The Original Frena was introduced in 1892 and based on the patents of J. T. Clarke. The Frena takes 40 films interleaved with cards, as light shields. The films have notches along two sides. When a film has been exposed pins in front of the film are slid to coincide with the notches and so release the film. The next film has notches in the alternate position and so is held in place by the pins. Depending on the model the exposed film is stored in the base (Original model) or back of the camera.

In 1893 the Original model was superseded by the Frena normally found having a long rectangular profile. In the late 1890s the eccentric handle used to change film was replaced with a bar shaped handle. This had always been present on the smallest size. On cameras with eccentric handles the camera divides near the back, the changing mechanism remains fixed in the front portion. Those with bar handles are divided in the middle and the mechanism is removable.

Early models have a lyre-shaped back catch, this was replaced by spring catches mounted above the hinge. The face of the camera varies in design between models. All models were available in a de luxe finish of light calf skin and lacquered brass.

The Frena was probably the first magazine camera made solely for cut-films; an attempt to reduce weight. The Frena proved very popular; in 1900 a range of Folding Frenas was introduced and also a separate Frena magazine for attaching to a field camera.

The price of the No 2 was £8.17.6, or £10.10.0 in a presentation finish.

A note the British Journal of Photography states that there were 3458 Frena cameras in use by March 1895.

Some modern sources give the finish as gold plated, advertisements show it as lacquered brass. The finish on the brass differs between the examples shown.

Frena Models

Versions

The change from eccentric to bar handle (models 2 and 3) was made in 1899 between serial numbers 13000 and 14000.

Accessories

• Magnifiers for close focusing. These were available in three sets - Ordinary, for portraiture; High power and Extra high power. The cameras 0 and 00 had three lenses in each set, the 2, 22 and 3 had four lenses to a set.
• Flap shutter for slow speed work. Introduced in c. 1899.
• Pneumatic release. Introduced c. 1899.

Changing Mechanism

Details of the changing mechanism differ but the principle is the same on all models. The films are interleaved with cardboard light-baffles and loaded in a metal box inside the camera. At the front of the box is a set of pins able to slide vertically between two positions. Each film (and its cardboard baffle) has wide notches at its edges, the films are arranged so that the notches are not aligned in consecutive films i.e. the notch in the second film is underneath a projection in the first film. After exposure the metal box is revolved, when the box faces the back of the camera a cam in the camera meets a projection on the box which moves the pins in front of the film, the film at the front of the box can now fall out while the next film is held by the pins. The diagram shows the arrangement in the 1893 model with fixed mechanism, with this model the camera must be facing upwards to operate the changing mechanism. A cloth attached to the back of the box prevents light reaching the exposed films.