Curtis
|
| Color-Scout image by S. Katz (Image rights) |
Thomas S. Curtis Laboratories was the developer of color photographic materials and maker of at least two one-shot three-color cameras in the 1940s. Curtis was based in Huntington Park, in south-central Los Angeles.
Curtis produced the Neotone and Orthotone printing processes for making color prints from color-separation negatives, in the 1930s.[1] This was after several generations of Agfachrome and Kodachrome had been produced. The company then developed and produced materials for Chromatone, a color-separation film process using collodion-based emulsion on a paper backing, that was lifted off this backing during processing to obtain better transparency.[2]
Cameras
- Color-Scout, 1941. Aluminium-bodied camera for one-shot three-color photographs on 2¼x3¼-inch sheet film or film-packs, in special dark-slides incorporating the color-separation filters.[2] Two of these attach to the rear and one side of the camera, and the third inserts in a slot. A ground-glass focusing screen can be attached to one of the film-holder positions for focusing, but the camera also has a Kalart rangefinder. The camera was offered with a Bausch & Lomb IIB F/6.3 Tessar in Compur shutter, or a Goerz Dogmar f/4.5 in Compound shutter;[2] a directory in Popular Photography lists the camera with an Ilex 7½-inch f/4.5 Paragon Anastigmat in an Ilex No.3 Acme Synchro shutter,[3] and an example has been seen at auction with this lens.[4] McKeown lists the camera as having an 80mm f/4.5 Ektar and Compur shutter.[5] The camera may also have a folding frame-finder, mounted on the same side as the rangefinder (one of the cited examples has it, the other not). Curtis used their own 'Diafon' mirrors as beam-splitters in the camera, and claimed that these lost less light than others, allowing the camera to be used with faster shutter speeds/smaller aperture stop than rival color-separation cameras.[2]
- Color-Master, about 1948. A similar camera to the Color-Scout, but for 4x5-inch film. McKeown lists this as having a 5½-inch Ilex Paragon Anastigmat;[5] the directory cited above does not specify any lens for it.[3] The camera has a bellows allowing up to 12 inch extension. A twin-lens focusing accessory was available: this appears to be a parallel bellows with a ground-glass screen, not a reflex finder.
Notes
- ↑ Timeline of Historical Film Colors by Barbara Flueckiger at the University of Zurich (an amazing presentation of a huge number of processes).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The Curtis Scout Tri-Color Camera and Chromatone Color Process; notes by Jeremy Rowe at the Arizona Photography Alliance: reproductions of contemporary advertising for the process, and several photos of the Color-Scout camera.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Popular Photography October 1948, p116, at Google Books. The price of the Color-Scout in 1948 was $595, and the Color-Master without lens $1070.
- ↑ Curtis Color-Scout camera with Ilex lens and shutter, sold by LP Foto Auktioner in January 2022.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 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). p232.
Links
- Notes on Curtis at Scott's Photographica Collection (the page is presented as an appeal for help with the author's most recent efforts, so may well change).
