The camera, shown here, was sold by several British distributors, under different names, and by Stirn in Germany, who was the manufacturer of at least most of the cameras. It takes 12 glass plates, 3 ¼" x 2 ⅜". A similar quarter-plate model was also produced. The example shown here is stamped "Samuels' Patent", this refers to the metal sheath holding the plate rather than the whole camera. The camera is made of polished walnut.

A knob at the back of the camera turns to raise a leaver inside the camera which lifts the exposed plate, which can then be gripped and moved to the back of the box. Behind the last plate is a sheet of wood which can be felt, thus preventing double exposures. The dimensions are 5 ⅛" x 2 ¾" x 3 ½".

On most examples there are thumb and finger loops on the changing bag, these are shown in a Levi advertisement for the quarter-plate model and are present on the example shown here.

In Britain, the camera was sold by:

• Joseph Levi & Co.
• Hockin, Wilson as The Dot, priced at 30/- for the small size
• Vevers as The Simplex in both sizes for £1/7/6 and £2/10/0 respectively
• Talbot & Eamer as the Diamond.

The smaller of the two sizes are fairly consistent in detail, the larger, quarter-plate, models show differences to cameras that are known to be made by Stirn, it is possible that these were finished in the UK from partially constructed Stirn cameras.

The quarter-plate model, advertised by Levi, and shown in a wood-cut measured 8 ¼" x 4 ¾" x 4" and was priced at 50/-; this had a plate lifter fitted to the side and was fitted with two finders. The advertisement states that it is of English manufacture. A stereo model marked Leviathan (a Levi Trade Name) and "Samuels' Patent" is known to exist, manufactured by Stirn. Other detective cameras using the patent, or designed by Samuels include the Aurora from Sharland.

In 1887 and 1888, Samuels described several cameras at photographic meetings which relate to the camera shown here.

• May 1887 - An 'improved detective camera', described as a long rectangular box of ebonised wood. After an exposure, "The hand is then inserted in a twill sleeve, and the plate removed to the back ...". For 12 plates, focusing by a lever. Shown at a Photographic Society of Great Britain meeting. Phot. News May 27, 1887.
• May 1887 - The write-up in the BJP describes the camera as having a bag at the back, into which the hand does not enter. It took plates 4 ¼" square plates held in sheaths. As this is the same meeting, it is likely that the description in the Phot. News is wrong. BJP May 27, 1887.
• Jul 1887 - The Compactum was exhibited by H. Sharland. This had lever-focusing, a button on the side of the camera moved in a groove to raise the exposed plate in its sheath which was then grasped by finger and thumb through the bag.
• Oct 1887 - The Aurora Camera was exhibited. The woodcut shows a sliding top and changing bag, lever focusing. BJP Oct 14, 1887.
• Nov 1887 - The Aurora Camera was mentioned at the Photographic Society of Great Britain meeting. Phot. News Nov 11, 1887.
• May 1888 - Sharland's Aurora Camera was shown at meetings and was described in the BJA. It had a sliding top which covered the changing bag when not in use. It was described as an ebonised box similar to a cigar box. Photographic Society of Great Britain meeting. Phot. News May 25, 1888.

The Patents referred to are BP 843 of 1883 and 9645 of 1886, these describe changing boxes and, as part of the patent, claim the use of thin sheet-metal sheaths or carriers to hold glass plates when in a changing box. The 1886 patent also includes the use of a flexible bag to transfer the exposed plate to the back of a stack of plates.

It is difficult to see how the patent for the sheaths could have held, as the British Journal of Photography (12/7/1889) pointed out such sheaths were proposed by T. Edward Merritt as early as 1854 (patent 1696). S. W. Rouch acknowledged that he paid royalties for the use of the sheaths.