Photosphere

1889

Compagnie Française de Photographie

Paris

France

Lens:

Rapid rectilinear, iris diaphragm.

Shutter:

Hemispherical sector with variable speeds, spring powered, spring regulated. Not self-capping.

Construction:

Oxidized, silvered brass body, wooden slides.

Format:

9 x 12 cm plates held in double dark-slides.

Focusing:

Helical slot focusing, scaled 3, 5, 100 m.

Attributes:

Detachable reflecting view-finder.

Serial Number:

2316 .

Notes:

Address on camera: 7 Rue de Solferino. Paris.

With:

1 double dark-slide (3/4). View-finder.

The Photosphere was introduced in 1889 in the 8 x 9 cm size. In, or just before, 1893 sizes for 9 x 12 cm, 13 x 18 cm and 9 x 18 cm stereo were introduced. Early models took dark-slides, later a plate magazine for 12 slides was available. On some very late models this was fixed but more usually it was removable. The lenses were either rapid rectilinear or Zeiss Anastigmats. The 13 x 18 cm had two built-in view-finders, others had a removable finder.

References & Notes:

Lothrop, Century, p. 54.

Illustrations:

MA, 170, 171, 1177, 1176, 1424. Prague Cat. 490, 491. Auer, History, p. 238.

Early Photography