Nagel was formed in 1928 by Dr. August Nagel on leaving Zeiss-Ikon. In 1932 the company became part of Eastman.

It is assumed that these firms are related. Edgar Scamell is given as the propriety of T. Naylor & Sons. They are listed as manufacturers, probably to the trade. From 1895 Chas. G. Collins is at 13 Greek Street, around 1896/97 the London Camera Co. is at the same address and according to a note in the British Journal of Photography had taken over T. Naylor. A folding bed camera with automatically self-erecting front was patented by T.C. Naylor in 1892.

These firms were agents for German photographic companies, what the relationship between them was is not clear. The dates above are for their involvement in the photographic trade. From 1923 until around 1926 they were the agents for Ernemann, Elephant brand papers and Cellofix paper.

Henry (Enrico Angelo Ludovico) Negretti and Joseph Warren Zambra founded Negretti & Zambra in 1850 specialising in meteorological instruments. Negretti had previously been a barometer maker. During the 1850s and 60s they were leading retailers of stereoscopic equipment. In 1918 the firm dropped their interest in optical instruments to concentrate on industrial and aeronautical equipment.

Prior to Pizzi & Negretti, Henry Negretti was working for Jane Pizzi, widow of Valentine Pizzi, from around 1840. He may previously have been at 20 Greville St. as a glass blower.

In the 1880s, and probably before, the manager of the Holborn shop was R. Willats possibly connected with T & R Willats. J.W. Zambra left the partnership in 1892.

Founded by J. Guardia and Arthur Samuel Newman.

According W.B. Ferguson writing in the Photographic Journal (Sept. 1936) Newman was working for the microscope maker F & C Robins of Aldersgate St. from 1877. In 1880 he moved to H & E.J. Dale (electricians in Little Britain), when Dale bought out the business of F.J. Cox he transferred to their photographic workshop, this was the period when Jimmy Hare (son of George) was working at Dale.

Newman must have left Dale around 1886 when his newly developed shutter was marketed. In an 1888 advertisement the French firm of A. Laverne & Co. claim to possess the sole rights of the shutter but it was also sold by other companies (including Hinton and Abraham/Adams) so possibly Laverne were wholesalers. From around 1889 Laverne also sold a Newman shutter for detective cameras. Around 1888 Frank Lindsay-Simpson joined Newman to form Newman & Simpson, at this time they were general scientific manufacturers specialising in photographic work. One of their customers was the firm of Robert Abraham (later Adams & Co). The partnership did not last long, Simpson left in 1891 along with, according to Ferguson, their 20 workmen to work for Adams. This was probably the formation of the short lived firm of Simpson & Hill who were supplying Adams.

Until late 1891 Newman & Simpson were major suppliers to Adams, Newman shutters were mentioned by name in Adams advertisements and Newman and Adams worked jointly on patents. From 1892 the range of Adams products, in particular their cameras, increased significantly. One explanation for the Newman and Adams split is that increased work for Adams would have tied up resources and prevented Newman from developing his own range of cameras and pursuing other routes to market.

Newman then formed Newman & Guardia in 1891, this was noted in the December issue of the British Journal of Photography. Newman left the company in 1908 due to business difficulties arising from the death of Guardia and was later in partnership with J.A. Sinclair.

Newman & Guardia Ltd was wound up in the early 1970s, there was also a Newman & Guardia A-V Sales Ltd that was wound up around this time.

An article in the 1892 BJP notes that there are 40 people working for N&G. Articles in the BJP for 1893 list their range of cameras and show the early Nydia.

In 1909 it was announced that N&G had taken over the patents for the reflex camera sold by Taylor, Taylor & Hobson, existing stock of the camera was to be sold off at a reduced price and a new version would be introduced and sold as the Princess. Nothing seems to have come of this.

The Farringdon St. address is on the west side between Charles St. and Clerkenwell, near Cross St.

At Rathbone Place N&G had their showroom on the first floor, the factory, stores and offices were on the upper floors.

The partnership between Arthur Samuel Newman and Frank Lindsay-Simpson was dissolved around Nov 1891.

S.J. Levi & Co. were also at the 71 Farringdon address around 1890.

Founded by A.S. Newman and J.A. Sinclair. Early products included the N&S shutter but the majority of the output was the highly regarded range of cine cameras.

Newman started the Whittington Works in 1909 before the formation of Newman & Sinclair.

The Newtons were an old-established firm working in the diverse areas of globe making, patent agents and as civil engineers. Advertisements claim establishment in 1704. John Newton (b. 1759, d. 1844) worked from 97 Chancery Lane from c. 1780, John's son William (b. 1786, d. 1861) joined the firm forming J & W Newton. Miles Berry joined the firm in 1831 forming Newton, Son & Berry which lasted to 1841. Berry was the patent agent for Daguerre and was issued the first Photographic patent in England. William's son, William Edward (b. 1818, d. 1879) was part of the Fleet St. branch.

The firm were important suppliers of lantern slides and equipment they also sold cameras and equipment during the wet-plate and early dry-plate periods. In 1895 the partnership between Frederick Newton and Herbert Charles Newton was dissolved, the business was continued by H.C. Newton.

In 1920 the two partners in the firm, Herbert Charles Newton (d. 1940) and Russell Stuart Wright separated, Newton continued at the King St. address selling lantern slides and Wright at the Wigmore St. address selling optical instruments, both firms continued to use the Newton & Co. name.

Newton was part of, or associated with, Metropolitan-Vickers from around the late 1940s. M-V and British Thomson-Houston (BTH) were both part of AEI.

An associated company was Newton & Wright (72 Wigmore St.), the two firms operated a combined factory at one point.

Henry Newton ran a wholesale and export business, a full range of items was covered but prominence was given to paper, collodion and chemicals. In the 1870s lenses by the major makers were listed as well as cameras 'made to order by our workmen', given the lack of emphasis given to cameras these were probably sourced elsewhere. In the 1880s their own brand lenses form a prominent part of advertisements, possibly Newton had taken up lens manufacture on a small scale or they were re-branded. In 1884 Sharp's patent Tripod was advertised, this would be H.B. Sharp who worked at Newtons (BP 3510/1884) and later founded Sharp & Hitchmough. The firm was taken over by Fred. V.A. Lloyd in 1891.

This firm appears for a few years in advertisements around 1867, they are not present in the street directories.

Listed as manufacturers, active in the 1890s and early 1900s.

Agents for Leitz, until c. 1928, and for Franke & Heidecke until 1929. Leitz (London) were at the Mortimer Street address from 1928.

Established around 1851, probably ceased trading in the late 1860s. In an 1867 advertisement they note that they have been manufacturing for Ross for 15 years and that Mr Collis was previously working for Ross for 13 years. The partnership with William Morgan was dissolved in April 1855. In 1862 Ottewill was discharged from bankruptcy but proceedings were renewed in 1864 and 1865.

Ottewill was with Horne & Co. prior to starting his own firm, this would have been around 1850.

Ottewill cameras, especially earlier models, are of the highest quality both in workmanship and design. During the Ottewill, Collis & Co. period the workmanship is more variable. Most of their cameras were made of Spanish mahogany, though some such as the 'Captain Fowke' camera were available in teak. The Registered Camera of 1853 includes a complicated folding mechanism of his own design.

In the 1861 census Ottewill states that he employs 21 men, this indicates a substantial output much greater than the number of known cameras carrying his name plate. A substantial, perhaps the bulk, of Ottewill's production must have been for the trade and carry the name plaques of other suppliers, e.g. Ross, Dallmeyer and Negretti & Zambra.

James Collis worked at Ross in the accounts department, in 1867, after he had worked at Ottewill, he was accused by Ross of embezzlement, £20 was offered for his apprehension.

Founded in 1881 by W.J. Wilson and George C. Whitfield. 'Prize' comes from a prize offered by Joseph Paget in 1878 for the best dry plate process which was awarded to Wilson in 1880. Their first plates were called XV, XXX and XXXXX, indicating 15, 30 and 50 times the speed of a wet-plate. The firm became a limited company in 1901 capitalised at £80,000, the directors were G.C. Whitfield, W.J. Wilson, G.S. Whitfield, and E.A. Whitfield. In 1921 they became part of APM, later APEM and then Ilford.

The Paget Duplicating Method an additive colour process was developed by G. S. Whitfield (son of George C. Whitfield) and introduced in 1913.

G. C. Whitfield together with Samuel Robert Lock formed Lock and Whitfield photographers in 1856, they had premises at 178 Regent St. London and 109 King's Rd. Brighton. The partnership was dissolved in 1879. G.C. Whitfield and Lock were also partners in the Woodbury Permanent Photographic Printing Company.

The new factory at Watford opened in early 1890 following a fire at the premises they shared in Ealing. In 1902 a fire destroyed a building at their Watford site.

Philosophical instrument makers and suppliers, Palmer was also an early supplier of photographic equipment, Talbot bought supplies from him. The business, but not the premises, was taken over by Horne, Thornthwaite & Wood in the summer of 1844. W.H. Thornthwaite worked for Palmer.

The partnership between Edward Palmer and his brother Benjamin Palmer of Fore St. was dissolved 14 Jan 1837.

Thomas Willats was apprenticed to Edward Palmer in 1832. The 115 Fore St. address is that of Benjamin Willats who died in 1832. Charles Albert Long (Bland & Long) was apprenticed in 1843.

Predominantly manufacturers to the trade but some cameras carry their own name plaque. Many of their cameras were retailed by Fallowfield, they may also have manufactured for Shew. An advertisement from 1889 says that Park was with Meagher for 7 years, 8 years with Hare and that he has 26 years experience, this would give a date of around 1878 for the start of the firm unless he worked elsewhere for a few years. Another advertisement says that customers are able to choose the particular plank of wood that was to be used to make the camera and that they had around 70,000 square feet of seasoned timber in stock. Cameras could also be made to a customer's own design.

In the census of 1881 Henry Park describes himself as a photographic apparatus manufacturer.

Acton St. was between 296 - 298 Kingsland Rd. Orchard Bldgs. was 1 - 18 Acton St. Station Bldgs. was the same location. In 1882 1 Orchard Bldgs. was occupied by Henry Squire, cabinet and pianoforte maker.

Manufacturers, used the Merito brand name. Registered company from 1903, the first directors were C. Tyler and W. L. Parkinson.

Scientific instrument maker and very early manufacturer of cinematographic equipment and film maker.

John Buxton Payne was in partnership with J.T. Chapman until 1874, he was later manager at Mawson & Swan. Payne & Chapman took over the business and premises of Robert Hampson in 1871. Before Hampson, 63 Piccadilly was occupied by J.J. Pyne.

Listed as manufacturers, from the mid 1880s shutters are shown, later field cameras are advertised, though in one advertisement the camera shown is clearly by Billcliff.

Thomas Peele (b. Durham 1814) is listed as a Daguerreotype artist in 1851 and as a photographic apparatus manufacturer from 1861 to after 1873.

Formed by R.E. Peeling and Frank Van Neck but described as 'formerly Goerz Optical Works', in the years immediately following World War I they produced the British Anschütz camera and later the VN Press camera. They were importers and distributors for Goerz from 1923 to 1927, Voigtländer from 1927 to 1933 as well as Deckel and Foth. The post World War II firm of Peeling & Komlosy, the distributors of Zeiss-Ikon, were probably connected.

Peeling worked for Goerz Optical from as early as 1904, when Goerz was wound up in 1917 he took over one of the offices and business interests of Goerz.

Suppliers of printing and process equipment. From 1927 Penrose became Hunter-Penrose. The firm was founded in 1893 by Andrew Wybrant Penrose (d. 1918) and William Gamble.

In the early 1960s merged with S.R. Littlejohn to form Hunter-Penrose-Littlejohn. Later, mid 1960s, merged with Johnsons of Hendon to become Johnsons-HPL.

Merger of VEB Kamera-Werke Niedersedlitz (KW) and VEB Kinowerke Dresden (Zeiss-Ikon).

Advertisements claim establishment in 1852, in 1854 they were described as importers of foreign goods. They are known to have made cameras and lenses for other companies; one camera exists with the label "Lejeune & Perken made for J.T. Chapman" and lenses were supplied to M.W. Dunscombe.

The partnership between E. Perken and T. Lejeune was dissolved in 1873 though the Lejeune & Perken name continued. Louis Edmond Perken retired from the partnership at the end of 1889, at the same time E.T. Perken became a partner in the firm along with F.L. Perken and Arthur Rayment.

Rayment was listed as a Director of 'Paul's Animatographe Ltd', shares in this company were offered to the public in 1897, the take-up could not have been as expected as the company did not trade and was dissolved in 1899. Both R.W. Paul and Perken, Son & Rayment had premises in Hatton Garden which may explain the involvement of Rayment in this venture, it could indicate a stronger business relationship between the two firms.

Perken, Son & Rayment was dissolved at the end of 1899 when Arthur Rayment left the partnership, the business was continued as Perken, Son & Co. from 1/1/1900 by Frederick Louis Perken and Edgar Theodore Perken. The company was registered in March 1900 with capital of £1000. Rayment must have been part of the partnership for a fixed period, his leaving was described as 'determined by effluxtion of time'. Following his departure he set up as an agent and distributor for photographic goods.

Optimus was a brand name used by the company.

The partnership between Petschler and Benjamin Consterdine, trading as H. Petschler & Co, was dissolved in 1862. The business continued under the same name and later under the name of The Manchester Photographic Co. (Ltd). Petschler was made bankrupt in 1866. The Manchester Photographic Co. (Ltd) was wound up in 1868.

Mainly known for their stock of lanterns but they also listed field cameras for a period.

Agents for Voigtländer until 1927 and for Rodenstock.

Photo Appliance produced a lens attachment to hold filters.

The company was formed in 1897 with a share capital of £30,000 to 'acquire the inventions of Cresco-Fylma and Hannam Ltd and to manufacture and trade in mounts, albums, cameras and other photographic goods'. Three of the subscribers were A.J.E. Hill (of 13 Haverfield Gdns., Kew), A.A. Barratt and J. Hannam. Photo Ltd was issued two patents in conjunction with Albert John Eves Hill one for a camera the other for embossing prints. They sold equipment under their own name, e.g. the Kalos shutter (which was also sold under the Adams & Co. name). Their registered address was given as 72 & 74 Gray's Inn.

In 1901 the company went into voluntary liquidation. In 1903 it was sold to MacLaurin & Co. Ltd. J.P. MacLaurin, who had previously worked at Photo Ltd, was manager of the company, the directors were M. Strickland, J.P. MacLaurin, and G.C. Strickland.

A.J.E. Hill is sometimes described as manager of Cresco-Fylma Co. of Kingston. Patents were issued jointly to Hill and Barratt for a type of gelatine film that would expand during processing thus producing larger images, this was produced by Cresco. The secretary of Cresco-Fylma is shown as Harry Allen.

An advertisement from 1892 shows Cresco-Fylma Enlarging Solution to be available from the patentees - Hill Bros. & Freeman at Victoria Rd. Surbiton.

Briefly listed in the late 1880s as manufacturers and dealers with a wide range of stock. The Barbican and Australian Av. addresses were previously occupied by J.M. Copeland, photographic dealer. The stock, goodwill etc. of the company was sold to G. Houghton in 1889 for £630. Philip Mordaunt is shown as manager.

PACSA was registered on the 5th February 1877 with the purpose of manufacturing and dealing photographic goods, they purchased the goodwill, plant, and stock-in-trade of Chambers and Co. and the Uranium Dry-Plate Company. Capt. Herbert Kerr (of Chambers & Co.) was appointed managing director.

The Kelly directories list the PACSA as at the Charterhouse address from 1877 to 1890, they are also listed at 251 Goswell Rd (which is close to Charterhouse Square) from 1878 to 1881. In 1879 the secretary is shown as Capt. H. Kerr later as E. Huntley and by 1889 as T.V. Nolan with W. Whittingham as M.D.

A winding up order was issued in 1883/84 stating that the assets of the company were to be sold including the factory at 43 Charterhouse. This corresponds to a period when they are not listed in the Kelly Directory. Following that period they, or a similar concern, re-surface at the same address (the company numbers differ, the later company was incorporated in 1884. The Board Trade records show the later name without the apostrophe but other listings show the same name as the first company).

PACSA stated that they either manufactured items or purchased from the manufacturers for retail to their customers. They operated somewhat like a co-operative, people would buy an entrance ticket (5 shillings) and at the end of the year excess profits were distributed amongst ticket holders who had purchased goods to a total value of £20 or more. PACSA was a limited company with a paid up capital of £8,500, which is a very large amount. Since a dividend of 5% was paid to the shareholders there may not have been much to distribute to the ticket holders.

Herbert Kerr was in partnership with George Mason trading as William Chambers & Co. manufacturers of photographic paper. The address was 251 Goswell Rd. The partnership was dissolved in Oct 1873.

Also known as W.B. Whittingham & Co. The company name and address are very similar to the previous entry with which Whittingham was also associated. There was also a Charterhouse Press run by Whittingham.

The Kelly directories list this company as Photographic Artists but they must have also sold cameras including the Binocular camera (Carpentier Photo-Jumelle). The association was run by William John Le Couteur, he was also listed as a photographer at this address in 1899. The business was incorporated in 1899 with capital of £25,000, an enormous figure. Whilst a limited company the secretary is listed as John Samuel Harvey. The company was placed into receivership in 1902, a Mr Robertson was appointed by the court as manager.

John Barnes notes that the association was run on a subscription basis, for the yearly fee members were entitled to access the facilities (studio, darkroom etc.) at 16 Brook street.

A.C. Bromhead states that he worked for Le Couteur at Brook Street from 1895 to 1898 and that it was here hat he first met Louis Gaumont, Bromhead later run the Gaumont agency in Cecil Court.

Le Couteur was made bankrupt in 1904, proceedings had started in 1899. Possibly connected with the Cricine Company Ltd. of 312 Regent Street. Another Le Couteur company was Chrono Co Ltd, Photographic printers and Photographers, registered in 1898 and struck off in 1900.

This was a name used by Joseph Cundall and his various partners, they were predominantly photographers and publishers but also supplied photographic goods. Their prices for photographs are interesting, an untouched portrait was priced at one guinea, a coloured military portrait 'extra finished, large size' cost 10 guineas.

Books by Joseph Cundall: The Photographic Primer for the use of Beginners in the Collodion Process. Illustrated with a facsimile of a photographic picture, 1854.

Piggotts was a tailor and drapers shop that expanded to supply boots and clothing accessories, later sporting goods were added along with other accessories and even motorcycles. Cameras started to be retailed in the mid 1890s but ceased around 1910.

For a time Piggott used the trade mark 'My Tailor My Hatter My Hosier My Bootmaker'. For a few years My Camera was also included.

The partnership between Richard Weare, Wm. P. Piggott and Thomas Weare, watch makers, opticians and mathematical instrument makers of Birkenhead and Oxford St. London, was dissolved in 1849. The partnership between Wm. P. Piggott and Thomas Body, opticians and mathematical instrument makers of Wardrobe Place and Oxford St. was dissolved in 1849.

Founded in 1879 by William Willis the inventor of the platinotype process (first patented in 1873 and introduced around 1879. BP 2011/1873). The partnership between Willis and Herbert Bowyer Berkeley was dissolved in 1884. The company was wound up in 1931.

The large increase in the price of platinum during World War I made the platinum printing process largely unaffordable, other processes such as Satista paper (1914), were introduced as alternatives.

As well as platinotype paper and materials the company sold a detective camera called the Key (BP 5337/1889).

Suppliers to the trade, established in 1867. They list themselves as brass finishers, bellows makers and optical lantern manufacturers. Around 1891 D.J. Witte was taken into partnership but this lasted only until 1894.

A note in the British Journal of Photography of 1892 states that Platt & Witte have recently completed a camera to take 30" x 30" plates, extending eight feet. The bellows took fifteen of the largest skins of leather that could be bought.

Purchased by the European Blair Co. in 1896.

John Alfred Prestwich was an engineer and manufacturer of early cinematographic equipment.

Formed around 1897 by Edwin Gladstone Price and Henry Hill, a patent was granted to the firm in that year.

There would seem to be a connection between 'Price, Hill' and 'Price, Talbot'. Henry Hill is possibly the same as collaborated with A.L. Adams. In 1901 E.G. Price started a metal-working firm called The Mechanical Construction Co. based at Cross Deep Twickenham.

The brand name 'Kalos' is sometimes used by the company.

Price, Talbot, described as camera manufacturers, took over the 26 Ludgate Hill premises of H. Dale & Co. Price, Talbot was wound up in July 1891. Either the winding up took a long time or the company was reconstituted as another winding up meeting was held in 1896 this time at 4 Berry St, the premises of Price, Hill & Co. The Scientific Appliance Manufacturing Co. Ltd trading from the same address may have been connected.

Purma Cameras Ltd head offices were in Queen St. Mayfair, Kirby St. then Sutton and later Glamorgan. Joseph Terrett, named on some Purma patents, had an address in Kirby St. William Barton Wood, a patentee of a Purma camera which was not put into production, had an address in Sutton.

Purser was the UK distributor for Busch, in 1903 a separate company was set up to handle cameras (Busch Camera Co.) while Henry F. Purser continued to distribute lenses. In 1905 Emil Busch Optical Co. (which incorporated Busch Camera Co.) handled both cameras and lenses. The firm of Henry F. Purser remained in business after the creation of Emil Busch Optical Co. The creation of the Busch Camera Co. corresponds with the purchase of the Mangold Photo Works in 1902 specifically to manufacture cameras.

In Slater's directory of 1863 Pyne is described as a pharmaceutical and dispensing chemist and manufacturer and importer of photographic apparatus. Pyne took over the business and premises of George Danson in the mid 1850s, around 1868 the business passed to Robert Hampson.

An advertisement from 1856 lists a full range of equipment and lenses especially French.