Help identifying camera size

[Craig Griffiths]

I have come across a camera marked with the following plate on the front.

R B ENLARGING CAMERA
made by
FOLMER GRAFLEX CORPORATION
ROCHESTER N.Y. U.S.A.


The camera is about 1000 km away from me so I can't get there to check myself, but does anyone have any idea what format it is (ie 4x5, 8x10, or 11x14) and the approximate age.

I will add an image as soon as one comes through.

Many thanks

[Craig Griffiths]

this is the image of the camera. Any thoughts?

[Kirk Fry]

Not 4X5, I am going to guess 10X10 with a 8 X 10 back. I don't think it is 14 inches square, but maybe. Could be some odd plate size too. K

[Nick_3536]

I have come across a camera marked with the following plate on the front.

R B ENLARGING CAMERA

It's not a camera is it? It's one of those home enlargers. No?

[cotdt]

all i see is a bunch of 35mm cameras =)

[Andrey Donchev]

Depending on the size of the 35mm cameras I'd guess that this is 11x14.

[big_ben_blue]

The 1927 Eastman catalog only shows an 8x10 Enlarging camera being offered (looks just like in your photo).
HOWEVER, this camera isn't intended for use as regular camera; but more as a horizontal enlarger. The back is similar to a negative holder of an enlarger; you would have to find a suitable filmback for it.

[Craig Griffiths]

Thanks for the responses.

Fortunately it has a film back for it as well, but it might be a project for an 8x10 enlarger. It appears that the previous owner used it for portraits so had the back made to fit the camera.

The lens on it is interesting. It has the markings

NICOLA PERSCHEID - OBJEKTIV
F:4,5 F=30cm D.R.P.372059
EMILBUSCH A. - G. RATHNOW

It would be worth it just for the lens regardless of whether or not I built the enlarger.

[Peter K]

The Nicola Perscheid lens is a soft-focus lens made in different focal lengts from 210mm up to 600mm by Emil Busch in Rathenow near Berlin. It has an image-angle of 45°, so it is a nice portrait lens for 5x7". This lens was made up to the midle of the last century.

[ic-racer]

Looks like a good project. That back does look larger than the 8x10 back of a Century, though the front standard and rail look very similar.

Might be a little flimsy for an enlarger (ie attaching a light source to the back standard) but with some clever engineering I bet it could be done.