It is assumed that these firms are related. Edgar Scamell is given as the propriety of T. Naylor & Sons. They are listed as manufacturers, probably to the trade. From 1895 Chas. G. Collins is at 13 Greek Street, around 1896/97 the London Camera Co. is at the same address. A folding bed camera with automatically self-erecting front was patented by T.C. Naylor in 1892.

These firms were agents for German photographic companies, what the relationship between them was is not clear. The dates above are for their involvement in the photographic trade. From 1923 until around 1926 they were the agents for Ernemann, Elephant brand papers and Cellofix paper.

Henry (Enrico Angelo Ludovico) Negretti (b.1818, d.1879) and Joseph Warren Zambra (b.1822, d.1897) founded Negretti & Zambra in 1850 specialising in metrological instruments. Negretti had previously been a barometer maker. During the 1850s and 60s they were leading retailers of stereoscopic equipment. In 1918 the firm dropped their interest in optical instruments to concentrate on industrial and aeronautical equipment.

Prior to Pizzi & Negretti, Henry Negretti was working for Jane Pizzi, widow of Valentine Pizzi, from around 1840. He may have previously have been at 20 Greville St. as a glass blower.

In the 1880s, and probably before, the manager of the Holborn shop was R. Willats possibly connected with T & R Willats. J.W. Zambra left the partnership in 1892.

Founded by J. Guardia (d.1906) and Arthur Samuel Newman (b.1860, d.1943).

According W.B. Ferguson writing in the Photographic Journal (Sept. 1936) Newman was working for the microscope maker F & C Robins of Aldersgate St. from 1877. In 1880 he moved to H & E.J. Dale (electricians in Little Britain), when Dale bought out the business of F.J. Cox he transferred to their photographic workshop, this was the period when Jimmy Hare (son of George) was working at Dale.

Newman must have left Dale around 1886 when his newly developed shutter was marketed. In an 1888 advertisement the French firm of A. Laverne & Co. claim to possess the sole rights of the shutter but it was also sold by other companies (including Hinton and Abraham/Adams) so possibly Laverne were wholesalers. From around 1889 Laverne also sold a Newman shutter for detective cameras. Around 1888 Frank Lindsay-Simpson joined Newman to form Newman & Simpson, at this time they were general scientific manufacturers specialising in photographic work. One of their customers was the firm of Robert Abraham (later Adams & Co). The partnership did not last long, Simpson left in 1891 along with, according to Ferguson, their 20 workmen to work for Adams. This was probably the formation of the short lived firm of Simpson & Hill who were supplying Adams.

Until late 1891 Newman & Simpson were major suppliers to Adams, Newman shutters were mentioned by name in Adams advertisements and Newman and Adams worked jointly on patents. From 1892 the range of Adams products, in particular their cameras, increased significantly. One explanation for the Newman and Adams split is that increased work for Adams would have tied up resources and prevented Newman from developing his own range of cameras and pursuing other routes to market.

Newman then formed Newman & Guardia in 1891. Newman left the company in 1908 due to business difficulties arising from the death of Guardia and was later in partnership with J.A. Sinclair.

Newman & Guardia Ltd was wound up in the early 1970s, there was also a Newman & Guardia A-V Sales Ltd that was wound up around this time.

An article in the 1892 BJP notes that there are 40 people working for N&G. Articles in the BJP for 1893 list their range of cameras and show the early Nydia.

The Farringdon St. address is on the west side between Charles St. and Clerkenwell, near Cross St.

The partnership between Arthur Samuel Newman and Frank Lindsay-Simpson was dissolved around Nov. 1891.

S.J. Levi & Co. were also at the 71 Farringdon address around 1890.

Founded by A.S. Newman and J.A. Sinclair. Early products included the N&S shutter but the majority of the output was the highly regarded range of cine cameras.

The Newtons were an old established family working in the diverse areas of globe making, patent agents and as civil engineers. Advertisements claim establishment in 1704. John Newton (b.1759, d.1844) worked from 97 Chancery Lane from c.1780, John's son William (b.1786, d.1861) joined the firm forming J & W Newton. Miles Berry joined the firm in 1831 forming Newton, Son & Berry which lasted to 1841. Berry was the patent agent for Daguerre and was issued the first Photographic patent in England. William's son, William Edward (b.1818, d.1879) was part of the Fleet St branch.

The firm were important suppliers of lantern slides and equipment they also sold cameras and equipment during the wet-plate and early dry-plate periods. In 1920 the two partners in the firm, Herbert Charles Newton and Russell Stuart Wright separated, Newton continued at the King St. address selling lantern slides and Wright at the Wigmore St. address selling optical instruments, both firms continued to use the Newton & Co name.

Newton was part of, or associated with, Metroplitan-Vickers from around the late 1940s. M-V and British Thomson-Houston (BTH) were both part of AEI.

Henry Newton ran a wholesale and export business, a full range of items was covered but prominence was given to paper, collodion and chemicals. In the 1870s lenses by the major makers were listed as well as cameras 'made to order by our workmen', given the lack of emphasis given to cameras these were probably sourced elsewhere. In the 1880s their own brand lenses form a prominent part of advertisements, possibly Newton had taken up lens manufacture on a small scale or they were re-branded. In 1884 Sharp's patent Tripod was advertised, this would be H.B. Sharp who worked at Newtons (BP 3510/1884) and later founded Sharp & Hitchmough. The firm was taken over by Fred. V.A. Lloyd in 1891.

Listed as manufacturers, active in the 1890s and early 1900s.

Agents for Leitz, until c.1928, and for Franke & Heidecke until 1929. Leitz (London) were at the Mortimer Street address from 1928.

Established around 1851, probably ceased trading in the late 1860s. In an 1867 advertisement they note that they have been manufacturing for Ross for 15 years and that Mr Collis was previously working for Ross for 13 years. The partnership with William Morgan was dissolved in April 1855. In 1862 Ottewill was discharged from bankruptcy but proceedings were renewed in 1864 and 1865.

Ottewill cameras, especially earlier models, are of the highest quality both in workmanship and design. During the Ottewill, Collis & Co. period the workmanship is more variable. Most of their cameras were made of Spanish mahogany, though some such as the 'Captain Fowke' camera were available in teak. The Registered Camera of 1853 includes a complicated folding mechanism of his own design. Their cameras often carry the name plaque of the retailer e.g. Ross, Negretti & Zambra.

Thomas Ottewill b.1821, Maidstone Kent. In 1861 he was living at the Charlotte Terrace address, he was no longer there by 1865.

Founded in 1881 by W.J. Wilson (b.1842, d.1917) and T.C. Whitfield. 'Prize' comes from a prize offered by Joseph Paget in 1880 for the best dry plate process which was won by Wilson. Their first plates were called XV, XXX and XXXXX, indicating 15, 30 and 50 times the speed of a wet-plate. In 1921 they became part of APM, later APEM and then Ilford.

Predominantly manufacturers to the trade but some cameras carry their own name plaque. Many of their cameras were retailed by Fallowfield. An advertisement from 1889 says that Park was with Meagher for 7 years, 8 years with Hare and that he has 26 years experience, this would give a date of around 1878 for the start of the firm unless he worked elsewhere for a few years. Another advertisement says that customers are able to choose the particular plank of wood that was to be used to make the camera and that they had around 70,000 square feet of seasoned timber in stock. Cameras could also be made to a customer's own design.

In the census of 1881 Henry Park (b.1848, d.5/4/1907) describes himself as a photographic apparatus manufacturer, at the time he was living at 18 Downham Rd. Hackney. He married Eliza Darch on 17/6/1876. By 1891 he was living at 99 De Beauvoir Rd. Dalston, at his death his effects amounted to £209.

Acton St. was between 296 - 298 Kingsland Rd. Orchard Bldgs was 1 - 18 Acton St. Station Bldgs was the same location. In 1882 1 Orchard Bldgs was occupied by Henry Squire, cabinet and pianoforte maker.

Manufacturers, used the Merito brand name.

Scientific instrument maker and very early manufacturer of cinematographic equipment and film maker.

John Buxton Payne (d.1926) was in partnership with J.T. Chapman until 1874, he was later manager at Mawson & Swan. Payne & Chapman took over the business and premises of Robert Hampson in 1871. Before Hampson, 63 Piccadilly was occupied by J.J. Pyne.

Listed as manufacturers, from the mid 1880s shutters are shown, later field cameras are advertised, though in one advertisement the camera shown is clearly by Billcliff.

Thomas Peele (b.Durham 1814) is listed as a Daguerreotype artist in 1851 and as a photographic apparatus manufacturer from 1861 to after 1873.

Formed by Robert Edward Peeling and van Neck but described as 'formerly Goerz Optical Works', in the years immediately following WW1 they produced the British Anschütz camera and later the VN Press camera. They were importers and distributors for Goerz from 1923 to 1927, Voigtländer from 1927 to 1933 as well as Deckel and Foth. The post WWII firm of Peeling & Komlosy, the distributors of Zeiss-Ikon, were probably connected.

Suppliers of printing and process equipment. From 1927 Penrose became Hunter-Penrose. The firm was founded in 1893 by Andrew Wybrant Penrose (d.1918) and William Gamble.

Advertisements claim establishment in 1852, in 1854 they were described as importers of foreign goods. They are known to have made cameras and lenses for other companies; one camera exists with the label "Lejeune & Perken made for J.T. Chapman" and lenses were supplied to M.W. Dunscombe.

Perken Son & Rayment was dissolved at the end of 1899 when Arthur Rayment left the partnership, the business was continued as Perken, Son & Co from 1/1/1900 by Frederick Louis Perken and Edgar Theodore Perken. The company was registered in March 1900 with capital of £1000.

The partnership between Petschler and Benjamin Consterdine, trading as H. Petschler & Co, was dissolved in 1862. The business continued under the same name and later under the name of The Manchester Photographic Co. (Ltd). Helmuth Louis Friedrich Martin Petschler was made bankrupt in 1866. The Manchester Photographic Co. (Ltd) was wound up in 1868.

Mainly known for their stock of lanterns but they also listed field cameras for a period.

Agents for Voigtländer until 1927 and for Rodenstock.

The company was formed in 1897 with a share capital of £30,000 to 'acquire the inventions of Cresco-Fylma and Hannam Ltd and to manufacture and trade in mounts, albums, cameras and other photographic goods'. Three of the subscribers were A.J.E. Hill (of 13 Haverfield Gdns, Kew), A.A. Barratt and J. Hannam. Photo Ltd was issued two patents in conjunction with Albert John Eves Hill one for a camera the other for embossing prints. They sold equipment under their own name, e.g. the Kalos shutter (which was also sold under the Adams & Co name). Their registered address was given as 72 & 74 Gray's Inn. In 1903 the business was sold to MacLaurin & Co. Ltd. J.P. MacLaurin, who had previously worked at Photo Ltd, was manager.

A.J.E. Hill is sometimes described as manager of Cresco-Fylma Co. of Kingston. Patents were issued jointly to Hill and Barratt for a type of gelatine film that would expand during processing thus producing larger images, this was produced by Cresco. The secretary of Cresco-Fylma is shown as Harry Allen.

Briefly listed in the late 1880s as manufacturers and dealers with a wide range of stock. The Barbican and Australian Av. addresses were previously occupied by J.M. Copeland, photographic dealer. The stock, goodwill etc. of the company was sold to G. Houghton in 1889 for £630. Philip Mordaunt is shown as manager.

The Kelly directories list the PACSA as at the Charterhouse address from 1877 to 1890, they are also listed at 251 Goswell Rd (which is close to Charterhouse Square) from 1878 to 1881. In 1879 the secretary is shown as Capt. H. Kerr later as E. Huntley and by 1889 as T.V. Nolan with W. Whittingham as M.D.

A winding up order was issued in 1884 stating that the assets of the company were to be sold including the factory at 43 Charterhouse. This corresponds to a period when they are not listed in the Kelly Directory. Following that period they, or a similar concern, re-surface at the same address.

PACSA stated that they either manufactured items or purchased from the manufacturers for retail to their customers. They operated somewhat like a co-operative, people would buy an entrance ticket (5 shillings) and at the end of the year excess profits were distributed amongst ticket holders who had purchased goods to a total value of £20 or more. PACSA was a limited company with a paid up capital of £8,500, which is a very large amount. Since a dividend of 5% was paid to the shareholders there may not have been much to distribute to the ticket holders.

Also known as W.B. Whittingham & Co. The company name and address are very similar to the previous entry with which Whittingham was also associated. There was also a Charterhouse Press run by Whittingham.

This was a name used by Joseph Cundall and his various partners, they were predominantly photographers and publishers but also supplied photographic goods. Their prices for photographs are interesting, an untouched portrait was priced at one guinea, a coloured military portrait 'extra finished, large size' cost 10 guineas.

Retailer.

The partnership between Richard Weare, Wm. P. Piggott and Thomas Weare, watch makers, opticians and mathematical instrument makers of Birkenhead and Oxford St. London, was dissolved in 1849. The partnership between Wm. P. Piggott and Thomas Body, opticians and mathematical instrument makers of Wardrobe Place and Oxford St. was dissolved in 1849.

Founded in 1879 by William Willis the inventor of the platinotype process (first patented in 1873 and introduced around 1879. BP 2011/1873). The partnership between Willis and Herbert Bowyer Berkeley was dissolved in 1884. The company was wound up in 1931.

The large increase in the price of platinum during WW1 made the platinum printing process largely unaffordable, other processes such as Satista paper (1914), were introduced as alternatives.

As well as platinotype paper and materials the company sold a detective camera called the Key (BP 5337/1889).

Suppliers to the trade. They list themselves as brass finishers, bellows makers and optical lantern manufacturers. Around 1891 D.J. Witte was taken into partnership but this lasted only a few years.

Purchased by the European Blair Co. in 1896.

John Alfred Prestwich was an engineer and manufacturer of early cinematographic equipment.

Formed around 1897 by Edwin Gladstone Price and Henry Hill, a patent was granted to the firm in that year.

There would seem to be a connection between 'Price, Hill' and 'Price, Talbot'. Henry Hill is possibly the same as collaborated with A.L. Adams. In 1901 E.G. Price started a metal-working firm called The Mechanical Construction Co. based at Cross Deep Twickenham.

The brand name 'Kalos' is sometimes used by the company.

Price, Talbot, described as camera manufacturers, took over the 26 Ludgate Hill premises of H. Dale & Co. Price, Talbot was wound up in July 1891. Either the winding up took a long time or the company was reconstituted as another winding up meeting was held in 1896 this time at 4 Berry St, the premises of Price, Hill & Co. The Scientific Appliance Manufacturing Co. Ltd trading from the same address may have been connected.

Purma Cameras Ltd head offices were in Queen St. Mayfair, Kirby St. then Sutton and later Glamorgan. Joseph Terrett, named on some Purma patents, had an address in Kirby St. William Barton Wood, a patentee of a Purma camera which was not put into production, had an address in Sutton.

Purser was the UK distributor for Busch, in 1903 a separate company was set up to handle cameras (Busch Camera Co.) while Henry F. Purser continued to distribute lenses. In 1905 Emil Busch Optical Co. (which incorporated Busch Camera Co.) handled both cameras and lenses. The firm of Henry F. Purser remained in business after the creation of Emil Busch Optical Co. The creation of the Busch Camera Co. corresponds with the purchase of the Mangold Photo Works in 1902 specifically to manufacture cameras.

Joseph John Pyne (b. 1829). In Slater's directory of 1863 he is described as a pharmaceutical and dispensing chemist and manufacturer and importer of photographic apparatus, the 1859 Photographic News has an advertisement by Pyne. Pyne took over the business and premises of George Danson in the mid 1850s, around 1868 the business passed to Robert Hampson.