ANTHONY'S O.N.A. SHUTTER

E. & H.T. Anthony & Company, New York 1898 - 1901

Although unmarked and unnamed as such by Anthony, I'm calling this Anthony's O.N.A. Shutter pending better information.

Constructed of mahogany, it measures 3-3/16 x 3-7/16" x 1/2" in thickness (main casing) with a 1-7/16" opening at the rear to accept a lens barrel or shade. The shutter is pneumatically operated, with no manual release.

This shutter appears to have never been depicted in engravings for Anthony's O.N.A. Equipment, but is mentioned in E. & H.T. Anthony's Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Equipments and Materials for Amateurs, February, 1898. Per the catalogue's description of the O.N.A. Equipment, "This equipment is also fitted with a shutter for instantaneous work, which is included in the price named." This "O.N.A. Shutter" is believed to be the one referenced in the catalogue for the O.N.A. Equipment, as it wasn't offered as a separate catalogue item, and was simple and economical in construction which was in keeping with the O.N.A. outfit's cost. This is supported by the fact that the other shutters offered by Anthony as separate items, were more expensive in comparison, and that Anthony's Champion Equipment outfit of the same period was also offered with a similarly constructed stereoscopic shutter. Following E. & H.T. Anthony's merger with Scovill & Adams in 1902, the O.N.A Equipment outfits were dropped from the new company's product line.

It's interesting to note, that when this "O.N.A." mono shutter was acquired along with the previously mentioned stereoscopic shutter, like the stereoscopic, it was accompanied by a tag stating it was "made by C.B. 1888":

Anthony's Stereoscopic Shutter Anthony's O.N.A. Shutter

These initials may have been in reference to Carl Bornmann of New Haven, Connecticut, who patented numerous shutter and camera designs that were assigned to either E. & H.T. Anthony & Company, or to their successor companies Anthony & Scovill and Ansco. It's unknown as to when the Anthony's O.N.A. Shutter was introduced, but reference to it isn't made in Anthony's catalogues until 1900. No patents have been located for either the Anthony Stereoscopic Shutter or the Anthony O.N.A. Shutter so far.

This is the only example of this "O.N.A." Shutter I've ever encountered. Like its stereoscopic counterpart, production must have been very low during its approximate three-year lifespan. Most likely, very few examples of Anthony's O.N.A. Shutter probably exist today.

For more information on Anthony's Stereoscopic Shutter, look for it under the "Shutters" section of this website.

From Anthony's Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Equipments and Materials for Amateurs, February, 1898

Anthony's Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Equipments and Materials for Amateurs, February, 1898