A 1896 Instantograph field camera
Lancaster and Sons
Category
Photographic technology
Date
1896
Materials
Wood, Leather, Brass, Glass
Measurements
158 x 158 x 215 mm
Place of origin
Birmingham
Order this imageCollection
Fox Talbot Museum, Wiltshire
NT 1524703.1
Summary
A 1896 Instantograph field camera.The body is mahogany and the fittings are brass. The lens plate rises and falls as well as having some side movement. The bellows is leather and the lens is mounted in brass. It is etched 'J.Lancaster & Son Patent Birmingham'. There is an iris diaphragm but the shutter' is external (catalogued as a separate item). Focussing is via a hinged ground glass screen and there is a tripod bush on the base. Two enamelled labels are on the camera: top 'The 1896 Instantograph Patent' and front 'J.Lancaster & Son Birmingham A label on the side says 'The Westminster Photographer ??? Ltd 118 Victoria St London SW'
Provenance
Part of The Fenton Collection. A gift from British Film Institute in 2017. From 1986-1999, part of BFI collection for the Museum of the Moving Image. BFI purchased collection in 1986 from James Fenton's Museum of Photography, Port Erin, Isle of Man 1976-1986
Makers and roles
Lancaster and Sons, manufacturer