N.P.A. VARIATION 1B-STYLE CAMERA
Greenpoint Optical Company, Brooklyn, New York 1886-1891
This Greenpoint Optical Company manufactured field camera
is essentially the same as E. & H.T. Anthony's N.P.A. Variation 1B, with different
badging.
Greenpoint Optical's factory was formerly operated by E.
& H. T. Anthony & Company, and many cameras manufactured by Greenpoint Optical
are essentially identical to those of Anthony.
Some of the known Greenpoint "clones",
are Anthony's Victor, N.P.A. and Eureka cameras. Manufacturing dates for these cameras most
likely paralleled those of Anthony's models.
Examples of Anthony's Single Achromatic Lens can also be
found marked with the "Greenpoint Optical Co." name:
And printing frames as well, with either
the Greenpoint Optical Company name or their "GOC" logo:
4x5
5x8
Some printing frames are found stamped "Pat. App'd For", or with a December 8, 1885 date stamped into the
printing frame. This date refers to
Patent No. 331,980, granted to William H. Lewis for a "photographic
printing frame". The patent was
assigned to the E.& H.T. Anthony & Company of
New York:
Source:
Google Patents
The N.P.A.-style example shown here, has nickel-plated
brass hardware with an ivoroid Greenpoint Optical tag, a nickel-plated brass sliding
bed lock specific to this 4x5 model and an Anthony "cone" style lens marked
"Greenpoint Optical Co., Single.1, Achromatic".
Many of E. & H.T. Anthony & Company's field
cameras are extremely scarce or rare today.
These Greenpoint Optical Company counter-parts are even more so, as some
of the models are seen very infrequently or almost never.