Difference between revisions of "Mackenstein jumelle cameras"

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(Some more details, refs to some examples at Collection d'Appareils and in McKeown.)
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The Paris firm of [[Mackenstein|Établissements Mackenstein]] made both mono and stereo [[jumelle]] cameras in several plate sizes, from shortly before the turn of the 20th century. They are typical jumelle cameras, of good quality. They are wooden-bodied, with leather covering. They were supplied with good quality lenses (see the examples cited below). They have a fairly simple guillotine shutters, behind the lens, with several (typically five) instantaneous speeds, plus 'B' ('Pose'), with the speed control and shutter-cocking knob on the lens board. Focusing is by rack and pinion, with a focusing knob on the right of the body, which winds the lens board out from the body. There is a metal focus scale attached to the top of the lens board.  
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The Paris firm of [[Mackenstein|Établissements Mackenstein]] made both mono and stereo [[jumelle]] cameras in several plate sizes, from shortly before the turn of the 20th century. They are typical jumelle cameras, of good quality. They are wooden-bodied, with leather covering. They were supplied with good quality lenses (see the examples cited below). They have guillotine shutters, behind the lens, with several (typically five) instantaneous speeds, plus 'B' ('Pose'), with the speed control and shutter-cocking knob on the lens board. In some models, the variation of the shutter speed is achieved by a friction brake,<ref name=CdAfriction>[http://www.collection-appareils.fr/Mackenstein/html/jumelle.php 6.5x9 cm mono jumelle camera], about 1900, with friction-regulated shutter, at Sylvain Halgand's [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/carrousel/html/index.php Collection d'Appareils].</ref> and in others by a pneumatic escapement.<ref name=CdA1900>[http://www.collection-appareils.fr/Mackenstein/html/jumelle_9x12_jfl.php 9x12 cm mono jumelle camera], about 1900, with pneumatic shutter regulation, at ''Collection d'Appareils''.</ref> Focusing is by rack and pinion, with a focusing knob on the right of the body, which winds the lens board out from the body. There is a metal focus scale attached to the top of the lens board.  
  
There is a folding [[Viewfinder#Newton finder|Newton finder]] on top of the camera. The exact style of this varies in the examples seen. Some of the cameras also have a spirit level. They have tripod bushes for horizontal and vertical orientation.
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There is a folding [[Viewfinder#Newton finder|Newton finder]] on top of the camera. The exact style of this varies in the examples seen, to serve the particular capabilities of the different models. Some of the cameras also have a spirit level. They have tripod bushes for horizontal and vertical orientation.
  
The plates are held in an interchangeable magazine back, typically for a twelve plate load, with an exposure counter.
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The plates are held in an interchangeable magazine back, typically for a twelve or eighteen plate load, with an exposure counter.
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Some of the cameras are not identified other than as '''jumelles photographiques'''; the generic term for this style of camera.
  
 
The '''Jumelle Réduite''' (French: 'reduced' jumelle; presumably in the sense 'compact') was made from about 1895, in sizes for 6.5x9 cm, 8x9 cm and 9x12 cm plates.<ref>[http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=163130&_ssl=off#163130 9x12 cm mono jumelle camera] with 150 mm f/6.8 Goerz Dagor Series III lens, sold at the [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=148876&acat=148876&lang=3 May 2009 Westlicht Photographica Auction].</ref> The lens board allows front rise (and shift, according to the advertisement shown here, though this cannot easily be seen in the example linked).
 
The '''Jumelle Réduite''' (French: 'reduced' jumelle; presumably in the sense 'compact') was made from about 1895, in sizes for 6.5x9 cm, 8x9 cm and 9x12 cm plates.<ref>[http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=163130&_ssl=off#163130 9x12 cm mono jumelle camera] with 150 mm f/6.8 Goerz Dagor Series III lens, sold at the [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=148876&acat=148876&lang=3 May 2009 Westlicht Photographica Auction].</ref> The lens board allows front rise (and shift, according to the advertisement shown here, though this cannot easily be seen in the example linked).
  
The '''Jumelle Stéreo-panoramique''', of the same date, was made for 6x13 cm or 8x18 cm plates. There is an external rod linkage on the lens board, connecting the aperture controls of the two lenses. In addition to front rise, the lens board also slides sideways, not for perspective control, but to allow one of the lenses to be placed centrally, for panoramic photographs using the whole stereo plate. For such use, the septum dividing the camera inside would be removed (shown in the advertisement illustrated). It is also possible, simply by capping one of the lenses, to make separate mono exposures on each half of the plate.
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The '''Jumelle Stéreo-panoramique''', of the same date, was made for 6x13 cm or 8x18 cm plates. There is an external rod linkage on the lens board, connecting the aperture controls of the two lenses. In addition to front rise, the lens board also slides sideways, not for perspective control, but to allow one of the lenses to be placed centrally, for panoramic photographs using the whole stereo plate. For such use, the septum dividing the camera inside would be removed (shown in the advertisement illustrated). It is also possible, simply by capping one of the lenses, to make separate mono exposures on each half of the plate.
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An example seen at Westlicht has a very large viewfinder lens, to serve the panoramic use, with a folding cover to mask it for the smaller stereo view. It also has ''two'' viewfinder pointers (''in front'' of the finder glass, as illustrated in the advertisement); one for stereo and the other for panoramic use.<ref>[http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=44663&_ssl=off#44663 6x13 cm stereo-panoramic jumelle camera] with 90 mm Goerz Anastigmat Series III, no. 0 lenses and panoramic Newton finder, sold at the [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=43183&acat=43183&lang=3 November 2005 Westlicht auction].</ref>
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In another stereo camera in the larger plate size, the finder, with the pointer ''behind'' the glass, is mounted on a track on the body and can slide sideways, presumably to position it for separate mono exposures as described above.<ref>[http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=222333&_ssl=off#222333 9x18 cm stereo jumelle camera] with 110 mm f/8 Krauss-Zeiss Protar lenses, sold at the [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=215786&acat=215786&offset=2&lang=3 May 2011 Westlicht auction].</ref> It is not clear that this camera can be used for panoramic photographs; certainly the viewfinder is not suited for them.
  
An example seen at Westlicht has ''two'' viewfinder pointers (''in front'' of the finder glass, as illustrated in the advertisement); one for stereo and another for panoramic use.<ref>[http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=44663&_ssl=off#44663 6x13 cm stereo-panoramic jumelle camera] with 90 mm Goerz Anastigmat Series III, no. 0 lenses, sold at the [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=43183&acat=43183&lang=3 November 2005 Westlicht auction].</ref> In another example in the larger size, the finder, with the pointer ''behind'' the glass, is mounted on a track on the body and can slide sideways, presumably to position it for separate mono exposures as described above.<ref>[http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=222333&_ssl=off#222333 8x18 cm stereo-panoramic jumelle camera] (listed by Westlicht as ''9''x18) with 110 mm f/8 Krauss-Zeiss Protar lenses, sold at the [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=215786&acat=215786&offset=2&lang=3 May 2011 Westlicht auction].</ref>  
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Later stereo models (from the early years of the 20th century) include the '''Kallista'''<ref name=Kallista>[http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=9804&_ssl=off#9804 6x13 cm Kallista stereo jumelle camera] with Berthiot Perigraphe lenses and ''circular'' Newton finder, sold at the [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=8141&acat=8141&offset=2&lang=3 November 2003 Westlicht auction].</ref> and '''La Francia'''<ref name=Francia>[http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=9800&_ssl=off#9800 9x18 cm La Francia stereo-panoramic jumelle camera] with 120 mm f/6.3 Krauss-Zeiss Tessar lenses and panoramic Newton finder, sold at the November 2003 Westlicht auction.</ref> McKeown states that the Francia was made in 6x13 and 9x18 cm sizes.<ref name=McK>{{McKeown12}} p641.</ref> The ''La Francia'' name was also used by Mackenstein for strut-folding mono and stereo cameras.<ref name=McK></ref>
  
A curious example seen at auction is a mono 6.5x9 cm camera, disguised as a stereo one.<ref>[http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/2453754 6.5x9 cm mono jumelle camera with right-angled finder] and 110 mm f/8 Carl Zeiss Jena Anastigmat, sold in September 2006 by [http://www.liveauctioneers.com/auctioneer/364-auction-team-breker Auction Team Breker] in Cologne.</ref> What appears to be the right-hand lens on the board is in fact a [[brilliant finder]], mounted sideways to allow surreptitious photographs of subjects to the side of the photographer. This camera is too well-specified to be dismissed as a novelty; its real lens is a 110 mm f/8 CZJ Anastigmat, and it has the same type of guillotine shutter as the other mono jumelles. For normal use, it also has a tubular Newton finder on the top, which folds away into the body.  
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A curious example seen at auction is a mono 6.5x9 cm camera, disguised as a stereo one.<ref>[http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/2453754 6.5x9 cm mono jumelle camera with right-angled finder] and 110 mm f/8 Carl Zeiss Jena Anastigmat, sold in September 2006 by [http://www.liveauctioneers.com/auctioneer/364-auction-team-breker Auction Team Breker] in Cologne.</ref> McKeown kists this model simply as a 'jumelle photographique', and dates it to about 1895.<ref name=McK></ref> What appears to be the right-hand lens on the board is in fact a [[brilliant finder]], mounted sideways to allow surreptitious photographs of subjects to the side of the photographer (it is not clear if this finder can also be rotated for use as a normal waist-level finder). This camera is too well-specified to be dismissed as a novelty; its real lens is a 110 mm f/8 CZJ Anastigmat, and it has the same type of guillotine shutter as the other mono jumelles. For normal use, it also has a tubular Newton finder on the top, which folds away into the body.  
  
  

Revision as of 23:05, 12 January 2012

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The Paris firm of Établissements Mackenstein made both mono and stereo jumelle cameras in several plate sizes, from shortly before the turn of the 20th century. They are typical jumelle cameras, of good quality. They are wooden-bodied, with leather covering. They were supplied with good quality lenses (see the examples cited below). They have guillotine shutters, behind the lens, with several (typically five) instantaneous speeds, plus 'B' ('Pose'), with the speed control and shutter-cocking knob on the lens board. In some models, the variation of the shutter speed is achieved by a friction brake,[1] and in others by a pneumatic escapement.[2] Focusing is by rack and pinion, with a focusing knob on the right of the body, which winds the lens board out from the body. There is a metal focus scale attached to the top of the lens board.

There is a folding Newton finder on top of the camera. The exact style of this varies in the examples seen, to serve the particular capabilities of the different models. Some of the cameras also have a spirit level. They have tripod bushes for horizontal and vertical orientation.

The plates are held in an interchangeable magazine back, typically for a twelve or eighteen plate load, with an exposure counter.

Some of the cameras are not identified other than as jumelles photographiques; the generic term for this style of camera.

The Jumelle Réduite (French: 'reduced' jumelle; presumably in the sense 'compact') was made from about 1895, in sizes for 6.5x9 cm, 8x9 cm and 9x12 cm plates.[3] The lens board allows front rise (and shift, according to the advertisement shown here, though this cannot easily be seen in the example linked).

The Jumelle Stéreo-panoramique, of the same date, was made for 6x13 cm or 8x18 cm plates. There is an external rod linkage on the lens board, connecting the aperture controls of the two lenses. In addition to front rise, the lens board also slides sideways, not for perspective control, but to allow one of the lenses to be placed centrally, for panoramic photographs using the whole stereo plate. For such use, the septum dividing the camera inside would be removed (shown in the advertisement illustrated). It is also possible, simply by capping one of the lenses, to make separate mono exposures on each half of the plate. An example seen at Westlicht has a very large viewfinder lens, to serve the panoramic use, with a folding cover to mask it for the smaller stereo view. It also has two viewfinder pointers (in front of the finder glass, as illustrated in the advertisement); one for stereo and the other for panoramic use.[4]

In another stereo camera in the larger plate size, the finder, with the pointer behind the glass, is mounted on a track on the body and can slide sideways, presumably to position it for separate mono exposures as described above.[5] It is not clear that this camera can be used for panoramic photographs; certainly the viewfinder is not suited for them.

Later stereo models (from the early years of the 20th century) include the Kallista[6] and La Francia[7] McKeown states that the Francia was made in 6x13 and 9x18 cm sizes.[8] The La Francia name was also used by Mackenstein for strut-folding mono and stereo cameras.[8]

A curious example seen at auction is a mono 6.5x9 cm camera, disguised as a stereo one.[9] McKeown kists this model simply as a 'jumelle photographique', and dates it to about 1895.[8] What appears to be the right-hand lens on the board is in fact a brilliant finder, mounted sideways to allow surreptitious photographs of subjects to the side of the photographer (it is not clear if this finder can also be rotated for use as a normal waist-level finder). This camera is too well-specified to be dismissed as a novelty; its real lens is a 110 mm f/8 CZJ Anastigmat, and it has the same type of guillotine shutter as the other mono jumelles. For normal use, it also has a tubular Newton finder on the top, which folds away into the body.


Notes

  1. 6.5x9 cm mono jumelle camera, about 1900, with friction-regulated shutter, at Sylvain Halgand's Collection d'Appareils.
  2. 9x12 cm mono jumelle camera, about 1900, with pneumatic shutter regulation, at Collection d'Appareils.
  3. 9x12 cm mono jumelle camera with 150 mm f/6.8 Goerz Dagor Series III lens, sold at the May 2009 Westlicht Photographica Auction.
  4. 6x13 cm stereo-panoramic jumelle camera with 90 mm Goerz Anastigmat Series III, no. 0 lenses and panoramic Newton finder, sold at the November 2005 Westlicht auction.
  5. 9x18 cm stereo jumelle camera with 110 mm f/8 Krauss-Zeiss Protar lenses, sold at the May 2011 Westlicht auction.
  6. 6x13 cm Kallista stereo jumelle camera with Berthiot Perigraphe lenses and circular Newton finder, sold at the November 2003 Westlicht auction.
  7. 9x18 cm La Francia stereo-panoramic jumelle camera with 120 mm f/6.3 Krauss-Zeiss Tessar lenses and panoramic Newton finder, sold at the November 2003 Westlicht auction.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 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). p641.
  9. 6.5x9 cm mono jumelle camera with right-angled finder and 110 mm f/8 Carl Zeiss Jena Anastigmat, sold in September 2006 by Auction Team Breker in Cologne.