Regular Sanderson Camera
Houghtons Limited
| Name: | Regular Sanderson Camera |
| Type: | Hand & Stand Camera |
| Manufacturer: | Houghtons Ltd |
| Country of Origin: | United Kingdom |
| Construction: | Leather covered mahogany body, with wide angle flap. |
| Production Period: | 1902 - ? |
| Plate / Film Size: | 5 x 4 plate |
| Lens: | Carl Zeiss Jena Anastigmat f6.3 F=140mm |
| Shutter: | Koilos B, T 1 - 1/200 |
| Movements: | Rising and tilting front; reversing back |
| Dimensions (w x h x l): | 6¼ x 6¼ x 4 inches (closed) |
| Date of this Example: | c1909 |
| Serial Number: | Serial 16939 on left hand lens standard strut (standard location). Zeiss lens carries serial 11829 |
| Availability: |
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| Inventory Number: | 385 |
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Description
This is an example of the Regular Sanderson camera. The camera model is named as the "Regular" on a small brass plate beneath the lens (the plate is a typical Houghtons lozenge shape). It also carries the normal rectangular plate bearing the camera name as The Sanderson, showing H Ltd London as the maker.
The camera is in very good condition, with all brasswork retaining its lacquer that has aged to a beautiful golden colour. It has diagonal cut, double extension red bellows. It has a viewfinder mounted on the baseboard and a circular spirit level (now dry).
This example has a narrow track with a single brass and aluminium runners beneath; the clamping mechanism using a lever with 'O' shaped handle; inverted 'L' shaped front standard bolts; rising front clamped by friction bolt; the back is recessed to aid removal of the dark slide; it has the later pattern diagonal cut rack and pinion (compare with the other example below).
The serial number (16939) leads to the date of 1909, based upon the article "Dating Sanderson Cameras" by Cliff Bulcock, Photographica World 2008/1.
It came with a Mackenzie-Wishart Model A Daylight Slide (4 x 5). It also came with a spare lens mounting plate, which was probably originally acquired with the camera as all the labelling is identical.
The Mackenzie-Wishart slide allowed plates to be held in special envelopes so that they could be loaded into the special adapter in daylight. The carrier replaces the conventional DDS on the camera. Each plate is held in a special carrier or envelope, the front of which is made of cloth. This covers the face coated with emulsion. In use, the plate in an envelope is placed in the wooden adapter. As the draw-slide is pulled out so the cloth covering the face of the plate is rolled up and is rolled back when the draw-slide is returned. A yellow window in the back of the adapter allows the user to verify that the envelope cover had rolled up correctly. This example has one empty envelope and the complete adapter.
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| Plate / Film Size: | 5 x 4 plate (DDS inserts also allow use of 3½ x 2½ plates) |
| Lens: | Zeiss Patent 9in |
| Shutter: | Compur B, T, I (1 - 1/250) |
| Movements: | Rising and tilting front; reversing back |
| Dimensions (w x h x l): | 6¼ x 6¼ x 4 inches (closed) |
| Date of this Example: | c1905 |
| Serial Number: | Serial 11.146 on left hand lens standard strut (standard location). Zeiss lens carries serial 9433 and the shutter is 532457. |
| Availability: |
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| Inventory Number: | 49 |
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Description
This is another example of the Regular Sanderson camera. Badged on the camera and inside the bag as "Sands, Hunter & Co Limited, 37 Bedford Street, Strand WC", who presumably retailed the camera. It carries the normal rectangular plate bearing the camera name as The Sanderson, showing H Ltd London as the maker, but nothing to show the model name.
The camera is fitted with a flip-up view sight on the top face. The trade badge is fixed within a frame that might once have supported a sports finder to go with the sight.
The shutter is very unlikely to be original to the camera. Curiously the Zeiss lens is a poor fit in the shutter as the lower edge of the speed setting dial rubs on the rim of the lens!
It has diagonal cut, double extension red bellows. It has a viewfinder mounted on the baseboard and a circular spirit level (now dry).
This example has a wider mahogany track with separate brass strips; the clamping mechanism is a screw that clamps down onto the track; inverted 'L' shaped front standard bolts; rising front clamped by friction bolt; the back is recessed to aid removal of the dark slide; it has the straight cut rack and pinion.
The studs for the infinity catch are on the extension rack. These occur in pairs and should engage with a large spring with 'cotton reel' finger grip that should be attached to the front standard (introduced in 1902). However all but one end of the spring is absent.
The camera came with a shutter release cable marked "GH" and three numbered high quality mahogany DDS in 4 x 5 size, each of which has an insert to adapt the holder down to 3½ x 2½ plate size. The ground glass screen is marked to show the focus area for this smaller plate size too. The camera and DDS are stored in a solid canvas & leather case, with three double dark slides held in a side pocket. The case is labelled with Sands, Hunter & Co badge, and is velvet lined.
Notes
The Sanderson cameras were made over an extended period and there are many subtle design changes that occur. Given the combination of sizes available, it would be possible to build up a substantial collection of Sanderson cameras if all possible variants were to be acquired!