Lot Essay
Bloch's Photo-Cravate camera was first shown to the Société Française de Phtographie on 5 December 1890. It was also the subject of British patent number 12,766 of 14 August 1890. The patent abridgement stated:
Cameras; change-boxes.-- Relates to detective cameras and change-boxes which can be concealed behind, say, a scarf-tie, the lens occupying the position usually occupied by the pin. The apparatus consists of a shallow box A, in which is mounted, on pinions, an endless chain carrying frames, in which are placed the sensitive plates B. When the plates, which are actuated by a button on the pinion, arrive in position for exposure, they are held by a spring. Any form of instantaneous shutter may be used.
The George Eastman House example, described by Lothrop (1973) has the serial number 1061.
Cameras; change-boxes.-- Relates to detective cameras and change-boxes which can be concealed behind, say, a scarf-tie, the lens occupying the position usually occupied by the pin. The apparatus consists of a shallow box A, in which is mounted, on pinions, an endless chain carrying frames, in which are placed the sensitive plates B. When the plates, which are actuated by a button on the pinion, arrive in position for exposure, they are held by a spring. Any form of instantaneous shutter may be used.
The George Eastman House example, described by Lothrop (1973) has the serial number 1061.