Fonds / Collection

The Porter Collection

Material Type

Artifact

Accession Number

1987.167.006

Photo / Negative Number

Roll 3: 8-13

Narrative

Tail-board cameras were originally designed by C.G.H. Kinnear in 1856 to take on a photographic tour of France. The bellows were fixed to the back of the camera and detachable from front. The whole camera formed a box for carrying. Tail-board cameras were advantageous to the previous sliding-box cameras as they had a wider range of lens extension, weighed less, and were smaller. Tail-board cameras were ideal for close-up shots. Tail-board cameras were typically made of mahagony or teak wood. As a safeguard, extra brass plates were added at the more vulnerable spots such as corner joints.

Artifact Category

T&E for Communication: Photographic T&E

Description

The camera has a fixed and a sliding panel resting on the base-board. There is a brass screw and hinge on either side of the movable panel, that also has a glass plate attached to it. The front and back panels are connected by square-shaped bellows. The movable panel can be pushed towards the fixed panel, and then the base can be folded up, so the camera looks like a box. The lens is missing.

Height

23

Width

20

Length

28

Depth

10

Material

Wood, glass, and metal

Repository

West Vancouver Art Museum

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