W. Watson & Sons Detective camera 1885-1890

W. Watson & Sons Detective camera  looks like a post office wood box covered by leather. It contains a mahogany bellow camera inside and a shutter attached to  the front face.

Below 2 buttons to adjust the focus discreetly. The front hole permits the lens view and the back to focus the image in the ground  glass. Both can be closed by  sliding a simple metal plate. Two eyes viewer  for Portrait or Landscape positions can also be closed by the same way.

Equipped with a fast rectilinear 5x4 lens dedicated to the 9x12cm plates

Apparently this specific model was produced to the french market  to the dealer 

 "made for H.Carette - Paris"

Dimensions 13x22x26cm no serial number detected.

Lens: W. Watson & Sons- 313 High Holborn , London -   5x4  f8 to f44  sn.1533

Most probably one of my oldest cameras ... but the must is when you open and realize the big gift you won.

Detective                                                      Inside

Back

Lens 5x4                                       French dealer 

 Shutter

Robot Junior double spring motor by Otto Berning

This is the last German Robot arrived to my collection.. I’m talking about the” Junior “ model with double spring motor, allowing 50 photos. Produced between 1954 and 60 were quite popular in the scientific research.

This camera arrived from England and was identified with a label IMTR/RES/2 1 66.
??? Could be. ..Institute for Meteorological Training and Research (IMTR), RES from research and 2 1 66 a date... ???

This models have robust German mechanism but when they don’t work is hardly to repair  by it self. This one was with shutter window frozzen in open position and shutter impossible to release.

After a couple of hours trying to fix it , finally I was able to access the shutter mechanism. Cleaning and degreasing was enough this time.

Here you have some photos from my repairing steps…and a final movie to listen the “melody”…

Repairing steps

1-Remove all top screws from top cover (1) , remove motor advance knob by rotating in anti-clockwise direction (2), remove advance knob by unscrewing the center with a special tool (3), finally remove the top plate cover taking care about the counter housing knob (4)

2- Remove carefull all free parts (1), and then the 4 screws that fix the motor (2). Be carefull, if the motor spring is in tension some parts can jump out. So, in the 4the and last screw take the motor with your other hand while pulling the motor out.

3- Once all removed you can have a small acess to shutter release button. You can try to smoothly force up  the small plate. I've profit to grease with a very thin oil.

4 - If you need to dismount the motor spring, to investigate if the spring is broken , here you have a picture from all set.

5- Now if you find your problem you can mount everything back and don't forget :

Be "patient" is the good word to reach a good result

Germany - 1954/60 "Robot- Junior 50 "
sn. J133490 
Lens Schneider Kreuznach Xenagon 30 3.5
sn.3260563

GEC Transistor-matic Radio Camera G822

G.E.C. is the most popular name for the company "General Electric Co.Ltd" , based in London , UK. Usually is called  GEC 

Transistormatic  Radio Camera, mod.G822,   is a combined portable radio with a no confirmed  Kodak Instamatic 100 integrated.

Combined devices were rare in these times. 

This model is from1964 and they were so expensive as a new  top smartphone nowadays.

England - 1964 - GEC " Transistor-matig G822 n°2"

Combined with a Kodak Instamatic 100

sn.00980(?8?)

Le "Cents Vues” from Mollier (1st model)

 The   “Cents Vues” de Mollier  is a 1909 patented French camera . Prepared for 35mm film , it could reach the 100 photos in a 18x24mm format.

Due to 1^st WW , this camera arrived to the market only in 1920 on a very low production scale.

Unfortunately the original  40mm  Hermagis optical lens  is not present. Someone change to a 35mm lens used in earlier 35mm movie cameras. In this case a rare  Voigtlander  & Sohn Braunschweig , BURYSCOP 55mm 6.3. The main reason could be to use this camera with a high deep field and never “missed”  a sharp photo…

 Shutter speeds announced from 1 to 4 and P & I position)

No serial number detected in the body. 5 faces in black cracked paint  except the front plate in polish metal finish.

E. DE VRIES & COURBET (E.V.C.) - Le Touriste

The 1st model of "Le Touriste"  arrived to market around 1916,  and presented by the manufacturer J.V. Paris (Jacques De Vries). Around 1919, De Vries joins Courbet and both found E.V.C ( Etablissement Jacques De Vries & Courbet ). As usual, all this informations are not easy to prove, but for me is the most convincing hypothesis.

 

 

With this introduction, we can  say that this camera is a 2nd  model , already with the new logo, from 1919. This small camera measures   90x60x30mm , and we can place it  in the pocket camera category. It was equipped with a rotating diaphragm with 6 apertures  ,  2 shutters positions and  Achromathique lens .

 

Serial Number 2/831

Plates 4 x 6½

 

 

Lancaster & Sons - Le Merveilleux -1886

Produced in England,  Birmingham,, the 1st model were presented on the year of 1886 .
This one is probably one of the 1st serie. Imported from England to Portugal by the trader J.J.Ribeiro , from Lisboa, probably changed the front label to their own name. However all stamps from Lancaster & Sons are visible.
I've found it last week during my holidays in Oporto, in very poor condition. After  3 nights of work this beautiful camera is ready for a second life.

Plates 4 1/2  x 4 1/2 inch ( 11x11cm)

 

 

Eastman Kodak N° 4 BULLS-EYE MODEL D

In the end of 19 century this camera was sold by Panajou Frères , in Bordeaux. 

,probably to some one in the top of the technology.at that time

 This camera was one of the first using Kodak film and was really cheap, 10cents of dollar, at that time....

There is still the original film. inside..to take popular big size photo 4 x 5 inch (10 x 12.6 cm)

Special thanks to Mr.P.P .who found it for me..

Polaroid SX-70

Polaroid SX-70 is my favorite polaroid for a long time...

I love the Design , the Mechanics and the fact of being a Reflex...

Arrived to the market in 70's it was well received by people who were stunished  with the fact to have the photo just in time in an elegant inox/leather finished

Today I get it out  from the shelf , and it's "breading" again

Many thanks to "Impossible Project "

Photographer Pierre Joseph Rossier

Adrenaline mounts every time I find a treasure from nothing. After buy  several stereo-views from Japan , 3 of them where from early days in China. Looking in my books , the surprise arrived...

The edition is from the British editor Negretti & Zambra and the photographer was the Swiss  - PIERRE JOSEPH ROSSIER - , considered the  pioneer  of the photography in Asia.

Some of these stereograph belongs to the 1^st set “ VIEWS IN CHINA”  ( 50 photos) published by Negretti & Zambra, in 1859.

Negretti & Zambra N°41 -  PIERRE JOSEPH ROSSIER

Pa tab lom boo

TARTAR BRIGADIER-GENERAL, SECOND CLASS MANDARIN, OR BLUE BUTTON, WITH SOME MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY

On the left of the picture is the Reverend Chaplain of the British Army in Canton

Negretti & Zambra N°52- PIERRE JOSEPH ROSSIER

CANTON

Triumphal  Arch

BY THE YAMUN OF THE ALLIED COMMISSIONERS.

Negretti & Zambra N°102- PIERRE JOSEPH ROSSIER

CANTON

Chinese Ladies of Distinction

With Slave Girls

HONORING OUR PHOTOGRAPHER WITH A SITTING FOR THEIR PORTRAITS

Recycling Project

Nikkor AI 300mm 4.5 produced from 1977 to 81

After almost 2weeks with my parents , the time arrived and Aeroports are quite communs in these occasions. With my daugters , we decide to walk around ...