A Perken Son and Rayment Optimus folding camera.
Perken, Son and Rayment
Category
Photographic technology
Date
1900
Materials
Mahogany, Brass, Glass, Leather
Measurements
Camera closed 200 x 220 x 83 mm
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Fox Talbot Museum, Wiltshire
NT 1524734.1
Summary
A Perken Son and Rayment Optimus camera made c.1900. The camera is a 6½ x 4¾ folding plate camera. The lens mount has become detached from the black, square-cornered leather bellows. The rack and pinion focus adjust, when functioning, would extend to approximately 15" (380mm). The camera is made of mahogany,with surface-mounted brass fittings, a leather handle to the top, and a tripod fixture under the baseboard. On the back of the camera is a ground glass focusing screen.
Provenance
A 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
Perken, Son and Rayment, manufacturer