Packard-Ideal Shutter

Michigan Packard-Ideal shutter image by Manual Camera (Image rights)

The Packard-Ideal shutter is any of a small range of simple three-bladed leaf shutters made by the Packard Shutter Company in California. Such a shutter is often used to control exposure with a large-format camera with barrel lens (i.e. one without a built-in shutter). Thus it is an alternative to a roller shutter of the Thornton-Pickard type. The shutters were originally pneumatically controlled, using a hand-bulb, and these are still made. Some models with electric control are also made: Packard shutters are sold for use as a component in a range of equipment, not only for cameras.

• The No. 5 shutter offers only Time exposure.
• The No. 6 shutter also has a single instantaneous setting of about 1/25 second, selected by inserting a pin in a hole.

Either shutter is made in a range of sizes (different diameters of opening).

The shutter may be mounted in front of or behind the lens. The latter arrangement requires that the tube to the hand-bulb pass through the lens board. Front-mounting the shutter clearly makes use of the T/I pin more convenient.

Link

• Packard Shutter Company's minimal website.

Packard shutters listed in a catalogue for Central Camera, Chicago, 1936. scanned by Nesster  (Image rights)