Anyone recognnize this camera?

[Bill_1856]

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/I?fsaall:29:./temp/~ammem_PELr::displayType=1:m856sd=fsa:m856sf=8a09935:@@@

[seven]

some graflex with old grafmatic holder ?

[Bill_1856]

Seven, I think you're partially right -- it is a BagMag film holder.
I initially looked at a much lower resolution image and thought it was the front of the camera with the bright thingee a solenoid, and a cap over the lens. Obviously not a 4x5. Did they make 2x3 BagMags? But what is the dark thing on the left? And no optical or wireframe viewfinder.

[David A. Goldfarb]

I think I've seen 3x4" bag mags, so I'll guess that it's a 3x4" Graphic. Not sure what the dark thing is on the left side. He's got his darkcloth, so he was using the groundglass to focus.

[jnantz]

i looked at the tif file,
it looks like the left side might
be some sort of viewer / rangefinder.
i didn't know that they made non slrs that took bag mags.
the tif file also had the name of the photographer (arthur rothstein)
but unfortunately even after googling his name it didn't really say what
sort of camera he liked to use.

here's a nice interview with him

http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/oralhistories/transcripts/rothst64.htm

[Bill_1856]

I have a 3.25x4.25 Speed with a Graflex back which takes BagMags, but it doesn't look quite the same. Wonder if it could be a reversed image?

[bbjorkum]

Hard to say. It's got a very flat drop bed, like the MPP's. Looks also like it's got an adjustable back, due to the two knobs at the rear bottom. The thing on the left could be the flash battery compartment. Graflex did make 2x3 cut film magazines like these.

[jnantz]

maybe the fsa got special cameras made
by graflex just for them ?

[Jim Noel]

My vote is for a 3 1/4x4 1/4 Speed Graphic with a Graflex back and a Magazine (bag mag).
I had one in the 40's.

[Bill_1856]

Definitely not a Speed.

[alec4444]

I love stuff like this. Attached is a crop of the big TIFF file. The dark think on the left looks like a grip of some kind, on the right side the viewfinder....

--A

[jnantz]

could it be a european or non 3x4 camera
modified with some sort of reducing back
to take the bagmag?

[David A. Goldfarb]

Thanks. I couldn't wait for the big download. That's the rangefinder on the right and a flash handle on the left.

[paul08]

Grip definitely looks like a combo battery holder / grip. I had a similar one that was used on a Busch Pressman. Rt. side is a rangefinder.

Paul



Hard to say. It's got a very flat drop bed, like the MPP's. Looks also like it's got an adjustable back, due to the two knobs at the rear bottom. The thing on the left could be the flash battery compartment. Graflex did make 2x3 cut film magazines like these.

[Jim Galli]

I had a Burke & James all metal press camera with sliders like that at the back. Don't know what the thing at the left is either. Not reversed as the film is going in the normal side of the bag mag.

[Greg Lockrey]

Definitely not a Speed.

Why not? I have one with that very same range finder on it. The metal rim around the camera has me curious though.

[jnantz]

Hard to say. It's got a very flat drop bed, like the MPP's. Looks also like it's got an adjustable back, due to the two knobs at the rear bottom. The thing on the left could be the flash battery compartment. Graflex did make 2x3 cut film magazines like these.

i think bjarte is right.
i know nothing about mpp cameras
so i googled it and poked around on a site
that showed this and other stuff

http://www.mppusers.freeuk.com/modcameras.htm

looks like the ministry of defense version of the mpp ... the mkvi ( s92? )

[Bill_1856]

Here's a Kern or Meridian with the Kalart rangefinder mounted so the top isn't flush with the camera, as in our mystery camera.
http://www.apug.org/forums/forum127/43205-mystery-early-linhof-kern-like-camera.html

[Greg Lockrey]

Here's a Kern or Meridian with the Kalart rangefinder mounted so the top isn't flush with the camera, as in our mystery camera.
http://www.apug.org/forums/forum127/43205-mystery-early-linhof-kern-like-camera.html

Me thinks you got it. :)

The front focusing knob is very similar to the Linhof style too.