E. & H.T. Anthony & Co.
N.P.A. Camera, Variation 1B
4 x 5"
Date Introduced: - ;
Years Manufactured: c.1886-1891 Notes: The same camera could be
purchased as either the N.P.A. Camera
or as the O.N.A. Equipment.
That those names included the same camera is so
stated in the catalogs. Both the N.P.A. Camera
or as the O.N.A. Equipment
included a case,
a tripod and one double plateholder. The only difference is that
the O.N.A. Equipment included
a lens, whereas the N.P.A. Camera did
not. References (Variation
1): Below:
mechanism to make the bed rigid on a 4x5 N.P.A. variation 1 -
this is different than other examples, and may be specific to the
smallest size as usually Anthony's patent bed hooks are used. 4x5
Construction: rear
focus via push-pull; none or single swing;
reversing by two tripod mounts; plywood lens board
Materials: mahogany body; cherry base;
black fabric bellows; brass hardware; French polish finish
Sizes Offered: A=no swing; B=single swing;
2A, 2B=5x8 (photos); 7B=6½x8½; 8B=8x10
The N.P.A.
Camera had a long run of production, and went through a number of
changes. The following variations of the
N.P.A. (O.N.A.) can be found:
Variation
1A and
Variation
1B (c.1887-c.1891): solid front, brass hardware, ground
glass frame hinges down; similar or same camera was referred to as
Amateur
Equipment prior to about 1887. Variation
1A has a thumbscrew to make the folding base rigid; Variation 1B
(apparently only in 4x5) has a large metal, sliding plate that makes the
folding base rigid.
Variation
2 (c.1891-c.1898): solid front, brass hardware, ground
glass frame has a large, clunky spring; in the same catalog, the
O.N.A. (supposed to be the same) is usually illustrated with a
hinged ground glass, while the N.P.A. is illustrated with the clunky
spring back. This camera was also sold with a
Schultze Photo Equipment Co. label (see
Schultze
N.P.A.)
Variation
3 (c.1898-c.1900): solid front, brass or nickeled hardware,
ground glass frame has a low profile, flat-looking spring; in catalogs
of this era, the O.N.A. (supposed to be the same) is usually
illustrated with the flat hinged back, while the N.P.A. is illustrated
with the old-style, clunky spring back.
Variation
4 (after April 1900): frame front, nickeled hardware, ground
glass frame is spring loaded.
Illustrated Catalogue of Amateur Equipments and Materials, E. &
H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY), September 1886, pp. 10-11 (as part of
the Amateur Equipments)
E.&H.T. Anthony Photographic Bulletin #18, E. & H.T.
Anthony & Co. (New York, NY), Feb., 1887, p. x-xi
Illustrated Catalogue of Amateur Photographic
Equipments & Materials, E. &
H.T. Anthony & Co., New York, NY,
August 1887, p. 8-10
Illustrated Catalogue of Amateur Photographic
Equipments & Materials, E. &
H.T. Anthony & Co., New York, NY,
January 1888, p. 12 (O.N.A, not mentioned)
Illustrated Catalogue of Amateur Photographic
Equipments & Materials, E. &
H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY),
January 1889, pp. 12
How to Make Photographs with the Anthony Camera, Perry Mason &
Co. (Boston, MA), undated c.1890, inside back cover
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Equipments
and Materials for Amateurs, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co., New York, NY,
January, 1891, p. 7 (O.N.A., pp. 4-5)[In this catalog, the
O.N.A. camera is depicted as both Variation 1 and
Variation 2, while the N.P.A. camera is depicted as
Variation 2]
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Equipments
and Materials for Amateurs, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co., New York, NY,
September, 1894, p. 11 (O.N.A., pp. 8-9)[In this catalog, the
O.N.A. camera is depicted as both Variation 1 and
Variation 2, while the N.P.A. camera is depicted as
Variation 2]
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Equipments and Materials for
Amateurs, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co., New York, NY, August, 1895, p. 11
(O.N.A., pp. 8-9)[In
this catalog, the O.N.A. camera is depicted as both Variation
1 and Variation 2, while the N.P.A. camera is depicted
as Variation 2]
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Equipments and Materials for
Amateurs, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co., New York, NY, August, 1896, p. 11
(O.N.A., pp. 8-9)[In this catalog, the O.N.A.
camera is depicted as both Variation 1 and Variation 2,
while the N.P.A. camera is depicted as Variation 2]
