25. Box Camera with Automatic Plate-Dropping Mechanism, c. 1890

Signed 'British Made'.

In this case the twelve quarter plates (each 80 x 105 mm) held in the magazine are dropped after exposure by sliding a lever and the next unexposed plate moved into place by means of a spring, at the same time the number is recorded by an exposure counter. Symmetrical doublet meniscus lens with between-lens rotating disc set of stops f8 to f22 and rotary shutter with speeds 1/5 to 1/100 sec.

Falling plates cameras were at the cheap end of the market, although this is a superior version.

Length 210, width 100, height 165 mm.
Inventory no. 97,058.