In the latter part of the 19th century, there was a great interest in the scientific aspects of photography, the interaction of light with certain chemicals.
The Greenock Camera Club was formed in 1888 by 12 men who met in the Watt Museum committee room. It was formed from a branch of the local Philosophical Society with some of the individuals involved being Messrs.. Drummond, Niven, Sinclair & Thomson. The Philosophical Society met in the McLean Museum hall and it is understood that the Club was supposed to be allocated premises in the proposed extension to the museum which unfortunately did not materialise.
The group of gentlemen from the Club met at first only once a month, in the schoolhouse of the old Kilblain Academy just off Kilblain St. between St. Georges Church and Hasties Engineering Works. Half of the upper floor of the Academy was leased to the Greenock Camera Club for 50 years, and this area was divided by partitions into 3 compartments - namely a committee / reading room, a darkroom and a printing room.
In 1890 the club’s first exhibition of prints was hung in the Watt Hall and the membership was now up to 30. The half plate (4 3/4" x 6 1/2") enlargers the members used were simple gas lit ones that were later converted to electricity, with adapters to take quarter plates (3 1/4" x 4 1/2" - this being the smallest size that keen amateurs used) Roll film came later. After this, membership increased and as facilities for enlarging prints was limited members concentrated on 'lantern slides'. A screen about 8' x 6' could be pulled down to allow for the projection of B&W slides with the use of a 'lime light lantern'.
When ladies were admitted they were allowed use of the club rooms on a Thursday only from 10:00 am to 5:00 p.m. otherwise gentlemen could use the rooms from 10:00 am until 10:00 p.m. every day except Sundays. By 1903 membership had risen to 200 and darkroom facilities had to be limited, club lectures, demonstrations and outings were well patronised. continue>>
