Ensign E29 Box Camera
Houghton-Butcher Manufacturing Co Ltd.
| Name: | Ensign E29 Box Camera |
| Manufacturer: | Houghton-Butcher Manufacturing Co Ltd. and later (from 1930) by Ensign Ltd. |
| Country of Origin: | United Kingdom |
| Construction: | Wooden bodied box camera with access from the rear, finished in black or blue leatherette |
| Production Period: | TBD |
| Model / Variant: | E29 (blue) |
| Plate / Film Size: | Ensign E29 rollfilm (3" x 2") |
| Lens: | Not known |
| Shutter: | Simple T & I |
| Movements: | None |
| Dimensions (w x h x l): | |
| Date of this Example: | c1930 |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
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| Inventory Number: | 24 |
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Description
Label inside rear of camera identifies the makers as "Ensign Limited formerly Houghton Butcher (G.B.) Ltd." This camera was made for distribution through premium schemes; I have not seen any evidence to suggest that it was was ever sold as a retail item.
The camera retains the portrait attachment that can be swung across the front of lens. The instructions note that the portrait attachment could be provided separately.Another example on eBay recorded the following comment …
A note on the box tells us that "Owing to the unprecedented demand for portrait attachments, we are out of stock - your attachment will be sent under separate post." The note is from the Daily Herald Gift Dept. (The Daily Herald was a daily national newspaper).
The camera came with its original mail carton (orange cardboard), although this shows some water staining to the front.
Notes
These cameras quite often turn up with their original packaging and documentation, often relating to their use as premium cameras. Given that the packaging consisted only of corrugated cardboard, it is quite surprising that it survives as often as it does.
Refer also to the "J-B Ensign" camera for E20 films, which has a very similar format. The two are shown side-by-side below.
