Unknown 8x10 camera

[LF_rookie_to_be]

Does anyone recognize this camera? It's most likely 8x10" format, but I'm pretty lost as to who could have manufactured it.

[Louis Pacilla]

It may be an 8x10 version of the Japanese made Prinz View which was a dual rail 4x5.

[Dan Fromm]

Lou, doesn't the Prinz View use a central leadscrew for focusing?

[Jody_S]

Someone hacked a The Brand Camera Co and changed the front lens board assembly & possibly the back. The twin rails and focusing mechanism are unique I think. I had a The Brand 17 at one point, though I never actually used it. It had a rotating back arrangement and no bail.

[LF_rookie_to_be]

It just looks too good to be a DIY hack, and according to the almighty Web, Prinz View in 8x10 was something altogether different. No results at all for Brand Press View / 17 in 8x10. The back definitely doesn't seem home-made, and is almost certainly metal. Puzzling.

[Tin Can]

Do you have more detailed pics of how the back is attached to the frame and standard?

[hoffner]

Someone hacked a The Brand Camera Co and changed the front lens board assembly & possibly the back. The twin rails and focusing mechanism are unique I think. I had a The Brand 17 at one point, though I never actually used it. It had a rotating back arrangement and no bail.

I agree with you. I recognise parts from a Brand camera, mostly the rails. The back is more modern and DIY added. It's basically a bastard.

[Dan Fromm]

The beast focuses by rack and pinion on one of the two tubes. The Brand 17, IIRC, focuses with a central lead screw and has cast standards; the beast's standards are quite different.

[LF_rookie_to_be]

Do you have more detailed pics of how the back is attached to the frame and standard?

Unfortunately, I don't.

[IanG]

The camera is vaguely familiar particularly the side view (1st image), it's not the first dual rail lf camera I've seen. After WWII there were quite a a lot of short lived companies making & selling cameras mostly 35mm and medium format but a few making LF camera. I'm more familiar with UK products mainly because I have every British Journal Photographic Almanac from about 1935 to 1963.

I've no time at the moment to look, two names come immediately to mind Barco & Criterion, but there were a few more British companies.

Just adding that's a UK company Criterion not an a much earlier US copmpany of the same name.

Ian