Show Us Your Camera

[Nas]

I think the 1650 figure is the total number of Peregrine II & III cameras sold, about a quarter being the III.

Hey Ian, thanks for clarifying. I was referring to only the Peregrine III production numbers being between 300-400 because of this 80/2.8 lens. Top of the range with a hefty price tag = low sales = low production numbers. That's the general consensus online about this lens. It's a shame to think that now there's one less fully functioning Peregrine III out there.

Back to my Watson & Sons half-plate camera. I just made a discovery after removing the lens and noticing the shape of the lens board. It's the same as the Linhof/Wista. A clever previous owner has just made my life a lot easier. I can't believe my luck


Looks like this is my camera model: https://www.photomemorabilia.co.uk/Ilford/Watson.html

 

[Ian Grant]

C.P. Goerz Am Opt must have been a relatively small operation, in terms of camera lenses. The serial number of my 1940 12" Dagor is 775,xxx. I think they may have specialised in military optics, I know they had contracts in WWI with the US army, the two sons had become US citizens a few years before, while their father's company C.P. Goerz, Berlin, supplied the German army and fledgling air force.

Ian

 

[Nas]

Another surprise discovery about my Watson & Sons camera is it has a Lion emblem transfer on the top which dates it to the 1950's. Too bad someone screwed a bubble level over the top! It's nowhere near as old as I thought it might be. I guess this explains the film sheaths inside the plate holders and the bellows being in such good condition.

 

[Ian Grant]

After WWII all Watson cameras were made by Gandolfi.

Ian

 

[Nas]

After WWII all Watson cameras were made by Gandolfi.

Ian

If that's the case it's a bit of a shame that someone has butchered mine but on the plus side it's very usable after the butchering and I intend to use it

 

[Nas]

Bellows replaced by a previous owner but they are in fantastic condition. The shutter has had new cloth and a tune up. Runs great and ready for action. I haven't done anything to the brass, might leave it as is with patina. My research suggests Thornton Pickard only made this model of the Imperial in half-plate size.

 

[MartyNL]

Looking good! And great news about the bellows and shutter.

I don't mind a bit of patina but I'm not so fond of verdigris.

 

[Ian Grant]

Bellows replaced by a previous owner but they are in fantastic condition. The shutter has had new cloth and a tune up. Runs great and ready for action. I haven't done anything to the brass, might leave it as is with patina. My research suggests Thornton Pickard only made this model of the Imperial in half-plate size.

I have the same camera, but with a slightly different focal plane shutter, similar to the 3 shown here, but built into the camera. I have 4 other FP shutters, one very early where you can adjust the slit width, and the others are the same as in the link, one Whole plate, the other two Half plate.

Your TP camera probably has the later shutter.

Ian

 

[Nas]

I have the same camera, but with a slightly different focal plane shutter, similar to the 3 shown here, but built into the camera. I have 4 other FP shutters, one very early where you can adjust the slit width, and the others are the same as in the link, one Whole plate, the other two Half plate.

Your TP camera probably has the later shutter.

Ian

Yes, I think mine is a later shutter. There aren't any chains or ribbons inside, the slits are cut out of the long single length of shutter fabric. There were chains in the 12x10 TP shutter I bought but there didn't seem to be any easy way to open it up without breaking some of the wood (which I didn't want to do). In the end I sold it to a collector. I've got other TP shutters coming soon.

 

[Ian Grant]

Yes, I think mine is a later shutter. There aren't any chains or ribbons inside, the slits are cut out of the long single length of shutter fabric. There were chains in the 12x10 TP shutter I bought but there didn't seem to be any easy way to open it up without breaking some of the wood (which I didn't want to do). In the end I sold it to a collector. I've got other TP shutters coming soon.

You should see if one of the TP shutters can be used on the front. That would restore the camera to the original spec. I need bellows for my two TP Imperial cameras, my second is the plain double extension Imperial.

Ian

 

[Nas]

You should see if one of the TP shutters can be used on the front. That would restore the camera to the original spec. I need bellows for my two TP Imperial cameras, my second is the plain double extension Imperial.

Ian

I bought this model with the built in shutter to allow me not to need the shutter on the front . It's the same spec as in the advert I posted above.

 

[Matt Bigwood]

I bought this camera as part of an auction lot this week. The only marking on it is on the back, which says 'Countess'. It's a 9x12cm plate camera with a sports finder and distance markings in Imperial, feet and inches. Any idea what it is?

 

[MartyNL]

This is what I could find from here;
http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/site/companies.html

Contessa​

Company Name​

Contessa Camera Werke
Drexler & Nagel

Formed in 1908 by Carl Drexler and Dr. August Nagel, in 1919 they acquired Nettel to form Contessa-Nettel. In the UK Conetssa cameras were distributed C. W. Casswell and for a time used the trade mark Countess, Countess Cameras the showroom for Contessa opened in 1911. The following year, 1912, the distributors were O. Sichel & Co. the Countess name was by then dropped.

References:​

BJP 1/9/1911, p. 673. BJA 1929, p. 683.

Further Information:​

In 1926 Contessa-Nettel merged with other companies to form Zeiss-Ikon. Nagel joined the new firm but left after a short while to form Dr. Nagel-Werke in 1928. In 1932 that company became part of Eastman.

 

[Marley's Ghost]

It's super pretty!

 

[Matt Bigwood]

This is what I could find from here;
http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/site/companies.html

Contessa​

Company Name​

Contessa Camera Werke
Drexler & Nagel

Formed in 1908 by Carl Drexler and Dr. August Nagel, in 1919 they acquired Nettel to form Contessa-Nettel. In the UK Conetssa cameras were distributed C. W. Casswell and for a time used the trade mark Countess, Countess Cameras the showroom for Contessa opened in 1911. The following year, 1912, the distributors were O. Sichel & Co. the Countess name was by then dropped.

References:​

BJP 1/9/1911, p. 673. BJA 1929, p. 683.

Further Information:​

In 1926 Contessa-Nettel merged with other companies to form Zeiss-Ikon. Nagel joined the new firm but left after a short while to form Dr. Nagel-Werke in 1928. In 1932 that company became part of Eastman.

Thanks very much!

 

[Ian Grant]

The Dr Staeble Werk Isoplast lens was introduced for these cameras around 1910. It's interesting the 120mm f5.8 Isoplast lens has English markings, Double-Anast, and 4¾ in, this, along with the distance markings, indicates it was meant for export.

The overall proportions look a touch odd for a 9x12 camera, and some years ago, 2009, I started making a list of 9x12 cameras, make, model, lens, and shutter type, non use a 120mm/12cm lens. Are you sure it is 9x12 and not Quarter plate.

Ian

 

[Matt Bigwood]

The Dr Staeble Werk Isoplast lens was introduced for these cameras around 1910. It's interesting the 120mm f5.8 Isoplast lens has English markings, Double-Anast, and 4¾ in, this, along with the distance markings, indicates it was meant for export.

The overall proportions look a touch odd for a 9x12 camera, and some years ago, 2009, I started making a list of 9x12 cameras, make, model, lens, and shutter type, non use a 120mm/12cm lens. Are you sure it is 9x12 and not Quarter plate.

Ian

Hi Ian, you are right, the aperture where the plate sits measures 104mm x 86mm, so smaller than 9x12cm.

 

[Ian Grant]

Sherwood & Seldte were also agents for Staeble lenses.

Ian

 

[Ian Grant]

I bought this camera as part of an auction lot this week. The only marking on it is on the back, which says 'Countess'. It's a 9x12cm plate camera with a sports finder and distance markings in Imperial, feet and inches. Any idea what it is?

OK, now we know it's Quarter plate camera, but just look at the really high precision engineering.

August Nagel was a brilliant camera designer, in 1926 he became Director of Manufacture of Zeiss Ikon, after Contessa-Nettel had merged into the conglomerated. He left after 2 years later to form a new company Dr Nagel Werk, selling out to Kodak in 1932, but going on to design Kodak's early Retina 35mm cameras, and the 35mm cassette itself.

You have done really well on finding this rare camera Matt. And it's in nice condition, a collectors item.

Ian

 

[Soulstar89]

Picked up a sinar p2. The layout just makes so much sense. Looking through this ground glass even with fresnel lens makes me appreciate how bright the wista ground glass is. Will be a great studio tool.