Challenge Model A

J. Lizars

Glasgow

Scotland

Lens:

f7, 5.4" T.T.H. Rapid Rectilinear, iris diaphragm to f45. Serial no. 10920 .

Shutter:

Thornton-Pickard T&I, speeds 1/15 - 1/90. Roller-blind.

Construction:

Polished mahogany body, square cornered leather bellows.

Format:

3 ¼" x 4 ¼" plates held in double dark-slides.

Focusing:

Bellows, single extension to 2 yards.

Attributes:

Adams brilliant view-finder.

Movements:

Rising front.

Notes:

Address on camera: J. Lizars. 101 Buchanan St. Glasgow.

With:

Hooded focusing screen.

Challenge Model A

J. Lizars

Glasgow

Scotland

Lens:

f7.2, 148 mm Zeiss Anastigmat, (Series III). Iris diaphragm scaled 2 - 192. Zeiss old calibration. Equal to f45. Serial no. 3461 (1893).

Shutter:

Thornton-Pickard T&I, speeds 1/15 - 1/90. Roller-blind.

Construction:

Polished mahogany body, leather bellows.

Format:

5" x 4" plates held in double dark-slides.

Focusing:

Bellows, double extension to 23", scale to 2 yards. Three positions for the front standard, the one nearest the screen corresponds to the focusing scale.

Movements:

Rising front, swing and tilt back.

Notes:

Name plaque shows branches in Glasgow, London, Edinburgh, Belfast and Aberdeen.

With:

Hooded focusing screen.

The model A was one of a number of similar folding hand cameras from Lizars. It was produced in lantern ( 3 ¼" x 3 ¼"), quarter-plate, 4" x 5" and half-plate sizes and with a wide choice of lens. As well as the polished mahogany finish a leather covered version was made. By the mid 1900s the model A was no longer advertised. The price was around £5.10.0. The double extension and side swing options fitted to the second example were priced as extras.

A very similar model was offered by Optimus as the Kopit and by Levi.

The Zeiss Anastigmat was not advertised by Lizars although other high-class lenses such as Goerz were.

References & Notes:

BJA 1898, p. 280. BJA 1899, p. 409. BJA 1900, p. 160 (Optimus), p. 389. BJA 1902, p. 1189.

Further Information:

The Zeiss lens has a very low serial number which dates it to 1893, it does not appear to be made by Ross as the iris has Zeiss calibrations.

Company Details:

Lizars

Early Photography

Challenge Model A

J. Lizars

Glasgow

Scotland

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Movements:

Notes:

With:

Challenge Model A

J. Lizars

Glasgow

Scotland

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Movements:

Notes:

With:

References & Notes:

Further Information: