JOHN C. HEGELEIN, New York

Details
JOHN C. HEGELEIN, New York
A 1¾ inch diameter nickel-metal body The Watch Camera, stamped 1050, with collapsable seven-section metal tube, lens panel engraved The Watch Camera. Pat'd Aug 7 1894. John C Hegelein. NY, shutter and meniscus lens; removable wood-body and brass-fitted plate holder with two sheaths, rear plug and stamped Pat'd Aug 7-1894. J. C. Hegelein. New York.
Literature
Marder (1982), Anthony. The Man. The Company. The Cameras, p.273, 368.
Anthomy's Photographic Bulletin Vol. XXVI (1895), p. 275.
Further details
See illustration

Lot Essay

This is the second known example of the Hegelein watch camera and is the most complete example having the removable plate holder. The first known example was included in Christie's Fine and Rare Cameras, 5 November 1993, lot 421 and is numbered 1051. That example comprises the camera only and NOT the plate holder.

The Hegelein watch camera was loosely based on the British Lancaster watch camera. It was the subject of US Patent no. 624142 of 7 AUgust 1894 and was marketed by Anthony from August 1895 when it was priced at $5.00.

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