Details
Fallowfield hand camera
Fallowfield, London; quarter-plate, brown crocodile-skin covered wood body, the back with hinged flap revealing ground-glass focusing screen, the side with opening panel revealing plate box, the top and side with sliding panels revealing waistlevel viewfinders, the base with plate indicator numbered 0-12, label FALLOWFIELD, MANUFACTURERS, CENTRAL PHOTO STORES, CHARING CROSS RD, LONDON W, sliding panel revealing focus, aperture and shutter controls, the hinged front panel stamped 61 opening to reveal a brass bound lens with integral sector shutter
Provenance
Cliff Latford, Grandad's Photography Museum, Colchester.
Literature
The Amateur Photographer's Annual 1892, pp. 341-342.

Lot Essay

This camera, called the Fallowfield hand camera, seems to have been a deluxe version of the Facile combining the best features of the Miall and Facile into a camera that was priced, and with an appearance between, the other two. As the Annual reported: 'The Facile will still be preferred by those who wish to secure first-rate results with the least amount of trouble, while the Fallowfield is introduced for those who prefer an instrument affording scope for greater ingenuity and technical knowledge'.

The Fallowfield held twelve plates 4¼ x 3¼ inch plates or flat films and each changing box held twelve more. The exterior measured 5¾ x 9¼ x 11½ inches and weigh 5lb. It was fitted with a lock and key and was designed to resemble a small dressing case. It was suited for portraiture, architecture, landscape, or snapshot work 'combining with the portability of a hand camera the advantages of the ordinary camera'.

More from THE BRITISH CAMERA 1840-1960 THE JIM BARRON COLLECTION

View All
View All