Need help to identify old british camera, Swift & Son?!

[Lantoni]

Hi.
I stumbled across your site when researching a old camera from my grandfather.
I haven´t had any luck yet identifying it (and i spent hours), maybe you could help me..?

It´s a wooden camera (mahogny i guess) and the only mark on it is a white sing (ivory) engraved
" Swift & Son "
81 Tottenham Court rd
LONDON

I know Swift & son are known for their microscopes but can´t find any camera references.

The best lead i have is the lens, engraved " No 3255 Swifton & Son, Rapid 5x4 Paragon" and stamped with a bell with a bird and Trademark.

I got some pictures of it, please make contact if you would be so kind to help me along in this search.
It is really annoying not be able to find any info at all :)

Picture links:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58519178@N06/5369193861/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58519178@N06/5369802276/
Regards Norway

[eddie]

here is mine:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290523822006&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

another...not mine.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Large-Format-BRASS-LENS-Swift-Son-Rapid-15x12-Paragon-/250752191869?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item3a61fecd7d

[IanG]

Try this website (http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/site/companies3.html#S) to identify the actual manufacturer. It's an excellent site but there's still gaps unfortunately.

The problem is that Swift like many other companies may have put their own name on a camera made elsewhere.

In fact it was possible to buy all the parts to build any style British plate camera by the late 1890's. A London wholesale company Lonsdales sold parts separately, in kit form and fully assembled for a wide range of cameras, their Northern is a bit like yours.

Ian.

[Steven Tribe]

The "bird" is a swift (apus apus). The bell may come from the fact that swifts typically use church towers/spires for summer nesting in Europe. At least, they still do in my village!

[goamules]

Try looking through these links:

http://www.woodandbrass.co.uk/categories.php?camera_type=2
http://www.photographica.nu/cameracollection.htm
http://www.historiccamera.com/photo_history.html