Anyone know anything about this old camera?

[jimnotjon]

Hopefully this is the correct section!

I was today given this camera from a woman at work, cleaning out her garage and thought I might like it. I know nothing about the older cameras, and to be honest can only have an educated guess as to how it works, and what parts fit where.

It appears to be in an average to well used condition, screws missing out of it, although she gave me a canister full of different screws and fixings from the camera.

I've researched very quickly into it finding http://www.londonstereo.com/ website, which gave a bit of background to the company (and the name change of the company makes me believe the camera is pre 1860's).

Can anyone shed some more light on it before I research further? Also a rough estimate of value?


Jim

 

[jimnotjon]

 

[Alastair]

Value.. you mean you're not going to use it?

 

[Asha]

I guess there will be quite a lot of info online but obviously may take time to find the info you want.
Value....no idea really.
Personally i would look at putting it into use......

 

[Morinaka]

You might have better luck asking in the forums over at apug.org

 

[NickT]

I'm fairly sure I saw one of these at an exhibition at the British Library last summer. I had it in my mind that Brian May (Queen guitarist and astronomy Phd) had an interest in stereoscopes. Sure enough a Google for "Brian May" and "stereoscope" brings up lots of interesting hits including

http://www.brianmay.com/brian/magsandpress/SWvol33no5_08/LondonStereoReborn.html

That makes a reference to the company on Cheapside

 

[Musicman]

I've researched very quickly into it finding http://www.londonstereo.com/ website, which gave a bit of background to the company (and the name change of the company makes me believe the camera is pre 1860's).

If you're referring to the info about the company name on this page I think you may have misread it. It would suggest a date after 1859.

Moreover, CP Goertz was not founded until 1886, which suggests the camera dates after then. Indeed, he patented the Goerz-Anschutz shutter in 1889.

Your camera does look similar to this folding plate camera held by the Imperial War Museum, dating from 1900.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30004839

BTW, I'm not sure it's actually a stereo camera.

 

[Ambermile]

Looks nice - shift too. It *could* be a stereo camera just by changing the lens board as with most cameras... maybe even just the lens - I don't know. Using it would be much more gratifying than going for the money imo - but if circumstances dictate otherwise...