Shutter: Self-capping 3 speeds, uncalibrated

Lens: Fixed aperture

Dates: 1893-1898

Condition: 8+

This camera is quite large, measuring 6 1/2" wide x 7" high x 12" long. The knob on top is the focusing adjustment, and it is calibrated in feet. The film plate holder, visible in this photo, is attached to the back of an inner sliding box. Turning the focusing knob slides the inner box back and forth, moving the film plate into the focal plane.

The "Hawk-Eye" name used by Kodak on many of its cameras originated with the Boston Camera Company's Hawk-Eye brand. In 1890, the Blair Camera Company of Boston absorbed the Boston Camera Co. In 1898, Eastman bought the Blair Camera Co., and moved it to Rochester, relocating the company into the PMC building on St. Paul Street. In 1911 the building was named the "Hawk-Eye Works" after Blair's line of cameras.

The term "detective camera" was applied to many hand cameras of the period, particularly the box-types. The term "detective" was used since they could be used in the hand in what, for that time, was considered to be an unobtrusive manner. It is important to keep in mind that box cameras were quite uncommon at the time.