Natali, Collo & cie Le Franceville No. 1bis

Introduced and sold in 1908 as the “one Franc camera” the Franceville No.1 was made of two shells in “black lacquer”, actually hardened papier-mâché obtained by molding and compression, is remarkably rigid and resistant to deformation.

The camera is loaded using a small holder designed for a 4 × 4 cm plate, which can conveniently be handled in daylight, a notable advancement that gave the amateur photographer newfound independence, eliminating the need for a darkroom.

At the front, a tiny 2 mm aperture contrasts strikingly with the large rear lens of over 10 mm in diameter, a curious design choice characteristic of this inventive era of photography.

The shutter mechanism remains extremely simple: a thin metal blade that must be lifted by hand to expose the plate, then lowered to end the exposure. Although the catalog mentions a diaphragm, the surviving example shows no trace of one.

Ingenious yet rudimentary, this 1908 model represents a key step in the short saga of the Franceville cameras achieved without abandoning their original spirit of accessibility and popular appeal.