For your consideration is a fabulous antique C.R Jenne Enlarging Camera, patented in 1891, and employed by professional and amateur artists alike to enlarge small photographs to life size for drawing them. It apparently also can be used as a magic lantern. This design came in four sizes, and I believe that this is the largest offered. The exterior of the largest wood case measures approximately 13.5" by 11.0" by 10.5".
The camera appears to be complete, and I have photographed every part that will be included. Please examine my pics closely and carefully. Everything included is in excellent used condition. There is also an antique cabinet card still affixed where appropriate, apparently from its having been enlarged and drawn by an artist in an earlier century.
Also included is a copy of the 1891 patent for the camera, obtained by a prior owner from the USPTO in Washington, D.C. in 1982. The requesting correspondence and hand-written notes accompanies the patent. Great provenance.
I found online a history blog extolling the amazing virtues of the camera. Rather than paraphrase, I reproduce it here as written:
"C.R. Jenne moved his company—Jenne Camera Mfg. Co.-- to Fort Wayne in 1892 and manufactured the Solar Rayon. This was a combination sun or lamp sketching camera, “designed for use of both professional and amateur artists of any one doing any kind of drawing, painting or enlarging small pictures to life-size. The Solar Rayon is made in four different sizes, the largest size being capable of use as a magic lantern, as a sketching camera, as a bromide painting camera, and as a photographic camera, and in each of these performances it has no equal on the market.”
Smaller sizes were used for sketching only and were operated only by the sun. A third size combined both a lamp and sun sketching cameras. The company produced an illustrated catalog of their products.
According to “The Industries of Fort Wayne”, published in 1895,
“The products are unquestionably the best of the kind ever invented and their usefulness is daily becoming more universally recognized.”
Please feel free to ask questions. This is a rare opportunity to add one of these incredible cameras to your photography collection, or for a professional or amateur artist to have a working and useful piece of artistic camera equipment.
I have estimated shipping by USPS in a large box with ample packing material, insured for the full purchase price, as I do not want to chance damaging any of the glass or fragile pieces. It has survived intact for 140 or so years, and it would be a nightmare to damage it now. Be the envy of your art colony.
This camera is a fabulous antique, and for serious buyers only. As such, it is not returnable, unless not as I have represented in my listing. So please ask questions, and thank you for looking.