Difference between revisions of "Bloc Métal 45"

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{{pontiac}}
 
{{pontiac}}
The '''[[Bloc Métal 45]]''' was a 6x9 folding camera, released in 1946 by the French maker [[Pontiac]]. It had an aluminium body with a rounded shape, reminiscent of the [[Lynx]], and the same striated finish covered with black paint. It had a bright aluminium top plate, incorporating an optical finder, a depth of field indicator, an accessory shoe and the shutter release. Film advance was by knob and red window. The early bodies had a bellows made of cloth instead of leather because of the shortage in raw materials. At the opposite, the very last bodies received a leatherette or leather covering.
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The '''Bloc Métal 45''' was a 6×9cm folding camera, released in 1946 by the French maker [[Pontiac]]. It had an aluminium body with a rounded shape, reminiscent of the [[Lynx]], and the same striated finish covered with black paint. It had a bright aluminium top plate, incorporating an optical finder, a depth of field indicator, an accessory shoe and the shutter release. Film advance was by knob and red window. The early bodies had a bellows made of cloth instead of leather because of the shortage in raw materials. At the opposite, the very last bodies received a leatherette or leather covering.
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/90900361@N08/in/pool/camera-wiki
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|image= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5785/22863107866_548489ba41.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text= Bloc Métal 45
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|image_by= Geoff Harrisson
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|image_rights= wp
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}}
  
 
The lens and shutter combinations were:
 
The lens and shutter combinations were:
 
* early: Prontor II shutter to 1/175, self timer, not marked ''Pontiac'', perhaps not synchronized:
 
* early: Prontor II shutter to 1/175, self timer, not marked ''Pontiac'', perhaps not synchronized:
** [[Roussel]] Trylor 105/4.5 (see the 1947 ad [http://glangl1.free.fr/Liste%20Pontiac.html here] and the first ad [http://perso.wanadoo.fr/photoptic/box_et_folding.htm here])
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** [[Roussel]] Trylor 105/4.5 (see the 1947 ad [http://glangl1.free.fr/Liste-Pontiac.html here] and the first ad [http://perso.wanadoo.fr/photoptic/box_et_folding.htm here])
 
** [[Berthiot]] Flor 105/4.5 (see [http://www.collection-appareils.com/pontiac/html/pontiac_bloc_metal_45.php here] and the first ad [http://perso.wanadoo.fr/photoptic/box_et_folding.htm here])
 
** [[Berthiot]] Flor 105/4.5 (see [http://www.collection-appareils.com/pontiac/html/pontiac_bloc_metal_45.php here] and the first ad [http://perso.wanadoo.fr/photoptic/box_et_folding.htm here])
 
* Bloc Métal 45 '''Standard''': [[Gitzo]] Zotic I 25-200 shutter, advertised since 1949 (see a Pontiac ad [http://perso.wanadoo.fr/photoptic/box_et_folding.htm here] and the Photo Plait 1949 catalogue [http://www.collection-appareils.com/pontiac/html/pontiac_bloc_metal_45.php here])
 
* Bloc Métal 45 '''Standard''': [[Gitzo]] Zotic I 25-200 shutter, advertised since 1949 (see a Pontiac ad [http://perso.wanadoo.fr/photoptic/box_et_folding.htm here] and the Photo Plait 1949 catalogue [http://www.collection-appareils.com/pontiac/html/pontiac_bloc_metal_45.php here])
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Production of the 45 and 145 stopped in 1954.
 
Production of the 45 and 145 stopped in 1954.
  
Vial says that Pontiac announced a '''Bloc Métal 245''', a variant with a Berthiot Flor f/3.5 lens. He also mentions other projects: a Bloc Métal making 4.5 x 6 cm pictures on [[120 film]], and another making 4 x 6.5 cm pictures on [[127 film]].  
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Vial says that Pontiac announced a '''Bloc Métal 245''', a variant with a Berthiot Flor f/3.5 lens. He also mentions other projects: a Bloc Métal making 4.5×6cm pictures on [[120 film]], and another making 4×6.5cm pictures on [[127 film]].  
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{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
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| rowspan=2 | [http://flickr.com/photos/mario_groleau/3300794142/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3372/3300794142_0da3dd57e9_m_d.jpg] [http://flickr.com/photos/mario_groleau/3300797924/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3657/3300797924_b5afb6a5b8_m_d.jpg] [http://flickr.com/photos/mario_groleau/3299965299/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3504/3299965299_30aaa9aebd_m_d.jpg]
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|| [http://flickr.com/photos/mario_groleau/3299963469/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3346/3299963469_3e0282b31e_t_d.jpg]
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|-
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|| [http://flickr.com/photos/mario_groleau/3300796028/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3466/3300796028_ec854511a7_t_d.jpg]
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|-
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| colspan=2 | Pontiac Bloc Métal 45, Prontor II shutter<br/><small>images by {{image author|Mario Groleau}}</small> {{non-commercial}}
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|}
  
 
== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
 
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* {{Vial}}
* ''Histoire des appareils français'', B. Vial, Ed. Maeght
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* ''Pontiac Lynx, Super Lynx, Baby Lynx'', Fotofiche 15, Patrice-Hervé Pont, Fotosaga.
* ''Pontiac Lynx, Super Lynx, Baby Lynx'', Fotofiche 15, Patrice-Hervé Pont, Ed Fotosaga
 
  
 
== Links ==
 
== Links ==
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In English :
* [http://www.collection-appareils.com/pontiac/html/pontiac_bloc_metal_45.php Pontiac Bloc Métal 45 at Sylvain Halgand site]
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* [http://archive.is/photocam.ibelgique.com/p.htm A Bloc-Métal 45 at Ioannis's Camera Collection] (archived)
* [http://perso.wanadoo.fr/photoptic/Pontiac.htm The Pontiac page at Photoptic]
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In French :
* [http://perso.wanadoo.fr/photoptic/box_et_folding.htm Another page at Photoptic] with interesting ads
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* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=1085 Pontiac Bloc Métal 45 Export at Sylvain Halgand site]
* [http://glangl1.free.fr/Liste%20Pontiac.html The Pontiac page at Gérard Langlois site]
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* [http://glangl1.free.fr/Liste-Pontiac.html The Pontiac page at Gérard Langlois site]
 
* [http://clicclac.free.fr/clicclac.php?page=appareils_marque.php?marque=PONTIAC The Pontiac page at ClicClac]
 
* [http://clicclac.free.fr/clicclac.php?page=appareils_marque.php?marque=PONTIAC The Pontiac page at ClicClac]
 
* [http://mgroleau.com/photo/france/pontiac_bm45af.html A Bloc Métal 45 at Mario Groleau's site]
 
* [http://mgroleau.com/photo/france/pontiac_bm45af.html A Bloc Métal 45 at Mario Groleau's site]
* [http://photocam.ibelgique.com/p.htm A Bloc-Métal 45 at Ioannis's Camera Collection]
 
  
[[Category: 6x9 folding]]
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[[Category: 6x9 viewfinder folding]]
 
[[Category: France]]
 
[[Category: France]]
[[Category: Pontiac]]
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[[Category: Pontiac|Bloc Métal 45]]
[[Category: B]]
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[[Category:B|Bloc Métal 45 Pontiac]]
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[[Category:120 film]]
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[[Category:620 film]]

Latest revision as of 05:02, 30 May 2023

Pontiac
Bakélite
Bloc Métal 41
Bloc Métal 45
Lynx
Super Lynx
Baby Lynx
Versailles

The Bloc Métal 45 was a 6×9cm folding camera, released in 1946 by the French maker Pontiac. It had an aluminium body with a rounded shape, reminiscent of the Lynx, and the same striated finish covered with black paint. It had a bright aluminium top plate, incorporating an optical finder, a depth of field indicator, an accessory shoe and the shutter release. Film advance was by knob and red window. The early bodies had a bellows made of cloth instead of leather because of the shortage in raw materials. At the opposite, the very last bodies received a leatherette or leather covering.

The lens and shutter combinations were:

  • early: Prontor II shutter to 1/175, self timer, not marked Pontiac, perhaps not synchronized:
  • Bloc Métal 45 Standard: Gitzo Zotic I 25-200 shutter, advertised since 1949 (see a Pontiac ad here and the Photo Plait 1949 catalogue here)
  • Bloc Métal 45 Luxe: Prontor II shutter to 1/200, self timer and flash sync
    • Bloc Métal 45 a: Roussel Trylor 105/4.5 (common)
    • Bloc Métal 45 af: Berthiot Spécial 105/4.5 (common)
    • Bloc Métal 45 b: Berthiot Flor 105/4.5 (common)
    • Bloc Métal 45 c: Berthiot Flor 105/4.5 4-element (announced in a 1949 ad, probably never made)
    • Bloc Métal 45 d: Berthiot Flor 105/3.5 4-element (announced in the same ad, probably never made)
  • Bloc Métal 145: Compur-Rapid to 1/400 & Berthiot Flor 105/4.5

The Berthiot lenses were coated, the Trylor was not. The Trylor and the Berthiot Spécial were 3 element lenses. Unless noted, the Flor 105/4.5 was a 5 element lens, said to be specially designed for the Bloc Métal 45.

The Prontor II shutter had a self timer and a flash sync. The first ones had a top speed of 1/175, were not marked Pontiac, and maybe they were not synchronized. The Zotic shutter is said to equip the last series, but it is advertised since 1949 as the Bloc Métal 45 Standard. The Bloc Métal 145 variant, released around 1951, had a Compur-Rapid shutter marked licence française (French license), with a self timer but no flash sync.

Production of the 45 and 145 stopped in 1954.

Vial says that Pontiac announced a Bloc Métal 245, a variant with a Berthiot Flor f/3.5 lens. He also mentions other projects: a Bloc Métal making 4.5×6cm pictures on 120 film, and another making 4×6.5cm pictures on 127 film.

Bibliography

  • Vial, Bernard. Histoire des appareils français. Période 1940–1960. Paris: Maeght Éditeur, 1980, re-impressed in 1991. ISBN 2-86941-156-1.
  • Pontiac Lynx, Super Lynx, Baby Lynx, Fotofiche 15, Patrice-Hervé Pont, Fotosaga.

Links

In English :

In French :