Economic Portable - Antique and Vintage Cameras

Economic Portable

c. 1890

Perken, Son & Rayment

London

England

Image of Economic Portable

Lens:
f8, 8 ⅞" rapid rectilinear, Waterhouse stops.

Shutter:
Thornton-Pickard 'Time' giving time and instantaneous.

Construction:
Mahogany, dovetail joints, square cornered bellows.

Format:
6 ½" x 4 ¾" plates held in double dark-slides.

Focusing:
Bellows to c. 2' 8". Double extension, rack and pinion (straight cut) movement to inner frame.

Attributes:
Reversing back. Plumb bob. Removable lens panel.

Movements:
Rising front. Small amount of swing front. Tilting back.

Serial Number:
4781 .

Notes:
Address on plaque: Perken, Son & Rayment. Hatton Garden. London. Serial number stamped on camera and slide.

With:

  • Double dark-slide (1/2).
  • Shutter. Waterhouse stops in pouch. Lens cap. Tripod top and screw. Focusing dark cloth.
  • Ilford meter, vulcanite version (1893).

This is a simply made camera of the '1882' pattern. The brass fittings are not let into the wood and the bed is of very thick section to compensate for being made of only a few parts.

This camera has a Perken label and is stamped 'Optimus'. Very similar models were offered by a number of manufacturers and retailers at the time. Illustrations of the 'Economic Portable' show the back struts working in a slot let into the rear standard. On this example the simpler arrangement of a slotted strut and fixed screw stud is used. The rising front lock is also different to the illustrations.

A similar camera is shown in an 1892 advertisement from Wilkinson of Leeds who claim to be camera manufacturers.

References & Notes:
BJA 1892, pp. 131, 1128.

Illustrations:
Coe, BOP, p.40. Vintage Cat. n.d.


Company Details:

Perken, Son & Rayment

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