Photographica Pages
An online guide to collectable cameras and related
stuff
Blair (Blair Tourograph Co.)
Thomas Blair designed a wet plate camera that contained its own darkroom tent. He patented it in
1878 and it was manufactured by Scovill's American Optical division. This was the Tourograph.
After moving, and operating under the names Blair Tourograph Co., Blair Tourograph and Dry
Plate Co., he shortened the name to Blair Camera Co. in 1886.
In 1890, he aquired the Boston Camera Co., and took over the Hawkeye line of cameras. Blair in
turn, was bought by George Eastman, and became a division of Kodak 1899.
