Optimus Magazine - Antique and Vintage Cameras

Optimus Magazine

c. 1890

Perken, Son & Rayment

London

England

Image of Optimus Magazine

Lens:
f6, 5" Rapid Euryscope Detective, Waterhouse stops marked f6 - f32.

Shutter:
Sector type, spring powered, friction pad to regulate speed.

Construction:
Polished mahogany with brass binding.

Format:
12, 3 ¼" x 4 ¼" plates held in internal changing mechanism.

Focusing:
Fixed.

Attributes:
Two reflecting view-finders.

Serial Number:
3666 .

With:
6 Waterhouse stops in pouch. Key to lock camera.

This is a typical magazine detective camera of the 1890s. The glass plates are loaded in a grooved frame at the top of the camera and rest on the dark chamber. By moving the frame backwards a plate drops into the focal plane. The exposed plates also move backwards.

The BJA of 1900 shows a similar camera except that it contains a focusing device. BJA 1896 shows a similar camera but with a T-P shutter. Advertisements give the number of plates as 12. In this example the first position has been blocked off with a piece of wood as a light-baffle. The price was £7.7.0.

References & Notes:
PA 1891, pp. 318, cxxix. BJA 1890, p. 80. BJA 1896.

Illustrations:
Christie's Cat 2/9/1999 lot 288 and 15/5/1992 lot 295. Similar cameras.


Company Details:

Perken, Son & Rayment

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