Folmer & Schwing Division Camera

[surferbill]

Hi, I recently acquired a Folmer & Schwing Division Camera and i'm looking for info on it.

It has a plate on the front that says "Folmer & Schwing Division Eastman Kodak Co. Rochester NY.

On the lens it says "Radar Anast F 4.5 Gundlanch Manufacturing Corp. Fairport NY. Betax No. 4. 5 x 8

The camera measures 15 x 15 x 34" and it came with a 39" wood tripod.

Any info on it's history would be appreciated. The serial # is 82925
Thanks,
Bill249904249904249905

[John Kasaian]

What's the format, Bill?

[surferbill]

I don't really know. on the lens it says 5 x 8. The opening on the front of the camera is about 8"x 10".

[BrianShaw]

A picture of the back of the camera, preferably with a ruler in the picture, would be most helpful.

[BrianShaw]

In the meatime, this might be interesting to you:

https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/00248/00248.pdf

See pages 9 and 10 regarding the lens. I have very similar lens, 5x7 in barrel. It's one of my favorites.

As far as camera date, this should help:

http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Folmer_%26_Schwing

[Kino]

This is a great place to start researching:

http://www.piercevaubel.com/cam/ekc.htm

Maybe a variant of this camera?

http://www.piercevaubel.com/cam/ekc/eastmangenesee.htm

[j.e.simmons]

For the history of Folmer & Schwing see this issue of the Graflex Historical Quarterly
https://ghq.graflex.org/GHQ-19-4.pdf

[cowanw]

Maybe a Crown reducing, enlarging and duplicating camera

[surferbill]

I added a couple of pics. The back of camera glass is 11" wide x 10.5" high.

[surferbill]

For the history of Folmer & Schwing see this issue of the Graflex Historical Quarterly
https://ghq.graflex.org/GHQ-19-4.pdf

That is good info on the history of Folmer & Schwing . The serial number on my camera is 82925.

[Jody_S]

It's an 8x10 studio camera that is meant to go on a studio stand, not on that tripod. It is missing the 8x10 spring back (or a reducing back to use 4x5 or 5x7), and someone has inserted a piece of glass in front of where the back clips on to make it look complete. People often buy studio cameras to get the spring backs from them, because they either fit directly or can be easily adapted to field cameras, though they tend to be heavier, thicker.

The lens is typically used on 5x7 and is not original to that camera, in fact the camera probably can't focus that lens. Someone either used this as a decorative piece, or if they didn't understand view cameras, they put different parts together trying to create a whole camera.

[surferbill]

It's an 8x10 studio camera that is meant to go on a studio stand, not on that tripod. It is missing the 8x10 spring back (or a reducing back to use 4x5 or 5x7), and someone has inserted a piece of glass in front of where the back clips on to make it look complete. People often buy studio cameras to get the spring backs from them, because they either fit directly or can be easily adapted to field cameras, though they tend to be heavier, thicker.

The lens is typically used on 5x7 and is not original to that camera, in fact the camera probably can't focus that lens. Someone either used this as a decorative piece, or if they didn't understand view cameras, they put different parts together trying to create a whole camera.

Thanks for the info. That is very helpful.