Originally Posted by
Steven Tribe
For me, the most significant link to Vallantin is what he engraved on his lenses - this is very similar to that found on Colas lenses.
So I think the likely scenario is :
Colas discovered a UK market for sliding box cameras around 1856. He had the cameras made and had an agreement with the newly independent maker Vallantin (ex-lerebours) to supply lenses to be engraved in London. The "light" engraving is very typical of UK brass engravers. It is in French and says Paris - France was still regarded as the home of Photography.
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