Blair Tourograph & Dry Plate Co.
Blair Camera Co.
The Standard Reversible Back Camera
Blair Tourograph & Dry Plate Co. Catalog, 1884, p. 15
8 x 10" Format, Single Swing
Configuration.
Included with the camera are four glass plate holders, a huge tripod top
(but no legs), the Waterhouse stops set for the Darlot Hemispherique
Rapide lens, a large, black cloth, and a canvas carrying case sufficient
to store them all (which has no top, but the top is not discolored from
age, indicating that it was some modern rather than antique moron who
mislaid the top)
The case is marked very artfully on one of the short sides: "Lamson
Studio / Portland, Maine". There are, as of 08-31-2023, there are
dozens of cabinet card photos marked "Lamson Studio, Portland, ME" for
sale on eBay. The principal in the studio was Joseph Harrison
Lamson (1840-1901). Perspective view from
behind and right side. Bottom Top
Another 8 x 10" Format, Single Swing
Configuration. Perspective view from behind and
right side. The back is attached via holes at its bottom that fit
pegs in the rear standard, as well as flip latches on each side
(precisely the same in both examples on this page). The back for
this camera is a replacement, being made as a simple frame for a square
ground glass. It is likely that the original back was like the back in
the 2nd camera example - being rectangular and having a spring back, but
that would have been harder to replicate. Bottom Top
6½x8½" Format, Double Swing
Configuration
Date Introduced: - ;
Years Manufactured: c.1884
- c.1886 This model was first only known
as the double-swing example camera shown above. It has no markings
as to manufacturer or patents. The large springs on its back are
similar to the
Blair Tremont. Also,
its small thumbscrews on the right side of the camera are similar to
those found on the
Blair Combination Camera.
The
canvas carrying cases that came with the 8x10s are consistent with Blair construction, and two holders marked
Blair. For these reasons, it was called a Blair, but the model
name was unknown and it was called
Blair
Unknown No. 3.
Later, two Blair
catalogs from 1884 were found, which describe a camera referred to as
The Standard
Reversible Back Camera. Unfortunately, those catalogs do not have
an engraving of
The Standard
Reversible Back Camera.
However, the basic features of the camera were described in one of the
1884 catalogs and an 1886 catalog:
"...provided with rising and falling front,
double or single swing, made of thoroughly seasoned mahogany and cherry,
varnished polished ... the movable portion for focusing being at the
rear, our patent extension cannot be well applied to these Cameras." The above single and double
swing examples fit the description exactly. More convincing,
however, is that the catalog description lists the size of lens boards
that fit
The Standard
Reversible Back Camera. For example, the size of the lens board for
an 8x10 format
The Standard
Reversible Back Camera is 7½x 6" - the exact size of the lens
board in the 8x10" format cameras above. This size of lens board is
not common, which makes the identification of LP452, LP1047 and LP1414 as
The Standard
Reversible Back Camera more defensible. Oddly, none of the examples
have a label, whereas most Blair cameras have.
This camera was missing its back when purchased;
the current back is a replacement. It is identical to the
other camera shown here except for its single swing construction rather
than double swing. A piece of trim is missing from the lower front
of the front standard (which is still present on the other examples.
Construction: rear
focus via push-pull; single
or double
swing; reversing by removable back; three piece lens board
Materials: mahogany body; cherry base;
black fabric bellows; brass hardware
Sizes Offered:
5x7; 5x8;
6½x8½; 8x10
Notes:
References:
Untitled 8p. Catalog, The Blair Tourograph & Dry Plate Company, Boston,
MA, undated, c.1884, un-numbered pages but appears to be p. 5
Blair Tourograph & Dry Plate Co. Catalog, 1884, p. 15
Photographic
Apparatus Manufactured by The Blair Camera Company, Blair Camera
Co. (Boston, MA), distributed by C.R. Selee (56 Bromfield St., Boston,
MA), dated 1886, p. 10
