Difference between revisions of "Gaumont Block-Notes"
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| image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/16822508@N05/2225742917/in/pool-camerawiki | | image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/16822508@N05/2225742917/in/pool-camerawiki | ||
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| − | | image_text= | + | | image_text= 4.5×6 cm Block-Notes with an f/4.5 Krauss-Zeiss Tessar and plate magazine. |
| image_by= John Nuttall | | image_by= John Nuttall | ||
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| − | The '''Block-Notes''' is a strut folding camera for 4.5×6 cm or 6.5×9 cm plates, made by [[Gaumont]] in Paris, from about 1904 (the smaller model) and about 1909 (the larger) until 1924.<ref name=McK>{{McKeown12}}} p338.</ref> It was available with a fixed-focus f/9 [[Hermagis]] anastigmat lens, or with faster lenses including a [[Tessar]] (on the example shown here, this is a Krauss-Zeiss lens, i.e. made by [[E. Krauss]] of Paris under licence from Zeiss; other similar examples have been seen;<ref name=45x6KraussTessar>[http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=181069#181069 4.5×6 cm Block-Notes with 72 mm f/4.5 Krauss-Zeiss Tessar], plate magazine and yellow filter, sold at the [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=175122&acat=175122&offset=1&lang=3 December 2009 Westlicht auction].</ref> however, one example sold at Westlicht is listed as having a ''CZJ'' Tessar).<ref name=CZJTessar>[http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=162944&_ssl=off#162944 4.5×6 cm Block-Notes with a 7.5 cm f/6.3 Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar], with single plate-holders, sold at the [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=148875&acat=148875&lang=3 May 2009 Westlicht Photographica Auction] in Vienna.</ref><ref name=Tes6x9&Stereo6x13>[https://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=9774&_ssl=off#9774 6.5×9 cm Block-Notes with 112 mm f/4.5 Tessar lens, and 6×13 cm Block-Notes Stereo], sold at the [https://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=8141&acat=8141&lang=3 November 2003 Westlicht auction].</ref> Some cameras have a focusing mechanism (the knurled wheel on the rear body in the example illustrated) | + | The '''Block-Notes''' is a strut folding camera for 4.5×6 cm or 6.5×9 cm plates, made by [[Gaumont]] in Paris, from about 1904 (the smaller model) and about 1909 (the larger) until 1924.<ref name=McK>{{McKeown12}}} p338.</ref> It was available with a fixed-focus f/9 [[Hermagis]] anastigmat lens, or with faster lenses including a [[Tessar]] (on the example shown here, this is a Krauss-Zeiss lens, i.e. made by [[E. Krauss]] of Paris under licence from Zeiss; other similar examples have been seen;<ref name=45x6KraussTessar>[http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=181069#181069 4.5×6 cm Block-Notes with 72 mm f/4.5 Krauss-Zeiss Tessar], plate magazine and yellow filter, sold at the [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=175122&acat=175122&offset=1&lang=3 December 2009 Westlicht auction].</ref> however, one example sold at Westlicht is listed as having a ''CZJ'' Tessar).<ref name=CZJTessar>[http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=162944&_ssl=off#162944 4.5×6 cm Block-Notes with a 7.5 cm f/6.3 Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar], with single plate-holders, sold at the [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=148875&acat=148875&lang=3 May 2009 Westlicht Photographica Auction] in Vienna.</ref><ref name=Tes6x9&Stereo6x13>[https://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=9774&_ssl=off#9774 6.5×9 cm Block-Notes with 112 mm f/4.5 Tessar lens, and 6×13 cm Block-Notes Stereo], sold at the [https://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=8141&acat=8141&lang=3 November 2003 Westlicht auction].</ref> Some cameras have a focusing mechanism (operated by the knurled wheel on the rear body in the example illustrated) which pushes the rear end of the struts in and out of the body. This mechanism is the subject of a patent only applied for in 1910, so is probably absent on all cameras earlier than that year.<ref>[http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/originalDocument?CC=FR&NR=423350A&KC=A&FT=D&ND=4&date=19110413&DB=worldwide.espacenet.com&locale=en_EP French Patent 423350] (applied for by Gaumont in 1910 and granted in 1911) describing the focus mechanism used in the Block-Notes, at [http://worldwide.espacenet.com/?locale=en_EP Espacenet], the patent search facility of the European Patent Office.</ref> Certainly some examples of the Block-Notes are fixed-focus: ''Early Photography'' shows a fixed-focus example, which is, however, equipped with a ground-glass focusing screen, and two auxiliary close-up lenses.<ref name=EP>[http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/site/entry_C21.html 4.5×6 cm Block-Notes with 72 mm f/6.5 Krauss Tessar] (with only two aperture stops, not an iris) at [http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/index.html Early Photography].</ref> |
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| + | The front part of the [[Viewfinder#Newton finder|Newton-type viewfinder]] is set in a frame that slides along the lens board for storage when the camera is not in use (and also covers the lens). The shutter is cocked by pulling this finder frame into its working position. A ground-glass screen can also be fitted. The example illustrated here has an optional plate magazine back fitted; single plate-holders can also be used.<ref name=CZJTessar></ref> | ||
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| + | The shutter is a guillotine type; the blade moves under spring tension, with five instantaneous speeds, regulated pneumatically,<ref name=EP></ref> plus 'B'. | ||
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| + | A stereo model, the '''Block-Notes Stereo''' was made from about 1904,<ref name=EP></ref> in sizes for 4.5×10.7 cm and 6×13 cm plates.<ref name=St45x107>[http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=218353&_ssl=off#218353 4.5×10.7 cm Block-Notes Stereo] with Anastigmat lenses, sold at the [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=215787&acat=215787&lang=3 May 2011 Westlicht auction].</ref><ref name=Tes6x9&Stereo6x13></ref> | ||
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== Links == | == Links == | ||
* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/gaumont/html/block_note_6x9.php Block Notes 6.5×9] and [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/gaumont/html/block_note_4x6.php Block Notes 4.5×6] at [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/francais.php Sylvain Halgand's www.collection-appareils.fr] | * [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/gaumont/html/block_note_6x9.php Block Notes 6.5×9] and [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/gaumont/html/block_note_4x6.php Block Notes 4.5×6] at [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/francais.php Sylvain Halgand's www.collection-appareils.fr] | ||
| − | * [http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/originalDocument?CC=FR&NR=322894A&KC=A&FT=D&ND=4&date=19030217&DB=worldwide.espacenet.com&locale=en_EP French Patent 322894] and [http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/originalDocument?CC=GB&NR=190226068A&KC=A&FT=D&ND=4&date=19031126&DB=worldwide.espacenet.com&locale=en_EP British Patent 26068] describing the Block-Notes, at | + | * [http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/originalDocument?CC=FR&NR=322894A&KC=A&FT=D&ND=4&date=19030217&DB=worldwide.espacenet.com&locale=en_EP French Patent 322894] and [http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/originalDocument?CC=GB&NR=190226068A&KC=A&FT=D&ND=4&date=19031126&DB=worldwide.espacenet.com&locale=en_EP British Patent 26068] describing the Block-Notes, at Espacenet. Both patents were applied for in 1902, and granted to Gaumont in 1903. They mention the possibility of a stereo camera, but make no reference to focusing. |
[[Category: 4.5x6 plate strut folding]] | [[Category: 4.5x6 plate strut folding]] | ||
Revision as of 12:52, 2 January 2012
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| 4.5×6 cm Block-Notes with an f/4.5 Krauss-Zeiss Tessar and plate magazine. image by John Nuttall (Image rights) |
The Block-Notes is a strut folding camera for 4.5×6 cm or 6.5×9 cm plates, made by Gaumont in Paris, from about 1904 (the smaller model) and about 1909 (the larger) until 1924.[1] It was available with a fixed-focus f/9 Hermagis anastigmat lens, or with faster lenses including a Tessar (on the example shown here, this is a Krauss-Zeiss lens, i.e. made by E. Krauss of Paris under licence from Zeiss; other similar examples have been seen;[2] however, one example sold at Westlicht is listed as having a CZJ Tessar).[3][4] Some cameras have a focusing mechanism (operated by the knurled wheel on the rear body in the example illustrated) which pushes the rear end of the struts in and out of the body. This mechanism is the subject of a patent only applied for in 1910, so is probably absent on all cameras earlier than that year.[5] Certainly some examples of the Block-Notes are fixed-focus: Early Photography shows a fixed-focus example, which is, however, equipped with a ground-glass focusing screen, and two auxiliary close-up lenses.[6]
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| image by John Nuttall (Image rights) |
The front part of the Newton-type viewfinder is set in a frame that slides along the lens board for storage when the camera is not in use (and also covers the lens). The shutter is cocked by pulling this finder frame into its working position. A ground-glass screen can also be fitted. The example illustrated here has an optional plate magazine back fitted; single plate-holders can also be used.[3]
The shutter is a guillotine type; the blade moves under spring tension, with five instantaneous speeds, regulated pneumatically,[6] plus 'B'.
A stereo model, the Block-Notes Stereo was made from about 1904,[6] in sizes for 4.5×10.7 cm and 6×13 cm plates.[7][4]
Notes
- ↑ 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).} p338.
- ↑ 4.5×6 cm Block-Notes with 72 mm f/4.5 Krauss-Zeiss Tessar, plate magazine and yellow filter, sold at the December 2009 Westlicht auction.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 4.5×6 cm Block-Notes with a 7.5 cm f/6.3 Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar, with single plate-holders, sold at the May 2009 Westlicht Photographica Auction in Vienna.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 6.5×9 cm Block-Notes with 112 mm f/4.5 Tessar lens, and 6×13 cm Block-Notes Stereo, sold at the November 2003 Westlicht auction.
- ↑ French Patent 423350 (applied for by Gaumont in 1910 and granted in 1911) describing the focus mechanism used in the Block-Notes, at Espacenet, the patent search facility of the European Patent Office.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 4.5×6 cm Block-Notes with 72 mm f/6.5 Krauss Tessar (with only two aperture stops, not an iris) at Early Photography.
- ↑ 4.5×10.7 cm Block-Notes Stereo with Anastigmat lenses, sold at the May 2011 Westlicht auction.
Links
- Block Notes 6.5×9 and Block Notes 4.5×6 at Sylvain Halgand's www.collection-appareils.fr
- French Patent 322894 and British Patent 26068 describing the Block-Notes, at Espacenet. Both patents were applied for in 1902, and granted to Gaumont in 1903. They mention the possibility of a stereo camera, but make no reference to focusing.
