Early Photographic Processes - Sizes of Photographs and Plates and Negatives

© Reproduced with acknowledgement to Ken Jones, Long Beach, California, USA

Question

Thank you to Ken Jones for e-mailing images of these photos to me. Ken writes:

"I found these old photos of the Philippines and Asia in an old box and was wondering if you knew the style of print they are. I searched your site carefully before asking but I can’t figure it out!

They are about 7” long and there are some doubles but they have handwritten notes on the back almost as if they were someone’s personal photos. Some have the year 1902 on the back."

Ken Jones, Long Beach, California, USA. 25 August 2005

I don't know the answer to Ken's question.

If you feel that you can answer it, please e-mail me so that I can pass the information on to Ken. Thank you.

Reply

Thank you to Steve Roberts, Pasadena, California, USA who replied:

"The mystery photos look like contact prints from either a Kodak Panoram #1 or the Baby Al-Vista.

The photos have the appearance of a swing lens panoramic camera.

I have a Kodak Panoram and the images (on 120
film) measure out at 7ins. by 2 1/4ins.".

Steve Roberts, Pasadena, California, USA. 26+27 December 2005

Please see below for further details of these cameras.

Panoramic Cameras

1. The Scots Photographica Collection web site gives details of many vintage cameras including:

- the No 1 Kodak Panoram (sold between 1900 and 1926).

- the Baby Al-Vista camera (sold between 1906 and 1908).

2. The Panoramic Photo web site includes:

- examples of panoramic photographs from the early 1900s

- a timeline of panoramic cameras. This gives brief details of cameras produced between 1843 and 1994.

Digital cameras and software in the early 2000s has encouraged many, including me, to experiment with panoramic photograpy.

- Peter Stubbs