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Equipments
and Materials for Amateurs, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY),
January 1890, pp.4-5
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Equipments
and Materials for Amateurs, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY),
January 1891, p. 5-6 (equipment); 8-9(camera)
How to Make Photographs. A Manual for
Amateurs, C. T. Roche and H.T. Anthony, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New
York, NY), 1892, p. 14
Descriptive Catalogue and Price List of Photographic Apparatus,
E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY), November 1893, p.43
(camera) and p.52 (as equipment)
The International Annual of Anthony's Photographic Bulletin Vol. VI
1894, edited by A.H. Elliott and F.P. Smith, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co.
(New York, NY), 1893, p. 83
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Equipments and Materials for
Amateurs,
E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY), September, 1894, pp. 9-10
(equipment); pp. 12-13 (camera)
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Equipments and Materials for
Amateurs, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY),
January 1895, pp. 9-10 (equipment);
pp. 12-13 (camera)
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Equipments and Materials for
Amateurs, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY), December, 1895,
pp. 9-10 (equipment); pp. 12-13 (camera)
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Equipments and Materials for
Amateurs, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY), August, 1896, pp.
9-10 (equipment); pp. 12-13 (camera)
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Materials,
Thos. H. McCollin & Co. (Philadelphia, PA)
undated, c. 1897, p. 43
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