Graflex Fingerprint Camera
Folmer Graflex Corp.
Category
Photographic technology
Date
1918 - 1922
Materials
Wood, Leather, Metal, Glass
Measurements
150 x 164 x 320 mm
Place of origin
Rochester
Order this imageCollection
Fox Talbot Museum, Wiltshire
NT 1524900
Summary
A Graflex Fingerprint camera, designed and used for 1:1 images of fingerprints or documents. An early example of a model made 1918-1951. The body is wooden covered with black leather and is a box construction, rectangular apart from a short tapering front section. This section opens to reveal four battery driven bulbs to provide lighting on the subject abutting the front panel. The central section has a compartment for eight spare bulbs and the battery compartment. On the opposite side of this section is the lens and fixed speed shutter. The lens has the markings ‘Kodak Anastigmat F6.3 72mm. Made by Eastman Kodak Co, Rochester, N.Y. , U.S.A.’. A serial number, 89, is stamped on the body. The front has an opening metal cover and above this is a later reading ‘Finger Print Camera Made by Folmer Graflex Corporation, Rochester, N.Y., U.S.A.’ On the right is the shutter release and the top has a carrying handle. On the back of the camera is a removable cut film magazine. On the back cover of this unit is stamped ‘Graflex Cut Film Magazine Pat Sept 7 1920 Other patents pending. Made by Folmer Graflex Corporation, Rochester, N.Y., U.S.A.’
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
Folmer Graflex Corp. , manufacturer