Autochrome - Antique and Vintage Cameras

Autochrome Meter

1908

Early version

Watkins Meter Co.

Hereford

England

Image of Autochrome Meter Early version

Meter Type:
Actinometer.

Calibration:
Plate speed: 1 - 500 Watkins. Shutter speed: 1/500 - 130. Aperture: f4 - f64.

Attributes:
Actinometer value: 2 - 260.

Identification:
Two comparison tints.

With:
Short Instructions. Speed List (1 Jan 1908, price 1d). Box.

The Autochrome and later Colour Plate meters had dials interchangeable with the Bee. The inner dial (on the glass) had different calibrations compared to the Bee, the required exposure was found by Watkins not to be inversely proportional to the intensity of the light as registered on the sensitive paper e.g. a decrease of light of 64 times required 128 times increase in exposure. In 1913 the Autochrome Meter was replaced by the Colour Plate model.

References & Notes:
BJA 1909, pp. 387, 646, 752. Sinclair Cat 1910, p. 84. Watkins Manual 1911.

Autochrome Meter

Later version

c. 1910

Watkins Meter Co.

Hereford

England

Image of Autochrome Meter Later version

Meter Type:
Actinometer.

Calibration:
Plate speed: 1 - 500 Watkins. Shutter speed: 1/500 - 130. Aperture: f4 - f64.

Attributes:
Actinometer value: 2 - 260.

Identification:
One comparison tint. Case with ridge.

With:
Instructions. Speed List (3 Mar 1913, 21st year of issue, price 1d). Spare papers. Ordinary dial, single tint, shadow to BEE. Spare comparison tint. Box.

Colour Plate Meter

1913

Watkins Meter Co.

Hereford

England

Image of Colour Plate Meter

Meter Type:
Actinometer.

Calibration:
Plate speed: 1 - 500 Watkins. Shutter speed: 1/500 - 130. Aperture: f4 - f64.

Attributes:
Actinometer value: 2 - 260.

Identification:
One comparison tint. Case with ridge.

With:
Short Instructions. Box labelled Special Dial, price 1/-.

In 1913 the Colour Plate Meter replaced the Autochrome model.

Colour Plate Meter

1913

Watkins Meter Co.

Hereford

England

Meter Type:
Actinometer.

Calibration:
Plate speed: 1 - 500 Watkins. Shutter speed: 1/500 - 130. Aperture: f4 - f64.

Attributes:
Actinometer value: 2 - 260.

Identification:
One comparison tint. Case with ridge.

With:
Instructions. Spare Bee meter dial.

This is similar to the previous entry.

Colour Plate Meter

1913

Watkins Meter Co.

Hereford

England

Image of Colour Plate Meter

Meter Type:
Actinometer.

Calibration:
Plate speed: 1 - 500 Watkins. Shutter speed: 1/500 - 130. Aperture: f4 - f64.

Attributes:
Actinometer value: 2 - 260.

Identification:
One comparison tint. Case with ridge.

With:
Instructions.

This is similar to the previous entry but has a blue glass.

Indoor Meter

1910

Early version

Watkins Meter Co.

Hereford

England

Image of Indoor Meter Early version

Meter Type:
Actinometer.

Calibration:
Plate speed: 1 - 500 Watkins. Shutter speed: 1/500 - 130. Aperture: f4 - f45.

Attributes:
Actinometer value: 1 - 130.

Identification:
One comparison tint. Case with ridge.

With:
Instructions. Speed list October 1913. Box.

The Indoor version of the Bee has a 1/16 tint on a dial interchangeable with the ordinary model Bee. The 1/16 tint was available before 1910 but from that date it was sold under the name of Indoor. Illustrations of early models show the aperture scale extended to f45 and the actinometer scale extended to 130. Also available with US stop markings.

This, early example, has a dial printed in a flowing script, apertures to f45 and an actinometer scale to 130. The instruction book notes that there are price rises for additional dials from 6d to 7d, disc refills have risen from 6d to 7d and speed cards are now 1 ½d rather than 1d.

References & Notes:
BJA 1912, p. 23.

Indoor Meter

1910

Watkins Meter Co.

Hereford

England

Meter Type:
Actinometer.

Calibration:
Plate speed: 1 - 500 Watkins. Shutter speed: 1/500 - 130. Aperture: f4 - f40.

Attributes:
Actinometer value: 1 - 90.

Identification:
One comparison tint. Case with ridge.

Similar to the previous entry but with apertures to f40 and an actinometer scale to 90. The dial is printed in a block script.

Indoor Meter

Watkins Meter Co.

Hereford

England

Image of Indoor Meter

Meter Type:
Actinometer.

Calibration:
Plate speed: 1 - 500 Watkins. Shutter speed: 1/500 - 130. Aperture: f2.5 - f40.

Attributes:
Actinometer value: 1 - 90.

Identification:
One comparison tint. Case with ridge.

With:
Instructions for Indoor and Studio models, 3rd edition. Bee Meter instructions 11th edition. Bee Meter dial. Speed List 14th July 1924. Box labelled 'Dial for Watkins Indoor Meter', price 1/-.

Similar to the previous entry but the dial includes faster apertures.

Studio Meter

1915

Watkins Meter Co.

Hereford

England

Image of Studio Meter

Meter Type:
Actinometer.

Calibration:
Plate speed: 1 - 500 Watkins. Shutter speed: 1/500 - 130. Aperture: f4 - f32.

Attributes:
Actinometer value: 2 - 180.

Identification:
Case with ridge.

Notes:
The box has a price on it of 5/-.

With:
Short Instructions. Box.

The Studio meter had dials interchangeable with the Bee. It was intended for indoor use and had a ¼ comparison tint which was lighter than the standard tint. For indoor use Watkins recommended exposing the meter and the plate in the camera at the same time. When the tint was reached the lens cap was replaced or the shutter closed. Prior to the introduction of the Studio meter ¼ tints were available to replace the standard (whole) tint of the regular Bee. These were on a dial having a modified calibration. Prior to 1910 the regular model Bee had a ¼ tint as well as a whole tint.

References & Notes:
BJA 1917, p. 9. BJA 1921, p. 108. Watkins Manual 1911, p. 45.

Watkins Snipe

1920

Watkins Meter Co.

Hereford

England

Meter Type:
Actinometer.

With:
Instructions. Spare papers.

This meter is for use with simple cameras having fixed apertures and speeds. It does not give the exposure required but indicates whether the light is good enough to make an exposure. In use the meter is exposed for a set time. If after that time the sensitive paper had darkened to approximately the same tint as the comparison tint an exposure could be made. The fixed time was 4s for a box camera and other times for cameras with better lenses. Price 1/6.

References & Notes:
BJA 1921, p. 108. BJA 1922, p. 114. BJA 1923, p. 100.


Company Details:

Watkins Meter Co.

Actinometers

Stanley Actinometer

Watkins

Standard, Junior

Watch Type
Dial Meter

Bee

Compass Bee

Queen Bee

Autochrome, Colour, Indoor
Studio, Snipe

Focal Plane, Fall, Snapshot
Kinematograph, Small Cine
Filmo

Wynne

Infallible, Snapshot

Silver Infallible, Silver Gem

Hunter Meter

Other

Adams Meters

Imperial Exposure Meter

Le Chronopose Exact
Haka Expometer
Universal

Chronoscope PAP


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