Henry Clay Advertising

The earliest Henry Clay reference appears in an 1891 photographic supply catalogue. It is a one-half page ad noting the camera as "Just Out." Along with engravings showing two views of the camera (closed then opened) the text elludes to a sliding-bed design:

Interestingly, 1891 was the only year in which ad text matched camera illustrations. From 1892 on, things get quite confusing because Scovill & Adams tended to use older engravings in later ads -- which may have been done to control advertising expenses. The 1892 American Annual of Photography ad (shown at left) illustrates a sliding-bed model with reversible finder mounted on the side of the body.

Yet the text notes "The finder of the camera is now placed on the top of the front board ..." Further adding to the confusion are two references appearing in the 1893 issue. A user review entitled "A Splendid All Round Camera" describes and illustrates a Henry Clay Camera with bed struts while an advertisement in the same issue depicts a model from 1892 ads. The most confusing scenario would be that both models overlapped in sales dates. Confused? Wait, 1894 adds new twists.

An 1894 advertisement appearing on page 84 of the American Annual Of Photography illustrates the strut bed model with text describing the sliding bed. On the following page (85), the Henry Clay Stereoscopic Camera is advertised with body mounted reversible finder and sliding bed. Fortunately, ad text accurately describes the illustrated Henry Clay camera in subsequent years.