Gilles-faller (paris) Studio Camera With Easel, France, Circa 1925.

Gilles-Faller (Paris) studio camera with easel, France, circa 1925.
Studio camera with bellows in very good condition, two lenses and mounted on a wheeled stand for professional use. A crank allows the height and diagonals of the camera to be adjusted. Made of wood and gilded metal and in its color, it bears the manufacturer's plate on the front.
The company, which produced professional and amateur photographic equipment, was founded in 1855 by Besson, who then joined forces with Gilles. Around 1870, this second family continued the activity until around 1900, when "Guilles Fils" was replaced by "Gilles E.", who joined forces with Faller to give birth to "Gilles-Faller", which became in 1924 the Société Anonyme (d'Exploiation) des Anciens Établissements Guilles-Faller. The identification plate above the camera lens refers to this last stage, and places the head office at 31 rue Navarin in Paris, where they had already established themselves around 1900, but without mentioning number 33 of the same street (which they would have bought, at the latest, in 1926, since this new door appears in L'Indicateur de l'Industrie Photographique of that year). This easel is very similar to the one in figure 2 (page 2) of the company's 1928 catalogue (Bibliothèque Nationale Française, Paris) which was sold with the model "Chambre Gilles B 30x30" accompanied by a series of elements. All the company's models allowed the free combination of shutters and also lenses: note the two present, in good condition. Looking at the mentioned ad, there is a peculiarity: in this case, the rectangular device (18X24) requires a specific easel, which could be included in the lot for an additional price in francs. Made of walnut, which the customer could choose varnished or varnished, we can see the rails that allow the movement of the device by means of the wheels located on its right and the reinforced canvas bellows. -
Dimensions: 60x70x196 cm