venchka
10-Mar-2008, 06:40
RE: Two other threads about a large studio camera in For Sale and Cameras.
OK, so I drove 3 hours to the auction. Here's what I saw:
Most of the Century Studio Master. I say most because the back was missing. There was a Packard shutter up front behind the big brass lens. However, the Packard was rather small and didn't open far enough for the O.D. of the rear element of the lens. Quite a bit was cut off. The red bellows appeared fine and probably a lot newer than the camera itself. The camera sat on a homemade wooden leveling contraption. The focus, tilt and swing geared movements all seemed to work. The missing crossbrace from the stand was there. This stand used a coil spring around the horizontal rod for raising/ lowering the camera platform. There were no counterweights in the columns.
The big brass lens on the camera seems to be one that I can't find any mention of in GOOGLE searches. Here's what it said on the black ring holding the front element:
Taylor-Hobson Cooke Portrait Lens 12 1/2inch Series I. f/3.1 No. 108093
Those are the exact words from the lens. This was not a Series II nor was it an f/3.5. Min. f-stop: f/16. The lens had a short, integral hood and engraved on the barrel behind the hood was either "Push for maximum sharpnrss" or "Pull for maximum softness." Can't remember which and I didn't write down. Either way, you pushed-pulled on the front of the barrell to change the amount of soft focus. The brass was in good shape. The lens board had a hefty spacer to keep the rear element in front of the Packard shutter. The glass looked decent but there was the beginnings of a couple fungus spots around the edges. The aperture worked fine.
So much for what was on the display floor. Now for the "there are 3 boxes full of stuff in the back that comes with the camera."
At first glance, 3 boxes of parts. Upon closer inspection, 3 boxes of cobbled up bits & pieces and trash. The condition of the items in the boxes was deplorable. My guess: This stuff had been in someone's attic or garage for a very long time. Here's what I remember:
Most of the parts of a Kodak Home Portrait 3a and even fewer parts of a similar sized but unmarked camera. The bellows on the Home Portrait 3a were intact but probably not useable. The paper bellows on the other camera were disintegrating before my eyes. Neither had LF functioning backs.
Lenses: Kodak 10" Commercial Ektar in a No. 4 Acme shutter. Serial number dated RT. I didn't write down the numbers. I seem to recall they were either 2 digits starting with 7 or 3 digits starting with 17. The shutter worked and I'm sure Carol Miller could make it right. The lens itself was growing enough fungus to make a salad.
Pinkham-Smith Bi-Quality 12" f/4.5 made in Lexington, MA. One of the iris blades was hanging loose and the iris would not close. Fungus condition the same or worse than the Ektar.
A bulk 120 back of some sort and an Omega cold light for a D series enlarger.
Long story short: The items sold to a phone bidder for $500. That was more than I wanted to bid. I hope the buyer has the space, tools, extra parts and expertise to deal with rebuilding cameras. If the Kodak and Pinkham-Smith lenses turn up on ebay: BUYER BEWARE! They may clean up just fine. The only way to know for sure would be to see samples from taken with the lenses.
My first auction experience was interesting, educational and entertainING. It may have also been my last.
I hope this wasn't too boring.
OK, so I drove 3 hours to the auction. Here's what I saw:
Most of the Century Studio Master. I say most because the back was missing. There was a Packard shutter up front behind the big brass lens. However, the Packard was rather small and didn't open far enough for the O.D. of the rear element of the lens. Quite a bit was cut off. The red bellows appeared fine and probably a lot newer than the camera itself. The camera sat on a homemade wooden leveling contraption. The focus, tilt and swing geared movements all seemed to work. The missing crossbrace from the stand was there. This stand used a coil spring around the horizontal rod for raising/ lowering the camera platform. There were no counterweights in the columns.
The big brass lens on the camera seems to be one that I can't find any mention of in GOOGLE searches. Here's what it said on the black ring holding the front element:
Taylor-Hobson Cooke Portrait Lens 12 1/2inch Series I. f/3.1 No. 108093
Those are the exact words from the lens. This was not a Series II nor was it an f/3.5. Min. f-stop: f/16. The lens had a short, integral hood and engraved on the barrel behind the hood was either "Push for maximum sharpnrss" or "Pull for maximum softness." Can't remember which and I didn't write down. Either way, you pushed-pulled on the front of the barrell to change the amount of soft focus. The brass was in good shape. The lens board had a hefty spacer to keep the rear element in front of the Packard shutter. The glass looked decent but there was the beginnings of a couple fungus spots around the edges. The aperture worked fine.
So much for what was on the display floor. Now for the "there are 3 boxes full of stuff in the back that comes with the camera."
At first glance, 3 boxes of parts. Upon closer inspection, 3 boxes of cobbled up bits & pieces and trash. The condition of the items in the boxes was deplorable. My guess: This stuff had been in someone's attic or garage for a very long time. Here's what I remember:
Most of the parts of a Kodak Home Portrait 3a and even fewer parts of a similar sized but unmarked camera. The bellows on the Home Portrait 3a were intact but probably not useable. The paper bellows on the other camera were disintegrating before my eyes. Neither had LF functioning backs.
Lenses: Kodak 10" Commercial Ektar in a No. 4 Acme shutter. Serial number dated RT. I didn't write down the numbers. I seem to recall they were either 2 digits starting with 7 or 3 digits starting with 17. The shutter worked and I'm sure Carol Miller could make it right. The lens itself was growing enough fungus to make a salad.
Pinkham-Smith Bi-Quality 12" f/4.5 made in Lexington, MA. One of the iris blades was hanging loose and the iris would not close. Fungus condition the same or worse than the Ektar.
A bulk 120 back of some sort and an Omega cold light for a D series enlarger.
Long story short: The items sold to a phone bidder for $500. That was more than I wanted to bid. I hope the buyer has the space, tools, extra parts and expertise to deal with rebuilding cameras. If the Kodak and Pinkham-Smith lenses turn up on ebay: BUYER BEWARE! They may clean up just fine. The only way to know for sure would be to see samples from taken with the lenses.
My first auction experience was interesting, educational and entertainING. It may have also been my last.
I hope this wasn't too boring.