Lancaster Instantograph 12x16,5cm

[fix_se]

Hi!

I have the possibility to buy an Lancaster Instantograph, half-plate (12x16,5cm) which I, if I buy it, intend to use, both with homemade dry plates and sheet film. However, I do not have the possibility to try the camera before I buy it.

Therefore, I wonder if someone have a Lancaster Instantograph. I assume that the modern cameras are easier to work with but how is an old Lancaster to work with?

Unfortunatly there is only one plate holder. Does anyone know where one could find additional plate holders?

Here is a picture of a Lancaster Instantograph: http://www.photographica.nu/cameracol/lanc201n.jpg

Regards
fix_se

[Justin Cormack]

That picture isnt a half plate one - more like quarter plate.

Mine is an earlier model. It doesnt have a shutter, which can be a pain. You need to make sure that your homemade plates are very slow, or shoot film at dusk or dawn. Or get a packard shutter or make a lensboard.

Most dont have a modern tripod attachment - mine must have been adapted. Thats a pain.

You wont get more plate holders - they are not standard fit.

The bellows might leak. Mine were fine, but who knows.

I like mine, it was my first LF camera, but I think for film a modern one is nicer. For plates though its nice to use the original.

The lenses vary - mine has a landscape lens (and is landscape format). Whole plate ones often have portrait lenses and are portrait format.

[Paul Ewins]

Mine is identified as the 1893 patent instantograph, also half plate.

It has rear tilts, front rise/fall and a small amount of front swing with the standard loosened. All of the movements and extension are held by friction locks. The back is held by four arms and swings partly to one side to allow the film holder to be inserted.

It is limited compared to most field cameras made in the last hundred years but otherwise exactly the same in concept. If you used a modern lens there would be no reason (movements aside) why you couldn't get photos exactly the same as with a brand new camera. If you intend using brass barrel lenses then you'll need to learn a bit about old shutters (like the T-P roller blind) or simply stop down and shoot static subjects at really slow speeds.

[fix_se]

Thanks for the information!

I think I will buy the Instantograph. Is it possible (and easy) to modify the back of the camera so that one could use normal/modern filmholders?

Regards,
fix_se

[Paul Ewins]

I made some adapters out of aluminium sheet for 4x5 holders and grafmatics. This means that I didn't have to modify the back. It may require careful shimming of the ground glass so that it matches the film plane.

[fix_se]

Hi!

Thanks. Do you have the possibility to upload some photos of the adapters on the camera back?

Regards,
fix_se

[RJ-]

Justin,

The Instantograph was introduced by J Lancaster & Sons in Birmingham circa 1886.

For the first 3 years of the Instantograph's evolution, none of the Instantograph models had name plaques although it was avaliable in quarter plate [3 1/4 x 4 1/4"], half plate [4 3/4 x 6 1/2] and whole plate [ 6 1/2 x 8 1/2"]. By 1889, the Instantograph became available in 4x5" and 5 x 7 1/2" formats.

This proliferation of Instantograph models signalled the rise of the golden age of the Instantograph by the 1890's. The Pocket Instantographs; Special Brass Bound Instantographs, Aluminium Mounted Instantographs, Folding Instantographs, Patent Instantographs, Imperial Instantographs were all variations which enjoyed the success of this finely made British camera. The historian scholar and author, Eaton Lothrop is of the same opinion that the Instantographs were well-made however perhaps he does not synthesise his findings into context. This era of camera manufacture saw England manufacture tail board; stand cameras, folding bellows cameras to the highest standards throughout the world and Lancaster & Sons were merely representative of a greater British industrial movement fuelled by engineering creativity and a skilled labour workforce: Scovill, Sanderson, Gandolfi, Thornton Pickard...

In the face of rising popularity and proliferation of models of the Instantograph by 1890, J Lancaster & Son's design philosophy for the Instantograph turned to issuing an enamelled plaque with the model and date of production in order to clarify the models for its market. It is this later historical stroke which enables Paul to easily identify the date of manufacture of his Instantograph precisely to within the year of manufacture. Any Instantograph issued prior to 1890, would not possess this name plaque, and therefore its age of manufacture could only be guaged by the absence of design features, such as a hinged camera bed for compactness, or the addition of swings on some models and requires a comparative approach with the known models of Instantographs. The Kodak Eastman House offers some light in this area.

The British Journal of Photography almanac identifies that over 150,000 Instantographs were sold by 1907. This level of popularity should address Fix_Se's question: "How easy is it to use a traditional Instantograph".

Paradoxically, the wane of the Instantograph era was parallelled on a national level with that of the Edwardian era. After 1907, only the triple extension Excelsior Instantograph remained in production and thereafter, extinction, as a new generation of folding pocket plate cameras came into being.

With respect to the image of the Instantograph shown by Fix_Se, the model is therefore post-1890, and could exist in any plate size from quarter, half or whole plate dimensions, the latter being rarer, in addition to 4x5 as well as 5x7 1/2 inch formats.

Lancaster & Sons also produced their own optics in Birmingham however did not always engrave inscriptions on the lenses supplied with their cameras. The early lenses were achromatic meniscii fitted in Lancaster's own patented Patent Rotary Shutter. In this respect, the model shown by Fix_Se is unusual in that it shows more signs of being complete and uninfluenced by later generations.

At the risk of being considered a purist, I might venture that such a fine historical camera would be best used according to its design characteristics rather than mutilated to fit modern imaging techniques. After all, a modern camera would be better for modern imaging.

Kind regards,

RJ

[Paul Ewins]

OK, I've cobbled together a quick page. The photos in it were taken years ago with a dire P&S digital that had astoundingly bad barrel distortion in close focus mode. Hopefully it will be enough to explain what I did.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~paulewins/resources/instantograph.htm

[Rob_5419]

Crikey RJ!

We're a bit bookish aren't we? :)

I see you've been doing your research article on plate cameras hmm?

How's the Sanderson restoration coming along?

Fix_Se -

another vote for 'leave the half-plate Instantograph intact and don't mess'. Unless you can work on a hybrid 5x4 back' which doesn't affect the plate camera's fittings nor destroy its character. I've seen too many vintage Frankencameras which make me think: "why on earth did the £"^!"**% do that to it?" and I'm sure the original owner thought it was a good idea....at the time.

Modified Frankenplatecameras only eventually get flogged off because their owners eventually 'upgrade' and get the proper camera that they couldn't afford when they decided to get a plate camera.

[fix_se]

Hi!

Thanks for the information! Of course, I will leave the Instantograph intact and only modify it if I do not have to damage it in any way.

I am bad at English and should have explained it better. The camera that I linked to earlier isn't the one that I have bought. Here is some photos of my camera. Does anyone of you know when it's made (from 1888 to when?) or have any other interesting information of the model?

Regards,
fix_se

[RJ-]

Hi Rob,

Thanks for asking - the Sanderson is coming along, although it is not quite as complete as Fix_Se's Instantograph. Perhaps I need just a little more time to finish off mounting the shutter block.


Fix_Se -

the Patent Instantograph plaque on your camera indicates its lineage - however examine the difference in age/design of the name plaque brass of the Lancaster & Sons epithet with the model number. After 1890, these were retrospectively added to some models.

Recall that the Patent Instantograph was characterised by the Patent Shutter: the rest of its characteristics are shared by the family of Instantographs; this applies to the tapering double extension red bellows in a mahogany square block design, interlocked in brass at the rear standard. The rear of the camera shows a modification typical of the 1888 Instantograph in your image and the characteristic plate holder was identified not by the dimensions of the plate holder in either vertical or horizontal dimensions, by the scalloping of the tab forms and the pattern of the wood adhesion on the plate. For example - yours demonstrates two vertical lighter banding strips running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plate holder. This pattern for the book form plate holder and a quick comparison of the scallop tab forms will identify your required book form plate holder than any fastidious and precise flange-distance measurement. Other plate cameras used different designs due to production methods, such as a triplicate banding horizontal pattern; a half-split wood banding across the middle of the book form plate holder. Consequently identifying correct bookform holders is still a task, since the banding of the vertical strips takes on different tones of mahogany through the century and the subtlety of identifiction can easily be lost.

Some book form plate holders were manufactured with name plaques [post 1890's phenomenon] and earlier ones were retrospectively modified with a name plaque, or not at all.

Returning to the Patent Shutter which your model does not appear to have (a shutterless brass barrel lens seems to have replaced this), the vulcanised rubber of the Patent Shutter usually disintegrated through use-atrophy, before instability of ageing vulcanised rubber took place over the next century. This is why in your initial image, a remark was made regarding the relative rarity and unusual finding, of a complete Lancaster Patent Instantograph which showed all the original features. In your latter images, it is apparent that an inferior alternative has been implemented (i.e. no shutter system at all), however there is no need for concern since this can be easily remedied. For the photographer rather than the collector, the Patent Shutter matters less today, since a Thornton Pickard shutter block would easily mount on the two brass pins of your foundation lensboard.

Evidence of the Lancaster Patent Instantograph in use was documented by James Coventry illustrating Victorian life well into the 1899:

http://home.clara.net/gponting/index-page8.html

The Instantograph was as visible in Victorian England as a Canon 1DS would be 100 years later in modern day England. Your Patent Instantograph was manufactured from the date which the Patent Shutter was patented, right into the early 1900's. It's disappearance was perhaps more trickle-form, rather than sudden and little documentation around its fading popularity documented. Lancaster & Sons' advertisements suggest that the company itself was very satisfied with over a decade long wave of popularity of the Patent Instantograph, and it makes sense to consider retrospectively, that its disappearance was not documented, because the camera itself held a market longevity.

I hope that helps.

Kind regards,

RJ

[RJ-]

Addendum:

Advertisement from 1888 indicating the popularity of the Patent Instantograph in the early stages of its marketing career:

http://www.antiquewoodcameras.com/lanc-ref.htm

[fix_se]

Hi!

Thank you very much for all the information.

Regards,
fix_se