E.I. Horsman Co., New York, NY
Horsman Eclipse
5x7¾"
A manufactured camera identical to the
Eclipse 2 and Eclipse 3, except in a 5 x 8" (5 x 7¾" ground glass); Serial (or Assembly) No. 27
The carrying case is an original Horsman, stamped "Eclipse", not
associated with this camera when purchased, but added to this camera
since it fits perfectly.
Bottom. The knurled set screw is a modern replacement.
Top
Close
up of single achromatic-type lens in brass barrel with integral flange
(installed with nails instead of screws. An insertable stop is
installed, held by a circular spring.
Stamp on the inside top of the carrying case
Owner Alteration and Restoration to Manufactured Specifications
As
received, the camera had been altered by the owner to have a tilting
rear standard. The rear standard is supported by an L-shaped brass
piece, while the front has a white wood spacer to make it the same
height as the rear standard.
The brass pieces and the spacer have been removed, and the camera
re-glued back together in the above images to show the camera as it was
manufactured.
Analysis of Construction to Show Horsman Manufacture
This camera appears to have been made by Horsman due to its construction. Below are three examples of identical construction to an Eclipse No. 3
1. width of both
the front and back standards are identical. The box joints have
identical width and height.
2. Same shape of
hook on the bottom to make the platform rigid (the one on the left was
installed upside-down). Same diameter tripod mount.
3. Same width of
wood used in the standards. Same slot cut for the focus locking
lever (which is missing on the right).
Date Introduced: - ;
Years Manufactured: c. 1890
Construction: rear focus
via push-pull; no swing; non-reversing; no lens board; ground glass frame hinges down
Materials: cherry body
and base; black leatherette bellows; brass hardware, varnish
finish
Sizes Offered: 5 x
8" (5 x 7¾ ground glass size)
Notes:
The E.I.
Horsman Co. made the
simple and inexpensive
Eclipse No. 2
and Eclipse
No. 3 cameras
cameras given
as prizes to children for selling magazine subscriptions.
This camera, constructed in the same manner (sides of the box showing from the front) as the Eclipse No. 2 and Eclipse No. 3, nearly identical except for the plate size of nominally 5x8. Its ground glass size is 5x7¾" for some reason, and it really doesn't look like a 5x8 plate could work. Maybe it was 5x7, but no plate holder came with the camera, so this isn't known. It is significantly larger than the half-plate No. 3. This 5x8 size was never advertised by Horsman. This camera's lens is installed directly into the camera front, and has an integral (cheap) flange, like many lenses found on the No. 2 and No. 3. The only difference between this camera and the Eclipses is that its platform is L-shaped to fit wood sliders rather than having a slotted platform to fit metal sliders.
References:
also see Dan Colucci's Horsman article:
http://members.aol.com/oct0969/hors.htm
