The Willsie cameras were manufactured by the Willsie Camera Company of Chicago, Illinois and sold through the Rockford Silver Plate Company of 202 Wyman St. Rockford, Illinois from approximately 1897 to 1900. It was a line of leather covered box cameras with a unique telescoping lens with a solid metal double acting shutter and ability of using mounted flat films (film packs). Their advertisements describe the camera as "The Cameras of the Future". In 1999 the camera was called the Triumph.

The Willsie Pocket Camera: Introduced in 1898. A box camera capable of taking 2 x 2 3/8 inch exposures on six glass plates in holders or 24 4 x 4 inch flat films. It was fitted with a meniscus lens, three stops and a time and snap shot shutter. Features included an accurately scaled focusing device, an exposure meter, a view finder, a tripod socket and covered in morocco grain leather. Originally priced at $5.

The Willsie 3 1/2 Camera: A box camera capalbe of taking 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch exposures on six glass plates in holders or 24 4 x 4 inch flat films. It was fitted with an achromatic lens with 5 inch focus, three stops and a time and snap shot shutter. Features included an accurately scaled focusing device, an exposure meter, a view finder, a tripod socket and covered in seal grain leather. Originally priced at $10.

The Willsie 3 1/4 Camera: A box camera capalbe of taking 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 inch exposures on six glass plates in holders or 24 4 x 4 inch flat films. It was fitted with an achromatic lens with 5 inch focus, three stops and a time and snap shot shutter. Features included an accurately scaled focusing device, an exposure meter, a view finder, a tripod socket and covered in seal grain leather. Originally priced at $10.

The Willsie 4 x 5 Camera: A box camera capalbe of taking 4 x 5 inch exposures on six glass plates in holders or 48 4 1/2 x 5 1/2 inch flat films. It was fitted with an achromatic lens with 6 1/2 inch focus, three stops and a time and snap shot shutter. Features included an accurately scaled focusing device, an exposure meter, a view finder, a tripod socket and covered in seal grain leather. Originally priced at $15.

Historic Camera Value and Rating - Estimating Overall Worth (about)

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2015-08-12 16:05:10