BOSTON
BULLS-EYE CAMERA
Boston Camera Manufacturing Company,
Boston, Massachusetts 1892-1895
Capable of 12 exposures on 3-1/2 x 3-1/2 roll film, and the first
to carry the Bulls-Eye name, the Bulls-Eye Camera was introduced by the Boston
Camera Manufacturing Company in 1892. It's unique D-shaped red celluloid window indicated the roll
film's exposure number. The window is of significance to collectors for two
reasons.
First, this window feature was part of a daylight-loading
film system, designed by Samuel N. Turner, Boston Camera Manufacturing's
founder, under Patent No. 539,713 granted May 21,1895. George Eastman saw the potential in this
daylight-loading system, and after failing in his attempts to purchase the
patent, he simply acquired the entire Boston company
in August, 1895. Eastman would continue production
of the Bulls-Eye Camera, having renamed it the No. 2 Bulls-Eye and equipping it
with a round film window. Of course, the
rest is history with virtually every Kodak roll film camera thereafter
incorporating this feature.
Source: Google Patents
Secondly, the D-shaped window which is clearly shown on
the patent drawing, has always been a mystery to most
collectors. Reviewing the patent's
wording, the reason becomes evident. The
exposure numbers on the film's backing were underlined, and as one wound the
film they would position that line as close as possible to the flat side of the
D. This is supported by the illustration
below, in Boston Camera Manufacturing's Instruction
Book for the Bulls-Eye copyrighted May, 1892. It depicts the user rotating the camera 90
degrees, and grasping the winding knob to advance the film in preparation for
the next exposure. The illustration further shows the number and underlining,
as it would appear through the window. Another benefit of this arrangement not
outlined in the patent, is that the flat side of the D served to confirm the
exposure number. With the number
underlined, there would be no mistaking a "6" for a
"9". This was important to
know when you only had 12 exposures. All
this becomes more logical, supported by the D's flat side position in relation
to the direction of the film travel while being wound. It further makes sense that the photographer
would naturally rotate the camera 90 degrees off vertical to make winding
easier (assuming one is right-handed), at the same time being able to easily
and correctly read the number in this position.
The Bulls-Eye's Shutter was designed by Abner G. Tisdell (of Tisdell & Whittelsey Detective Camera fame) under Patent No. 464,260
dated December 1, 1891. Tisdell was granted at least
four photographic patents during the late 1880's and mid-1890's.
Boston's Bulls-Eye was offered in at least three known
versions: leather-covered, natural wood
finish and an ebonite (thermoplastic) material.
None of them are common today, but the leather-covered is the version
most often encountered. Both the wood and ebonite versions are much rarer, and
not many of either have survived. I would give the ebonite version an edge in
rarity, probably being the hardest to come by, especially one in very good
condition. Despite the material's
hardness, the ebonite is considerably more fragile than wood, easily cracked or
damaged if dropped and prone to warping from climate differential.
Leather Version
Leather version with factory box
Natural Wood Version
Ebonite Version
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Boston Bulls-Eye (left)
shown alongside its successor, the Kodak Bulls-Eye No. 2