Magazine Cyclone No. 1-5
The Magazine Cyclone cameras were a series of "drop plate" large format cameras produced by the Western Camera Manufacturing Company of Chicago, Illinois during the 1890s. Their most notable feature was their ability to be loaded with several plate/sheet film holders ahead of time, and then, after each exposure, by the twist of a knob, the exposed frame would be dropped down into the bed of the camera, readying the next sheet for exposure. It was this unique process that allowed for fast operation.
The Magazine Cyclone consisted of an achromatic meniscus lens behind a simple self-arming shutter. Early models of the Magazine Cyclone had only two shutter speed options: Instant and Time. It also had a single aperture and fixed focus - though a later, "improved version" offered multiple apertures and a Bulb mode, instead of Time mode.
Several different versions of the Magazine Cyclone were made, as distinguished by their number. The No.1 produced twelve 2.5 x 2.5 inch exposures, had only a Time and Instant shutter, and a single aperture. The No.2 was the same as the No.1 but made slightly larger, 3.25 x 4.25 inch exposures. The No.3 was the same as the earlier models but used 4x5 inch plates and film. The No.4 made the same exposures as the No.2, with the change to Bulb mode instead of Time mode, as well as adjustable apertures. The No.5 made the same exposures onto 4x5 inch plates and film as the No.3, but with Bulb mode instead of Time mode and with adjustable apertures.
After 1899, Western became a part of Rocherster Optical & Camera Co (which would go on to become the Kodak we know and love) and revised versions of the Magazine Cyclone and Western camera would be sold into the early 20th century.
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