Author Topic: Camera ID help (Read 4591 times)

tani.P · « **on:** December 10, 2012, 03:22:52 AM »

Hey Friends,

Came across this in an antique store today. I fought the urge to buy it, so I put it down and walked away, but now it's nagging me. Anyone know the make and model? Haven't seen too many folders with a dial in front like that. Pretty sure it used 127 film, but not certain.
Appreciate the help!

Something tells me I'm going to be back at that store this week....

Francois · « **Reply #1 on:** December 10, 2012, 03:06:02 PM »

One way to know if it's a 120 camera would be to compare the size of a spool to something in the picture (hands or glasses).

Was the front held by scissors? If that's the case, look for a Klapp style camera. Folders typically have a drop bed.
I already checked http://www.collection-appareils.fr but couldn't find this particular model.

What bugs me is that it's got a built-in rangefinder. Not too many klapp style cameras with a rangefinder out there. Apart from some Minoltas and the Plaubel Makina, I don't know of any others.

tani.P · « **Reply #2 on:** December 10, 2012, 03:31:16 PM »

Thanks, Francois!

I feel like we're getting close.... Yes, it had the scissor mechanism to pop the lensboard out. The rangefinder threw me too. I think the only answer is to head back and take a closer look.

LT · « **Reply #3 on:** December 10, 2012, 03:52:12 PM »

I can say, with utmost certainly and conviction, that it is, in fact, a camera.

hope that helps

L.

tani.P · « **Reply #4 on:** December 10, 2012, 04:15:18 PM »

Ha! I actually did laugh out loud on that one, although that may be the Google image "folding camera" scrolling delirium setting in....

Ezzie · « **Reply #5 on:** December 10, 2012, 04:28:51 PM »

It´s a Foth. Foth & Co of Berlin. I can´t remember what this little beauty is called but it had a little brother with just a viewfinder called the Derby.

EDIT: Easier than I thought, It´s a Foth Super Derby

Ezzie · « **Reply #6 on:** December 10, 2012, 04:40:02 PM »

In which case it is a landmark camera, well worth collecting. How many folding cameras anno 1930 had focal plane shutters? 1-1/500s no less. Some had Tessars, others Anastigmats. Some went to f2.5! The Rangefinder version came in 1939. Should be 4x3 on 127 or there abouts.

tani.P · « **Reply #7 on:** December 10, 2012, 04:45:50 PM »

Thank you, Ezzie! You're right!
Not much out there at all, but I confirmed with this flickr pic: http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/7970301626/#

Man, thank you so much! Should I snag a 127 camera? Is that even usable anymore?

Diane Peterson · « **Reply #8 on:** December 10, 2012, 05:06:16 PM »

Go for it ! Absolutely usable, I cut 120 down to 127, very easy!

Ezzie · « **Reply #9 on:** December 10, 2012, 06:10:41 PM »

The Rangefinder version was evidently made by the French branch. More on the Foth Derby cameras here: http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/site/entry_C209.html

They even made a TLR called the Foth-Flex

tani.P · « **Reply #10 on:** December 10, 2012, 09:13:14 PM »

Went back to the store to take a closer look and it was in way worse shape than I thought. The top plate was missing, the rangefinder all messed up, and the shutter gapped when you cocked it, so it would have exposed the film before even shooting. I skipped it. But look what was right next to it that I nabbed for a sweet price:

Looks a little rough but totally functional. f/8,11,16, about 1/30 sec and bulb. Very excited to give the 6x9 format a whirl!

astrobeck · « **Reply #11 on:** December 10, 2012, 10:17:00 PM »

that's a cool score!

I have a weakness for box cameras....

Hope to see some results made with it soon!

Francois · « **Reply #12 on:** December 10, 2012, 10:52:41 PM »

I have one just like that that needs fixing!
It is an awesome looking camera. And if I'm not mistaken, it should be very capable too.
Takes regular 120 so no fuss there.
The shutter on mine has two modes: open and close

That means that it's either a long bulb mode or a long not instant anymore mode.

I have to figure out how to get in there...

tani.P · « **Reply #13 on:** December 10, 2012, 11:58:10 PM »

This is my second box camera, my other being a Brownie Twin 20 (which I kind of think of as a Holga). The Gevabox has some more functionality than that one, so I'm exited to give it go.

The Gevabox seems pretty well sealed, good luck getting it open (and closed again!), Francois!

Francois · « **Reply #14 on:** December 11, 2012, 02:15:27 PM »

I know...

If it's been put together, there's got to be a way to take it apart. Since the hidden click tabs were not invented when it was made, there has to be a way in.
I'm betting that everything is sealed with flat paint inside.

Ezzie · « **Reply #15 on:** December 12, 2012, 11:56:58 AM »

That Foth camera got my GAS juices flowing. I went overboard and bought a Model/Type 3 Derby on ebay, good looking, but untested. That's approximately the same as the one pictured above, but without rangefinder. It most likely won't work, but hey if you don't take chances in life things get pretty boring. Let's hope I will have grounds to start cutting down 120 to 127 in the near future.

tani.P · « **Reply #16 on:** December 12, 2012, 02:43:08 PM »

Sorry! Did that to me, too, that's why when I went back I knew I'd be walking out with a camera if not the Foth.
Nice snag, though. I don't think I ever heard of Foth before this little adventure, but I really like the designs.

Ezzie · « **Reply #17 on:** January 03, 2013, 09:42:40 PM »

The little Derby has arrived. Sans the dials and finder up top it has the same footprint as an iPhone, though twice as thick and twice as heavy.

It would seem I have been very lucky. It came with a roll of Kodacolor 200 in camera, though finished. This means I at least have two 127 spindles (metal). It also seems to have a new shutter curtain, and fires on all speeds, if a bit slow on speeds over 1/100s. Also has a small dent on the side of the back half, which may mean light leaks. Should be easy to fix.

It has the odd f-stop scale of 3.5/4.5/6.3/9/12.5/18

If a bit crudely manufactured, it certainly is not lacking in charm.

Shot alongside the Rolleiflex for scale, excuse the digi shot.

Foth and Franke & Heidecke by Eirik0304, on Flickr

Francois · « **Reply #18 on:** January 03, 2013, 11:34:43 PM »

No digi shots excuse needed for stuff like that

It does look incredibly cute. And focal plane shutter to boot!

Ezzie · « **Reply #19 on:** January 04, 2013, 06:53:13 AM »

Thank you Francois. It is a bit quirky, but then again most cameras of that age are. It has both a green and ruby window pair, a plate under the pressure plate blocks off one or the other. The f-stop scale has been mentioned. The shutter speeds are a bit strange too, not to mention the setting and cocking. You lift up a collar to set the speeds, then tension the shutter by twirling the whole knob one full rotation more or less. Once ready the shutter speed can't be read off the dial anymore. Fire the shutter and the knob rotates back to start. So you need to keep your fingers away from it, and the sound is like nothing I've heard. More like a mating call than anything else.

Francois · « **Reply #20 on:** January 04, 2013, 05:58:45 PM »

It must be a single curtain shutter like in the old Graflex.

I know by grandpa's old Leica is pretty odd in every respect. You wind the film, then set the speed (doing it backwards will break the shutter) by pulling up on the knob and selecting the speed. And when you let go of it all, the shutter speed button rotates at a crazy speed. Not anything we're used to anymore.

LEAFotography · « **Reply #21 on:** January 04, 2013, 06:26:25 PM »

Quote from: Diane Peterson on December 10, 2012, 05:06:16 PM

Go for it ! Absolutely usable, I cut 120 down to 127, very easy!

Or get a roll of 46mm film from a popular on-line site? Agfa and Rollei were still making 127 format rolls the last time I checked suppliers in Germany, 80s and an E-6 film too!

Ezzie · « **Reply #22 on:** January 04, 2013, 10:29:21 PM »

Yes I think the shutter is single curtian, certainly looks like it when looking at it fire with the back open. And yes, the shutter speed dial rotates really fast when shutter triggered, get your fingers in the way and you slow the shutter.

First roll hanging to dry, and it looks good. GP3 cut down from 120. Speeds tested 1/25s, 1/50s, 1/75s and 1/100s. Before scanning it would seem that these are pretty much spot on. Quite chuffed.

Ezzie · « **Reply #23 on:** January 06, 2013, 09:50:08 PM »

From the first roll:

Fire Hydrant by Eirik0304, on Flickr

Author Topic: Camera ID help (Read 4591 times)

astrobeck