Box 3: Ilford Rapid Special

The label on this box is damaged but the manufacturer name can still be read at the bottom. It says "Britannia Works Company, Limited". According to Ilford Chronology on photomemorabilia.co.uk this company was registered on 17th December 1981. In 1900 Britannia Works Company of Ilford, London, changed its name and became Ilford, Limited.

Interestingly, the label on the lid is for Empress plates but on the bottom of the box there is another label, "Special Rapid Plates". Both types of plates were introduced in 1895 and had the speed of 9 ASA and 13 ASA, respectively. Special Rapid was four times faster than ordinary plates, hence the name. The Empress label is identical to this sample dated February 1902. There is also a number stamped on the bottom in blue ink. Our box has number 3800 and the one in the picture is 4206. The latter was dated by September 1906. Assuming the number is a serial or batch number, the box was produced before September 1906.