Night Hawk Folding Camera. 1895 model.

For the last couple months of this year (2023), I've been fortunate to acquire a couple rare and interesting cameras that are in unusually excellent condition.

This is an 1895 Night Hawk Folding Camera made by the Manhattan Optical Company, New York. It was only available for a year or two and this is the only known 5 x 7 inch model. After 1895, the front wood upright supports were changed to metal posts. A simple shutter is built into the front board.

The pictures don't convey its size, but it is a big camera. When open as shown, it is 15" deep x 10" high x 10" wide.

Price in 1895 was $25, which is roughly equivalent to $902 in 2022.