Hand Camera

c. 1898

Newman & Guardia Ltd

London

England

Lens:

f6.3, 163 mm Zeiss Patent Anastigmat Series VIIa. Iris diaphragm to f45. Combinable lens f12.5, 285 mm front and back groups. Serial no. 30305 30306 (1898).

Shutter:

B&L Unicum shutter, speeds 1 - 1/100, B, T. Serial no. 50825.

Construction:

Leather covered mahogany body, leather bellows.

Format:

4" x 5" plates held in changing box.

Focusing:

Bellows. Double extension, scale to 2 yards.

Attributes:

Adams reflecting view-finder. Removable lens panel.

Identification:

Aluminium binding.

Movements:

Rising front.

Serial Number:

1179 .

With:

Changing box for 12 plates, with plate holders and pressure slide. Serial no. 2693.
Focusing screen.
Cases for camera and box.

This is a custom-built camera from Newman & Guardia based on their Universal range. The camera uses the Universal plate box compartment but has a fold-down base with pull-out front standard. Although the lens is a combinable there seems to be no special arrangement for using only one lens group. The lens dates to 1898.

Originally two changing boxes were supplied, numbers 2692 and 2693, 2692 has been subsequently altered onto a roll-holder, the pressure plate of 2692 is now with box 2693.

Company Details:

Newman & Guardia

Early Photography