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mikl
3-Jul-2016, 04:47
It is a beautifully made, almost "dainty" the tripod mount is fixed to the camera base and looks sort of like a kodak mount but is cast, I don't know if the recess on top held a missing brand plate or not. There doesn't look like there are handle / strap fixing holes at all. Some people I know found it in their dads posessions after he passed and have no idea so I thought I would try and find out for them.
Michael

https://photos.smugmug.com/Film-Cameras/i-FzggqtM/0/M/20160703_121940-M.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Film-Cameras/i-VVsBJ7K/0/M/20160703_121934-M.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Film-Cameras/i-p77Jrhz/0/M/20160703_121855-M.jpg

IanG
3-Jul-2016, 07:08
It's a British made filed camera, you could see if there's anything similar on Earlyphotography.co.uk, it's probably fairly early 1880's/90's. There's many small companies making/assembling cameras on that era so you may never identify the actual manufactuer. Cheaper ones had no carrying handles.

Ian

mikl
3-Jul-2016, 07:59
Thanks Ian, you could well be right but I was struck by the quality of the joinery on this one, it just seemed a cut above most I have seen. I will keep on looking.
Michael

Bill_1856
3-Jul-2016, 08:15
Is it too early to be a Gandolfi design? I don't see anything specific, but there is something in the concept that has "that feeling."

The Joker
3-Jul-2016, 08:41
Looks very much like this one

http://earlyphotography.co.uk/site/entry_C747.html

can you see the stamp in the wood over the dovetailing.

IanG
3-Jul-2016, 08:42
I think you're right.

Ian

mikl
3-Jul-2016, 16:25
Thanks all. The other perfect match found was a Reisekameras (field camera), apparently a generic design made by loads of makers and fairly common to be "unbadged" This one definitely didn't have the stampings Joker unfortunately. Beautiful little piece though all the same. They have a neice that is a photographer so hopefully now that they realise that it isn't worth a fortune (funny everyone thinks because something is old it is like winning lotto lol) and will give it to her to love.

Thanks for the responses!
Michael

Steven Tribe
4-Jul-2016, 14:34
Mahogany is a joiner's wet dream to work with and they were nearly always well made - even the simpler cameras. I think your respondents have found your camera. The retailer used to be king and could insist on camera being suppplied to him (down under) without the UK company stamp.

IanG
6-Jul-2016, 04:07
The camera is unusual in it doesn't have the typical rack and pinion focussing of almost every other Wood/Brass camera of its era. Does the lens have the focssing mechanism mentioned on the earlyphotography website.

I drove past Granville Street, in Birminham, where the camera was made last night, the factory has been demolished and replace by a block of apartments but I went around it in the 1970 when it was occupied by Hogg Laboratory Supplies. Ninian Hogg had a section (room) full of Photo-chemistry and used to publish a specialist 4 page list of them. His son moved the company to new premises and soon stopped the photo-chemistry - I bought the lot :D

Ian

mikl
7-Jul-2016, 01:18
Hi Ian, yes there is what appears to be the fine focus knob on the lens. Would have been a steal I imaging buying all that at a time when no one else wanted it.
Michael

IanG
7-Jul-2016, 02:08
The Tourograph was made in 3 sizes 1/4, 1/2 and 1/1 (whole) plate. 1/4 plate £1 7s 6d 1/2 plate £2 2s, Whole plate £3 12s, that was for the camer, stand and one double plate holder in 1898, there's no mention of which lens but almost certainly Meniscus due to the price.

The Scenagraph was similar but with the addition of rack and pinion focussing giving double extension, with a Meniscus lens it was only a little more expensive compared to the Tourograph and could also be bought with a Rapid Rectilinear lens, however both cameras were at the bottom end of the Underwood range of cameras.

Ian

mikl
7-Jul-2016, 05:29
The owners weren't happy when I told them it wasn't worth much.... I think they were planning a round the world cruise with the figure they gave me!
Michael

IanG
7-Jul-2016, 06:30
The owners weren't happy when I told them it wasn't worth much.... I think they were planning a round the world cruise with the figure they gave me!
Michael

Value now has little to do with the original sale price, luckily :D You'd have to look at completed Ebay sales to get a realistic idea but you'll find a huge spread, mostly depending on condition and desirability.

I've seen plenty of wood/brass cameras list for over £1,000 that I can buy for under £100. In fact there's a Reisekamera similar to one I bought for £75 (from a reputable dealer) currently listed for just over £1,900 OK it has a lens and I've not fitted one to mine yet but aside from that camera condition is very similar.

Lionel Hughes in the UK (http://www.glowbox.demon.co.uk) is quite a good site to look at prices, he worked forBonhams the auction house so has a realistic idea of values/prices.

Ian

mikl
7-Jul-2016, 18:12
You know what it's like Ian, some one finds anything "old" no matter what and they think they have struck gold! Thanks for the link I will have a good look through.
Michael

jamaeolus
15-Jul-2016, 13:00
It also resembles the Baynton camera in this post:

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/60508-baynton-c-s--field-camera-1891-19

And is also similar to the one I posted in a thread above.

mikl
23-Jul-2016, 05:13
Very similar Jama, thanks
Michael