57. T. E. Lawrence's Archaeological Camera, 1910

Signed on the baseboard: '2.II. J. H. D.' and on the plumbline: 'DALLMEYER'.

T. E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia, ordered this camera from J. H. Dallmeyer in 1910 for his archaeological photography at Carchemish in Syria. The camera's versatility (including full movement of lens panel and accommodation for wide angle-lens lens) is well suited for this work. Fitted with a Dallmeyer f6 stigmatic triplet of 135 mm focal length, Compur compound iris diaphragm and three-bladed shutter with speeds 1 to 1/250 sec. The five lenses in the 'kit' consist of a wide-angle by Ross and four miscellaneous lenses by Dallmeyer, including a telephoto with rack and pinion motion. There is also a telescoping lens-hood, a medium green filter, an aluminium eye-piece magnifier and four mahogany book-form double dark slides, and a stout leather carrying case.

This type of quarter plate hand cameras was popular with keen amateur photographers at that time, and has two other representatives in this exhibition: Henry Minn's 'Century' camera (Item 22) and Miss Acland's Sinclair 'Una' camera (Item 148) which she used for her colour photography.

Height 160 mm, width 150 mm, length 100 mm (folded).
Inventory no. 81,355.