Stereoscopic Camera
Country
England
See full details
Object detail
Description
Stereoscopic camera with ground glass camera back and and three double dark plate holders with carrying case.
Camera's adjustable lens plate is for a singular lens, and the lens is missing. The outer moving lens plate is engraved with the London Stereoscopic Company's maker's details. The sides of the camera are covered in Moroccan grained leather, with one end containing the viewfinder and brass f/stop chart. The top end has an adjustable leather handle with metal clasps. The opposite face has all of the adjustment knobs and dials. Inside, there is a cloth backing that has been painted with red cursive text 'Ottomar Auschutz \ Lissa/Posen/'. In front of this is the ground glass back and folding leather viewing bellows.
The case is brown leather with green velvet lining - both very worn. Two internal pockets. One contains camera, the other three plate holders which appear to be ebonite, plastic and steel. Each side is marked with a number at the top.
Camera's adjustable lens plate is for a singular lens, and the lens is missing. The outer moving lens plate is engraved with the London Stereoscopic Company's maker's details. The sides of the camera are covered in Moroccan grained leather, with one end containing the viewfinder and brass f/stop chart. The top end has an adjustable leather handle with metal clasps. The opposite face has all of the adjustment knobs and dials. Inside, there is a cloth backing that has been painted with red cursive text 'Ottomar Auschutz \ Lissa/Posen/'. In front of this is the ground glass back and folding leather viewing bellows.
The case is brown leather with green velvet lining - both very worn. Two internal pockets. One contains camera, the other three plate holders which appear to be ebonite, plastic and steel. Each side is marked with a number at the top.
Classification
PHOTOGRAPHY Cameras Still stereo camera
PHOTOGRAPHY Camera Accessories carrying case
PHOTOGRAPHY Camera Accessories plate magazine
PHOTOGRAPHY Camera Accessories carrying case
PHOTOGRAPHY Camera Accessories plate magazine
Production place
Measurements
Camera: L210 x W150 x H70 mm
Plates: L196 x W120 x H20 mm
Case: L115 x W300 x H232 mm
Plates: L196 x W120 x H20 mm
Case: L115 x W300 x H232 mm
Media/Materials description
Ebonite, wood, steel, leather, glass, brass, velvet
Signature/Marks
THE LONDON STEREOSCOPIC CO. \ 106 & 108.REGENT ST. \ LONDON.W.
[f/stop conversion chart]
<inside camera> Ottomar Anshutz \ Lissa/Posen/
<inside camera> 22759 \ 74 \ T
<on top of each plate> 1 \ 2 \ 3 \ 4 \ 5 \ 6
[f/stop conversion chart]
<inside camera> Ottomar Anshutz \ Lissa/Posen/
<inside camera> 22759 \ 74 \ T
<on top of each plate> 1 \ 2 \ 3 \ 4 \ 5 \ 6
History and use
This camera, dating to the late 19th century, was owned and used by Mr Fred Port, an early freelance news photographer in Brisbane. Port’s main body of photographic work was not for stereo viewers, but he owned a variety of photographic devices, inlcuding miniature and aerial cameras.
Inscriptions inside the London Stereoscopic camera indicate that part of this object was designed by Ottomar Anschütz, a German photographer and inventor who patented a wide variety of photographic apparatus including reflex viewing screens, shutters and change bags. This would date this camera to somewhere between 1894 and 1907, when the patents were issued.
When stereoscopic imagery was extremely popular in the 1860s, the London Stereoscopic Company, who made this camera, was at the forefront of the trade, selling cards and cameras. Later, when there was a revival of stereoscopic images at the turn of the century, the Company was competing with many other large brand names. The company closed in 1922, shortly before a third revival in stereoscopic photography.
Queensland Museum owns a large collection of Port’s camera equipment and resulting photographs. These items tell the story of early twentieth century professional photography in Queensland.
Uploaded to the Web 27 May 2011.
Inscriptions inside the London Stereoscopic camera indicate that part of this object was designed by Ottomar Anschütz, a German photographer and inventor who patented a wide variety of photographic apparatus including reflex viewing screens, shutters and change bags. This would date this camera to somewhere between 1894 and 1907, when the patents were issued.
When stereoscopic imagery was extremely popular in the 1860s, the London Stereoscopic Company, who made this camera, was at the forefront of the trade, selling cards and cameras. Later, when there was a revival of stereoscopic images at the turn of the century, the Company was competing with many other large brand names. The company closed in 1922, shortly before a third revival in stereoscopic photography.
Queensland Museum owns a large collection of Port’s camera equipment and resulting photographs. These items tell the story of early twentieth century professional photography in Queensland.
Uploaded to the Web 27 May 2011.
Associated person
Registration number
H889
Share
