DR-4 Aerial Camera
name: label: maker
content: Burke and James
notes: label: Description
content: This early example of an American aerial camera was made by the Burke and James Company of Chicago, Illinois, in 1910. The box-type design was retained for decades in use by the American military. These cameras were fixed to planes or held and operated by trained flight photographers, sometimes known as observers, capturing reconnaissance images of enemy territory below. The U.S. War Department Air Service transferred this camera to the Smithsonian’s Section of Photography in 1924.
label: Description
content: From its invention in 1839, the camera has evolved to fit many needs, from aerial to underwater photography and everything in between. Cameras allow both amateur and professional photographers to capture the world around us. The Smithsonian’s historic camera collection includes rare and unique examples of equipment, and popular models, related to the history of the science, technology, and art of photography.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Photographic History
label: See more items in
content: Military
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content: Photography
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content: Artifact Walls exhibit
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Transfer War Department Air Service
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: PG.003700
label: accession number
content: 71198
label: catalog number
content: 3700
objectType: label: Object Name
content: camera, aerial
label: Other Terms
content: camera, aerial; Plate/Sheet?; View; Rigid Body; Aerial
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: glass (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 35 cm x 34 cm x 66 cm; 13 3/4 in x 13 3/8 in x 26 in