C. 1860 Thomas Sliding Box Wet Plate Camera With Repeating Back
$4,000.00
C. 1860 Thomas Sliding Box Wet Plate Camera With Repeating Back
Beautiful Dallmeyer pattern sliding box wet plate camera manufactured and/or sold in the early 1860’s by R.W. Thomas in London. The camera comes with a repeating back and a large format Ross lens, as well as two sliding boxes — one for field work, the other for close-up photography. Also included is a later Thornton Pickard dry plate holder. Plate size is approximately 8″ x 6 1/2″.
The lens is signed “Ross No. 2 Cab. London” and has a serial number of 179XX. The lens is in excellent condition. Barrel has moderate tarnish but nothing bad or distracting. No dents, dings, or other issues, and the rack and pinion focusing mechanism is working properly. The lens comes with two Waterhouse stops. Lens is 7″ high (including the hood) and weighs approximately 4 lb.
Camera is in excellent condition overall. There’s a chip in the front top left corner of the body, but given the camera’s age, it’s certainly forgivable. Sliding box moves along the rail with relative ease, although at times, to move it all the way back, you need to press the knurled thumbscrew in a bit toward the pinion gear. The extension box slips into the housing from the top (see photograph) and allows the camera to be used for close-up work. There is only one thumbscrew for the main box and the extension, and it fits the threads on the main box only.
The back measures approximately 27″ x 10″ with the wing fully extended. The ground glass focusing plate is original and in good condition, with no damage. The back is tight, but it can be still be manipulated.
Shipping considerations require that buyers outside the USA contact us prior to purchase.
SOLD
