Difference between revisions of "Appareil Dubroni"
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| − | The '''Appareil Dubroni''' is a camera for wet collodion plates, made by [[Dubroni|Maison Dubroni]] in Paris for a few years from about 1864. The smallest models are box cameras; the larger ones have a bellows front for focusing. The interior of the camera body is lined with glass (in the early models; indeed, McKeown states that the first cameras had no wooden sides, only an amber glass 'bottle'<ref name=McK>{{McKeown12}} p251-2.</ref>) and later porcelain, so that sensitization, development and fixing of each plate can be done inside the camera; this was the first camera to use such a system.<ref name=W1>[ | + | The '''Appareil Dubroni''' is a camera for wet collodion plates, made by [[Dubroni|Maison Dubroni]] in Paris for a few years from about 1864. The smallest models are box cameras; the larger ones have a bellows front for focusing. The interior of the camera body is lined with glass (in the early models; indeed, McKeown states that the first cameras had no wooden sides, only an amber glass 'bottle'<ref name=McK>{{McKeown12}} p251-2.</ref>) and later porcelain, so that sensitization, development and fixing of each plate can be done inside the camera; this was the first camera to use such a system.<ref name=W1>[https://www.leitz-auction.com/en/G.-J.-Bourdin-Dubroni-Photographie-de-Poche/AI-4-22454 Dubroni Photographie de Poche] outfit: camera for 4 cm ''round'' exposures on 5 cm square plates, with Dubroni Petzval lens, sold at the [https://www.leitz-auction.com/en/Cameras/Past-Auctions/Auction-4/ fourth Westlicht Photographica Auction], in November 2003.</ref> The chemical solutions were put into and out of the camera with a bulb pipette. In the smaller cameras there is a large red window in the back of the camera, with a swivelling metal cover (or a hinged wooden one in some models), so that operations inside the camera can be viewed.<ref name=EP>[http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/site/entry_C80.html Dubroni No. 1] at [http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/index.html Early Photography].</ref> McKeown states that the largest cameras have a detachable 'laboratory section' at the back.<ref name=McK/> |
The camera was invented by Jules Bourdin; "Dubroni" is an anagram of the name Bourdin; notes to an auction lot at Westlicht state that Bourdin's father did not want the family name associated with his invention.<ref name=W1/> | The camera was invented by Jules Bourdin; "Dubroni" is an anagram of the name Bourdin; notes to an auction lot at Westlicht state that Bourdin's father did not want the family name associated with his invention.<ref name=W1/> | ||
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* No. 1, or '''Photographie de Poche''', for 4 cm ''round'' exposures on 5 cm square plates<ref name=W1/> | * No. 1, or '''Photographie de Poche''', for 4 cm ''round'' exposures on 5 cm square plates<ref name=W1/> | ||
* No. 2, for 5x5 cm or 4.5x5 cm exposures | * No. 2, for 5x5 cm or 4.5x5 cm exposures | ||
| − | * No. 3, or '''Photographie de Salon''', for 7x9 cm ''oval'' exposures (very suitable for portraits)<ref>[https:// | + | * No. 3, or '''Photographie de Salon''', for 7x9 cm ''oval'' exposures (very suitable for portraits)<ref>[https://www.leitz-auction.com/en/Dubroni-Nr.3-Ausruestung/AI-18-11655 Dubroni No. 3 outfit], near-complete, including a wooden tripod, sold at the [https://www.leitz-auction.com/en/Cameras/Past-Auctions/Auction-18/ eighteenth Westlicht auction], in December 2010.</ref><ref>[https://www.leitz-auction.com/en/G.-J.-Bourdin-Dubroni-No.3/AI-4-22455 Dubroni No. 3] (camera only), sold at the fourth Westlicht auction.</ref><ref>[http://www.lecompendium.com/dossier_optique_55_appareil_photo_dubroni/appareil_photographique_dubroni.htm Dubroni No. 3] (camera only, but with a clear photograph of the glass lining), at Albert Balasse's [http://www.lecompendium.com/ Le Compendium] (text in French).</ref> |
* No. 4, with a bellows, for 10 cm-long plates. | * No. 4, with a bellows, for 10 cm-long plates. | ||
* No. 5, with a bellows and detachable 'laboratory' section, for 15 cm-long plates. | * No. 5, with a bellows and detachable 'laboratory' section, for 15 cm-long plates. | ||
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* [http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k74250g ''Traité Spécial de Photographie: Appareil Dubroni''], Abbé Villaume, 1875; a photographic guide, presumably published by Dubroni, with special attention to the Dubroni cameras, including instructions for making plates, formulae for chemicals, and descriptions and prices of the cameras; in the [http://gallica.bnf.fr/?lang=EN Gallica Bibliothèque Numerique] at the [http://www.bnf.fr/ Bibliothèque National de France] (readable on screen, and downloadable as pdf or other formats for non-commercial uses). | * [http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k74250g ''Traité Spécial de Photographie: Appareil Dubroni''], Abbé Villaume, 1875; a photographic guide, presumably published by Dubroni, with special attention to the Dubroni cameras, including instructions for making plates, formulae for chemicals, and descriptions and prices of the cameras; in the [http://gallica.bnf.fr/?lang=EN Gallica Bibliothèque Numerique] at the [http://www.bnf.fr/ Bibliothèque National de France] (readable on screen, and downloadable as pdf or other formats for non-commercial uses). | ||
* [http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/cameras/index.htm?item59 Dubroni integral processing camera] in the exhibition [http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/cameras ''Cameras: the Technology of Photographic Imaging''] at the [http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk Museum of the History of Science, Oxford], 20 May - 13 September, 1997. | * [http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/cameras/index.htm?item59 Dubroni integral processing camera] in the exhibition [http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/cameras ''Cameras: the Technology of Photographic Imaging''] at the [http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk Museum of the History of Science, Oxford], 20 May - 13 September, 1997. | ||
| − | * [http://collections.eastman.org/objects/49730/dubroni-apparatus-no-6?ctx=ddccfb98-f8a0-4959-8cf3-b4de18173bee&idx=2 Dubroni No. 6] camera at [ | + | * [http://collections.eastman.org/objects/49730/dubroni-apparatus-no-6?ctx=ddccfb98-f8a0-4959-8cf3-b4de18173bee&idx=2 Dubroni No. 6] camera at [https://www.eastman.org/ George Eastman House]. |
Latest revision as of 19:40, 28 January 2024
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| Dubroni camera image by Hans Splinter (Image rights) |
The Appareil Dubroni is a camera for wet collodion plates, made by Maison Dubroni in Paris for a few years from about 1864. The smallest models are box cameras; the larger ones have a bellows front for focusing. The interior of the camera body is lined with glass (in the early models; indeed, McKeown states that the first cameras had no wooden sides, only an amber glass 'bottle'[1]) and later porcelain, so that sensitization, development and fixing of each plate can be done inside the camera; this was the first camera to use such a system.[2] The chemical solutions were put into and out of the camera with a bulb pipette. In the smaller cameras there is a large red window in the back of the camera, with a swivelling metal cover (or a hinged wooden one in some models), so that operations inside the camera can be viewed.[3] McKeown states that the largest cameras have a detachable 'laboratory section' at the back.[1]
The camera was invented by Jules Bourdin; "Dubroni" is an anagram of the name Bourdin; notes to an auction lot at Westlicht state that Bourdin's father did not want the family name associated with his invention.[2]
The camera was made in six sizes, the larger ones only made after the small sizes had established the success of the camera:[1][3]
- No. 1, or Photographie de Poche, for 4 cm round exposures on 5 cm square plates[2]
- No. 2, for 5x5 cm or 4.5x5 cm exposures
- No. 3, or Photographie de Salon, for 7x9 cm oval exposures (very suitable for portraits)[4][5][6]
- No. 4, with a bellows, for 10 cm-long plates.
- No. 5, with a bellows and detachable 'laboratory' section, for 15 cm-long plates.
- No. 6, with a bellows and detachable 'laboratory' section, for 18x24 cm plates.
Early Photography shows a No. 1 camera in some detail, and explains the processing sequence.[3]
Dubroni also made more conventional cameras.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). p251-2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Dubroni Photographie de Poche outfit: camera for 4 cm round exposures on 5 cm square plates, with Dubroni Petzval lens, sold at the fourth Westlicht Photographica Auction, in November 2003.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Dubroni No. 1 at Early Photography.
- ↑ Dubroni No. 3 outfit, near-complete, including a wooden tripod, sold at the eighteenth Westlicht auction, in December 2010.
- ↑ Dubroni No. 3 (camera only), sold at the fourth Westlicht auction.
- ↑ Dubroni No. 3 (camera only, but with a clear photograph of the glass lining), at Albert Balasse's Le Compendium (text in French).
Links
- Traité Spécial de Photographie: Appareil Dubroni, Abbé Villaume, 1875; a photographic guide, presumably published by Dubroni, with special attention to the Dubroni cameras, including instructions for making plates, formulae for chemicals, and descriptions and prices of the cameras; in the Gallica Bibliothèque Numerique at the Bibliothèque National de France (readable on screen, and downloadable as pdf or other formats for non-commercial uses).
- Dubroni integral processing camera in the exhibition Cameras: the Technology of Photographic Imaging at the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, 20 May - 13 September, 1997.
- Dubroni No. 6 camera at George Eastman House.
