Gilles-Faller (Paris) studio camera with easel, France, circa 1925. Studio camera with bellows in very good condition, two lenses and mounted on a stand on wheels for professional use. It has a crank for adjusting the height and diagonals of the camera. Made of wood and gold metal and in its colour, it has the manufacturer's plate on the front. The company, which produced both professional and amateur photographic equipment, was founded in 1855 by Besson, who later joined forces with Gilles. Around 1870, this second family continued the business until around 1900, when “Guilles Fils” was succeeded by “Gilles E.”, who joined forces with Faller, giving rise to “Gilles-Faller”, which in 1924 became Société Anonyme (d'Exploiation) des Anciens Établissements Guilles-Faller. The identification plaque above the camera lens refers to this last stage, and places the headquarters at 31 Rue Navarin in Paris, where they had already established themselves around 1900, but without mentioning number 33 on the same street (which they would have bought, at the latest, in 1926, since this new door appears in L'Indicateur de l'Industrie Photographique of that year). This easel is very similar to the one in figure 2 (page 2) of the 1928 catalogue of the company (Bibliothèque Nationale Française, Paris) which was sold with the model “Chambre Gilles B 30x30” together with a series of elements. All the models of the company allowed the free combination of shutters and also lenses: note the two present, in good condition. Looking at the advertisement referred to, there is a peculiarity: in this case the rectangular camera (18X24) requires a specific easel, which could be included in the lot for an extra charge in francs. Made in walnut finish, which the client could choose between patent or varnished, you can see the rails that allow the movement of the camera by means of the wheels on its right and the reinforced canvas bellows.
· Size: 60x70x196 cms.
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