Make sure to check out all of my sales after you\'ve looked at this one. I\'m listing another eclectic selection of antiques and collectibles, and I suspect that there will be something of interest to just about everybody. Here\'s a beautiful 125-year-old Shew \"strut\" camera made of mahogany and enameled brass. One of Shew\'s earliest cameras, the Eclipse was manufactured in London in the late 1800\'s. This example is in excellent original condition throughout, and it includes its original Shew viewfinder and its original Shew lens, with a working focusing wheel.
Unlike folding bed and folding tailboard plate cameras, strut cameras open and close from the sides, and their bellows are typically a fixed length. Focal adjustments are made with a mechanism on the lens rather than by extending or contracting the bellows. Their unique design made strut cameras ideal for taking along a bike ride or a hike in the country. Shew cameras in particular were perfect for the jacket or shirt pocket. When folded up, the Eclipse wasn\'t much larger than a deck of playing cards.
The wood on this camera is in excellent condition, and the wood\'s finish is original. Enameled brass fittings and hardware are in nice shape, with a beautiful patina. Ground glass is in excellent condition, with no damage, and the lens is clear. With sufficient lighting the lens will throw a visible image against the glass back. The dark maroon leather bellows are in excellent condition, and they appear to be light tight, but I have not tested them for light leaks. The Shew viewfinder is in good condition, and the elements are not damaged.
The camera folds up easily and looks beautiful from any angleShipping weight will be about 4 lb.
That\'s about it. I will pack it carefully and properly. sale participants with no prior response history or with hidden response should contact me before placing a offer. Buyer prepays and includes shipping.