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Thread: help identifying old box camera

  1. #1

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    help identifying old box camera

    It was probably home made but how exactly did this one work? Was there a lens? and what held the film inside? Any info is appreciated.
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  2. #2

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    Re: help identifying old box camera

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  3. #3

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    Re: help identifying old box camera

    its about 5x7

  4. #4

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    Re: help identifying old box camera

    The lens would have been in the hole in the square plate in the last picture. Definitely home made for glass dry plates.
    James

  5. #5

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    Re: help identifying old box camera

    hmm i had to pull off the top which was nailed down ( barely) and all of that was under. So the lens went under the top piece with the smaller hole?

  6. #6
    multiplex
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    Re: help identifying old box camera

    it doesn't look like there was a shutter ...
    maybe it was a pinhole camera?
    what does the inside of the wood box look like
    is it stained from chemicals ?

  7. #7

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    Dec 2012
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    Re: help identifying old box camera

    This seems to be patterned of a Brownie. Note the two reflex viewers: one for portrait, one for landscape. I suspect it did have a lens that was removed. There were a number of similar cameras made say 1895-1905. I don't see any provision for a roll film winding knob, so it probably was made for dry plates. There was a style of camera called "falling plate" box cameras in that period. The rough finish makes me think it could have been home made.

  8. #8

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    Re: help identifying old box camera

    doesn't appear to have any staining from chemical I took a look at the falling plate cameras and it kinda looks simular but I am not too sure. All the ones I seen had the lens mounted on the inside and a hinged door with an opening about the size of the lens itself on outer cover. The opening on the outer cover on my box is tiny. I would really like to use it that's why I'm trying to figure out exactly or close to what it is.

  9. #9
    multiplex
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    Re: help identifying old box camera

    the staining would have suggested wet plate ... the chemistry stains and eats through wood.
    in photo #2 it looks like in the open space there was something there
    that isn't now ..
    was there another part that was removed ?

    the inside doesn't look like a falling plate camera or a "normal" dry plate camera, but if a part was removed or is missing
    it might have been a frame with a pair of flat springs that would have held a plate for pinhole work.
    a meniscus lens like a box or falling plate camera would have been kind of fast, and dry plates were kind of fast ... ( usually 50th S for both falling plate and box caemras)
    so without a shutter ( no drilled hole for a pneumatic shutter, or button for guillotine shutter ) it would have had to be a slow lens ...

  10. #10

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    Mar 2013
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    14

    Re: help identifying old box camera

    If it is a pin hole then why the secondary larger opening under the top piece of wood? would the pin hole go there and maybe a shutter over the smaller hole?

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