Another British Houghton camera - The Duchess

[IanG]

Bought this just before returning from the UK. I've now given it a fresh lick of French polish. Just needs a couple of lens boards, one for a Ross 12" mounted on a Thornton Pickard shutter, the second for a 1913 CZJ f6.3 165mm Tessar in Compur dial-set shutter.

I'll make a 5"x4" back and perhaps a 7"x5" as well for modern film holders.

I've already re-ground the focus screen since shooting these images which were before I started any restoration. The brass tripod ring is missing and the camera must have had a plate added later presumably with a modern tripod mount. So I'll need to fabricate something with a new tripod mount, possibly from aluminium.

This Houghton "Duchess" Half plate camera was made between 1906-1920, it was part of a range that included "King", "Queen", "Empress", "Victo", "Victo-Superb" and "Tropical Victo". They competed with Houghtons other range of plate cameras sold under the Sanderson name.

Should be a great camera to use

Ian

 

[Mitica100]

Absolutely beautiful!

 

[compur]

A pretty camera.