Krauss Daubresse

Unique portable panoramic camera for 359° images on rollfilm. The camera was built by Krauss, based on the patent of M. Achille-Victor-Emile DAUBRESSE. The patent was granted on October 29th, 1903. Extremely interesting design, employing two right-angle prisms with a lens between them. The optical axis of the lens is vertical. The ensemble acts as a combination of lens and periscope, projecting the image outward to the periphery of the film chamber. The central portion of the camera rotates manually to tension the spring, and the release button on the bottom of the camera starts the exposure (the photographer must sit below the camera to push the button, and also to stay out of the picture). Technically advanced camera, still in nearly new condition after more than 100 years. The camera design was only known from the patent from 1903 (included is a copy of the patent) and early literature until 1993 when it was dicovered by the prominent collector Adrien Meaght, mid of 1990s it was acquired by the McKeown collection. It is still the only known example with serial number 001. More than 50 years later, the Panorax camera from Japan employed the same principle in 1959.