OK, seems strange when I travel I sometimes get to see some odd cameras. There was another time around 10 years ago in the Middle East when I need to get a passport type picture done for a government document, and saw a LF camera on a Linhof telescopic stand with a Rodenstock lens, but no makers name on the camera itself.
Anyways back in the Middle East again, and the hotel I have been staying at a few times now, the owner keeps a large display of a variety of items, including a LF tailboard camera, and some 120 folders and TLR's. So this time, the assistant to the owner takes me to show me one of their recent acquisitions: an ULF studio portrait camera on a stand similar to some of the Century, Ansco, Deardorff, Kodak units.
The back does not seem to be original, as it is about 5x7, but the back opening could manage 11x14 easily. The opening for the lensboard appears to be 8" or 9". Currently it has mounted a Swift and Sons No.4 Universal Paragon f5.6, with an estimated focal length of 20" to 24". Please understand that I did not bring anything to measure distance with...
The stand and camera seem to be produced by the same people as the crank on the camera to move the front bed to focus from the back of the camera, matches that on the rear of the stand for tilt, and the stand is built to match the dimensions of the camera e.g. length-ways guide on both sides to hold the camera from sliding sideways off of the stand, and the length of the stand matches the camera. There are some details that would be a little more expensive than most e.g. the style of lensboard locks, geared front rise, geared front and rear focus, separate geared movement of the front bed to allow focusing from the rear.
The shutter mechanism is different than any I have sen before. It is pneumatic, but uses a flexible bellows "dome" to block the light, then presumably swings the one side over to the other to expose the film. As the rubber air bulb was rotted, there was no way of testing it.
With the lens and comments made by the owner, I am wondering if it British made.
I will be sending them a copy of this link so that they might get some idea about what it might be, its maker, relative vintage, etc. So looking for some help, as this is well beyond my area of knowledge in the ULF world.
Was looking at adding some pictures of it on its pallet and some details to help in identifying it, but it is taking forever to upload a picture, so may have to wait until I get home later this week before I load any more...
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