Alpha hand camera
|
| 1932 advertisement for the Alpha de luxe scanned by Nesster (Image rights) |
The Alpha is a folding hand camera, made from 1892 by Watson of London. It is made from mahogany, and unfolds from a rather deep box. The few examples seen are quarter-plate; notes at Historic Camera state that 4x5-inch and half-plate models were also made.[1] It was made, and the specification refined, until the 1930s. As the advertisement shown here states, by the 1930s the camera has extensive movements. By contrast, Historic Camera describes early and much lower-specification cameras: the standard Alpha No. 1 does not have front rise, or even rack-and-pinion focusing, though there is a special-order model with these functions.[1] The Alpha No. 2 has more extensive movements and double-extension bellows, and was supplied with a front-mounted roller shutter.[2] The de luxe model illustrated here was made from 1909; the notes at Historic Camera describe it as a continuation of the No. 1 model, but the specification described is more like the No. 2.[3] The camera has black leather covering, and it has brass internal fittings and black-painted external ones. The advertisement shown here seems to show a camera with a dial-set Compur shutter. The catalogue illustration shown at Historic Camera has a different in-lens shutter of some kind.[3] There is also a tropical model, with polished wooden body without leather covering, and red leather bellows.[4]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Alpha No. 1 and No. 1 special-order, with front rise and rack-and-pinion focusing, at Historic Camera.
- ↑ Alpha No. 2 at Historic Camera.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Alpha de luxe at Historic Camera.
- ↑ Alpha hand camera with red leather, sold at the November 2002 Westlicht Photographica Auction in Vienna.
