‘MAGIC’ Studio stand by JAmes SMith of Chicago, USA
A late 19th Century photographic studio stand by James H Smith of Chicago, USA. This is the company’s ‘magic’ stand which was originally patented in 1884. It is of heavy oak construction and adopts a clever belt-driven counter-sprung elevation adjustment with automatic roller stop to lock the mechanism at any chosen height. The elevation of the platform can be set using the heavily engineered lock nut at the front. The stand sits on its original castors and bears the maker’s plate to one end. Height from 85cm to 115cm, platform measures 71cm x 47cm. Shown here with a 10” x 12” Ross studio camera with Ross 12 x 10 Rapid Symmetrical lens.
James Smith formed his company in 1867 and specialised in designing and manufacturing photographic ‘sundries’ including camera stands, tripods, posing stools and darkroom equipment. One of Smith’s great inventions was his ‘Victor’ flash powder - deemed to be 24 times brighter than the leading flash powders of the day - but nearly his downfall after two successive fires in 1901 virtually destroyed his premises.