did zone VI sell wisner cameras?

[koh303]

I know Zone VI rebranded various makes such as wista and tachihara, and that calumet in their day sold nagaoka and wista cameras a calumet XM, but did they also sell wisner made cameras (with Zone VI black vinyl bellows)?

This begs the question as to who actually made the "real" zone VI walnut and ultralight cameras?

[John Kasaian]

IIRC Wisner made some cameras for Zone VI. I'm not sure exactly when that was though.

[Louis Pacilla]

I know Zone VI rebranded various makes such as wista and tachihara, and that calumet in their day sold nagaoka and wista cameras a calumet XM, but did they also sell wisner made cameras (with Zone VI black vinyl bellows)?

This begs the question as to who actually made the "real" zone VI walnut and ultralight cameras?

I'm fairly sure that the first "made for/designed by" Zone VI camera was a collaboration between Ron & Fred. So the first few 100-1000 (or whatever that # was) were manufactured by Ron for Fred & the camera plaque would say this.

The Ultralights came LONG after Ron was gone & doing Wisner Camera Manufacturing Co. The Ultralights came in Zone VI's later years when Calumet bought Zone VI from Fred.

[HMG]

I also remember hearing of some being made by Wisner.

Mine was made by Wista. There may have been more than 1version of Wista branded zone vi.

[scm]

Wisner made cameras for Zone VI from 1986-1988, there were about 150, tops, produced.

[MIke Sherck]

There was an article in View Camera magazine a number of years ago, written by someone who was there at the time. The first Zone VI cameras were re-badged Japanese cameras; Wista and perhaps another, I don't recall the details. Picker and Wisner sort of co-designed a double-extension camera and it was labeled as a Zone VI; then there was a falling-out between Picker and Wisner and Picker got someone else to make his cameras while Wisner went into the view camera business for himself. I believe that my Zone VI may be one of the Wisner made ones. http://www.largeformatphotography.in...p/t-16433.html is a link to an earlier discussion of this issue.

Mike

[scm]

Zone VI Studios Wooden 4x5 Field Camera Guide

[Oren Grad]

...and that calumet in their day sold nagaoka and wista cameras a calumet XM...

The XM was a Tachihara.

[Drew Bedo]

There was an article by Richard ritter on the history of the Zone VI cameras and Brand published by Steve simmons in View Camera magazine back in the early 2000s (maybe 2003). There was a rebuttle article by ron Wisner in the same magazine an issue or two later.
Here are some notes I nade from Ritter's article.

Zone VI Camera History


Late 1970s
Tachihara: Japan ,
“Zone VI” name plate
Cherry wood, chrome plated metal.
Single focusing rail, 12” bellows extension

1980
Wista 4x5 camera
“Specially Made for Zone VI” name plate
Single focusing rail, 12” bellows
Made by Wista, modified by changing to a beefier base plate.

1986 (not in catalog till ’87)
<150 units produced by 1988
S/N Range :100-250
Name plate :
“The Zone VI Classic, Made for Zone VI Studios, Newfane VT

"Made by Wisner Classic Mfg. Co., Marion Mass”".
Mahogany and polished brass.
Double focusing rail, Interchangeable bellows

1988 Wisner out of the picture

1988
“Zone VI
Made By Zone VI Studios, Newfane Vermont USA”
They jobbed-out parts and assembled them at the Studio.
+3000 units built
Mahogany wood S/N Range: 1,000 - 4,500 (with gaps)

1989
Larger knobs, GG Loading Bail
Walnut and Cherry models (limited runs) S/N in 9,00 range

1991
Gold Plated Fittings
1,800 units S/N range :3,000-4,000 (? I can’t make this fit . . .sorry)

1991
Calumet bought out Picker and marketed the same camera. Then changed to black anodized aluminum fittings.Called it the “Lightweight”


My Camera
Wista Model
Single focusing rail with 12” bellows
Wista branded Ground Glass
Mahogany with Brass fittings
Name Plate: “Zone VI Studios Inc. Newfane VT”
S/N 05345

[Drew Bedo]

Both articles were posted on the view Camera website as PDF files for subscribers a few years ago. I don't know how to share them .

The subject of the Zone ZI models comes up on this forum every 6-18 months or so. Does anyone know how to put together an article for Wikapedia?