Verto - Antique and Vintage Cameras

Verto

Later model

Early 1920s

Adams & Co.

London

England

Image of Verto Later model

Lens:
f5.5, 5 ½" Ross Combinable, iris diaphragm to f45. Combinable lens of two f11, 9 ½" groups, iris to f64. Serial no. 104848 104849 (c.1923).

Shutter:
Dial-set Compur in Adams housing, speeds 1 - 1/200, B, T.

Construction:
Leather covered metal body, leather bellows.

Format:
3 ¼" x 4 ¼" plates held in slides.

Focusing:
Bellows to 23" with combined lens. 13' 6" with rear group. Focusing scale to 1 yard. Infinity mark for rear group. Double extension.

Attributes:
Identoscope brilliant view-finder with parallax correction to rising front. Spirit level. For landscape exposures the whole front standard is rotated. Two infinity catches.

Movements:
Rising front.

Serial Number:
62 .

Notes:
Adams address on camera: 24 Charing Cross Road. (1908 - 1932). Ex Falchenberg collection.

With:
Hooded focusing screen. Film pack adapter.

The Verto was slightly cheaper than the Adams Vesta produced at the same time. It was issued in 1915 in two versions, for plate or roll-film. Originally available in 2 ½" x 3 ½" and 3 ¼" x 4 ¼" sizes, a short time later a 3 ½" x 5 ½" was added. In 1927 a third version with revolving back was produced in all three sizes. The revolving back 3 ½" x 5 ½" could also be used for 5" x 4".

SizeLensDate
2 ½" x 3 ½"f6.8 4 ¼" Ross Homocentric1915 - before 1919
3 ¼" x 4 ¼"f4.5 5 ½" Ross Xpres1915 - c.1927
3 ¼" x 4 ¼"f5.5 5 ½" and 9 ½" Ross Combinable1915 -
3 ½" x 5 ½"f4.5 6 ½" Ross XpresBefore1919 - c.1927
3 ½" x 5 ½"f5.5 6 ½" and 10 ¼" Ross CombinableBefore 1919 -

The Verto was advertised into the 1930s. Early models were fitted with an Exacto (possibly Compound) shutter, in the early 1920s this was changed to a modified Compur shutter in a U shaped housing. The shutter controls as well as engraving differ between early and late shutters. Models fitted with Homocentric lenses were available with an ordinary brilliant finder in place of the Identoscope.

References & Notes:
BP 11670/1905 (finder). BP 6644/1915. BJA 1916, p. 202. BJA 1920, p. 152. BJA 1928, p. 106.


Company Details:

Adams & Co.

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