F.O.P. Frena

1901

R & J Beck

London

England

Lens:

f11, 4 ¼" single achromat apertures on a sector marked in US 8, 16, 32, 64.

Shutter:

Clarke's patent, speeds 1/10, 1/20, 1/40, 1/80. Sector type, spring powered, adjustable sector size to vary exposure.

Construction:

Leather covered wood body.

Format:

40 cut films or 20 glass plates, 2 ⅝" x 3 ½".

Focusing:

Fixed.

Attributes:

F.O.P. stands for 'film or plate', the camera could be loaded with either Frena film packs or plates held in carriers. The usual pin method for holding and releasing the film is used. Exposed films are tipped into a reservoir which is raised in front of the film chamber and then lowered again. The film chamber does not revolve as in other Frenas. Automatic exposure counter.

Serial Number:

19511 .

In the early years of the 20th century many magazine cameras coming on the market were selling for £1 - £2. Generally known as Guinea cameras, most often they employed a falling plate mechanism. The F.O.P. was Beck's response to this market. The cheapest ordinary Frena cost £2.15.0 and although well-made was expensive for its specification, the F.O.P. sold for half this.

The changing mechanism is a simplified version of the Frena. The shutter/aperture arrangement is the same as the Frena except in detail. General construction is of wood with fibreboard used for the back and base.

The F.O.P. did not prove popular and after a couple of years was replaced by the Dai Cornex range of magazine cameras. The price was £1.1.0. Glass plate carriers were extra. Sets of close-up lenses (3 in a set) could be used for focusing, two sets being available.

Variations:

No 11 - f8 Beck Rapid Rectilinear lens.
No 12 - f6.3 Beck-Steinheil Orthostigmat.

References & Notes:

BP 9820/1892. BP 23315/1892. BP 2566/1893 (frame counter). BJA 1902, p. 1390. BJA 1903, p. 932. BJP 28/2/1902, p. 173.

Company Details:

Beck

Early Photography