The Mayfield, Cobb was one of the first cameras to be made of a plastic-like substance such as ebonite. The material does not seem to be very successful as the brass binding looks to have been added to strengthen the body.

In 1889 Mayfield, Cobb was advertising as plate manufacturers, it is assumed that the company name ceased to be used shortly after this date.

The camera was advertised in 1895 under the Mayfield & Co. name and is described in the Photography Annual of that year. The camera described there was available in ebonite with aluminium fittings or the 'newest pattern' with an aluminium body, an f8 lens was fitted and a TTH finder was available. Only the lantern size was listed.

The camera shown here has a Mayfield Cobb name plaque and must therefore have been made no later than around 1890. The review in the PA of 1895 would seem to be a re-introduction of the ebonite camera and the introduction of an aluminium version under the Mayfield & Co name.

This model is similar to the previous entry but is not fitted with an internal shutter and has double extension the body is of aluminium rather than ebonite. It isn't clear if this unusual camera was a prototype, a one-off or was intended for sale. An aluminium version of the model with an internal shutter is known to exist but this is the only known example of this model.