THE SPECIAL TOURIST HAWK-EYE
Blair Camera Company, Boston, Massachusetts 1898-1899
Descended from Blair's "The 400" of 1893-1896
which was billed as the most compact 4x5 roll film camera in existence, the Special Tourist Hawk-Eye sought to
improve upon it with the latest in optics and movements, while continuing to
reduce size and weight. Initially
manufactured in Boston, Massachusetts, later examples were manufactured in
Rochester, New York as the company transitioned to becoming a Division of
Eastman Kodak in 1899.
Similar to Kodak's No. 4 Cartridge of 1897, the Special
Tourist Hawk-Eye was horizontally configured resulting in a slightly more
compact unit. This example is equipped
with its correct Unicum shutter and its optional and
equally rare plate back holder.
Blair would offer the Special Tourist Hawk-Eye through
1902. Being stamped "The Blair Camera Co., Makers" in classic
Blair style, indicates this example would have been manufactured in either 1898
or 1899 before Kodak's acquisition.
Despite being priced the same as Kodak's No. 4 Cartridge,
Blair's Special Tourist Hawk-Eye wasn't widely advertised and production lasted
for about five years. Relatively few
were sold and even fewer have survived, making it one of the hardest of Blair's
later cameras to acquire.
William O. Nara (1905-1973), son of
John W. Nara (1875-1934), photographer, Calumet, Michigan, shown circa 1908, with
his father's Special Tourist Hawk-Eye
1900 Advertisement
From Blair's Catalogue of Hawk-Eye Cameras
and Photographic Supplies, Season of 1898
From Blair's Catalogue of Hawk-Eye Cameras
and Photographic Supplies, Season of 1898
Blair's
Catalogue of Hawk-Eye Cameras and Photographic Supplies, Season of 1898
Blair's Catalogue of Hawk-Eye Cameras and
Photographic Supplies, Season of 1898