William Hume was a Scottish scientific instrument maker who established his business in 1873. The shop was initially located at 1 Lothian Street in Edinburgh. In 1883 he advertised he had two shops one at Lothian st. and the other at 1 West College St., Edinburgh. He was active from 1873 to about 1922. He was primarily known for his Cantilever enlarging apparatus which was advertised and written extensively about in magazines as a premier instrument. He also sold lanterns, chemicals and produced a few photographic cameras from 1885-1910. Only a few models are known. The "Prize Outfit" camera is a fairly conventional design that he made only in half plate. The other known designs were the "Improved Tourist", "Improved Portable", and the "Long Focus" Camera. His cameras were made of the highest quality workmanship and materials. In 1907, his business moved to what is presumed to be a bigger premise at 14-18 Lothian Street Edinburgh. In 1922 he advertised that he has suspended his retail business at 14-18 Lothian Street Edinburgh and was in the process of relocating to 8 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh as a photographic dealer and enlarging apparatus expert. William Hume Died in 1924 at the age of 72. In his lifetime he was interested in all types of scientific instruments and was a respected technical chemist. He was a diligent worker in Instantaneous photography, a pioneer in the application of the telephone and electric light and was an in-demand lecturer about enlarging and photographic apparatus.

CLICK HERE for an icon listing of Wm. Hume Camera's

Prize Outfit

Long Focus

Improved Portable

Improved Tourist



Ref:
1883 Oct. 13, Edinburgh Clinical and Pathological Advertiser, p. xv
1907 July 5, Chemical News, p. v
1922, the British Journal Almanac, p. 704
1924 Jan 23, The Amateur Photographer p. vi

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2025-05-09 17:21:00