Bee

1902

Early version

Watkins Meter Co.

Hereford

England

Meter Type:

Actinometer.

Calibration:

Plate speed: 1 - 500 Watkins; Shutter speed: 1/500 - 130; Aperture: f4 - f90.

Attributes:

Actinometer value: 2 - 130.

Identification:

Two comparison tints, rounded case, shadow to name. No reference in instructions to Queen Bee which appeared in 1903.

With:

Instructions, n.d.; Spare papers.; Steadfast disc refills (price 6d).

Early version

Meter Type:

Actinometer.

Calibration:

Plate speed: 1 - 500 Watkins; Shutter speed: 1/500 - 130; Aperture: f4 - f90.

Attributes:

Actinometer value: 2 - 130.

Identification:

Two comparison tints, rounded case, shadow to name. Price on box 2/6.

With:

Instructions, 7th edition.; Short instructions.; Speed list (1912); Spare papers. Disc refills in tin (price 6d).; Box.

Late version

1913

Meter Type:

Actinometer.

Calibration:

Plate speed: 1 - 500 Watkins; Shutter speed: 1/500 - 130; Aperture: f4 - f90.

Attributes:

Actinometer value: 2 - 130.

Identification:

One comparison tint, case with ridge, shadow to name.

With:

Disc refills (price 9d).

Late version

Meter Type:

Actinometer.

Calibration:

Plate speed: 1 - 500 Watkins; Shutter speed: 1/500 - 130; Aperture: f4 - f90.

Attributes:

Actinometer value: 2 - 130.

Identification:

One comparison tint, case with ridge, no shadow to name. price on box 4/6.

With:

Instructions, 9th edition.; Short instructions.; Speed list (1918).; Box.

Late version

Meter Type:

Actinometer.

Calibration:

Plate speed: 1 - 500 Watkins; Shutter speed: 1/500 - 130; Aperture: f4 - f90.

Attributes:

Actinometer value: 2 - 130.

Identification:

One comparison tint, case with ridge, no shadow to name. Price on box 5/-.

With:

Instructions, 11th edition.; Short instructions.; Speed list (1920).; Disc refills in tin (price 9d).; Box, marked new edition.

Late version

Meter Type:

Actinometer.

Calibration:

Plate speed: 1 - 500 Watkins; Shutter speed: 1/500 - 130; Aperture: f4 - f90.

Attributes:

Actinometer value: 2 - 130.

Identification:

One comparison tint, case with ridge, no shadow to name. Price on box 5/-.

With:

Instructions, 12th edition.; Short instructions.; Speed list (1923, 31st year of issue).; Box.

Late version

Meter Type:

Actinometer.

Calibration:

Plate speed: 1 - 500 Watkins; Shutter speed: 1/500 - 130; Aperture: f4 - f90.

Attributes:

Actinometer value: 2 - 130.

Identification:

One comparison tint, case with ridge, no shadow to name. Price on box 5/-.

With:

Instructions, 13th edition.; Short instructions.; Speed list (1925, 33rd year of issue).; Spare papers.; Box.

Late version, US dial

Meter Type:

Actinometer.

Calibration:

Plate speed: 1 - 500 Watkins; Shutter speed: 1/500 - 130; Aperture: 2 - 256.

Attributes:

Actinometer value: 2 - 130.

Identification:

One comparison tint, case with ridge, no shadow to name.

Late version

c.1931

W.H. McKaig

Hereford

England

Meter Type:

Actinometer.

Calibration:

Plate speed: 1 - 500 Watkins; Shutter speed: 1/500 - 130; Aperture: f4 - f90.

Attributes:

Actinometer value: 2 - 130.

Identification:

One comparison tint, case with ridge, no shadow to name. Price on box 5/-.

With:

Instructions, 18th edition.; Short instructions.; Leaflet on celluloid calculator.; Speed list (1936, 42nd year of issue).; Box.

Watkins Speed List

1902

Watkins Meter Co.

Hereford

England

The Speed List contained the speed of plates as measured by Watkins. It was issued regularly and was available on subscription.
1908 Jan 18, Old style. Price 1d.
1908 Mar 2, Old style. Price 1d.
1908 Aug 19, New style. Price 1d.
1922 Nov 15. Price 3d.
1928 Feb 30, 36th year of issue. Price 3d.
1928 Nov 15. Price 3d.
n.d., German text.
Notes & Addenda, n.d.

A very popular tint meter similar to the earlier Wynne meter. In use the aperture is set against the plate speed (left hand side of meter), the light value (right hand side of inner dial), as given by the sensitive paper, then points to the exposure time. The exposure values extend around the whole of the outer scale, whole values are on the right and fractions of a second on the left where the same values as the plate speeds are utilised.

Several minor variations of the Bee exist:

Originally two comparison tints were used, around 1910 there was a change to a single tint.
In 1913 the case was made thinner and a ridge was formed around the side. The stamping of the figures was improved.
Originally the word BEE had a shadow, this was removed some time after 1913.

The meter could be equipped with different and interchangeable dials:

Ordinary dial with f numbers
US dial with Uniform System numbers
Continental dial with f numbers on the continental scale, from c.1922
Special dial for cameras without f number markings
Blue glass could be fitted instead of clear, from c.1908

As well as the single or double tint other types were available:

Extra size
Bulls-eye
1/4 tint c.1910
1/16 tint c.1905
Triple tint. Comprising whole, 1/4 and 1/16 tints

The double tint was available to order after the introduction of the single tint.

From c.1908 - c.1913 the Bee was available with a small compass in the back. Stop watch meters were also produced. In later years a celluloid calculator was available (price 2/-) enabling the Bee to be used with higher speed plates and lenses.

Price variations:

1902 meter 2/6 refills 7d
1908 meter 2/6 refills 6d
Dec 1913 meter 3/6 refills 6d
Nov 1917 meter 4/6 refills 6d
Nov 1919 meter 5/- refills 9d
n.d. refills 10½d
c.1924 refills 11d

Other similar meters were produced by Watkins, some of which had dials interchangeable with the Bee (marked with an * in the table below):

Queen Bee 1903
Autochrome 1908 - 1913 *
Focal Plane 1909, gave faster shutter speeds
Indoor c.1910, used a lighter 1/16 tint *
Colour Plate 1913 *
Kinematograph 1913
Snap Shot c.1915
Studio 1915, used a lighter 1/4 tint *
Fall 1923, for roll-film cameras
Forko 1923, for Kodak cameras
Small Cine c.1925

References & Notes:

BP 27822/1902. BJA 1904, p. 916.; BJA 1905, p. 314.; BJA 1909, pp. 387, 733, 752.; BJA 1910, p.24.; BJA 1912, p. 23.; BJA 1913, p. 22.; BJA 1914, p. 22.; BJA 1916, p. 14.; BJA 1917, p. 8.; BJA 1918, p. 96.; BJA 1920, p. 104.; BJA 1921, p. 108.; BJA 1923, p. 100.; BJA 1924, p. 86.; BJA 1925, p. 74.; BJA 1926, p. 70.; BJA 1928, p. 64. Watkins Manual 1911.

Watkins Company Details

Early Photography

Bee

1902

Early version

Watkins Meter Co.

Hereford

England

Meter Type:

Calibration:

Attributes:

Identification:

With:

Early version

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With:

Late version

1913

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Late version

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Late version

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Late version

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Late version

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With:

Late version, US dial

Meter Type:

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Identification:

Late version

c.1931

W.H. McKaig

Hereford

England

Meter Type:

Calibration:

Attributes:

Identification:

With:

Watkins Speed List

1902

Watkins Meter Co.

Hereford

England

References & Notes:

Actinometers

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