Is this camera a Thornton Pickard 'Imperial or a look-alike?

[Kilroy]

I am hoping to pick some brains.

I had to tidy the front room last week, and amongst the things that got relocated was a field camera that had been on display. I have always thought it was a Thornton Pickard ‘Imperial”.

Looking at it while cleaning it up I noticed that the camera does not actually have those white circular inlay buttons with the manufacturers name.

There is a serial number, 16126, stamped on the underside of the back plate.

The shutter has the Thornton Pickard inlay button, and ‘Time & Inst’

Having rummaged around the internet I understand that from about 1910 brass trims were added to the Imperials, top and bottom to the front mounting plate for the shutter. This camera does not have such trims. There are however two brass items at the bottom of the front plate saying ‘British Made’

The bellows are tapered, and made from a light blue leather. The chord on the shutter is also blue with a dark red tassel. The lens cap is finished off with the same blue leather.

The lens is engraved ‘Clement & Gilmer’ and below that ‘Paris’

A lever operates the diaphragm. The aperture is graduated 6-8-11-16-22-32-44

The lens stands 45mm, and is 40mm across.

There is a brass screw-on hood for the lens which takes the blue leather cap.

A few ‘photos are attached.

So is the camera a Thornton Pickard?

I would also appreciate knowing more about the camera, and the lens.

With my thanks.

 

[Ian Grant]

It's a Houghton Victo, they were usually sold fitted with a Thornton Pickard roller blind shutter. Houghton cameras were often sold un-badged the retailer sometimes adding their own.



I have 2 Half p[late and Whole plate, around £3 10s to £6 12s before WW1 with a lens, shutter, and tripod legs, for a half plate version, The price difference is the lens, the most expensove is convertible - 3 focal lengths.

Ian

 

[Kilroy]

It's a Houghton Victo, they were usually sold fitted with a Thornton Pickard roller blind shutter. Houghton cameras were often sold un-badged the retailer sometimes adding their own.

View attachment 4983

I have 2 Half p[late and Whole plate, around £3 10s to £6 12s before WW1 with a lens, shutter, and tripod legs, for a half plate version, The price difference is the lens, the most expensove is convertible - 3 focal lengths.

Ian

Ian,

I appreciate your comments and they copy advertisement.

Do you have any ideas about the lens, and in particular its specifications?

I need a plate holder for my camera.

I have looked at the Thread you started 16th November 2019 ‘Wooden Book Form Plate Holders’ in which members have posted details of such holders with quite a range around the expected dimension ‘A’ of 6”.

I have mocked up a template. with a piece of card. for what would fit my camera. It comes up at a little less than 6” on dimension ‘A’. Using the decimal format of the Thread my holder will need to be 5.90.

Thanks again for your assistance.



Chris Kilroy

 

[Ian Grant]

I have little knowledge of old French lenses, it maybe a Rapid Euryscope f6 lens approx 8" focal length, essentially a fast Rapid Rectilinear lens. Most RR lenses are f8.

I have a pile of Half plate holders, I've not checked all their fit.

Ian

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