Indian camera makers?

[Vaughn]

I had a Raja from 1980. I bought in new in San Diego..$525 and it came with a 210/6.3 Computar. The lens was much better than the camera! What a sharp lens! The camera was a direct copy of a Deardorf Special. The wood structure of the camera was well made and sturdy -- its downfall was the poor metal /wood work of the back. I eventually replaced the 4x5 back with a Deardorf 5x7 back, and I felt I had a fine 5x7 camera.

Perhaps if I had had a chance to use a real Deardorf, I might have felt the camera was "rickety"...but ignorance is bliss...LOL! The camera was eventually stolen, but I still have the original rotating 4x5 back.

Vaughn

[Michael Carter]

OK, I sprung for two huge old brass lenses, one has a flange the other may fit a flange I have.
This is getting interesting.

[Michael Finder]

Hi,

I recall new/old stock of Vageeswari cameras from time to time on ebay in France and the UK. I suspect they were not that old but fantastic equipment. Most sold with wood plate holders.

I have an 8x10 Vageeswari Camera Works wood field camera with an 8x10 wooden plate holder. The lenses I have are Schneider Symmar 240mm f5.6 in Copal 3; 10inch Ensign Symmetrical f8-f64 barrel lens, Cooke APO 300mm f9 - f90 process lens. All lenses are mounted on home made lens boards. It has the original wood tripod.

The camera came to me in terrific used cosmetic condition apart from the bellows (light leaks) which I have repaired. The camera folds completely flat. Movements are somewhat limited but my main purpose is portraits so no big deal for me. The major down side is the bellows draw is only 17 inches. Getting close head shots with the 240 and 300 is a real battle.

The Vageeswari construction looks very similar to Asunama King from photos I have seen. Quite beautiful cameras. Cheers Michael.

[Ernest Purdum]

I like the nice large lensboards.

[r_a_feldman]

The hardware items on the Indian cameras pictured in this thread look a lot like that on Japanese field cameras of pre-WWII vintage. Someone once suggested that there might have been one or a few manufacturers of the metal hardware, who sold to many small woodworking shops that produced the cameras. Does anyone know if this was the case? Or were they all just working off a few English prototypes and fabricating similar-looking hardware for that reason?

[Ernest Purdum]

It doesn't really help towards answering your question, but in the early days of the twentieth century in both England and the United States, you could buy camera metal items either individually, or as sets for complete cameras. These were advertised for amateur woodworkers, but I'm sure the makers would have been pleased to supply a camera maker.

I have never taken the trouble to do a side-by-side comparison, but my impression is that such items are similar but not identical from one manufacturer to another.

[Hollis]

What's a good price for an 8x15 Indian teak camera?

[Michael Carter]

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/collecti...__W0QQ_armrsZ1
shipping costs
tripod is extra but you can always get one
cameras are around $440
shipping is fast
packing is perfect, no breakage with 5 delivered.
fine communication.
I'm waiting for bigger ones.

Michael

[Hollis]

Thanks, I had actually bought one from him a long time ago and was thinking of selling it since I don't shoot it at all.

H.

[Michael Carter]

What kind of lenses does it have?