Sibyl

Model No. 5

1908

Newman & Guardia Ltd

London

England

Lens:

f6.3, 112 mm Zeiss Tessar, iris diaphragm to f45. Serial no. 96094 .

Shutter:

Spring powered sector with pneumatic regulation. Speeded 1/2 - 1/100, T. The T setting is achieved by a short depress when set to 1/2. Not self-capping.

Construction:

Leather covered metal body with leather bellows.

Format:

2 ½" x 3 ½" plates held in single metal slides.

Focusing:

Bellows to 1.5 yards, scale to 2 yards. Two focusing positions: plates (marked 1), film packs (marked 2).

Attributes:

Direct-vision (lens/pointer) view-finder.

Movements:

Rising front.

Serial Number:

159 .

Notes:

Address on camera: Newman & Guardia. 90 & 92 Shaftesbury Avenue. W. (1897 - 1909).

With:

Focusing screen back.; 6 single metal slides (1 - 6) in N&G case.; Film Pack Adapter; Tripod boards.

This camera is more-or-less the same as the original model but has a black painted front standard rather than plain aluminium. In 1908/09 model numbers were given to the Sibyl range, these are often stamped on the focusing frame. A carrying handle is fitted to this example, it appears to be correct but is not shown in advertisements of the time.

The Sibyl had an aluminium body making it very light and compact, the price of £10.10.0 (1908) was not high for a camera with its specification and high quality lens. Probably a little over 800 of these Sibyls (including Imperial models) were made before being replaced by a newer range in 1913.

References & Notes:

N&G Cameras.; N&G Serial Numbers.; Sibyl shutter.; BJA 1906, pp. 142, 875.; BJA 1907, pp. 28A, 1550.; BJA 1908, p. 80.; BJA 1909, p. 80.; BJA 1910, p. 80.; BJA 1911, p. 84.; BJA 1912, p. 97.

Newman & Guardia Company Details

Early Photography