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Very old wet camera

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    Posted 12 years ago

    Martyn
    (2 items)

    This is my favourite piece, a very old wet wooden camera. we've come a long way since these to modern cameras!

    Unsolved Mystery

    Help us close this case. Add your knowledge below.

    Comments

    1. Martyn, 12 years ago
      Would anyone know any information on this? I haven't been able to identify it at all in any way!
    2. rniederman rniederman, 12 years ago
      This is an enlarging Camera but often advertised between the 1880s and 1920s as a lantern-camera. Think of it as a horizontal style of photographic enlarger. A glass plate or negative was inserted in the drawer just behind the bellows (but in front of the light source). The image was usually projected onto an 'enlarging easel' that held a roll of bromide paper.
    3. Martyn, 12 years ago
      Thank you!
      Now I have been able to establish that this is:

      The City Sale & Exchange, The Salex Junior, Made in London. Probably in the 1950's.
      The lens says Beck Steinheil Convertible orthostigmat Series II 2B Number 10475 patent number 10475 Focus 2 1/2"

      Mean anything more?
    4. Martyn, 12 years ago
      Actually not 100% sure about that date... I think its been upgraded in its life time maybe as inside the back, its has a very early electric bulb holder and switch. Bakerlite style components. Maybe this is an earlier device, modified. It looks like the lens on the front may of been changed in its lifetime due t extra screw holes that don't line up with the current mounted lens. Intriguing :-)
    5. Martyn, 12 years ago
      Yes, looks like the body is as you say 1881 > 1925. It must of been in use for some time then if its was converted to early electric lighting.
    6. Martyn, 12 years ago
      I believe I now have her pinned down, bar a couple of details:

      She is an 1893 The Salex Junior (Magic Lantern) made by The City Sale & Exchange in London, England. The lens is a Beck Steinheil Convertible orthostigmat Series II 2B Number 10475 patent number 10475 Focus 2 1/2".

      Notes about this piece. It was converted at some point in time to use an electric light bulb in the back (bakerlite bulb holder and torpedo switch) so this piece has been in good use for some time (I like that - lots of use) The lens is not the original, there are marks where the original used to live.

      The slide holder accepts two sizes as there is a removable insert to accept two different sizes. The condition is: used, very! modified: yes!

      I could not find ANY reference to this model called Junior though, I could find Salex, but not Salex junior. This piece must of been a 'home projector' back in the day!

      So, can I make her work? she may not of seen life for 50+ years! well.. she lives and breathes again!! due to the lack of any slides to put in her, I had to use a cut down polythene bag that had 'something' on it to pass light through.

      What was some ones pride and joy once, now lives again. Fantastic! I'll move this post to the correct Lantern section with more pictures
      Martyn

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