How to properly use a Goerz Ango (Anschütz) camera?

Hi, I've just bought a c.1908 Goerz Ango camera, with the wonderful Anschütz focal plane shutter. Although most of the complex set of dials & buttons to operate the shutter could be guessed, anybody knows where I could find a manual of this camera, or even better, a video of the way to use it? I could be even more important to know if there's any dangerous setting to avoid (like speed setting BEFORE cocking the shutter in soviet Leica copies). Thanks in advance. I'll post pictures of the camera when I'll have it in a couple of weeks.

For one thing, any old FP camera (with original shutter material) should not be used with the highest tension settings, as this can strain the material and bonds of the roller contacts...

You should aim a bright light behind it in a dark room to see if there are any pinhole leaks in the material, then film test with an unexposed film loaded in it, and camera left in sunlight for a time...

Have fun with it!!!

Steve K

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Originally Posted by LabRat

For one thing, any old FP camera (with original shutter material) should not be used with the highest tension settings, as this can strain the material and bonds of the roller contacts...

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Yes, that's for sure, I would be scared to set the highest tension. At least, the shutter curtains looks in fair shape that others I've seen online.

These camera's and most contemporaries did generally not have self capping shutters. I have an ICA Palmos which isn't self capping. The only one that was self capping and was known for it, was the Contessa Nettel (later Zeiss Ikon) Deckrullo: http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Deckrullo-Nettel
So be careful: when advancing the shutter, keep the plateholder closed!

These camera shutters could mostly be set by 3 settings:
1. tensioning the shutters' spring (sometimes 4 or more settings upto 9 or 10)
2. setting the slithwidth (sometimes there is an outline in mm or cm but many times only some figures from 0 to 6 or 9): best is to try the different settings with the ground glass taken off
3. a (in most cases big) knob for advancing the shutter


(btw I'm still searching for the 10x15 model of the Deckrullo
<edit>- by the start of 2019 I have acquired 3 of them. The below one is the one in best shape and which came with a lot of accessories :-)
https://live.staticflickr.com/1799/4...8fafa055_c.jpg
Contessa-Nettel Deck-Rullo 10x15 by Ron (Netherlands), on Flickr

You might find this short DIY thread from last year of assistance!

http://www.largeformatphotography.in...plane+shutters

Thanks Steven. My Goerz AnGo just arrived yesterday and looks in quite good shape. Only on the outside there are a couple of damaged parts, a frontal up-down lever for the lens and the tension spring for the blue lens in the viewfinder. I'll show pictures of the camera soon. As it is a c.1908 model it's of different mechanics than yours, but the key working of the shutter looks quite similar. It's amazing how it sounds.

I've found information in italian and a small but intersting video of how the shutter works: http://papayaspoint.blogspot.com.es/

Hi, Ron, thanks for the info. Well, it seems to me (although I can be wrong, I'm no expert) that the second generation Goerz Anschütz, with the external shutter slith control, is self capping. But it's safer and easier to keep the holder closed until the last moment!

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Originally Posted by carbo73

Hi, Ron, thanks for the info. Well, it seems to me (although I can be wrong, I'm no expert) that the second generation Goerz Anschütz, with the external shutter slith control, is self capping. But it's safer and easier to keep the holder closed until the last moment!

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Welcome...indeed the best way to go, is leaving the holder closed to the last moment :-)
thanks for the weblink
...I had a lot of fun with my Ica Palmos...

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4542/...d15c612e07.jpg
Beach at Meijendel Holland 10x15 flat film by Ron (Netherlands), on Flickr

I hope your AnGo will work out well too.....

Wow, I had forgotten that thread, about the Goerz Anschütz (Ango) and it's shutter. It took me a while, but finally I managed to shoot some pictures with my 1/4 plate Goerz Ango. It works wonderfully, although my main problem was finding the proper sized film sheets (now I use Shanghai GP3 100, but have bought also Adox CHS 100 II), and also the film sheats for these 1/4 plate plate holders.

Here are some pictures I took last year, all in Shanghai GP3.

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Originally Posted by carbo73

Wow, I had forgotten that thread, about the Goerz Anschütz (Ango) and it's shutter. It took me a while, but finally I managed to shoot some pictures with my 1/4 plate Goerz Ango. It works wonderfully, although my main problem was finding the proper sized film sheets (now I use Shanghai GP3 100, but have bought also Adox CHS 100 II), and also the film sheats for these 1/4 plate plate holders.

Here are some pictures I took last year, all in Shanghai GP3.

Attachment 202427

Attachment 202428

Attachment 202429

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All seems to work fine - all shots came out well.