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Unknown Field Camera 2
8 x 10
Date Introduced: - ;
Years Manufactured: c. 1890
Construction: front focus
via rack and pinion (single gear track in middle of base); single
swing; reversing by removable back
Materials: mahogany body; cherry base;
black leatherette bellows (may be a replacement); brass hardware
Sizes Offered: 8x10 (illustrated);
Notes:
In design, this camera bears
resembles an
American Optical "St. Louis"., in that it is a
front focus camera having a narrow front extension, and that the ground
glass frame is spring loaded to float over the plate holder
when it is inserted. However, the
hardware is entirely unique, especially its large, trapezoidal sheets
that clip the back at the top (which actually bear
some resemblance to early Blair clips), the complex-shaped swing
plate (illustrated in the detail above), and the spring-loaded mechanism
that makes the bed rigid (see the top photo).
Also rather unusual is the over-use of screws - most of them appear to
be original to the camera.
References:
