THE HENRY CLAY, JR.
American
Optical Company/Scovill & Adams, New York 1895 - 1897
4x5
Introduced in 1895, the Henry Clay, Jr. is at first glance very similar to the Henry Clay, 2nd. Both cameras are
believed to have been introduced about the same time, with both appearing in
Scovill's How to Make Photographs and
a Descriptive Catalogue of Photographic Materials Illustrated, 1895. These new Henry Clay models were aimed at the
growing demand for a moderately priced camera, capable of producing good
results. And by this time, there was a trend towards smaller and lighter
cameras. The size difference between the Henry Clay, Jr. 4x5 and the Henry Clay
Camera in 5x7 is appreciable from any angle:
Henry Clay Camera 5x7
Henry Clay, Jr. 4x5
The Henry Clay, Jr. in 4x5 is easily distinguished from
the Henry Clay, 2nd, based upon its single knob for the rising/falling lens
board and the split track rail. These features differ from the multiple knobs
(more swing capability) and the solid track rail found on the Henry Clay,
2nd. These differences were noted from
catalogue engravings, and from a known example of the Henry Clay, 2nd.
Making the distinction between the two cameras was a
little confusing, as both the Henry Clay, 2nd and the Henry Clay, Jr. models
were described as having single or double swings, and the example featured here
has neither. Advertisements also didn't
specify swings as an option and the Henry Clay, Jr.'s
ad description in Scovill's The
American Annual of Photography and Photographic Times Almanac for 1895
notes a rising/falling lens board, but no swing. All of this suggested that the example seen
here was an earlier version, and that swings were added later in production.
This would turn out to be true, as by 1896, advertisements indicate the camera
as having a double swing front.
From Scovill's
The American Annual of Photography and Photographic Times Almanac for 1895
As stated in the multiple-page excerpt at bottom from The Henry Clay Cameras published
by Scovill & Adams, the Henry Clay, Jr. was also offered in 5x7. As seen
below in the 5x7's engraving, the lens standard's base and track gear resembles
that found on the Henry Clay Camera/Henry Clay Regular, and the camera is
equipped with Gundlach's New Photographic Shutter of 1894-1895.
This shutter can be found on cameras manufactured by the American Optical
Company, Rochester Camera Manufacturing Company and the Milburn Korona Company, but it's best known as the original model
of the Poco Shutter:
Henry Clay, Jr. 5x7 with Gundlach's New
Photographic Shutter of 1894-1895
Gundlach's New Photographic
Shutter 1894-1895
Ad from Scovill's American Annual of
Photography and Photographic Times Almanac for 1895
The
Henry Clay Cameras catalogue shown here is believed dated
to either late 1895 or 1896, since reference is made to the Henry Clay Regular
(the Henry Clay Camera as it was then being referred to in 1896 and 1897), and
that Scovill & Adams moved from 423 Broome Street to 60 and 62 E. Eleventh
Street in 1896.
The Henry Clay, Jr. shown here is equipped with a Mathein Shutter having both a front and rear element. This double-lens Mathein appears to have been
the standard configuration for this model in 1895 and 1896, as no other options
were offered:
From
Scovill's The American Annual of Photography and Photographic Times Almanac for
1895
Despite their compactness in the 4x5 size and being more
economically priced, relatively few Henry
Clay, Jr. and Henry Clay, 2nd
models were ever sold. Very few examples
of either model probably exist, making them some of the most difficult Henry
Clay cameras to locate. And if truth be known, just about any model of the
Henry Clay is hard to find.
For more information on other Henry Clay Cameras, the
Mathein Shutter or the Poco Shutter-Original Model (Gundlach's New Photographic
Shutter), look for them under the "Antique
Cameras" and "Shutters"
sections of this website.
The Henry Clay Cameras cover, and
following contents (undated but believed 1896)
Scovill's Almanac for 1895