Thompson's Revolver camera

OBJECT TYPE: Camera
MANUFACTURER: A. Briois
NATIONALITY: French
PLACE MANUFACTURED: France, Paris
OBJECT NAME VARIATION: Revolver Photographique
INTRODUCTION DATE: ca. 1862
PATENT DATE: Jan. 20, 1862
FILM TYPE: wet plate
IMAGE SIZE: 23mm diameter
FUNCTIONAL TYPE: wet plate
STANDARD LENSES/SHUTTERS: 40mm f/2 petzval type
INTEGRATED SHUTTER: Yes

NOTES:
  "intro. 1862. Designed by Thompson. Brass pistol-shaped camera with
  scope, wooden pistol grip, but no barrel. Takes four 23mm dia.
  exposures in rapid succession on a 7.5 cm circular wet plate. Ground
  glass focusing through the scope which is above the cylindrical plate
  chamber. Petzval f2/40mm lens, single speed rotary shutter behind the
  lens shutter. The lens is raised and sighted through to focus, then
  dropped into place in front of the plate, automatically releasing the
  shutter. The circular plate was then rotated ¼ turn and was ready
  for the next exposure." (McKeown, 1996).

OBJECT IDENTIFIER: B8581.00001

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES:
Lothrop, Eaton S., Jr. --A Century of Cameras from the Collection of the International Museum of Photography at George Eastman House.-- Dobbs Ferry, NY: Morgan & Morgan, 1973. pp 12.//
McKeown, Jim & McKeown, Joan. --Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras: 1997/1998.-- Grantsburg, WI: Centennial Photo, 1996. pp 102.//