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This week we show you a camera that we have acquired for our collection and will swell our already extensive family of spy cameras: the camera Tisdell & amp; Wittelsey, known as the House Detective T & amp; . W
This is bellows chamber connected to a box, which makes it completely invisible from the outside . Once opened the box, which has dimensions of 32x18x16cms, you can see the camera itself, made of mahogany, . With a lens achromatic meniscus and a shutter adjustable spring 5 speeds
When the cover is open you can access the different speeds and the target, which is hidden under a removable visor once you have determined the focal length can be lowered cover and frame the picture with discretion lifting the top of the handle of the box and looking through the viewfinder . . Two versions of this same chamber were made: one all wood and another version (which we have incorporated into our collection) completely covered skin
This camera model, which was patented, was manufactured about 1886 by the company Tisdell & amp; Whittelsey Tool, Model and Instrument Makers, New York . This company was created in 1884 and later, and in 1893, became the Tisdell Camera & amp; Manufacturing Co. and was located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, which continued to manufacture this camera model
the term spy camera or detective camera was used since the late nineteenth century to about 1920s and refers to cameras those discrete appearance (especially when compared to other cameras of the time) and generally hand , so it can be used to take pictures discreetly. Later these cameras evolved into the hidden cameras on objects more elaborate and also part of our collection, such as hidden in books, pens or packages of snuff.
However spy cameras were not sold exclusively for use by detectives. A good number of advertisements of the era also encouraged its use by ordinary people.