Nice buy: Old RF camera, but disappointing film

[BrianShaw]

Recently I bought a camera outfit on eBay advertised as a "Plus-X Camera". It ended up being a fairly complete Anniversary Graphic (with Hugo-meyer rangefinder) kit, including a dozen film holders and a 3-cell Graflite flash., conveniently packaged in a Graphlex camera case. 🙂

I don't really need another 4x5 Graphic (but this might be a fun camera). What I was really curious about was why the seller had the impression that it was a "Plus-X" camera. I suppose what I was really hoping for was a box of usable 4x5 Plus-X to be buried in the camera case. Oh, how I miss that film! 🙁

What I found in the camera case was equally surprising: a two-thirds of a box of Royal-X (1250 ASA) with a 1973 expiration date. 😱 There are 75 sheets -- three factory sealed envelopes. I don't have too mch hope that the film has held its speed, but maybe there will be some fun experimenting in the future.

Also included in the bottom of the case were several film data sheets for Plus-X pack film. That must be why the auction was titled "Plus-X Camera".

Oh, I pulled the darkslide of one film holder and found a sheet of film in it. I'll take the other holders to the darkroom to see if they, too, are still loaded. Whoever owned this before left a 3-frame strip of 35mm neg in the box. A couple of pics of a steel bridge and one frame of cows. Oh... how very interesting 🙄

 

[BillBingham2]

EvilBay strikes again.

B2 (;->

 

[kaiyen]

Brian,
Wow. Talk about a find. That film must have mad fog, but let us know how it goes.

allan

 

[zuikologist]

I look forward to seeing the results. I wonder if the 35mm film strip is a coded message.....

 

[BrianShaw]

I look forward to seeing the results. I wonder if the 35mm film strip is a coded message.....

I was thinking something similar. Let's see: bridge, bridge, cow = BBC = something British is in your future (or past). 😉

 

[BrianShaw]

Brian,
Wow. Talk about a find.

Ya... talk about a find: $24 plus shipping. I almost feel guilty. The outfit has obviously been used a lot, but in great shape. There has been some battery leakage in the flash unit that eroded a small hole in the side of that battery handle - no big deal. The shutter, an old dial-set Compur, runs well and sounds accurate. The synchronizer solenoid was disconnected so I reconnected it and cleaned the lens. The lens is a Kodak Anastigmatic (Tessar desing, I believe). Only issue is a fingerprint that has etched itself in the rear element. I'm still playing with the focal plane shutter; what a clunky set-up. Hopefull this week-end I can expose a sheet of film. I probably won't mess with that Royal Pan for a while, however.

Oh, anyone have any old bayonet-base flashbulbs they aren't using?

 

[BrianShaw]

My apologies to whoever PM'd me the comment on the rangefinder (I deleted it and completely forgot who sent it).

Indeed, the rangefinder is not a hugo-meyer, but a Kalart. This camera seems to have some features of the earliest Anny's, and other features of later Anny's. Maybe there is some dating information based on serial number... but I have found netiher that list, nor the serial number of this camera. Thanks for the info!