Four lens camera

1882

J. Lancaster & Son

Birmingham

England

Lens:

Four, c.f5.6, 4" Petzval type lenses, fixed aperture.

Shutter:

Simple sliding shutter.

Construction:

Mahogany.

Format:

4 exposures, 2" x 1 ½" on a 3 ¼" x 4 ¼" plate or 8 on a 5" x 7" plate. (Victoria size).

Focusing:

To 17".

Lancaster produced a range of multi-lens cameras for Gem or Victoria size. These were essentially very similar cameras differing in the number of lenses (between 2 and 12) and whether a repeating back is fitted. When introduced in 1880 the camera had 12 lenses, two years later other sizes were introduced. The price of this example was £5.5.0.

In the early 1900s the Lancaster multi-lens cameras become a box shape with a flap or slide in front of the lenses.

References & Notes:

BJA 1890, p. 275.; BJA 1892, p. 370.; PA 1891, p. cvi.; Lothrop, Century, p. 19.

Further Information:

Coe, Cameras, p.78.

Illustrations:

Sci. Mus. Cat. p.117. Late model.

Lancaster & Son Company Details

Early Photography