Stirn's waistcoat camera and neck cord

PART OF:
The Kodak Museum Collection
Made:
1886-1896 in Germany and Berlin
manufacturer:
C P Stirn, Carl P
and
Rudolph Stirn
Stirn waistcoat camera Stirn's waistcoat camera
    This is a concealed detective camera

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Stirn waistcoat camera
The Kodak Collection at the National Media Museum, Bradford
Science Museum Group Collection

Stirn's waistcoat camera This is a concealed detective camera
The Kodak Collection at the National Media Museum, Bradford
Science Museum Group Collection

Flat circular camera, for 14cm diameter glass plate for six circular pictures, 4cm diameter. Rapid rectilinear lens, fixed focus and aperture. Rotating instantaneous shutter, wind on knob tension shutter. Containing original plate with neck cord and shutter release cord, plated finishes. C.P. Stirn, c.1891. Overall: 55 mm x 152 mm (dia.).

Stirn’s waistcoat camera, made by Rudolph Stirn for C P Stirn in Germany, from 1886.

In 1886 C P Stirn bought the rights to a camera invented by Robert D Gray. The camera was manufactured by Stirn’s brother, Rudolf Stirn. 15,000 examples of their 'waistcoat camera' were sold between 1886 and 1888. An advert from the time stated that ‘This camera is carried under the coat or vest, invisible to the eye. Stationary or moving pictures taken unknown to the object’.

Details

Category:
Photographic Technology
Collection:
Kodak Collection
Object Number:
1990-5036/1189
type:
waistcoat camera and accessories
credit:
The Kodak Collection at the National Media Museum, Bradford

Parts

Stirn's waistcoat camera

Stirn's waistcoat camera

Flat circular camera, for 14cm diameter glass plate for six circular pictures, 4cm diameter. Rapid rectilinear lens, fixed focus and aperture. Rotating instantaneous shutter, wind on knob tension shutter.

Measurements:
overall: 55 mm, 152 mm, .56 kg
Materials:
metal plated (unknown) and glass
Object Number:
1990-5036/1189/1
type:
waistcoat camera
Neck cord for Stirn's waistcoat camera. C.P. Stirn

Neck cord for Stirn's waistcoat camera. C.P. Stirn

Neck cord for Stirn's waistcoat camera. C.P. Stirn, c.1891.

Object Number:
1990-5036/1189/2
type:
accessories