Tag Archives: Daguerreian Cameras

S. H. Williams & Co.

1848                Address Unknown, Honolulu, Hawaii.

S. H. Williams & Co. were recorded in two advertisements in the Polynesian (Honolulu, Hawaii).  The first appeared on March 18, 1848.  Flour, Hides, &c.  For Sale by S. H. Williams & Co. 300 barrels superior Columbia River Flour; 2000 Sandwich Island hides; 25 superior Sea Otter Skins; 67 Rolls 40 yards each 4×4 China Matting.

The second appeared on July 1, 1848.  For Sale A Daguerreotype apparatus, with chemicals complete.  Apply to S. H. Williams & Co.

S. H. Williams & Co. is not recorded in other photographic directories.  It appears from the first advertisement the Williams was a purveyor ad not a daguerreotypist.

Frederick Schramm

1847                Address Unknown, Burlington, Iowa.

Frederick Schramm was recorded in one advertisement that appeared on December 22, 1847 in the Iowa Territorial Gazette and Burlington Advertiser (Burlington, Iowa).  Daguerrian Apparatus for Sale.  Mr. Frederick Schramm, of this city has an excellent Daguerrian Apparatus, all complete, for sale on Liberal Terms.  dec 1 ’47.

Frederick Schramm is not recorded in other photographic directories.  Pioneer Photographers from the Mississippi to the Continental Divide A Biographical Dictionary, 1839-1865 does list a Schramm.  They speculate that it is John Siegmund Schramm. It is unknown if Schramm was a daguerreotypist or if he was just selling the apparatus.

John G. Wolf

1840                86 Nassau Street, New York, New York.

1840                40½ Chatham Street, New York, New York.

1841                23 Chambers Street, New York, New York.

1844                90 Nassau Street, New York, New York.

John G. Wolf was recorded in three advertisements and an entry from the residence section of New York City Directory.  The first advertisement ran from February 22 to 25, 1840  in The Evening Post (New York, New York.)  Daguerreotype.  In reply to the many advertisements

for the construction and sale of the Apparatus for the Daguerreotype.  I wish to make this public announcement, that besides the Optical part, I construct the whole of the apparatus, and furnish single or double glasses,[and] that, to my knowledge, all glasses hitherto used for this purpose in this country have been supplied by me.  I offer to every one who wishes to make a progress in the art to suit their several wishes, and explain the effects of different modifications of the lenses; and take the liberty to call upon all the scientific gentlemen who have until now practiced this art in New York, who have used my glasses, to testify their satisfaction to their friends of my workmanship.  W. G. Wolf, Optician, 86 Nassau st.

The second advertisement appeared in the Evening Star (New York, New York) on July 6, 1840.

Daguerreotype Likenesses.  Mr. Y. G. Wolp (sic.) takes pleasure in announcing to the public, that he will take Photogenic, or Daguerreotype Likenesses in the course of a week.  He feels confident in asserting from his many recent experiments, that he will be able to practice them in a much shorter time, and far superior to any that has yet been taken.  Residence, 40½ Chatham street.

John G. Wolf, daguerreotype 23 Chambers was recorded from the 1841/1842 New York City Directory.  (New York, New York.) 

The third advertisement appeared in The New York Herald (New York, New York) and ran from June 4 to 6, 1844.  Daguerreotype Cameras. J. G. Wolf, Optician, No. 90 Nassau street, up stairs, informs the Public that he manufactures a new kind of Daguerreotype Apparatus; for taking large and small Portraits, with one instrument.  It is far superior than any Camera before in use.

N. B. Lenses for daguerreotype and Telescopes; Achromatic and Single, also Priams, Microscopes and Spectacle Glasses, of Glass or Crystal, warranted correct, ground and polished, by J. G. W.                                                                                                                                  

John G. Wolf is recorded in other directories and other sources.

D. H. Witt

1848                Address Unknown, Fayette, Missouri.

D. H. Witt was recorded in one advertisement in the Glasgow Weekly Times (Glasgow, Missouri) on June 10, 1848.  Daguerreotype Apparatus For Sale.  A Camera, of good size and great power, together with a lot of stock, such as plates, chemicals, and fixtures will be sold cheap.  Apply to D. H. Witt, near Fayet.

D. H. Witt is not recorded in other photographic directories.  It is unknown if he was a daguerreotypist, an amateur, or a retailer.

C.V. Ussam

1858                Address and Location Unknown.

C.V. Ussam appeared in one announcement in The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York)  on December 10, 1858.  New-York City News.  Burning of the Harlem R. R. Depot.  Great Loss Of Property.  Four Men Buried in the Ruins.

This morning sometime between 3 and 4 o’clock, the Harlem Railroad Depot, in Centre street, caught fire on the White street side, and was partially destroyed, together with a large amount of property….

…C. V. Ussam, daguerreotype apparatus, loss $500.

C.V. Ussam is not recorded in other photographic directories.  It is unknown if Ussam was a daguerreotypist or supplier. 

C. Wells Simons

1842                155 Broadway, New York, New York.

C. Wells Simons appeared in one advertisement in The New York Herald (New York, New York) on September 15, 1842.  For Sale—Improved Daguerreotype Apparatus, with full instructions, for sale low—Persons, who in consequence of the depressed times have been thrown out of employment, may, with a very limited capital, enter into this elegant profitable business with a certainty of success.—There are many towns, even in this State, that have not yet been visited by any operators; and at the South and West there is a first rate field open for those wishing to travel.

A full knowledge of the Art can be obtained in a few days, by applying to C. Wells Simons, 155 Broadway, N. Y.

N. B.—Persons in the country can be furnished with the Apparatus, and written instructions that will enable them to operate successfully.  C. Wells Simon.         

C. Wells Simons is not recorded in other photographic directories.  C. Wells Simons was not listed in the 1841-1842 or the 1842-1843 New York City directories.  It is unknown if Simons was an amateur or professional daguerreotypist or a retailer of daguerrean equipment.

Dr. Gregerson

1840                Address Unknown, Boston, Massachusetts.

April 3, 1840.  Manuscript Eloise L. Derby, Boston, Massachusetts to Mr. George L. Strong, George M. Strong Esq., 56 Wall Street, New York.  From my collection.

April 3d 1840                                                                                                                                                                  Dear Mary. George ,                                                                                                                                                As I believe I owe you a letter I will write to you and acknowledge the safe arrival of the bottle of Ipecac & and beg you to thank Papa for me in my name for the trouble he has taken about it & I know it will give you all pleasure to hear that your little namesake seems to be rapidly recovering.  He is still however as fond of myself & nurse as ever & nothing can induce him to go to any one else, but as he begins to be willing to kiss other people I hope he will soon get over his very great attachment to me, my arms as you may well imagine have felt his sickness very sensibly.

There is nothing thought of or talked about in this City now but the Daguerreotype.  I take it for granted you have seen it.  I left the baby a day or two since for a short time & went to the exhibition of ——— pictures prints impressions or whatplates I suppose ought to be the word.  I think them beautiful & consider it a most wonderful discovery but then I am so stupid as to be unable to see what good is to result from it, no impression can be taken from these plates (?) & then what is to prevent the silver from turning and if it as all silver unfortunately will & then if it does can it be cleaned without destroying the picture? & wont the copper corrode the thin coating of silver?  M. Gouraud asks 51 dollars for an apparatus, but Dr. Bigelow told me a few days since that a Dr. Gregerson of this city had fitted up an old cigar box at an expanse of $2— & had taken a very correct view of the upper part of Hanover St.  I should think that you were  just the one to be dabbling with it please send me some of your specimens…

Your affectionate Sister

Eloise L. Derby 

Dr. Gregerson is not recorded in other photographic directories.

Dr. Ganson

1841                Address Unknown, Batavia, New York.

Dr. Ganson is recorded in an announcement that appeared on August 17, 1841 in The Spirit of the Times (Batavia, New York).  Dr. Ganson, has recently introduced into our village, from N. York, an improved Daguerreotype apparatus.—We are authorized to say, when not otherwise engaged in his profession, Dr. G., would be happy to show its results, to any who may have the curiosity to call at his office and witness them.  The time required to take a likeness at mid-day, with a cloudless sky, is from twenty-five to fifty-five seconds.

Dr. Ganson is not recorded in other photographic directories.

Louis Beckers

Louis Beckers is recorded in an advertisement in the Delaware Gazette (Delhi, New York) on April 7, 1847, in the partnership of Langenheim & Beckers, No. 201 Broadway, New York. They are the sole agency for the sale of Voiglander’s Daguerreotype Instruments and L. Beckers’ Chemicals.

Louis Becker is list in Craig’s Daguerreian Registry as being in Philadelphia but not in New York or in the partnership with the Langenheim Brothers.