The Popular Ensign was introduced around 1922 with several lens options and a choice of shutters. It was advertised with a black leather finish to the body, some models, however, had a finish of coloured leatherette or similar material. These would seem to be late examples introduced around the time of the Houghton-Butcher merger of 1926.¹

Prior to the introduction of the Popular Ensign, the Houghton range of folding roll-film cameras comprised:

• Folding Ensign - a simple model in 2 ¼B, 2 ½, 3 ¼ and 3 ¼A sizes.
• Flush Back Ensign - a more substantial model with U shaped front standard in sizes of 3 ¼ and 3 ¼A. A model with an f4.5 lens was added by 1922. The 2 ½ size was added by 1922.
• Regular Ensign - same as the Flush Back but able to take plates as well as roll-film in sizes of 3 ¼ and 3 ¼A. A model with an f4.5 lens was added by 1922.
• Ensign de Luxe - similar to the Regular but fitted with double extension and dividing lenses in sizes of 3 ¼ and 3 ¼A. A model with an f4.5 lens was added by 1922.

The Popular Ensign was introduced in sizes of:

• 2 ¼B (Flush Back and regular)
• 2 ⅞ (regular)

'Flush Back' was incorporated in the name e.g. Flush Back Popular Ensign 2 ¼B; the regular, for both plates and roll-film, was simply named e.g. Ensign Popular 2 ¼B. A special model with an f4.5 lens was also introduced at this time in the 2 ¼B size in both Flush Back and regular forms.

Lenses and Shutters

A wide range of lenses was available:

Lens	Camera	Lens	Camera
Single Achromat f11	2 ¼B 2 ⅞	Dallmeyer Serrac f4.5	f4.5 2 ¼B
Plutar f8	2 ¼B 2 ⅞	Cooke-Aviar f4.5	f4.5 2 ¼B
Aldis-Plano f7.7	2 ¼B 2 ⅞	Ross Xpres f4.5	f4.5 2 ¼B
Beck-Ensign f6	2 ¼B	Beck-Ensign f7.7	2 ⅞
Cooke-Luxor f6.8	2 ¼B 2 ⅞	Aldis-Plano f6.8	2 ⅞
Aldis f6.3	2 ¼B	Aldis f6	2 ⅞
Dallmeyer Perfac f6.3	2 ¼B 2 ⅞
Cooke f6.5	2 ¼B 2 ⅞
Ross Homocentric f6.3	2 ¼B 2 ⅞

The 2 ¼B model was fitted with either an Ensign-Simplex (1/25 - 1/100) or Ensign-Sector shutter (1 -1/100). The f4.5 2 ¼B had an Ilex Acme (- 1/300). The 2 ⅞ had an Ensign-Simplex, Ilex General (1/5 - 1/100) or an Ilex Universal (1 - 1/150). Not all lens and shutter combinations were offered.

Camera Sizes

The film size was often incorporated into the camera name:

Designation	Size
2 ¼B	2 ¼" x 3 ¼"
2 ½	2 ½" x 4 ¼"
2 ⅞	2 ⅞" x 4 ⅞"
3 ¼	3 ¼" x 4 ¼"
3 ¼A	3 ¼" x 5 ½"

Lumar Lens

This was a three element type produced by Taylor, Taylor & Hobson and patented in 1921, it is not included in the 1922 Ensign catalogue.