Murer's Express Newness

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Murer & Duroni of Milan made a range of box-form falling-plate detective cameras from around the turn of the 20th century.[1] They are all wooden-bodied, with leather covering. All use a falling-plate mechanism, operated with a lever on the right-hand side of the body, which allows the exposed plate to fall forwards to the bottom of the camera under its own weight, where it is captured by spring-clips, while a spring behind the remaining plates pushes them forward. On most cameras, there is a counter window in the back, showing the number of plates exposed.[2] There are cameras for several plate sizes, and with different levels of specification.

Collection d'Appareils shows advertisements from about the turn of the 20th century for several similar ranges of detective cameras, with the names used below.[3][4][5] Very similar cameras to those described in the advertisements are seen with an impressed stamp on the back, including 'Murer's Express' and 'Newness', plus 'Murer' and either a letter identifying the model size, or 'S' and 'L' either side of a candelabra logo. McKeown gives the letters identifying some of the models: A (8×8 cm), G (9×12 cm), H (13×18 cm) and I (Stereo 9×18 cm). Some of these can be seen on examples cited here. 'SL' is included in several other Murer & Duroni model names, and may be the equivalent of de luxe rather than a model designation. David Tomei explains 'Newness' as a translation of the Italian 'Novità' (innovation),[6] and thus perhaps more a slogan than part of the model name. It seems probable that the cameras formally named 'Express Détective' (but not so marked on the camera) have been conflated in the Express Newness, the name under which McKeown and other sources record the cameras.[1]


Simple Détective

The advertisement at Collection d'Appareils[3] offers this camera only in 9×12 cm size, but states that holders can be obtained allowing 6.5×9 cm plates to be used in the same camera. It is available for a six- or twelve-plate load. It has an achromatic lens, an 'I' and 'B' shutter, adjustable aperture (by selection of one from several fixed apertures; probably with the arm-control on the front, as with other 'Express Newness' models, though this is not explicitly stated in the advertisement). It has Watson-type viewfinders for horizontal and vertical orientation. The lens is fixed-focus, but a set of auxiliary focusing lenses for it is offered.


Express Détective

This camera is clearly a de luxe choice relative to the Simple. The advertisement describes it as made from walnut wood, with first-choice morocco leather covering.[3] It is available for 6.5×9 cm, 9×12 cm and 13×18 cm plates, all with a six-plate load. The two larger sizes have the plate-counter. The specification is otherwise similar to the Simple. The lens is still described as an achromat. Again, there is a swinging arm/ppointer on the front of the camera, below the lens, which selects one of several fixed apertures behind the lens. The camera has two tripod bushes.


Express Détective No. 1

This (and the No. 2 below, advertised alongside it) are probably not contemporary alternatives to the Simple and the Express described above. It is hard to be certain whether the No. 1 and No. 2 are later (in which case the range expanded and improved) or earlier (i.e. the range was simplified); however, the advertisment offers a kit of focusing lenses, and mentions that they will fit both current and older models.

The specification of the No. 1 is similar to the Express above. It has an achromat lens, a single-speed 'I' and 'B' shutter, selectable aperture stops, and two Watson finders; these, however, have small folding hoods/covers. All models have a plate counter. Again, focusing is available only by use of auxiliary lenses. The camera was available in more plate sizes:

  • 8×8 cm (for six plates), with only a single Watson finder.[7]
  • 6.5×9 cm (for six or twelve plates)
  • 9×12 cm (for six or twelve plates)
  • 13×18 cm (for six plates)
  • 9×18 cm stereo camera (for twelve plates);


Express Détective No. 2

This camera has a Rapid Rectilinear lens, and a shutter with two instantaneous speeds (R and L: rapide and lente), plus 'B'. A set of auxiliary focusing lenses is mounted in the camera; confusingly, this is operated using the front arm-control that selects the aperture stop on other models; the RR lens has an iris diaphragm[8] Again, the camera was available in several sizes:

  • 6.5×9 cm (for twelve plates)
  • 9×12 cm (for six or twelve plates)
  • 13×18 cm (for six or twelve plates)[9]
  • 9×18 cm stereo camera (for twelve plates)[10] with a single viewfinder in a small folding hood. There is no linkage between the aperture selectors for the two lenses.


Clearly, the range continued to change, and there are examples of the camera which do not conform exactly to the descriptions above. For example, the 9×12 cm camera in the Tomei collection conforms approximately to the specification of the No. 1 above, but has a two-speed shutter.[6] Another shown at Collection d'Appareils has specifications broadly as the No. 2, but has the auxiliary focusing lenses mounted outside the body, and selected by hand.[11]

McKeown describes the camera as having an f/6.3 or f/4.5 Murer Anastigmat lens;[1] however, no examples have been seen with a lens so marked. He also lists the camera as available in more sizes: 4.5×6 cm and quarter plate (3¼×4¼ inch). No examples of these sizes have been seen.

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. 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). p704.
  2. Express Newness SL at Sylvain Halgand's Collection d'Appareils; a high-specification model, with an iris diaphragm, two-speed shutter and viewfinder covers. there is a picture of the camera with the back open, showing the plate counter.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Advertisements (catalogue pages from Photo Hall) for the Simple Détective and Express Détective at Collection d'Appareils.
  4. Advertisement for the Express Détective No. 1 and No. 2 at Collection d'Appareils].
  5. Second advertisement for the No. 1 at Collection d'Appareils].
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 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.
  7. Express Newness 'A' at Collection d'Appareils.
  8. Newness Express at 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.
  9. 13×18 cm camera with two selector controls on the front, presumably for aperture stop and focusing lens, plus two-speed shutter, viewfinders with hoods, and brown leather, sold at the May 2004 Westlicht Photographica Auction in Vienna.
  10. Express Newness Stereo falling-plate camera for 9×18 cm plates, about 1905, sold at the May 2011 Westlicht auction.
  11. 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.