Murer's Express Newness
The Express Newness cameras are a range of box-form falling-plate detective cameras made around the turn of the 20th century by Murer & Duroni in Milan.[1] It is not clear that this is the name intended by the maker, but it is widely used; the cameras have an impressed stamp including 'Murer's Express' and 'Newness', plus 'Murer' and either a letter identifying the model size, or 'S' and 'L' each side of a candelabra logo. 'SL' is included in several other Murer & Duroni model names, and may be the equivalent of de luxe rather than a model designation.
The cameras are wooden with leather covering. They have Murer Anastigmat lenses,[1] and a guillotine shutter. The speed of this is adjustable on some models (usually simply between 'fast' and 'slow').
There is a swinging arm on the front, below the lens. On most models, this selects one of a several aperture stops (i.e. fixed stops in a metal plate, not an iris). On some examples, however, this control moves one of several auxiliary focusing lenses into place.[2][3]
Other than the square-format and stereo models, they have two Watson-type viewfinders, for vertical and horizontal orientation. Some examples have folding covers over the finders.
A lever on the right hand side of the body allows the exposed plate to fall; a spring behind the remaining plates pushes them forward. On at least some of the cameras, there is a counter window in the back.[4]
- 4.5×6 cm
- 6.5×9 cm
- 8×8 cm (A) with a single Watson finder on the top, and only a single-speed 'I' and 'B' shutter.[5]
- 3¼×4¼ inch (quarter plate)
- 9×12 cm (G)[6]
- 13×18 cm (H)
- Stereo 9×18 cm (I),[7] with a simple reflex viewfinder (perhaps a Watson type like the other models) in a small folding hood.
The cameras are very similar indeed to detective cameras sold by Gaumont in France, and other companies elsewhere. David Tomei states that Murer made and exported these cameras.[6]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 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). p704.
- ↑ Newness Express at Sylvain Halgand's Collection d'Appareils; apparently a de luxe model, with brown leather, two-speed shutter, folding viewfinder hoods and spirit levels beside each finder. The front arm-control on this camera selects one of three focusing lenses, and the lens has an iris diaphragm.
- ↑ Another example of the Express Newness at Collection d'Appareils, with auxiliary focusing lenses mounted on the front; the front arm-control selects the aperture stop. It has a single-speed shutter, no covers on the viewfinders, and a single spirit level.
- ↑ Express Newness SL at Collection d'Appareils; another de luxe model, with an iris diaphragm, two-speed shutter, viewfinder covers. there is a picture showing the plate counter.
- ↑ Express Newness 'A' at Collection d'Appareils.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Notes on the Express Newness SL falling-plate box camera, about 1900, for 9×12 cm plates, in the Collection of Elisabetta and L. David Tomei.
- ↑ Express Newness Stereo falling-plate camera for 9×18 cm plates, about 1905, sold at the May 2011 Westlicht Photographica Auction in Vienna.
