There has long been a demand on the part of the public for a
Camera that would at once embrace these most necessary
requirements--portability, compactness and strength, combined with
beauty and accuracy of working.
Hitherto the nearest approach to this has been the "Novel" Camera,
which for a time seemed to be everything [p155] that could be
desired. But urgent calls for something still better were frequently
made, and the result is the Fairy Camera, by far the most attractive
and elegant piece of apparatus of its kind ever offered. In
presenting it, attention is invited to the following advantages it
possesses over all others.
_Strength._--They are put together as rigidly as wood and metal will
admit of, and are therefore _perfectly_ rigid.
_Compactness._--They occupy less space than any other view Cameras
of the same capacity, and the plate-holders actually require little
more than one-half the room of the lightest of any others in use.
The plate-holders are made of hard wood, with metal carriers for the
plates, and fitted with all the later improvements.
_Portability._--The small compass to which they may be reduced
renders them in this respect incomparably superior to any. They are
packed in canvas-covered wooden cases, and each double plate-holder
has its own compartment. The cover of its case telescopes over its
body.
Several new features have been availed of in the construction of
this Camera, to wit: The bed may be instantly rendered rigid,
_without the use of screws_, by means of a brace of hooks, that hold
the two sections of the bed with great firmness.
_Secondly._--The rabbet commonly found on the plate-holder is
dispensed with, and instead, it is placed on the Camera, thus saving
the otherwise additional weight rendered necessary for twelve such
rabbets when made on the plate-holders (two on each of the six
usually carried), and the not inconsiderable item of three-quarters
of an inch in bulk.
_Third._--The Camera is focussed with a long, continuous [p156]
metallic rack, cog-wheel and pinion, the latter being held firmly in
position by a binding screw.
The ground glass swings backward in its frame, like that in the
regular Novel Camera, and is held tightly in position by metallic
spring corners. When windy, this is a decided advantage.
The Fairy Camera is made in finely polished mahogany, the metal work
being nickel-plated, thus making it the most elegant and perfect
Camera known.
They are made with and without stereoscopic attachments. Naturally,
those without stereoscopic attachments are lighter and more compact
than those with, and may be preferred by persons desiring to make
single views or portraits only.
These Cameras are made in four sizes only--from 4-1/4×6-1/2 to 8×10.
Those desiring a larger Camera should procure the Novel Camera,
which is manufactured of all sizes up to 18×22.
[Illustration: THE NOVEL CAMERA WITH DOUBLE SWING BACK IN THE ACT OF
BEING REVERSED.] [p157]
An ingenious improvement has been introduced in connection with the
Fairy and Novelette Cameras, which is shown in the cut.
[Illustration: TN: Ingenious Improvement.]
It consists in the use, with a 5×8 Camera, an additional body and
bellows for 8×10, which can be attached to the front and bed of the
5×8 on removal of the 5×8 bellows to back. This substitution can be
made in a few seconds, giving the user the command of two Cameras at
small expense.