The Clydesdale Set

Spratt Brothers

Name:	The Clydesdale Set
Type:	Field Camera
Manufacturer:	Spratt Brothers, London
Country of Origin:	United Kingdom
Construction:	Mahogany and brass field camera of comparatively simple construction, with finger joints and single extension square cornered cloth bellows.
Production Period:	Unknown

 

Plate / Film Size:	¼ plate
Lens:	Unmarked barrel lens with wheel stops
Shutter:	None
Movements:	Reversing back
Date of this Example:	c1899
Serial Number:	Serial 117 stamped onto inner face of ground glass screen frame and repeated on the edge of the baseboard near the hinge line.
Availability:	Common  Uncommon  Hard to Find  Scarce
Inventory Number:	545

 

ClicPic Photos copyright © 2012 David Purcell. Do not use without permission. Click small picture to enlarge.   ClicPic Gallery Software.>

Description

The Clydesdale Set is a simple, single extension field camera with reversing back. Mahogany, finger joint construction with grey cloth square cornered bellows. The name appears on a roundel set into the top edge.

Eric Evans (www.woodandbrass.co.uk) has an example bought in France where it carries a label on the lens standard that reads "S.B. PATENT" rather than just "PATENT", which led him to speculate that the camera might be made by Spratt Brothers of London who made cameras for the trade.

Another fellow collector (www.earlyphotography.co.uk) has confirmed that the patent that it refers to is 3634/1885, by Spratt Brothers, and covers the clamping of the front standard.

This example carries a retailers label on the side for "J. Asbridge / Salisbury".

The simple barrel lens appears to be designed to allow fine focus as the inner barrel will slide inside its lacquered out ring that mounts to the camera. Complete with leather lens cap.

Notes

This camera was sold by several different companies. One example is shown in the BJPA 1899, p. 308, where it is shown as The Farringdon from Barclay & Son.