Blair Camera Co.
Reversible Back Camera Improved Variation 4
6 ½ x 8 ½"
Label,
brass, top of front standard Date Introduced: c.
1895 ; Years Manufactured: c.1893
- c.1898 The Blair Reversible Back, Improved has been
divided into variations, the definitions of which have changed as
of 8-1-2023. Since only Variation 1
and Variation 4 appear in
Blair literature, and Variation 2
only appears as a superseded design, it is difficult to say much about
Variation 2.5 and
Variation 3. What is clear
from the Variation 1 and
Variation 4 catalog illustrations
is that the platform or base in 1890 was double braced lengthwise and
single braced crosswise, and by1895, it was a simple, un-braced frame.
But the Boston Camera Co., which was purchased by the Blair Camera Co.
in 1890, was already making the simplified platform 1888-1890 as the
Boston Camera Co.
View Camera. It is thus probable that, after the
acquisition of the Boston Camera factory, said factory continued to make
their version of the camera (the 1890 catalog already printed using the
old engraving). The only change in the camera due to the change in
ownership was the label that was added at the end. This leaves the
question of when and where Variation 2,
Variation 2.5
and Variation 3 were made -
answers unknown, but assumed to be prior to about 1891.
Reversible Back Improved Variation 1.0 (c.1887 - c.1890's): 1)
the middle base section heavily braced with wood struts, 2) the rear
standard that has single swing via angular brass hardware at its bottom,
and 3) a wide square section at the bottom of the front standard,
reinforced by the front standard hardware.
The Blair 1893
catalog states that the Reversible Back Camera and the
Champion
Reversible Back Camera are superseded in design.
This variation exists in literature engravings. There are cameras
of this variation having nickel-plated brass hardware as well as
lacquered brass hardware, combined here under one variation..
Reversible Back Improved Variation 2.0 (c.1890's): 1)
braced middle base section as in Variation 1.0, 2) the swing
hardware at the bottom of the rear standard is a rounded triangular
shape different than Variation 1, and 3) the wide square section
at the bottom of the front standard, as in Variation 1.0.
This variation has not been seen yet in literature. Reversible Back
Improved Variation 2.5 (c.1890's): Same as
Variation 2.0
except a non-braced middle base section.
Reversible Back Improved Variation 3.0 (c.1890's): 1) braced middle
base section as in Variation 1.0,
2) unlike either
Variation 1.0 or
Variation 2.0, there is a single swing via a
straight hardware piece leading from the base to a center pivot, 3) the
front standard has uniform width, rather than a wide square section at
the bottom. It has not been found yet in a Blair catalog, but,
having the same base as Variation 2.0, it probably was made about
the same time as Variation 2.0. This variation has not been
seen yet in literature. Reversubke Back Improved Variation 3.2
(c.1890's): Same as Variation 3.0 and Variation 4.0 in that it has
the tall, skinny, center swing hardware on the rear standard, and braced
middle base section. But it has the wide square section at the
bottom of its front standard, like
Variation 1.0 and Variation
2.0. Oddly, the metal brace portion of the front
standard that fills the entire wide square wood part in
Variation 1.0 and
Variation 2.0 is shorter in
Variation 3.2, as if destined
for some other variation.
Reversible Back Improved Variation 4.0 (c.1893 - c.1898): 1) all
base sections are simple and un-braced, unlike
Variation 1,
Variation 2 and Variation 3,
2) the rear swing pivots from the center via a straight hardware piece
as in Variation 3, and 3) the front standard has uniform width,
as in Variation 3, but the hardware does not extend as far up the
standard as in Variation 3. This variation has been seen in
literature engravings. This variation is virtually identical to
the Boston
Camera Co. View Camera, and may have been made in the
Boston Camera Co. factory after 1890, when The Blair Camera Co.
purchased the The Boston Camera Co.
Cases for it came
in two sizes - a long one could store more plate
holders. Trim could be made to order.
The Blair 1895 catalog states that the
Reversible Back Camera, the Combination Camera,
and the Champion Reversible Back Camera are superseded in
design.
References:
Construction: front focus
via rack and pinion (two gear tracks on top of base rails);
single swing; reversing by removable back; three-piece lens board
Materials: mahogany wood body; cherry base;
black fabric bellows; brass hardware
Sizes Offered: 5x7; 5x8; 6 ½x8 ½; 8x10
Notes:
Illustrated Catalogue and Price List of
Photographic Apparatus and Supplies, Section A, Blair Camera Co.
(Boston, MA), 1893, p.5 (as The Improved
Central Swing Back)
Illustrated Catalogue and Price List of Photographic Apparatus and
Supplies, Blair Camera Co. (Boston, MA), 1895, pp. 2-5 (one
engraving pm page 2 is of Variation 4 and another on page 4 (from
the bottom) is of Variation 1).
Illustrated Catalogue and Price List of
the Hawkeye and All Styles of Tripod Cameras and Accessories,
Blair Camera Co. (Boston, MA), 1896, pp. 3-5
Catalogue of
Photographic Apparatus and Supplies, Blair Camera Co. (Boston, MA),
1897, pp. 4-5
Catalogue of Hawk-Eye Cameras and Photographic Supplies Season of
1898, Blair Camera Co., Boston, MA), 1898, pp. 4-5
ad reprint in "Anthony, The Man, The Company, The Cameras", p. 276
