In 1890, Brothers Adolphus and Henry established the firm of Lonsdale Brothers in the city of Leeds, England. The business was established as camera maker for wholesale and retail. Their advertisements indicated that "Lonsdale's Cameras are Practical Cameras". They also provided brass camera components in every stage of finish for amateurs and dealers. They produced a sixty page, 600 illustrated "cyclopedia of photo brass-work" which became the standard for purchasing brass camera parts. They advertised a wholesale mahogany cabinet that contained 474 camera parts that a camera repair business could purchase. The firm also offered a variety of camera kits that "do-it-yourself" (DIY) amateurs or dealers could assemble, in addition to their fully assembled hand made cameras with the L.B. label on it. To further support the DIY amateurs Lonsdale Brothers produced a "How to Make" a camera, tripod, lantern or hand camera guide book to support the sale of camera kits.

In addition to being a complete camera manufacturer, they were also a distributor of a wide variety of items from Georges Carette & Co. ( Nuremburg Bavaria). The distributed items included toy trains, toy lanterns, model steam engines, toy cinematography, electric motors, lantern slides, electrical apparatus, etc.

In 1896 the business left Leeds and was re-located at 22 Goswell Road, London, England

In late 1897 the Lonsdale Brothers purchased the Sun Camera Company of Leeds, Yorkshire (West Riding) England. At this time Adolphus started a business tour around the world including, British Columbia, San Francisco, USA, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Ceylon and India.

In March 1899 Adolphus Lonsdale left the business and Henry continued. Henry re-located the business to Geen Lanes, Harringay N. London, and it was reported that Henry being the remaining active partner was in ill health.

In 1902 a store was established at 89 Chiswell Street London, and called "Lonsdale Bros. and Widman". It later moved to 2 Coleman st.

In approximately 1906 the Lonsdale Brothers business which now was located at 129, West Street, Sheffield, was taken over by James Christie of Sheffield, who discontinued the "Lonsdale Brothers" name.

Many of the unmarked British cameras found today may have been from kits or parts from the Lonsdale Brothers. Cameras marked with the L. B. label are hard to find.


Ref:
1897 The Chemist and Druggist, Sept. 25, p 515, 915

1898 The Photographic Dealer, p. 139

1899 The photographic Dealer, p. 52, 100

CLICK HERE for a list of Lonsdale Brothers Camera Co. cameras.

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