Any idea what this is?

[Richard Rankin]

Someone offered this to me to buy. I doubt it's anything I can use but I'm not even sure WHAT it is. I think it might be an enlarger and not a camera because the back looks strange to me, but thought I'd ask here to see if you have some ideas.

Thanks, Richard

[John Kasaian]

It's an antique!
Don't waste your money--
you'll have plenty of opportunity to do that later!

[StevenJohn]

It's an accordion.

[miss_emma_jade]

always wanted to say that! :-)

[Jim Noel]

It appears to be a full plate (6.5x8.5) studio camera. Most likely originally a plate camera. If it is cheap, get it. later you can learn to use it. It is great for portraits.

[Richard Rankin]

OK, why the handle along the side? What are the clips in the top rear clipping? Where is the ground glass supposed to go? There don't seem to be clips for it. Why is there a knob normally used for rolling the standard along the tracks in the rear where there ARE no rails or tracks? Why the L shaped metal along the front standard? It appears to me that the camera should theoretically compress forward and fold up from the rear because there seems to be a hinge behind the front standard. What about the missing knobs on the front standard when there is no rise or slide?

inquiring minds want to know....

Cheers,
Richard

[Brian Stein]

My guesses:

1. could be an enlarger but then why have any movements, and where does it get attached to supports?

2. looks to me to be a plate camera
handle on side: Me I'd put it on top to carry with but....
clips on top rear: the slots for old plate holders, you know the ones that rotate out like dogs ears.
ground glass: clips into above.
Now having said that it also doesnt look quite like the old plate camera I own which has a swing up ground glass like http://www.thelightfarm.com/Map/DryP...PlatePart6.htm
Does the knob roll the back forward in tail-board camera fashion? Thats what it looks like to me with as you say the flip up of the rear rail. http://www.lostgloves.com/USA2001Sit...os/Watson1.jpg
Missing knobs in front: are you sure it doesnt have rise/fall? This might have been a geared movement. It seems odd to have shift but no rise/fall.
also have a look at http://piercevaubel.com/cam/general%...nstruction.htm

[Curt]

I know, it's a bird house!
Or it's about 9 months of painful restoration just to find out it's worthless.

[Martin Miksch]

The flipping groundglassholder is missing

[Steven Tribe]

This is a tailboard plate camera with the "alternative" portrait/landscape change. The handle will be on top when the back is switched to the portrait mode. There will be 2 lugs on the opposite side to the handle which engage on the base plate. There are 2 other lugs which are engaged now - but you can't see them! This is found on mostly french and english varieties of the tailboard (rejsekamera). It made for simpler ground glass work but is a bit violent in the change and adjustment of bellows. As someone has already mentioned, the mounting back has gone. It was good quality when new.