Projector lamphouse.
Category
Photographic technology
Date
1850 - 1910
Materials
Metal, Asbestos
Measurements
510 x 275 mm; 550 mm (Length)
Collection
Fox Talbot Museum, Wiltshire
NT 1525229.1
Summary
Projector lamphouse. It is an all metal construction mounted on 4 metal feet which are slotted to attach to rails in some way. The front feet are slotted vertically as though to fix the unit in position. The back feet are slotted horizontally as though the unit is first pulled onto a back rail and then settled into position on the front rail. There is a handle built into the base on the right side presumably to aid handling onto the stand. The back of the lamphouse is mostly open with just a rectangular mesh screen covering the top 130mm. The top of the lamphouse hinges from the front and lifts to reveal a further mesh screen at the back again approx 130mm in depth. Inside the lamphouse is lined with metal sheets which are covered possibly with asbestos and finally with a painted suface which is white to increase light reflection. The floor has a metal gallery to take the illuminants metal sledge base. Each side of the lamphouse there is a door which opened from hinges at the front and closed by a turnbuckle at the rear. Each door has a rectangular porthole with removable red glass. The hinge straps are cast with piercings to read T.A.C. Both doors are now fixed shut. A heavy metal collar is mounted on to the front of the lamphouse with four bolts. To the front of the collar are two munting lugs which position the condenser lens assembly. On the sides of the collar there are four tapped holes to take the bolts that secure a metal plate to which in turn is secured the conical front element of the lens assembly. There is no threading to this element but it may be designed to take a draw tube objective lens assembly.
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