Gnom
The Gnom is a magazine camera made by Hüttig in the 1890s and 1900s. It appeared around 1895 as a wooden 4.5×6 camera, and received a metal body around 1900.[1] An original advertisement lists three models of the "Gnom Cameras Metall-Serie A":[2]
- Modell I, for 4.5×6cm plates, 9×4.5×8cm, 200g, 3 Mark for the camera and finder alone, 3.50 Mark with full accessory set;
- Modell II, for 6×9cm or 6.5×9cm plates, 13×8×15cm, 400g, 5 Mark for the camera and finder alone, 10 Mark with full accessory set;
- Modell III, for 9×12cm plates, 16×10×5.5cm, 700g, 7.50 Mark for the camera and finder.
The three models have the shape of a box and contain six glass plates or twelve film sheets. The changing mechanism is controlled by a sliding lever above the camera. Only the models II and III have a top handle. The brilliant finder is detachable on the two smaller models, whereas it is integrated inside the body on the larger one. The simple shutter has Time and Instant settings and is not self-capping. The lens cap is attached to the camera by a cord, and must be used each time the shutter is set.
The 4.5×6 Gnom was renamed Aviso around 1907, with no apparent modification, and was continued under that name by ICA after 1909.
The Gnom was sold by Butcher in the UK as the Little Nipper. This name variant was exported to Japan, and gave birth to local copies such as the original Cherry or the VVV.
Notes
- ↑ McKeown, p.410.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Yazawa, p.41 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.51.
Bibliography
- McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). P.410.
- Yazawa Seiichirō (矢沢征一郎). "'Cherī tesage anbako' saikō" ('チェリー手提暗函'再考, Thoughts on the Cherry Hand Camera). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.51, June 1999. ISBN 4-257-13024-5. Kurashikku kamera supesharu (クラシックカメラスペシャル, issue about miscellaneous classic cameras). Pp.40–3.
Links
In English:
In German:
- Hüttig Gnom in this page at Photographica World
