Blair Tourograph & Dry Plate Co.

Utility Camera

5x8

Date Introduced: - ; Years Manufactured: c.1884
Construction: front focus via push-pull, and limited rear focus via focusing screw, three-piece lensboard, reversible by second tripod mount
Materials: polished cherry, nickel plated hardware
Sizes Offered: 4x5; 5x8
Notes: is very nearly the same camera as the L.M. Prince & Bro. Improved Utility.  Both of the photographed cameras are unmarked, and slightly different than the engraving, although both have decidedly Blair-type back hardware.  The engraving has a tongue and groove type track where the track is the groove.  The camera above has an L-shaped track, and the camera below uses metal for the tongue that fits the slot in the track.  Both have tilting backs, whereas the engraving does not.  Examples of the Blair Utility are known that have no lensboards and are non-reversing.  All of this is typical of the Blair unofficial motto "no two cameras the same".
References:
Blair Tourograph & Dry Plate Co. Catalog, 1884, p. 11-12

4x5

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