Share your favorites on Show & Tell

Aluminum Camera Shutter, 1894. (the beauty of early camera shutters #6)

In Cameras > Camera Accessories > Show & Tell.
Early Camera Shutters4 of 9Stereo Brownie Shutter, 1905. (the beauty of early camera shutters #7)Prosch Triplex Shutter, 1880s (the beauty of early camera shutters)
18
Love it
0
Like it

leighannrnleighannrn loves this.
shughsshughs loves this.
JewelsJewels loves this.
officialfuelofficialfuel loves this.
cratedigger.cratedigger. loves this.
pops52pops52 loves this.
f64imagerf64imager loves this.
aghcollectaghcollect loves this.
packrat-placepackrat-place loves this.
AzTomAzTom loves this.
DandyscandyDandyscandy loves this.
ericevans2ericevans2 loves this.
KydurKydur loves this.
blunderbuss2blunderbuss2 loves this.
SEAN68SEAN68 loves this.
ttomtuckerttomtucker loves this.
walksoftlywalksoftly loves this.
vetraio50vetraio50 loves this.
See 16 more
Add to collection

    Please create an account, or Log in here

    If you don't have an account, create one here.


    Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate


    Posted 9 years ago

    rniederman
    (343 items)

    There was a time when shutters, something we take for granted today, were mounted outside of the camera body. Some were practically works of art. Although majority of early shutters were made of brass, a rare few had bodies of milled aluminum.

    In the early 1800s, aluminum was quite expensive and a status symbol for the wealthy. Yet by the later 1880s, when an inexpensive method was invented to extract aluminum, photographic equipment makers looked at using the lightweight metal as a substitute for heavier brass. For instance, in the early 1900s aluminum was prominent in many of George Eastman’s popular roll film camera bodies.

    Shown here is one of the few pre-1900 shutters built with an aluminum body instead of stamped and soldered brass. While small brass parts are still used in the shutter, the lighter colored, rigid aluminum makes a very structurally solid body and is (IMO) attractive.

    While best known for high quality optics, the Gundlach Optical Company also made brass shutters. This particular example is very unusual and I believe it was a special request by Gustav Milburn for his newly released “Korona Hand Camera.” Only the earliest of these pneumatic shutters, introduced in October 1894, have milled aluminum bodies with a maker’s badge noting it was “Made for the Milburn Korona Company by Gundlach Optical Co.” Interestingly, later models of this shutter design have brass bodies.

    BTW ... the shutter works quite well after all these years!

    logo
    Camera Accessories
    See all
    Exakta Film And Digital Camera, Lens, Lot Carl Zeiss Jena, Meyer Optik, Biotar
    Exakta Film And Digital Camera, Len...
    $118
    Lot Of Hasselblad Accessories - Filter, Case, Focusing Screen, Hood, Bellow, Etc
    Lot Of Hasselblad Accessories - Fil...
    $20
    Vintage wooden Tripod made in USSR Soviet for Theodolite Nivelir Camera
    Vintage wooden Tripod made in USSR ...
    $148
    Nikon Film And Digital Accessories Lot Lens Hood, Case, Filter, Etc
    Nikon Film And Digital Accessories ...
    $48
    logo
    Exakta Film And Digital Camera, Lens, Lot Carl Zeiss Jena, Meyer Optik, Biotar
    Exakta Film And Digital Camera, Len...
    $118
    See all

    Comments

    1. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks!
      vetraio50
      eye4beauty (shutter struttin' indeed! ... funny)
    2. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks, Jewels!
    3. SEAN68 SEAN68, 9 years ago
      stunning and Happy New Year Rob!!!
    4. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks, David!
    5. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks!
      Sean
      ttomtucker
    6. SEAN68 SEAN68, 9 years ago
      Your very welcome Rob!!!
    7. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks!
      Eric
      Kydur
      blunderbuss2
    8. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks, Dandyscandy!
    9. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks, AzTom!
    10. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks!
      aghcollect
      packrat-place
    11. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks!
      Jewels
      Michael
      cratedigger.
      pops52
    12. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks!
      leighannrn
      shughs

    Want to post a comment?

    Create an account or login in order to post a comment.