Re: Calumet 400-series 4x5
Here are some educated guesses. The camera was introduced as the Kodak Master View camera around 1948. By 1956, EK had sold the design to Calumet, then mostly a maker of stainless steel darkroom sinks. Calumet made the camera in huge numbers into the middle 1980s; the later ones were painted black. The long-rail (CC402?) and short-rail architecture versions were introduced by Calumet. They were intended as student cameras,and in the 1970's were regularly advertised in Pop Photo (and similar magazines)for $149.95. If the Speed Graphic is the WW2 Jeep of LF cameras, then the Calumet is the VW Beetle. I used one on the job for some years- and Kirk Gittings, a far better photogrpher than me, still uses them.
Re: Calumet 400-series 4x5
The same camera was also sold by Burke & James as the "Orbit". Both Calumet and B&J made some revisions to the original Kodak design. Calumet produced a long-bellows model, the CC-401 and, later, the wide angle CC-402. B&J's several variations included some called "Saturn".
The last I knew, Calumet still was providing some support for these.
There is lots more information available in an article which I think is titled "Cheap View Cameras" at the bottom of the Home page.
Re: Calumet 400-series 4x5
Hi, Mark,
Thanks so much. That is very helpful.
Best regards,
Doug
Re: Calumet 400-series 4x5
Hi, Ernest,
Quote:
There is lots more information available in an article which I think is titled "Cheap View Cameras" at the bottom of the Home page.
Thanks so much for the scoop.
The article you reference is very valuable. Is the writer reliable?:)
I note that the "long rail" version was the CC-401, and see elsewhere that its rail was 22" long. The one I bought is said by the seller to have about a 26" rail. Do we know what model that is? (Maybe there is a model number on the nameplate, but I am led to believe that this is not usually so for these machines.)
The seller said the old timer he got the camera from said it was a "Brooks Special". Sounds to me that this might have been a special model that Brooks Institute had made to sell to their students.
Best regards,
Doug
Re: Calumet 400-series 4x5
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Doug Kerr
Hi, Ernest,
Thanks so much for the scoop.
The article you reference is very valuable. Is the writer reliable?:)
I note that the "long rail" version was the CC-401, and see elsewhere that its rail was 22" long. The one I bought is said by the seller to have about a 26" rail. Do we know what model that is? (Maybe there is a model number on the nameplate, but I am led to believe that this is not usually so for these machines.)
The seller said the old timer he got the camera from said it was a "Brooks Special". Sounds to me that this might have been a special model that Brooks Institute had made to sell to their students.
Best regards,
Doug
I bought mine in 1972 at Calumet in Illinois. It was the standard model that had a 16" rail. I used it a long, long time on almost a daily basis.
Bill
Re: Calumet 400-series 4x5
Doug-
I think the confusion of rail length may be due to the construction of the camera. The Model CC-401 has a 22" bellows extension mounted on a rail of approximately 26". Hence, the carrying case for the CC-401 measures 27 1/2 inches in length.
Re: Calumet 400-series 4x5
I had the Kodak version, it served me well for years. A very intuitive camera, just not the easiest to carry (not the hardest either as my current C-1 has taught me). Calumet still supplies lensboards and ground glasses.