Stereo Puck Camera
Thornton-Pickard Manufacturing Company Ltd
| Name: | Stereo Puck |
| Type: | Stereo box rollfilm camera |
| Manufacturer: | Thornton-Pickard Manufacturing Company Ltd |
| Country of Origin: | United Kingdom |
| Construction: | Wooden bodied box camera covered in black leatherette fitted with a pair of
lenses allowing 8 pairs of stereo shots to be taken on standard 120
rollfilm. The separation between the lenses is just 1 5/8" due to the
narrow image size. Several variants exist (see notes below). |
| Plate / Film Size: | E20 (120) rollfilm (8 stereo pairs, each picture 2¼" x 1½") |
| Lens: | Pair of meniscus lenses, with three stops on a sliding strip |
| Shutter: | Single speed shutter with B setting |
| Movements: | None |
| Dimensions (w x h x l): | |
| Production Period: | 1931 - 1935 |
Two main models of the Stereo Puck were made: Model 1 (c1931) and Model 2 (c1933), the latter being fitted with a pair of magnifiers. Either of these models was available with a mono exposure facility for either 8 stereo pairs or 16 mono exposures (refer to examples below), although Tom Holliday [9] suggests that this became standard in 1935.
(Image © Amateur Photographer 2010, taken for an article by Ivor Matanle and reproduced with kind permission)
Other minor variations exist. The earliest versions have the name embossed on the camera front but no name plaque while others have a name plaque on the front of the camera. The plaque may have 'Puck TP Stereo' or 'British TP Made' printed on it (white lettering on black). The name may also be embossed on the handle.
| Model / Variant: | Model 1 |
| Date of this Example: | c1931 |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 92 |
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Description
The camera has "Stereo Puck" embossed at an angle across the front but no name badge, smaller viewfinder, no springs as film retainers, no magnifier and no additional aperture slider (compare with #169 and #430).
This example does not have the magnifiers and so this is a Model 1, and as such is probably a less common variant.
The camera came with the bottom half of its box (no lid) and also had the original viewer with it still.
~ # ~ # ~
| Model / Variant: | Model 2 |
| Date of this Example: | c1935 |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 169 |
Description
The Stereo Puck camera has its original sales carton (with lid), plus documentation, but no stereo viewer. The pamphlet shows a viewer with a nose 'slot', which is a slightly different pattern to the viewer supplied with item #92.
The camera has "Stereo Puck" embossed at an angle across the front. This variant has the single picture option fitted.
The following documentation was included with the camera:
"Live photography with the Stereo Puck", which describes the swinging magnifier and the single picture option.
"Instructions for Operating Single Picture Attachment".
~ # ~ # ~
| Model / Variant: | Model 2 |
| Date of this Example: | c1933 |
| Serial Number: | None |
| Availability: |
|
| Inventory Number: | 430 |
Description
Full box in good order (including lid), but no viewer.
This example of the Stereo Puck camera is later than #92 (name plate on front and film retaining springs in rear, swinging magnifiers, but no mono / stereo setting).
The camera has "Stereo Puck" embossed at an angle across the front and the TP Puck Stereo label.
Notes
This camera was one of several Thornton Pickard cameras pictured in an article written by Ivor Matanle for Amateur Photographer (17 April 2010) as part of an occasional series entitled "Icons of Photography". The main camera featured in the article was the Royal Ruby.