Tag Archives: William A. Allen

Allen, William A.

1848                            Corner Bridge and Tillery Street, Brooklyn, New York,[1]

1849                            313 Sixth Street, New York, New York.

1850-1851                   204 Chatham Street, New York, New York.

1851                            270 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York.1

1852                            308 Broadway, New York, New York.

1849/1850.  Doggett’s New York City Directory.  (New York, New York.)  1849, Vol. 8, P. 26.

Allen, William A.—daguerreotype—313 Sixth. 

1850/1851.  Doggett’s New York City Directory.  (New York, New York.)  1850, Vol. 9, P. 27.

Allen, William A.—daguerreotype—204 Chatham, h. 275 Third.

1851/1852.  Doggett’s & Rode New York City Directory.  (New York, New York.)  1851, Vol. 10, P. 27.

Allen, William A.—daguerreotype—204 Chatham, h. 307 Fifth.

1852 January.  Photographic Art Journal.  (New York, New York.)  January 1852, Vol. 3, No. 1, P. Frontispiece.

Engraving of “Allen’s Improved Camera Stand.”

1852 February.  Photographic Art Journal.  (New York, New York.)  February 1852, Vol. 3, No. 2, P. 130.

Gossip—Mr. W. A. Allen, in connection with his brother, will open, in a few days, rooms at 308 Broadway, New York city.  They are being fitted up in the handsomest manner, and from the reputation he has heretofore enjoyed, we have no doubt of his success both in getting good pictures and in doing a fine business.

1852 April.  Photographic Art Journal.  (New York, New York.)  April 1852, Vol. 3, No. 4, Frontispiece.

Engraving of “Allen’s Improved Camera Box.”

1852 April.  Photographic Art Journal.  (New York, New York.)  April 1852, Vol. 3, No. 4, P. 258.

Allen’s Improved Camera Box.  We give this month our second plate of Improved Daguerrean Apparatus.  This box is most beautifully finished and presents several advantages over those heretofore sold. The focus is drawn upon the spectrum by means of the crank A—shown in the engraving—on the outside of the box, an when the focus is obtained the extension box is fixed by means of the thumb-screw B, attached to the crank, also on the outside.  The advantage of this arrangement will be seen at once, as the operator is enabled to keep his eye steadily upon the image drawn on the spectrum and fix the focus at the exact point and prevent the variation of a single hair’s breadth.  Another decided improvement in this box, is, that there is no necessity for removing the spectrum, as the dark slide can be shoved into its place by simply throwing back the spectrum half an inch, the grooves for the reception of the plate holder and spectrum being constructed for that purpose.  The relative position of the spectrum D, and the plate holder C when in the box, is seen in the engraving. 

1852 April 27.  The New York Herald.  (New York, New York.)  April 27, 1852, Whole No. 7118, P. 4.

The Maine Liquor Law is creating a great excitement throughout the whole length and breath of the land, and the indications are that Connecticut has decided most emphatically in its favor; but not less emphatically have the people decided in favor of W. A. Allen & Bros.’ daguerreotypes, taken at their elegant rooms, No. 308 Broadway.

Advertisement ran on April 27 & 28, 1852.

1852 June.  Photographic Art Journal.  (New York, New York.)  June 1852, Vol. 3, No. 6, Frontispiece.

Engraving “Allen’s Union Head Rest.”

1852 June.  Photographic Art Journal.  (New York, New York.)  June 1852, Vol. 3, No. 6, P. 383-384.

The Union Head Rest—Mr. W.A. Allen has in this chaste and beautiful article—an engraving of which we give in this number—presented his daguerrean friends with a piece of furniture for their operating rooms, unsurpassed by anything of the kind in this country.  It is a befitting companion for his elegant camera stand, a description of which we gave in our March number.  His Union table stand is equally rich, and in the same style, to correspond.

1852 October 22.  The Long Islander.  (Huntington, New York.)  October 22, 1852, Vol. XII, No. 8, Whole No. [628], P. 3.

New and Beautiful Daguerrean Gallery, No. 308 Broadway, NY Messrs. Richmond & Hawkins, Successors to Messrs. W. A. Allen & Brother, would most respectfully call the attention of their friends and the public to their New Rooms, at the above number.  The long experience of Messrs. R. & H. in the art, they flatter themselves will enable them to obtain Daguerreotype Portraits unsurpassed by any Daguerreans in the United States leads them to hope they will receive a liberal share of public patronage.  The Rooms are large, elegant and convenient. 

Their Fine Sky Light enables them to take Pictures in the most perfect manner, and in the quickest time, entirely obviating the necessity of a long sitting, and correcting the defects so disagreeable to a refined [     ], in the harsh outlines and color tones so prevalent among the picture taken by the Daguerrean Process.  The Operating Room is well calculated for taking, in a finished and beautiful manner,

Large Groups of Families or Collegiate Classes and also for taking portraits.  For Children—three seconds only being required.

Messrs. R. & H. will give their personal attention to visitors, and most assiduously endeavor to please them with good pictures and perfect Likenesses.

No charge made unless the pictures are perfectly satisfactory.

Their prices are from $1,00 upwards, according to the size, style and finish.

Richmond & Hawkins, 308 Broadway.  Over E. Anthony’s Daguerreotype Depot, East side Broadway, between Pearl and Duane Sts. N. Y.                          

Advertisement ran from October 22, 1852 to February 25, 1853.  


[1] Craig’s Daguerreian Registry.

Mr. Allen

A Mr. Allen appears in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle and Kings County Democrat, on December 24, 1846 at 43 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, N.Y.  There is also a Mr. Allen recorded in The Long Islander, published in Huntington, N.Y. on July 2, 1847 at Mr. Silas T. Ketcham’s.  It is conceivable to think that the two possibly are the same person.

In the Long Islander advertisement he states that he has had long experience in the business.  He takes likenesses for insertion in rings, breast pins, lockets or bracelets, and makes copies from paintings, portraits and daguerreotypes.  Likenesses taken of the sick or deceased persons, at their residences, on the shortest notice.  He also offers instructions in the art, and has rings, breast pins, lockets, and bracelets also apparatus and chemicals of all kinds for sale.

Is the statement that he has had long experience in the business hype or has he been active in the business for a number of years? In trying to identify who Allen might be and verify activity dates a search of photographic directories and histories turned up nothing.  Of the twenty six Allen’s that are listed in Craig’s Daguerreian Registry William A. Allen is the only possibility, based on location and activity dates, his first entry is 1848-1849 at the corner of Bridge and Tillery Streets in Brooklyn.  Two other daguerreian’s E. A. Allen who I posted a couple of day ago was in Burlington, Vt. In 1841, and William Allen who was listed in Batavia, N.Y. in 1848-1849, which is over 350 miles away.  But again without additional conclusive information this is only speculation.