R.Lechner Multiplikator Kamera

Very rare copying camera with 16 lenses for 9x12cm exposures on plates, the box shaped camera is mounted on a hinged wooden base which opens to a 70cm carrier for the image holder (not included), on bottom circular metal plaque 'R. LECHNER (WILH. MÜLLER) K.u.K. Hof-Manufaktur für Photographie Fabrik Photographischer Apparate u. Utensilien Wien 31, Graben 31'. This kind of multiple lens camera first appeared around 1870 and was exclusively used to copy and reduce 'Carte de Visite' portraits to the size of a stamp. See 'Michel Auer (1990), The Guide to Antique Cameras no. 2457' for a similar camera.