Franks Patent Presto - Antique and Vintage Cameras

Franks Patent Presto

1890

A. Franks

Manchester

England

Image of Franks Patent Presto

Lens:
c. f13, 5 ½" achromatic landscape, fixed aperture.

Shutter:
Sector, single speed powered by elastic band, B setting.

Construction:
Softwood.

Format:
3 ¼" x 4 ¼" plates held in dark-slides. The slides are wooden and hold a single plate.

Focusing:
Fixed.

With:
Single slide.

A very simple box or detective camera. The patent refers to L. A. Franks's patent for the shutter. The price of 10/6 made the Presto one of the cheapest cameras on the market.

A second version of the Presto had the shutter enclosed, a view-finder and had storage space at the back of the camera for further dark-slides.

References & Notes:
BP 13055/1890. PA 1891, p. 342. The Science Museum Collection has a Presto with an enclosed shutter.

Franks Patent Presto

c. 1892

A. Franks

Manchester

England

Image of Franks Patent Presto

Lens:
c. f13, 5 ½" achromatic landscape, fixed aperture.

Shutter:
Sector, single speed powered by elastic band, B setting.

Construction:
Softwood.

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

Focusing:
Fixed.

Notes:
Retailer's label: A. Salanson & Co., Cardiff. 23 High St.

With:
Single slide.

This example is similar to the entry above but has a spring grip added to hold the shutter blade after exposure and was sold with double dark-slides.


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