Blair Camera Co.

Champion

Date Introduced: - ; Years Manufactured: c.1887-1893
Construction: front focus via rack and pinion and a rod (missing above); single swing; reverse by removable back; three-piece lensboard
Materials: mahogany body; mahogany base track; black fabric bellows; nickeled hardware
Sizes Offered: 5x8/6.5x8.5 (same back size), and 8x10.  The above photos are of a 6.5x8.5 camera
Notes: an improvement over the RB. Improved, according to Gatchel.  This camera actually has an attached label from L.M. Prince & Bro., St. Louis, MO.  There is a close relationship between Blair and L.M. Prince, not only from this camera, but from the Blair Utility and L.M. Prince Utility cameras, which are identical, or very nearly so.  Blair may have manufactured all the cameras sold by L.M. Prince.  The Champion is placed here amongst the Blairs because it appears to be identical to engravings in Blair catalogs.
References:
Blair Tourograph & Dry Plate Co. Catalog, 1884, un-numbered page between pages 3 and 4
Illustrated and Descriptive Catalogue with Prices of Photographic Goods and Apparatus, W.D. Gatchel (Louisville, KY), 1888, p. 26

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