Vive MPC Style C (Mechanical Plate Changing) Camera
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Vive MPC Style C (Mechanical Plate Changing) CameraEntry/Object ID
464Tags
IconicDescription
The Vive MPC Style C is a fascinating piece of early American camera engineering. At a time when most "box cameras" were simple single-shot devices, Vive pioneered the Mechanical Plate Changer (MPC) system. This allowed a photographer to preload up to 12 glass plates into an internal magazine. After each exposure, a mechanical lever or "dark sleeve" mechanism (varying by specific sub-model) would drop the exposed plate to the bottom of the camera, moving a fresh one into position. This specific unit is a "Style C," distinguished by its fine seal-grain leather covering and dual "brilliant" viewfinders for landscape and portrait orientations. The hand-written tag indicates it was a prized piece of a previous collection, noting its rarity and original list price. Its heavily weathered leather and intact aperture dial (ranging from f/11 to f/64) tell a story of a camera built to withstand the turn-of-the-century explorer's lifestyle.Category
Camera, Box, Glass Neagtives, Plate
Media Type