Watson Premier Tailboard Half Plate 6 1/2 x 4 3/4" Camera. Royal Navy Issue.
Watson Premier Tailboard Half Plate 6 1/2 x 4 3/4" Camera. Royal Navy Issue.
This camera comes with discount codes for 20% off the following items; 1x Half Plate Borosilicate Ground Glass Screen, 1x Half Plate Fresnel Screens, and up to five custom made Burley Lens Boards. Valid for 12 months.
This is a rather interesting camera as it was commissioned for use in the Royal Navy. “A.P.” meaning Admiralty Pattern. It is my opinion that this set would have been intended for photographing naval bases, crews, visiting dignitaries, ships from shore, ships under construction, etc. Circa 1940s.
This camera was recorded in the Christies Camera Sale on 17th April 1997, Lot 460.
The set includes:
Watson Premier Half Plate (4 3/4 x 6 1/2”) Tailboard Camera. Fully brass bound Honduran mahogany. The top of the rear standard has the Watson name in gold leaf. The nameplate states “Watson & Sons Ltd., Manufacturer, 313 High Holborn, London”.
I understand that the camera received new cloth bellows in 2012 from Camera Bellows UK.
Two lenses. A Dallmeyer Serrac 8 ½” f/4.5 lens (serial no. 427500) and a Dallmeyer Wide Angle Anastigmat 5 ½” f/6.5 lens (serial no. 289593). Both lenses have the Admiralty Pattern markings. Both lenses optically, mechanically, cosmetically, excellent. The Serrac lens has bubbles in the glass. Common at the time.
Thornton Pickard roller blind shutter. The shutter functions well. Shutter curtain in excellent condition. Exact speeds not checked.
Six mahogany plate holders. Five of which have film inserts for Half Plate 4 ¾ x 6 ½” film.
Case. A remarkably compact and tough one. “A.P. 0553/8340”.
