Birmingham and the Photographic Industry

‘Birmingham and the Photographic Industry’ takes the reader on a historic journey through the development of the photographic trade within Birmingham. The book looks specifically at the role the city played in photography and product manufacturing, along with the processes that developed within the area. From Tom Wedgwood and the Lunar Society, to the site of the largest camera company in the world, Lancaster, at the end of the 19th century, Birmingham was instrumental in the development of the industry. Additionally, it was also home to one of the most recognisable cameras in the world amongst collectors – the Coronet Midget. Companies from all over the city, from Balsall Heath to Bordesley Green, Handsworth to Harborne, and Sparkhill to Stechford, were making products for photographers worldwide. The majority of these businesses and their buildings have been long forgotten…until now.