Special Twin Lens

1898

Newman & Guardia Ltd

London

England

Lens:

f6.3, 6 ½" Zeiss Anastigmat, iris diaphragm to f45, click stops. Combinable lens of two f12.5, 285 mm groups, iris to f45. Serial no. 35488 35495 (1899).

Viewing lens: f8, 7" Wray Rapid Rectilinear. Serial no. 11796 .

Shutter:

N&G, sector type, spring powered with pneumatic regulation, speeds 1/2 - 1/100. T setting by short pressure on release with shutter set to 1/2 second.

Construction:

Leather covered wood body.

Format:

12, 5" x 4" plates held in removable changing box, bag type.

Focusing:

Bellows to 28" with combined lens, scale to 2 yards for combined lens, scale to 4 yards for back group. Double extension.

Attributes:

Reflex viewing through second lens. Full-size ground glass focusing screen. Magnifier in hood. Two reflecting view-finders.
Automatic counter on changing box. Two 'T' spirit levels.

Movements:

Rise

and cross front.

Serial Number:

ST1073 .

Notes:

Address on plaque: Newman & Guardia Ltd. 90 & 92 Shaftesbury Avenue. London. W. (1897 - 1909). Patents on boxes of 1886 and 1892. Address on case: City Sale & Exchange. Six London branches (c. 1920).

With:

Changing box for 12 plates, with plate holders and pressure slide. Serial no. 1619.
Focusing screen. Leather case.

The N&G Twin Lens Reflex first appeared in 1892, that model was unusual in having a roller-blind shutter. By 1893 the familiar sector shutter was employed. The Special model fitted with a convertible lens appeared in 1898. The lens on this example is engraved Zeiss Anastigmat, later it would be known as the Double Protar, series VIIa. The lens fitted is a number 7.

Production probably ceased around 1908. As well as 5" x 4" the camera was made in quarter-plate and possibly half-plate sizes. The cost of a 5" x 4" model was £42.10.0.

The label inside the case of City Sale would have been added when the camera was sold second hand. City Sale had six London branches around 1920.

References & Notes:

N&G Cameras. N&G Serial Numbers. N&G Universal shutter. BJA 1899, p. 129.

Company Details:

Newman & Guardia

Early Photography