I have a small antique metal fold-out camera which carries the name 'The London Stereoscopic Co., 106 & 108 Regent St W'. I wonder if you have any interest in it.
I think it is working, at least the shutter is working. It has a black metal faceplate with a rectangular sliding viewfinder glass with crosshairs that projects to the left of the camera when one slides it out. The sliding plate containing the viewfinder cocks the shutter when it is slid to the right fully - the release button on the top right causes the shutter to open, allowing light through the round aperture, to expose the slide at the back of the bellows. But there is no lens in the round aperture: can this result in a focussed image, or is there a part of the camera missing? I can't see where a lens could fit: it couldn't go on the front without blocking the sliding plate, and I don't think it could go inside; is there such a thing as a lensless camera?
It is a beautifully packaged and seemingly complete set, down to the ivory notepad and pencil, and in beautiful condition; the bellows is like new. There are some screws missing from the faceplate - someone obviously had it open in the past, and there is a mechanism broken at the bottom left of the faceplate. But until I had some idea of how it is supposed to work, it's hard to say if it is complete or not.
Maybe one of you can identify the camera, and I can figure out what needs to be done to restore it.It is very compact, measuring about 114mm x 70 mm x 50mm when closed, but the width increases to 125mm when the bellows is extended. It uses 74mm x 110 mm ELGE Brevite S606 plate holder slides. When the viewfinder plate is slid to the left, it exposes a circular aperture in the centre of the faceplate, but no lens is visible. The number No 4348 is printed on the bottom of the faceplate. The camera folds down very neatly, and it and 12 slides fit very snugly into a fine tan leather case with royal blue lining and shoulder strap. It is complete with an ivory strip and a pencil for notes which fit inside the lid, and a key which is still attached. 'The LONDON STEREOSCOPIC & PHOTOGRAPHIC CO. LIMITED, 106 & 108 REGENT ST W AND 54 CHEAPSIDE EC. is on an oval badge inside the lid. The box has a crown over the initials E.I. stamped on the top of the lid, and the whole box containing the folded camera and the 12 slides measures only 175mm x 125mm x60 mm when packed.
The whole package seems to be a portable camera of some sort - it is completely original and in beautiful condition. Can anyone cast some light on the 'camera' and it's provenance?
regards,
Terry Pattison
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