BOX CAMERA ANTIQUE 121-YEAR-OLD ANTIQUE VIVE NO. 1 ARTIST CUSTOM SANTOS ROSEWOOD

Description

CUSTOM, SCARCE, ONE-OF-A-KIND 121-year-old Antique Vive No. 1 Box Camera c. 1897, completely refurbished and refinished with a new Santos Rosewood veneer covering. Taking 4 ¼” x 4 ¼” exposures on 12 plates, it was the first commercially successful American made camera to include and use a dark-sleeve to change the plates inside the camera. The dark sleeve is intact, and unlike the few other Vive’s occasionally seen for sale, the sleeve is still pliable and can be unfolded, although there are patches where the rubber coating has rubbed off with a few pin holes/light leaks (it has been treated with wintergreen oil which has methyl salicylate that restores the elastomeric properties of rubber, and there will be a pleasant scent of wintergreen present. If the rubber hardens in the future, a light coating of pure wintergreen oil can restore pliability). Utilizing a 2-button shutter system, the upper button cocked the shutter, while the lower fired it. As with other European box cameras as well as the Western camera line, it has a 2-position switch on the face to select the T or I shutter setting (although operation is only occasional), with only one fixed aperture setting. Completely refurbished and refinished with a new Santos Rosewood veneer covering, all fittings have been polished, viewfinder is bright and clear, lens has no hazing with slight balsam separation and 3 small fungus spots on the interior of the lens, rotary disc shutter is partially operational (the shutter can be ‘coaxed’ open using both buttons, but the shutter iris blades often stick open but can still be closed), original leather handle complete and intact. Customized with a Santos Rosewood veneer and polished hardware, this camera is a one-of-a-kind creation, perfect for display in any camera collection or gift for the avid camera collector!
This Antique Camera will ship insured and will come with a gift bag and an artist certificate of authenticity.
There is no warranty on operability; cameras are intended for display purposes only.
Thank you for shopping my auctions.