ca. 1900
Since Joseph Nicephore invented the first camera in 1827, it has been a fixture at important places and events throughout history. The first cameras were large, cumbersome and required a great deal of effort to use. This kept the camera in the hands of only professionals. Sometimes, to keep the business going well, the photographers would travel to events and take pictures for a fee.
The wagon of the traveling photographer had all he would need to do his job. First he would take his large camera and set it up on its tripod stand. To take the picture he would insert a glass negative with silver nitrate into the camera and then raise the shutter by hand to expose the glass. After taking the picture he would take the camera into his wagon, shut the door, and develop the picture. Before the invention of film by George Eastman in 1885, photographers had to use glass with silver nitrate and go through a very delicate and complicated process.
To develop the negative: First he burned the negative onto the positive; Then he doused it in the developer; Next, he dropped it in the stop bath to keep the film from overdeveloping.; The fixer was the next step in the process.; Then the picture was put through the wash.
This wagon was bought from the Martin Auction Company of Intercourse, Pennsylvainia on August 22, 1986. It dates from the early 1900’s. It was used for traveling and taking photographs of different landscapes, filling in where painters would have once served. For restoration, Mr Sterquell only had to fix the darkroom inside and touch up the outside.