Some Wooden Box Camera Obscuras from
our Collection

We have a number of box or portable camera obscuras in our collection.
These devices are the "archeology" of photography. It was the magical,
fugitive images that appeared on the ground glass of the camera obscura
that inspired the search for a way to fix these beautiful, perfect images
of the world. The first photographs were made with artists' camera
obscuras adapted to take light sensitive material. On this page you will
see several of our box camera obscuras made of wood.

The classic mahogany sliding box camera obscura above came from England
and appears to date from the early 1800s. It could well predate
photography. When closed it is 10 inches long, 5 inches wide, and 6 3/4
inches high. The lens is 2 5/8 inches in diameter. The wooden lens cap has
a screw thread and "Camera Obscura" is written in ink on the inside of the
cap. Perhaps an earlier owner was concerned that it might be separated
from the camera. The camera is about 13 inches long when the inner box is
extended for focus. The lens image is projected with a mirror onto a 4 1/2
by 6 inch ground glass.

We have noticed a mahogany box camera obscura with the same style of
hinge and very similar in appearance on the web site for the Museum of the
History of Science at the University of Oxford in England. That camera is
identified as early 19th century.

This 19th century instrument is the first box camera obscura we
purchased. It was found on Porabello Road in London around 1980. It is 9"
X 4 1/4" X 4 1/4" and focus is achieved by sliding the inner section of
the box in and out. The image projected by the lens is focused by a mirror
up to a glass under the hood where it can be traced on tissue. Someone cut
out a window on the back wall of the box. If the mirror was removed this
would project an image straight through to the back of the box. We like to
imagine that this was done for early photographic experimentation but have
no proof.

The exterior view below is of a wooden box camera obscura of the style
shown on this page. It is a detail from an 1817 encyclopedia page in our
collection.

Below is a cutaway view of the inside of a wooden box camera obscura
from the Saturday Magazine, 1838.

A US photographic material dealer, we have know for many years heard we
were working on a camera obscura project and offered the rather sad
looking collection of parts you see on the left. Jack accepted the
challenge, took the pieces, and with glue and patience was able to put
them together to make a nice functioning camera obscura.

The only additions he had to make were the side pieces on the door and
a brass knob to lift it. It is 6" X 7" X 4" and the dovetailed box appears
to be an amateur construction of unknown vintage. The appearance is a
little rough but it focuses a very sharp image.

Stepping forward in time, the wooden box camera on the right was
built by Jack in 1982 for a gallery exhibition. It is 22" X 12" X 12"
inches with a sliding brass lens for focusing. It projects a bright, sharp
image on the ground glass with a fresnel screen and works very well for
drawing. This is the camera he takes to his history of photography class
and is one of the cameras we use at workshops and demonstrations.

Each of the two wooden cameras on the right is unusual
enough to deserve a page of its own. The first is an extraordinary
French artist's camera with storage for drawing materials and
instructions printed in the lid. The second called "Vermeer's
Camera" dates from 1934 and was used by the Anson K. Cross Art
School in Boothbay, Harbor, Maine. To learn more about the two
cameras visit the web page with additional pictures of each.

Learn more about this French
artist's camera.

Learn more about Vermeer's
Camera

Magic Mirror of
Life Home Page and Site Map

What is a camera
obscura?

Why we created this
site

Frequently Asked
Questions about the Camera Obscura (please check this page before
sending email questions)

Links and a
Bibliography about the camera obscura

Map and illustrated diary of
our visits to US camera
obscuras

Map and illustrated diary of
our 1996 trip to Great Britain camera
obscuras

Images of camera obscuras from our collection.

Some Images from our
collection
The Camera Obscura at
War
Advertising flyer for a
Camera Obscura
Trade Cards with
Camera Obscuras
Lost UK Seaside Camera
Obscuras
Other Lost UK
Camera Obscuras
Lost US Seaside
Camera Obscura
Lost US Park Camera
Obscuras
Melville Garden Camera
Obscura
Other Lost US
Camera Obscuras
Lost European Camera
Obscuras
No, it's not a camera
obscura

Portable and box camera obscuras from our collection.
Wooden
Camera Obscuras < You are here
Metal Camera
Obscuras
Camera Obscuras with
the Lens at the Top
Cardboard Camera
Obscuras
A French Artist's
Camera with supplies
Vermeer's Camera, a
1934 teaching camera
Camera Obscura
Publications

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Asked Questions before sending an e-mail.

© Bright Bytes Studio. Do not use images without permission.

Modified 8/2004