Unusual Stereo Camera Blair/Kodak Hybrid? Need Help Identifying

[Jleeuk]

Hi all,

I’m hoping someone here might be able to help me identify this stereo camera I recently came across. What’s throwing me is that the front and back of the camera don’t seem to match — yet everything fits together perfectly, as if it was made that way.

Here’s the odd part:

The front plate says "Stereo Hawkeye Model 5A" (Blair Camera Co.)

The back inside panel says "No. 2 Stereo Brownie Camera Model A" (Eastman Kodak Co.)


It has:

Folding red bellows and a hinged lens bed, like the Hawkeye

A box-style body and rear door, with clear Kodak markings, like the Brownie

Could this be a transitional model? Maybe produced just after Kodak acquired Blair? Or is it a Frankenstein camera assembled later by someone who knew what they were doing?

I've attached photos of the front, back, and inside (will add more if needed). Any thoughts? Have you seen this kind of thing before?

Really appreciate any info!

Thanks in advance,

 

[JPD]

I think that since that Blair Camera Company continued to exist for a few years after it had been bought by Kodak, and this was a Blair camera model, they continued using the name.

https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/cp118936/blair-camera-company

"[Blair Camera Company] engaged in fierce compaetition with Eastman Kodak, but finally sold to Kodak in 1899; manufacturing moved to Rochester but Blair Cameras continued to operate independantly until 1907; cameras produced after this date as 'Blair Camera Division of Eastman Kodak'."