THE "RADIX"
Marketed
through the New York Camera Exchange 1897
Other than a few advertisements from 1897 and being
listed in McKeown's Price Guide to
Antique and Classic Cameras 2005-2006, nothing has been found regarding
the "Radix" which was sold
by the New York Camera Exchange. "Radix" is the Latin word for
"root" or "base" and is also an Italian surname. However, the
origin of the camera's name as applied here is unknown.
This compact and well-built 3-1/4 x 4-1/4 plate box
camera having dimensions of approximately 4-1/2" in height, 6" in
width and 7-5/8" in depth, was capable of holding three double plate
holders. Externally, the camera's most striking feature is the shutter's
tensioning lever. It's capable of three speeds, and is set by moving it in the
opposite direction after each exposure. The shutter is cycled by depressing a
wheel-shaped release, that when rotated appears to lock the release preventing
an accidental exposure. Equipped with
two brilliant finders, one of two aperture
settings can be selected by sliding the lever in the slot next to the lens
opening:
Opening the rear door, the "Radix" name is prominently
emblazoned in gold leaf:
The earliest reference to the "Radix" is found
in the Scientific American for
February 20, 1897. Here's a link to the reference:
Here's the link to an advertisement in The American Amateur Photographer, Volume
IX, No. 12, December, 1897:
It's unknown as to who actually manufactured the "Radix", which appears to
have been produced for maybe a year or so. I don't recall seeing the
"Radix" in any reference books, and with this being the only example
I've encountered in many years of collecting, it's extremely scarce (if not
borderline rare) as plate box cameras go.
