What camera is this

[martin henson]

Someone gave me this, no markings on lens or body, anyone got info on it and how old it could be

 

[Ian Grant]

Late 1890s or very early 1900s falling plate camera, the shutter's unusual, I’d guess roughly 1900. Have a look through this page., or the Detective camera page.

The problem is around that time there were a lot of small manufacturers, by 1904 you get companies amalgamating here and also in Germany like the formation of ICA in 1909.

Ian