Un-named Four Page Flyer for Walker's Pocket Camera, William H. Walker & Co. Undated - c.1882

2¾ x 3¼"
The canvas carrying case was stolen from a Blair No. 3 Folding Camera (for 4x5 plates) to protect this pricey early and historic camera

Bottom

Top

Plate Holder

Lens - ~~4" f.l. single achromat-type in a nickel-plated brass barrel, engraved: "Wm. H. Walker, Rochester, NY, Pats. Apld For"; the brass Waterhouse plate is double-sided, having one stop on each end.  A wooden lens cap was the shutter.

Date Introduced: - ; Years Manufactured: c.1882
Construction: fixed focus; no swing; no lens board; non-reversing
Materials: cherry; plate holders cherry or polymer
Sizes Offered: 2¾x3¼" only
Notes:

      The bottom of Walker's Pocket Camera has the infinitely-adjustable black, cast iron tripod mount also featured in the very early Rochester Optical Co. view cameras, the American Challenge Swivel Bed View Camera and the American Challenge View Camera (Wooden Bed).  This tripod mount is featured in Wm. Walker's US Patent No. 276,311 April 24, 1883, shown below.

     When I bought this camera in 2023, it had the three holders pictured above, but it did not have a carrying case.  I thought that a camera this expensive would have originally had a canvas case rather than a wooden case, so I purchased the small canvas case above to stor the camera and its holders together.  To my surprise, I subsequently found a photo of this exact camera and its three holders - posed with two small and probably original canvas carrying cases (see the website:  https://www.rarestfinds.com/rm/09288-Walker-pocket-camera.htm).  Where those original camera cases are is unfortunately unknown.

      In 2026, I found a booklet: Instructions for the Use of Walker's Pocket Cameras.  It is dated 1881, and has 36 pages & 1 page index & 1 large page appendix.

 References:
Un-named Four Page Flyer for Walker's Pocket Camera, William H. Walker & Co. Undated - c.1882
Instructions for the Use of Walker's Pocket Cameras, William H. Walker & Co., 1881 

The 1883 patent for the American Challenge Swivel-Bed View Camera contains the same infinitely-adjustable tripod head (F) as on the Walker's Pocket Camera.

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