E. & H.T. Anthony Clifton,Long Focus View Camera, Wood & Brass, 8x10”, c.1890’s
A relatively rare and beautifully finished view camera fromAnthony’s golden age, but with condition issues.
Model History:
During thesecond half of the 19th century, E. & H.T. Anthony manufactureda wide variety of view cameras and view camera accessories. Their golden era was about 1880 through1900, before roll film began to dominate the amateur camera business. The Clifton was manufactured at thevery end of this golden era, starting in 1898 and continuing to about1906. This camera is the Long FocusClifton, which is essentially the Clifton with an extra extension ofthe base, a long set of bellows to match, and different rear standard swinghardware. The Long Focus Cliftonwas advertised from about 1901 through 1904.The Long Focus Clifton was made only in 6½x8½ and 8x10. This camera is the 8x10 size.
This is a viewcamera having a tapering bellows. Boththe front and back standards move for focusing – the back one via push-pull,and the front one via rack and pinion.Having both push-pull and rack and pinion focusing is very rare indesign; only a few high-end cameras had such a feature. The base folds up for compact storage. A lever secures the front standard and athumbscrew secures the rear standard.
A unique featureof the Clifton models is a small mechanism just under the lens board on thefront standard. The front standardrises and falls, and is held in place by gears, When two metal knobs are squeezed together, the gears disengage,allowing the front to move.Additionally, there are two thumbscrews on the sides of the frontstandard, that, when screwed in, further hold the front in place.
The back issquare and held on by clips, allowing the user to switch from horizontal tovertical format. Its plate-film holderis not, however, of a modern profile, and none come with the camera. The camera does have a tripod socket thatfits modern tripods.
The Long FocusClifton came with a separate base extension, which is missing on thiscamera.
Materials and Condition:
The base of this camera is cherry. Its separate front extension is missing. The remainder is fine-grained, dark-coloredmahogany, wonderfully finished by the process known as French Polish. The French Polish process consists oflaboriously rubbing (and rubbing) into the wood pores shellac or lacquer untilthey are filled, followed by a final light rub for the final shine. The result is a finish that is super smooth,yet very thin, showing all the grain of the wood through a high shine. This camera still has a wonderful surface,still shiny and smooth, with no checkering.There are the normal storage and usage dings and scratches. The top of the rear standard has a minorcrack at the installation of the brass swing hardware.
The back has acelluloid label that reads: “E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. New York and Chicago”, and then in verysmall print: “The Whitehead & Hoag Co., Newark, N.J.”.
The lens board is the original. The lens is a rapid rectilinear formulationin a nickel-plated barrel in a nickel-plated shutter. The lens is engraved: “6½x8½ Planatograph”. The shutter has times: 1/100, 1/50, 1/25,1/5, ½, 1 sec and B and T. The shuttertiming control is also marked: “Premo”.The bottom of the shutter is marked: “Bausch & Lomb Opt. Co.”, and“Eastman Kodak Co. Successors toRochester Optical Co.” The shutterclicks, but doesn’t close. The irisseems to be stuck in a middle size – it may just be stiff enough that I don’twant to force it.
The hardware isbrass, much of which is tarnishing to a dark color. Apparently, Anthony put too thin a lacquer coating on the brass,resulting in the dark patina seen here.You can see the brush strokes of the Anthony lacquer-applier. All of the hardware appears to be present and operating, except for oneclip that holds the ground glass in, and a plumb bob on the right side of therear standard.
The bellows aremade of red or maroon leather; very poor condition: they are worn at their corners, and there is acomplete break near the front. They are not brittle, though, and could be clipped or glued together for display.
The ground glassis present and is in great shape, with unclipped corners, as it would have originally been.
Size:
~17” long when opened up, ~4½” long when folded x ~12” widex 13” high.
Shipping weight: 5lb0oz; Box size: 14x14x14”
Domestic Shipping: USPS as calculated
Shipping to USA and Canada only.
