Nydia Camera

Newman & Guardia

Name:	Nydia Camera
Type:	Folding Plate Camera
Manufacturer:	Newman & Guardia Ltd
Country of Origin:	United Kingdom
Construction:	The most common (later) form of the Nydia is in effect constructed from a plate changing box upon which is mounted a framework to support the lens assembly and the detachable bellows. The very first version (very scarce) introduced in 1893 took double dark slides. The Nydia was in its more usual form was re-introduced in 1900.
Production Period:	1893 - 1905

 

Plate / Film Size:	¼ plate
Lens:	ROSS Homocentric 5½", f6.3
Shutter:	Guillotine shutter
Movements:	Tilting back and front
Dimensions (w x h x l):
Date of this Example:	c1905
Serial Number:	Number 1049 stamped into both metal struts. 1266 stamped into metal strips on metal plate that struts fix to on plate changing box. 1266 stamped into wood on inside of plate changer cover. Lens no. 61353 (stamped onto both front and rear element).
Availability:	Common  Uncommon  Hard to Find  Scarce
Inventory Number:	64

<Photographs to be added>

Description

This is a late example of the Newman & Guardia Nydia camera. It has a mahogany changing box and leather change bag (red/brown in colour), with brass fittings. It includes all 12 plate holders in the magazine and the original N & G leather case.

This camera was bought from New Zealand dealer who reported it to have belonged to a photographer who had worked for a New Zealand paper at the turn of the century. No further information available unfortunately.

Note that the label on the rear of the plate changer carries the address "90 &92 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W". This might help date the camera. According to Channing & Dunn [2] British Camera Makers, this date applies from about 1902 onwards. The fact that this has 12 plates holders also shows that the camera dates to 1904 or beyond (based on product information on the Early Photography web site). The serial number is also towards the end of the known production sequence (1049 of about 1100 known).

Operating instructions were purchased separately and are in excellent order. Difficult to tell if they are age matched, but this is a 4th Edition. The address indicates that the instructions are post 1902.

Notes

None