Baby Sibyl - Antique and Vintage Cameras

Baby Sibyl

1912

Newman & Guardia Ltd

London

England

Image of Baby Sibyl

Lens:
f4.5, 7.5 cm Zeiss Tessar, iris diaphragm to f32. Serial no. 228671 .

Shutter:
Spring powered rotary sector type with pneumatic regulation, speeds 1/2 - 1/200, B, T.

Construction:
Leather covered metal body, leather bellows.

Format:
4.5 x 6 cm plates held in double dark-slides.

Focusing:
Bellows to 4 feet, scale to 2 yards.

Attributes:
Direct-vision (lens/lens) view-finder.

Identification:
Without cross front markings.

Movements:
Rising front, cross front.

Serial Number:
B482 .

Notes:
Address: 17 & 18 Rathbone Place. London. W. (1909 - 1929).

With:

  • 3 double dark-slides, early type with brass frames and spring catch in the tab of the draw slide.
  • Film pack adapter.
  • Pouch for camera. Pigskin case for camera and slides, J.A. Sinclair retailer's label with 9 & 10 Charing Cross address, this is probably from when the camera was sold second hand.

Pre-war model produced in 1914.

Baby Sibyl

1912

Newman & Guardia Ltd

London

England

Image of Baby Sibyl

Lens:
f4.5, 75 mm Ross Xpres, iris diaphragm to f32. Serial no. 86136 (c.1918).

Shutter:
Spring powered rotary sector type with pneumatic regulation, speeds 1/2 - 1/200, B, T.

Construction:
Leather covered metal body, leather bellows.

Format:
4.5 x 6 cm plates held in double dark-slides.

Focusing:
Bellows to 4 feet, scale to 2 yards. Second scale for telephoto to 5 yards.

Attributes:
Direct-vision (lens/lens) view-finder.

Identification:
Without cross front markings.

Movements:
Rising front, cross front.

Serial Number:
B953 .

Notes:
Address: 17 & 18 Rathbone Place. London. W. (1909 - 1929).

With:

  • f6.5, 5 ¼" Dallmeyer Dallon telephoto lens. Iris to f32, focus to 4 ½ yards. Lens cap, Leather case. Serial no. 101489 (1920).
  • 6 double dark-slides (1 - 12), brass frames, square tops.
  • Film pack adapter, inside stamped N&G. London. W.
  • Beta, (yellow) filter in box. Gamma, (green) filter in box. K1 filter.
  • N&G Folding Lens Hood.
  • Focusing hood for screen, with magnifier.
  • Tripod boards. Watson cable release with camera attachment.
  • Instructions. Fitted case.

The Baby is the smallest of the Sibyl range, some early versions, fitted with Cooke or Tessar lenses, had rise and cross front calibration on the front standard, later models do not. The Xpres lens replaced the Tessar in c.1914. A Dallon telephoto was introduced in 1920.

Normally the focusing screen is without a hood. A detachable hood is with this example, to fit it to the camera a wooden frame surrounds the normal screen. The hood was patented in 1921 and advertised by N&G shortly afterwards. Surrounding the magnifier in the hood the figures "3'25" are engraved.

The Dallon was sold with the camera as the view-finder has a second frame outline engraved on it and a second focusing scale is engraved on the baseboard. Only about 1450 Baby Sibyls were made, most being manufactured before 1920, production continued until around 1940.

The price in 1920 was £21.11.6.

References & Notes:
N&G Cameras. N&G Serial Numbers. Sibyl shutter. BP 8721/1912. BP 8722/1912. BP 183626/1921 (focusing hood). BJA 1913, p. 734.


Company Details:

Newman & Guardia

Sibyl - Original

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Special Sibyl

Sibyl Imperial

Sibyl De Luxe

Postcard Sibyl

Roll-film Sibyl

Roll-film Baby Sibyl

New Special Sibyl

Roll-film New Special Sibyl

New Ideal Sibyl

Roll-film New Ideal Sibyl

Baby Sibyl

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Sibyl Excelsior

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Roll-Film Vesta

Vesta

Focal Plane Vesta

Stereo Vesta

Verto

Zambex

No 1 Gleaner

Imperial Pocket

APM

Dallmeyer Speed

Dual

Cameo

Stereo-Cameo

Super Speed Cameo

Coronet

Vogue

Soho Cadet

Soho Pilot

Soho Raven

TEB No. 5

Carbine

Regular Ensign

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Popular Ensign

Watch Pocket Carbine

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All-Distance Pocket Ensign

Ensign Pocket Twenty

Ensign Selfix '20'

Auto-speed

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Selfix 820 Special

Selfix 12-20 Special

Rangefinder Agifold