The Wooden camera - history

Since 1839, millions of cameras of different shape and size have been manufactured. Today, digital cameras are injection moulded using polycarbonates or magnesium alloys for the body but in the early days, wood was the most used material for hand, field and studio cameras. As the invention of photographic glass dry plates replaced wet plates, the popularity of photography increased and with it the production of cameras and lenses. Bodies were often made by cabinet makers and models now classed as antiques exemplify their skills.

Mahogany and Cherry woods were popular materials selected for their hardness and durability and which could be worked to the fine tolerances needed for accurate movements. Some of the best known makers were based in England and the USA, their products sold all over the world.

Edward Anthony set up business in New York in 1842. A decade later the business was known as E & H. T. Anthony. The company made fine wooden plate and hand cameras, becoming Anthony & Scovill in 1902, shortened to the famous Ansco name. The Champion model was a particular success for Anthony being available in 4X5 inch or 10X8 inch sizes. In England, Frederick H. Sanderson established a camera business in the 1880s and patented a special lens panel in 1895. The Sanderson whole plate Tropical Field Camera was one its finest models. The Thornton Pickard Ruby of 1899 helped launch the company into North America on the heels of its popular roller blind shutter unit first made in 1896.

Perken, Son & Rayment established in 1852, made the Optimus long focus tailboard field camera in Mahogany with brass trim and red double extension bellows. Rayments Patent camera of 1886 was available in seven sizes from 4.75 x 3.75 inch to 15 x 12 inch. J.Lancaster of Birmingham, England, made quarter plate to 10x12 inch wooden view cameras with brass trim in the 1880s. In the same decade, perhaps the best known of wooden camera makers, Louis Gandolfi, specialised in hand made wooden cameras from 1885 from a workshop in London; the Field, Tropical, and Universal with formats from 4X5 inch to 10X8 inch were still being made by the Gandolfi brothers in the 1950s and 60s.

Gandolfi's equivalent in North America was probably F. Deardorff & Sons of Chicago. The business began repairing cameras in 1893, then built special models from 1923. These cameras were often finished in light coloured mahogany taken from bar tops in Chicago closed during prohibition. The Deardorff 8X10 inch camera was made from 1926 - 1937 and constructed from deep red coloured wood with brass and nickel plated furniture. A Baby Deardorff was designed by Merle Deardorff 1936. Many wooden cameras are still usable with modern Schneider, Rodenstock and Fujinon leaf shutter lenses and cut film in Fidelity or Riteway holders.