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Antique Oak Detective Camera, early 1890s |
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Scovill & Adams Company, New York
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The Best Cheap Camera In The Market One of the most beautiful of all pre-1900 box form cameras is the Antique Oak Detective made
by the Scovill & Adams Company. The camera is constructured of oak woods, instead of more traditional mahogany or cherry, finished in a light golden oak color.
It was an inexpensive 4x5 inch plate camera offered to youths and "those who want
to make a moderate investment in photography applicances." It was also advertised as "certainly lighter and more compact than any other cheap detective camera in the market."
By 1895, a more expensive No. 2 camera was offered with a leather
covering for $12. In the same reference, the original exposed wood model became the No.1 Antique Oak for $10.
The Antique Oak Detective camera was later succeeded by the Knack Detective. |
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A simple string set rotary shutter was hidden inside the wood front. The shutter was not "self-capping" when cocked for use. To
prevent the glass plate from being exposed, the camera was sold with a felt plug.
Focusing was performed by turning a brass knob located on the top of the body.
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"The Best Cheap Camera" proclaimed the first advertisement for the Antique Oak Detective camera (1892).
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