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Expert: - 5/16/2006


Question
While going through my husbands stuff I have found a rather nice wooden camera, it is quite compact, the front folds down and the lens extends forwards on a brass calibrated runner, presumably to allow focus, the leather of the concertina is red on the outside, black on the inside and appears to be supple and intact.  The back slides up to allow the insertion of a spool of film. All fittings are brass and the whole thing seems to be in good condition.  Both camera and it's case (leather, with carrying strap rather foxed) have the initials E.E.E embossed in gold leaf.Basically it's like an early portable Kodak, but it's made of wood, maker Lizards of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Cape Town(!). Really rather pretty. I would love to find that this has some value as my husbands care bills have now exceeded our income!
Thanks for volunteering to answer questions for people like me who are totally ignorant about this whole subject.
Dee

Answer
Hello Dee,

You're describing some form of camera from the Challenge series made by Lizars (not Lizards!) of Scotland.  We'll go nuts trying to figure the exact model if we play twenty questions, so instead I recommend you send me one small JPEG image showing the camera's overall general appearance to my personal e-mail address <silver@well.com> and I'll get right back to you after that.  Some of these are common, some are quite expensive, but we need to determine the exact model and vintage.  I can also give you some ideas about selling it.

Best wishes,

David Silver

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David Silver

Expertise

I'm an expert on all types of antique, classic, and contemporary cameras, as well as the general history of photography. Everything from ancient box cameras to modern single-lens-reflex; from simple Kodaks to sophisticated Leica and Nikon; from glass plates and roll film to movie and 35mm. I can identify and appraise them, explain how they work, and offer insights on their restoration and care. I can also provide historical background on vintage cameras and equipment, and guidelines on their purchase and sale.

Experience

I've been a professional photographer and a student of the history of photography for nearly 30 years. During that time my collection of vintage cameras and photographic paraphernalia has grown beyond 2000 significant pieces. I've published nearly 70 articles in the field, including 16 in the popular "Buying Classic Cameras" series for PHOTO SHOPPER MAGAZINE from 1995 to 1997, I'm currently a contributing editor for CAMERA SHOPPER MAGAZINE and McKEOWN'S PRICE GUIDE TO ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC CAMERAS, and I've written numerous entries for WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA. Portions of my collection have been displayed in museums and special exhibits in the past two decades, and many of the items were photographed as illustrations for books. In 1985 I founded the International Photographic Historical Organization (InPHO), which eventually evolved into its intended purpose as the best first resource for information on the history of photography. I'm also a founding member of several e-mail forums dedicated to specialized areas of photography, and I'm the moderator of the Internet Directory of Camera Collectors (IDCC), which remains the largest and most successful such group in the world. For more information about the International Photographic Historical Organization and its many services, please visit its web pages at:

http://www.photographyhistory.com


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