Betcha don't have one of these

[retro]

Found this at a swap meet this morning. I had no idea what it
was at the time but it looked like a very interesting camera so I
bought it. I know what it is now but have never seen one before.

Can you name it? 😛

It's 4x5, weighs about 7 lbs, has removable spring back, built-in
rangefinder with settings for 90/135/250mm, focal plane shutter
with speeds to 1/1000, lens is a Wolly Raptar 135mm which
is the standard lens for this camera. Front standard has rise,
swing and tilt.

Snapshots of it are crude (sorry) but they should tell the tale:

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Do not have one of those, but I do have a Balda Automatic...

 

[Roger Hicks]

No, but my first 5x4 was a Dawes.

Cheers,

R.

 

[hans voralberg]

Nice kit, no idea what it is though.

 

[FrankS]

I've got a side mounted RF 4x5 Speed Graphic that looks similar.

 

[Luddite Frank]

Busch Pressman ?

 

[retro]

Nope, not Busch nor Graflex.

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

MPP Micro Press?

Wayne

 

[Luddite Frank]

Ansco - Agfa ? Burke & James ?

I'm guessing that it's at least American; looks like a cross between a Pacemaker Speed and a Crown....

?

 

[Gumby]

Yup, you "betcha" correctly!

 

[Luddite Frank]

How about an MPP "Micro-Press" 5x4 ?

 

[bmattock]

Looks like a Kalart Press to me.

 

[retro]

Nope, no one has guessed correctly so far. (I would never have guessed it either.
It's apparently pretty rare)

I thought maybe an MPP too when I bought it but it's not.

(But, I suppose it's possible that this camera was sold under more than one
brand name.)

If there are no more guesses I will soon post the answer ...

 

[BillBingham2]

A Wollenstock?

B2 (;->

 

[Luddite Frank]

A Wollenstock?

B2 (;->

How about a Rodensak ?

😀

 

[Luddite Frank]

Come on, Retro... throw us a bone...

Is it American ?


( Sears & Roebuck ? Montgomery Ward ? Kresge ? )

 

[degruyl]

Seriously, I would have gone with the MPP MicroPress

It looks like a souped up Speed or Super Graphic. American, you say? -> Kodak

 

[johannielscom]

Horseman?

Toyo?

Sinar?

Technika?

Darn nice camera with the focal plane shutter 😱

EDIT: my money's on Kodak too. They made a Graflex-like camera I can recall, and Wollensak was seated in Rochester NY as well. I've seen Kodaks with a Raptar lens before, albeit folder bellows cameras.

 

[bmattock]

I have never laid eyes on one, but I could take a WAG and say it was a Soho brand camera. Ultra rare, American-made.

 

[bmattock]

Another possibility is a Meridian. Also American-made, also super rare. I'm just guessing at this point.