"THE BRILLIANT" CAMERA
Maker Unknown Early to mid-1890's
Though technically unidentified, I'm calling this early
5x7 self-casing camera "The
Brilliant" based upon the name found cast into the lens standard's
adjustment knobs. Other than these knobs, the camera is absent of any markings
that might indicate its name or who manufactured it:
The camera is believed to be American made and to date to
the early to mid-1890's based upon its style of construction and its heavier
and more elaborate hardware.
Having no finger joints or dovetailing, its solid panel
construction is similar to that found on other 1890's detective (or hand) cameras
such as Scovill's Empire and several known examples of
what may possibly be Frank McLaughlin's
New England Rattler:
Scovill Empire No. 1
Frank McLaughlin's New England Rattler (unconfirmed)
The Rattler's rear panel is similar in style to the folding
bed and the rear panel on "The
Brilliant", which are each made up of five sections:
Another similarity to these Scovill
detective cameras is the natural wood finish in lieu of leather covering. The
camera bears no indications it was ever covered, and this together with its simple
finish seems to suggest it was more economical in construction. Yet, the build
quality is a step above with its very substantial bed rails and very elaborate
lens standard supports. Not having seen another example and judging by its construction,
one might think it was a either a factory prototype or a one-off built by
someone with cabinet-making skills. I've not seen this exact hardware on
products by other known makers of the period, which given its quality strongly
suggests the camera was factory-built. When
acquired, this camera had no shutter or lens board.
If indeed this camera's name was "The Brilliant", maybe it originated from some aspect of
the camera being someone's vision of a better idea, because of its bright and
more elaborate hardware, possibly both or maybe neither. In any case, further
research or the discovery of another example may one day solve the mystery.