This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/9/2024
1840's Head Rest Used by Portrait Photographers- Extremely Rare: This vintage item is one of the top ten inventions that all serious lovers of photography must have in their collections. The Head Rest (official name), also called ear clip and head clamp, was a mandatory accessory in any 1800's portrait studio. On a cloudy day, it wasn't unusual for a daguerreotype exposure to last up to two minutes, the Head Rest was a must. Every studio had one. In 1839, Louis Daguerre, the man who gave photography to the world, said that "portraits would be impossible unless the head could be fixed by means of supporting apparatus". Well nine months later, on May 8, 1840, an American, Alexander Wolcott, patented the Head Rest, which was used for forty-four years. In 1884, there was a fervent good bye to the Head Rest, because of the adoption of the glass dry plate, with a great gain in sensitivity, which allowed a short exposure, no need for the Head Rest. Most of the portrait photographers sent their Head Rests to the junkyard, ergo, the super-rarity today. In 1840, 184 years ago, it was a hot item. Now in 2024, it's a hot item again.