Thomas Card Camera Collection MS 58 00 Camera ABSTRACT: This Camera Collection Was Donated by the Late Colonel Thomas B
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Finding Aid Report Thomas Card Camera Collection MS 58_00 Camera ABSTRACT: This camera collection was donated by the late Colonel Thomas B. Card in 1978, who attended WPI from 1916-1917. The camera collection items range in production dates, from the 1840s through the 1970s. The collection includes cameras, a photograph enlarger, lenses, shutters, colored lens filters, lens adapters, flash light bulbs, camera accessories, and camera parts. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Thomas Buell Card was born and raised in Woonsocket, R.I. Thomas Card originally attended WPI in August 1916, but left in Oct. 1917 when he offered his services to the signal corps in World War I. After that position, he transferred to the air service to become a pursuit pilot. He also spent a short time in the cavalry. Upon coming home he joined the 103rd artillery of Rhode Island and enrolled at MIT. He graduated with a B.S. in 1921 and he received an M.B.A. from Harvard Graduate School in 1930. In between the time that he received his B.S. from MIT and his M.B.A. from Harvard, he worked at four different companies: Dayton, Power and Lights Co., Stone and Webster, Inc., Associated Gas & Electric Co., and Electric Board & Share Co. In 1928, he started his own engineering company: Thomas B. Card and Associates, Engineers, Providence, R.I. Thomas Card was a grandson of Capt. Thomas A. Buell, a famous Civil War veteran. Thomas Card had two brothers and a sister: Paul W. Card (a retired Navy officer), Charles A. Card, and Mrs. Joseph A. McDonald. Thomas Card married Miss Mary Sharpe Chafee on 3/3/1925 and they had two children, Mary (Polly) B. Card and Peter C. Card who died in 2010. After starting his own family and business, WWII began and Thomas Card again decided to serve in the military. He supervised the construction of bases both in the Caribbean and in Japan. He also served as the commanding officer of the 601st Engineers base depot on Okinawa. While serving in WWII he was promoted from the rank of Major, C.E. to Lt. Col., C.E. and in 1945 became a Colonel, C.E. In 1947, Thomas Card became the head of a group of engineers on a modernization project in Arabia. Irrigation, sewage systems, railroads, highways, electrical work, water pipes, and telephone lines were some of the projects that he oversaw. He also worked abroad in Argentina and in Trinidad. Thomas Card had a number of strong interests and collections. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta social fraternity. He developed a love for sailing and ship design. He has an extensive book collection on boating, history, and horseback riding which he donated to WPI. He also left WPI a large camera collection. The collection contains thirteen cameras and in today's market would be worth about $18,000 (Feb. 2011). Thomas B. Card died on December 23, 1977 with his funeral service held at the McDonald Funeral Home in Boston. At the time of his death, he was living in Dartmouth, MA. He left behind his wife, children, and his grandson. SCOPE AND CONTENT: The collection includes thirteen cameras, a photograph enlarger, thirteen lenses, twenty colored lens filters, twenty-one lenses to filter adapters, six types of light bulbs, camera accessories, and camera parts. The condition of most of the lenses is good, but many of the leather covered cameras are in fair condition because of their fragile nature. The camera types range from the older box cameras to a newer Rolleiflex TLR. The box cameras range in production dates, from the Page 1 mid-1800s until the early 1900s. There are also six folding cameras, all of which were manufactured between 1897 and 1973. Some of the highlights of the collection are the older lenses/shutters and the photograph enlarger. The two mahogany box cameras are also exciting items because they are both rare items. Thomas Card donated over 100 books, eighteen of which were published before the 1900s. Many of the books focus on sailing, war, and history. Also included in the collection are documents about Thomas Card's life and background. Container List Container Folder Date Title None Series I: Cameras MS 58_01 Camera There are thirteen cameras in the collection. The oldest camera is the "American Optical Co. #6" box camera. Whether the camera was actually produced by American Optical Co. was debated by an American Optical Co. collector. There are six other box cameras in the collection, one of which is rare. The rarest of the box cameras is the Climax Detective Camera made by E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. The value is currently unknown since others rarely come to market. Three of the box cameras were manufactured by Eastman Kodak Co. The Eastman Kodak box cameras are the No.3 (String Set), the Bulls Eye No.2, and the C Ordinary camera. The No.3 Kodak camera is highly sought by camera collectors. The final box camera is a Magazine Cyclone No.5 by Rochester Optical Co. Along with the six box cameras, five folding cameras were also donated. The most valuable folding camera specimen in the collection is the Speed Graphic by the Folmer & Schwing, Graflex Co. The second folding camera is the Busch Pressman Model D with Technika Symmar Linhof lens. Both the Speed Graphic and the Pressman are large format press cameras that use large format 4x5 inch sheet film. Another notable folding camera in the collection is the Bantam Special by Eastman Kodak Company. It is pocket sized with a metal case and is known for its characteristic art deco style. There is a second pocket sized folding camera in the collection that was also manufactured by Kodak; it is the Folding Pocket Kodak. Its small size is extraordinary because it was produced early in camera history, from 1897-1905. The fifth folding camera in the collection is the Kodak No.4 Cartridge, Model E. It can be used with 104mm film or with glass plates. Included in the collection are two cameras that do not fit into the categories of box camera or folding camera. They are a Rolleiflex by Rollei and an Ikon by Zeiss. The Rolleiflex, the TELE Model 2 camera is the only TLR (twin-lens reflex) camera in the collection. This iconic large format Rollei camera was used in homes and by professional photographers. The view finder is located on the top on the device, so that the camera can be stabilized by leaning it against the body when taking a photo. Like the press cameras, the Rolleiflex projects the image onto frosted glass before the photo is taken. There is also a newer Zeiss Ikon, but the model is unknown because the lock on its leather case is broken. Zeiss Ikon is a German brand that is well known for high quality lenses and cameras. Container List Container Folder Date Title No Container & Camera Mfg. 1848-1860s American Optical Co. #6 Box_03 Camera Type: Box camera Camera Size: 25"x11 ¾”x12” Film Size & Type: Plate Camera Body: Wood Lens & Shutter: Voigtländer & Sohn in Wien & Braunschweig Description: Large wooden box camera with rare Voigtländer & Sohn in Wien & Braunschweig lens. The lens is no longer attached to the box. The box camera was determined to be home made, but it has a wooden label indicating that it was produced by American Optical. Box_01 Camera Pat. 1892; Mfg. 1895-1913 No.2 Bulls Eye Camera by Eastman Kodak Co. Camera Type: Box camera Original Price: $5-$35 Camera Size: 6”x4 ½”x5" Film Size & Type: 3x3.5 inch or 101 mm rollfilm Page 2 Camera Body: Wood covered in leather Lens & Shutter: Unknown Description: First camera design with a photo counter for rollfilm Box_02 Camera Mfg. 1950s-1960s Busch Pressman Model D by Busch Precision Co. Camera Type: Folding camera and press camera Original Price: $105 Camera Size: 7¼"x8"x4" Film Size & Type: 4x5 inch sheet film; large format Camera Body: Metal covered in leather Lens: Symmar 150mm by Schneider-Kreuznach Shutter: Technika by Linhof 1:5,6/150mm & 1:12/265mm Box_02 Camera Mfg. 1905-1907 Magazine Cyclone No.5 by Rochester Optical & Camera Co. (Western Camera Mfg. Co.) Camera Type: Box camera Original Price: $10 Camera Size: 8 ¼”x6”x6 ¾” Film Size & Type: 4x5 inch plates Camera Body: Wood covered in leather Lens & Shutter: Unknown Box_02 Camera Mfg. 1947-1973 Pacemaker Speed Graphic by Folmer & Schwing, N.Y. Graflex Co. Camera Type: Folding camera and press camera Camera Size: 7¼”x3 ½”x8” Film Size & Type: 4x5 inch sheet film; large format Camera Body: Metal covered in leather Lens: Tessar 135mm by Zeiss Shutter: Compur 1:4,5/135mm by F. Deckel Box_01 Camera Pat. Nov 11, 1884; Pat. March Climax Detective Camera by E. & H.T. Anthony and Co. 22,1887;Camera Pat. March Type: Box camera with plate holder Camera Size: 10”x5 ½"x7 ¼” Film Size & Type: 4x5 inch plates Camera Body: Wood (Mahogany) Lens & Shutter: Dallmeyer by E. & H.T. Description: The camera is missing the second half that stores extra plates. This rare camera is in excellent condition. Box_03 Camera Unknown Zeiss Ikon in leather case by Zeiss Camera Type: Folding, fixed lens, or SLR Camera Size: 5”x1 ¾”x3 ¼” Details Unknown Description: The lock on the cameras leather case is broken and therefore the camera cannot be further identified. Box_03 Camera Mfg. 1959-1965 Bantam Special with leather case by Kodak Camera Type: Compact folding camera, art deco style Original Price: $110 Film Size & Type: 35mm film Camera Body: Metal Lens: Ektar 44mm by Kodak Shutter: Supermatic No.0 1/400 sec.