Good afternoon all! I just wanted to share some information on a camera that was given to me today as a surprise part of a previous purchase.
I posted previously about a Folmer Graflex copy/duplicating camera that I picked up (http://www.largeformatphotography.in...I-did-it-again). As it has a huge stand I was unable to pick it up the day I purchased it. Today I went back to pick it up and there was a leather box sitting with it that "went with the camera". I peeked inside and saw some film holders and added it to the pile in the back of the van.
When I arrived home I started looking at the contents and was surprised to see a camera in the leather box. It has a tag on it that says:
W. Watson & Sons LTD
Manufacturers
313 High Holborn
London
This thing was DUSTY. I finally figured out how to open it (it's totally different from any of my other cameras) and cleaned it up and began exploring. First, it is in amazing condition. It seems to have been used little if any from the condition of everything. The bellows have a few corner holes that I will repair but look almost new in shine and pliability. It has a built in curtain shutter that needs a good cleaning but still functions, albeit very sporadically.
I believe that this was built in the late 1800's but I have not confirmed that yet. As I began looking at features and craftsmanship I am completely blown away at the thought and quality of this camera. It has front rise, fall and shift as well as rear tilt and swing. Granted, the movements are limited but amazing in their engineering and build. The quality and build of the wood frames is incredible and the brass(?) parts are in amazing shape. The back can be removed and turned to accommodate either portrait or landscape orientations.
Size wise this is similar in size to my 8x10 cameras. It is full plate and came with 3 plate/film holders. This is another thing that completely blew my mind. The functionality and build of each of the holders is beyond anything I have ever seen. Each holder side is numbered with an inlay that looks like white/ivory material with black numbers. These holders have four clasps on the outside that allow the entire holder to fold open clamshell-style to reveal the internals. It has two inserts that look like film sleeves that are removable (i'm guessing) to allow a plate to be used as well. These holders are built very solidly and have a few other really interesting features. First, the darkslides have a safety mechanism which requires you to pinch a little metal tab in order to be able to pull the slide. Second, the darkslides cannot be completely removed but stop at the fully open position. One of the little details that really surprised me is that the darkslide, when fully open was built to bend out of the way by means of a hidden, interlocking series of cuts in the wood that allow it to bend. This is so well constructed that you would never notice it unless you were expressly looking for it. Unbelievable. Lastly, the holders have a very interesting way of mounting to the back by unlatching the ground glass which then swings out of the way to allow a very well thought out way to safely mount your holder. The holders have ridges on the sides similar to some of the old Graflex film holders. You simply set one side of the holder about 2/3rds of the way in and slide it about an inch sideways and it literally locks into place with a click. To release the holder there is a button that allows you to release and remove the holder the same way that you put it in.
There are many other little details to this camera that I can't even begin to detail but I can say that the engineering and attention to detail is better than almost anything I've ever encountered.
I have attached a few really bad photos just to share but I thought you might enjoy seeing what I'm talking about. If you know anything else about this camera or maker I'd love to know as much as possible.
Tim
www.ScottPhoto.co
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