J Lancaster and Son photographic equipment

[umptibuzzle]

I hoped that Birmingham History would be able to give me some information about J Lancaster and Son. They were major manufacturers and suppliers of photographic equipment and were well known for the Instantograph cameras. The information that I have so far indicates that these models were introduced from about 1892, but an advertisement in the Amateur Photographer in 1884 refers to this model, so clearly it was available in some form earlier.
I understand that by about 1900 Lancaster were possibly the largest supplier of photographic equipment.
Someone must know something or where to find the something.
Any advice will be much appreciated.
Thank you.

 

[Pedrocut]

There is evidence that a Birmingham collector, FE Beverley Hall bought a Lancaster instantograph in 1888. His first bellows-focusing camera.

 

[Pedrocut]

Lancaster advertise the Instantograph from at least 1885.

 

[Vivienne14]

I've made the thread title a little more specific and moved the thread to a different section.

 

[pjmburns]

Just checked directories for 1868, 1883 and 1900 -the only Lancaster J and Son seem to be opticians.

 

[pjmburns]

I think it is the same firm - branching out
1898 newspaper advert

 

[mikejee]

.On the camera thread, (https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/threads/birmingham-camera-companies.47919/#post-595730) Viv listed this link, possibly of interest

:https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Lancaster/

 

[mikejee]

James Lancaster is listed as a steel spectacle maker at 93 Cecil Street in Pigots 1841 directory. By 1845 he is at 67 Hanley Street and 25 Summer Lane, though that seems merely to be on a corner , so has two addresses. In 1850 he is at 7 Summer Lane plying his trade, but by 1855 he is at 5 Colmore Row. In 1867 there is a James Lancaster , manufacturing optician at 5 Colmore Row, but also a James Lancaster (perhaps his son) , steel spectacle maker, at court 1 Sherlock Street. All these, and in 1861 and 1862, just refer to opticians. However Dix's 1858 directory lists:



While the 1872 and 1873 directoies list:

 

[Stokkie]

And another thread here:
https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/threads/lancaster-makers-of-cameras.58468/

 

[Mark Tooze]

A few adverts from Getty Images library:-

 

[pjmburns]

Some info about them here

https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/cp6135/j-lancaster-and-son

also here

J. Lancaster & Son Ltd. at Historic Camera

 

[Mark Tooze]

Instanagraph Camera J Lancaster 1889

 

[Mark Tooze]

Lancaster Watch Camera 1892

 

[Stokkie]

View attachment 224111
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Lancaster Watch Camera 1892

The Lancaster Watch Camera is very collectable and can fetch ridiculous sums at auction. 18K - 30K euro. condition is everything. CameraWorth.

 

[Stokkie]

More on the Lancaster Watch Camera here. Rare Historical Photos

Someone has a men's version on EBay for £42K!!
The petite lady's version is really scarce.

Ebay has lots of examples of Instantograph folding cameras for a couple of hundred pounds. They would probably need new light-tight bellows and a clean lens plus a back to take modern film dark slides if anyone wanted to take pictures with them.

 

[Mark Tooze]

Lens and Box J Lancaster and Son

 

[Mark Tooze]

Some of these cameras and lenses are works of art on their own - I bet you could get amazing pictures with them.

Lens J Lancaster and Son


Achromatic Landscape Lens J Lancaster and Son 1885


International Folding Bellows Stand Camera J Lancaster and Son 1888


Instantograph Camera J Lancaster and Son 1885


Rectigraph Symmetrical Lens J Lancaster and Son 1885

 

[Mark Tooze]

All these items are from the Science Museum national collection by the way. It would be fascinating to try a few of these out - they did a similar exercise with the camera Harry Burton used when he did the official photographs of Tutankhamuns tomb in the 1920s.

Special Instantograph Bellows Camera J Lancaster and Son 1898


Instantograph Bellows Camera Case and Slides J Lancaster and Son 1887


Instantograph Camera and Slides J Lancaster and Son 1894


Instantaneous Landscape Lens J Lancaster and Son 1885

 

[Mark Tooze]

And Lancasters made other things apart from photographic equipment:-


Binocular Microscope J Lancaster and Son 1850s

 

[Stokkie]

If anyone is mobile then https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk
in Bradford is the place to see historic cameras. All the best photographs have gone to the V&A.

The quality of a good lens and plate camera was outstanding. I would like to see a decent photography collection on display in Birmingham. Perhaps when Think Tank goes?