Samuel Pierpont Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from 1887 to 1906 and an aviation pioneer who designed and flew unmanned powered aircraft, used this long-lens camera to study birds in flight. Langley installed photographers with cameras in two towers at the zoo in Washington's Rock Creek Park to take simultaneous photographs of bird wings from different angles. The photographer tripped the shutter with a trigger on the leather-coated wooden gun stock. The lens is missing.
Display Status
This object is on display in Boeing Aviation Hangar at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.
Object Details
Date
1887-1903
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
EQUIPMENT-Photographic
Manufacturer
Smithsonian Institution
Physical Description
Gun-like appearance with trigger shutter release on gun stock and long barrel. With magazine, film winder, sighting line/focal length ajustment with two adjustable wheels. No lens.
Dimensions
13 x 9 1/2 x 43 1/4 in. (33.0 x 24.1 x 109.9 cm)
Materials
Wood gun stock, leather covered, and brass barrel (was leather covered).
Inventory Number
A19820741000
Credit Line
Transferred from the Smithsonian Institution to the United States National Museum.
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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