A Beck Frena No. 0 magazine box camera.
Category
Photographic technology
Date
1897
Materials
Wood, Patent leather, Metal, Glass
Measurements
135 x 100 x 245 mm
Order this imageCollection
Fox Talbot Museum, Wiltshire
NT 1524876.1
Summary
A Beck Frena No. 0 magazine box camera. The camera is of wooden box construction covered in black patent leather, with a black leather carrying strap. It has an f8 rapid rectilinear lens, with aperture adjustable by using an aperture disc mounted behind the lens, and a sector shutter with adjustable sector width giving exposures from 1/5th - 1/40th second. There are two brilliant finders, for side and top view, with sliding covers. A hinged metal plate under the camera front allows access to the shutter mechanism. The rear of the camera unclips to give access to the magazine, which takes special notched Frena filmsheets ("Memorandum Size", 3 1/2 x 2 5/8th inch) which are held in the magazine by pins which are released when the changing handle on the side of the camera is rotated. The changing handle incorporates a spirit level, and a degree of rear tilt could be achieved by using this and the rotation of the magazine. The magazine contains unexposed film. Markings; "R & J Beck Ltd" and serial number 7459 on the changing handle. Serial number 7459 also stamped on the wooden frame next to the magazine holder.
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