Anthony's Patent Bijou Camera

Patent Bijou Camera, 1885 - 1897

E. & H.T. Anthony & Co.

Anthony's Patent Bijou, c.1885 "The pleasantest photographic companion on a ramble that we have traveled with." The Patent Bijou was introduced in 1885 and sold through 1897. It was small in size, lightweight (14˝ ounces), elegant in workmanship (living up to the Bijou name), and targeted to amateurs wanting to do more than traditional picture taking.

"Many amateur photographers, after they have overcome the early difficulties of the art, look around for pieces of apparatus that are suited to some particular kind of work. Some of them own magic lanterns and desire to make pictures with a view to preparing transparencies for projection."

Although E. & H.T. Anthony was regarded as one of the major American builders of large, professional apparatus, the Patent Bijou was offered at a time-the mid 1880s-when 3ź x 4 inch lantern slides were becoming the preferred format; which was ideal for a smaller camera:

"As the plate size is the same as those used with magic lanterns, slides may be made from them by contact printing in an ordinary frame."

Patent Bijou Camera. 3-1/4 x 4-1/4 inch format.
Small size apparatus for traveling and producing lantern slides.

Even after being advertised for nearly thirteen years, amateurs' desires for pictorial representation in the form of transparencies must not have grown as anticipated, and only one or two examples of the Patent Bijou are known to exist.

Over the years, catalogue listings illustrate cameras with several minor design changes. An 1886 reference shows a version with a solid bed, hinge attached ground-glass frame, simple brass posts for the lens board, and fixed rear-standard.

By 1895, the $6.75 camera was offered with an optional tilting rear standard (an extra $2.25), open-frame focusing rails, hook locked ground-glass frame, and reinforced brass posts. However, all versions had folding beds (or rails) and a fine focusing screw.

The Patent Bijou shown here appears to be a transitional model between the original and final body patterns. It has open-frame focusing rails, Anthony styled ground glass frame lock, fixed rear standard, and non-reinforced brass posts. Comparison of Patent Bijou versions.

Rear of Patent Bijou Camera

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