Paul T.
Veteran
I recently lost a friend, an expert on molluscs, geology and architecture and together with his executor we're finding homes for some remaining possessions. Many of his rare books have gone to the Mellon Foundation and historic societies; I've been sorting through the less valuable books - themselves fascinating -and sending them to Oxfam, while a antique/junk dealer is clearing out the rest of the house (the dealer's dad cleared out the house of my friend Michael's mum, so even if he makes extra £££ on things like antique microscopes we're fine with that, it keeps it in the tradition of the area).
I pulled out a couple of things the antiques dealer probably won't pay for, and use the funds for a meal in his memory - we will scatter his ashes at a valley in Kent, the Devil's Kneading Trough, where he led a geology expedition and made his name after a groundbreaking article for the Royal Society.
I presume these are both plate cameras. If I get time I'll list tonight but I would appreciate some info.
The first I suspect is an average folder, Wallace Heaton (?), Anastigmat lens. Does it take plates? I think there's an extra box of plate holders with them,
The second looks slightly better quality, Zeiss Tessar, maybe it's a Contessa, nice quality wooden case. Again, I think it takes plates. These are both lovely condition as he was meticulous in looking after things.
I haven't opened out the bellows as I know from the Zeiss folder my dad gave me that they can be tricky. If there's anything crucial I need to check I'd appreciate if folks could tell me. I'm in.
Secondly: can anyone here use 35mm slide mounts? PM me. Paul Trynka
I pulled out a couple of things the antiques dealer probably won't pay for, and use the funds for a meal in his memory - we will scatter his ashes at a valley in Kent, the Devil's Kneading Trough, where he led a geology expedition and made his name after a groundbreaking article for the Royal Society.
I presume these are both plate cameras. If I get time I'll list tonight but I would appreciate some info.
The first I suspect is an average folder, Wallace Heaton (?), Anastigmat lens. Does it take plates? I think there's an extra box of plate holders with them,
The second looks slightly better quality, Zeiss Tessar, maybe it's a Contessa, nice quality wooden case. Again, I think it takes plates. These are both lovely condition as he was meticulous in looking after things.
I haven't opened out the bellows as I know from the Zeiss folder my dad gave me that they can be tricky. If there's anything crucial I need to check I'd appreciate if folks could tell me. I'm in.
Secondly: can anyone here use 35mm slide mounts? PM me. Paul Trynka
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JeffS7444
Well-known
Teak camera is a Zeiss Contessa Nettel “tropical” model, very cool. Designed for use with dry glass plates.
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Paul T.
Veteran
I have put the ad up (thanks for your forbearance, mods) and I will consider swaps. Please do have a really good look at the plate cameras as I will never use them and want them to go to a loving home! Likewise the PC lenses which are pretty rare and pioneering.
Retro-Grouch
Veteran
Sorry for the loss of your friend. It's heartwarming to see that you're honoring him by finding good homes for what were obviously treasured cameras. Too often, items like these get discarded as "old junk".
Muggins
Junk magnet
This is the closest I can find - given the "Made in Germany" badge and the Compur shutter, I suspect it was made under contract to Wallace Heaton, who were a well-known photoppgraphic retailer in London, though as for who by...
www.worthpoint.com
- Wallace Heaton Zodel Camera w/ 105mm f3.8 Zodellar-Anastigmat Lens | #1936082782
- Wallace Heaton Zodel Camera w/ 105mm f3.8 Zodellar-Anastigmat Lens Description: For sale is a vintage Wallace Heaton Zodel camera. It has a Zodellar-Anastigmat 105mm f3.8 lens with a Compur shutter.
www.worthpoint.com
wlewisiii
Just another hotel clerk
Oh, beautiful. Would love to have such a delightful camera as that Tropical.
Thank you for sharing them here.
Thank you for sharing them here.
Paul T.
Veteran
I regret we never spoke photography, sadly his eyesight had deteriorated over the last decade. We have found a home for the huge database he made on stained glass although I'm not sure about his archive of slides. I wonder if the plate cameras belonged to his dad. So far I've sorted out 21 boxes of books, about another 20 to go, many to specialist dealers. Luckily these day the charity bookshops (Oxfam) will get good prices for good books. Although it's quite a responsibility sorting out old wallpaper samples (worthless) vs rolled up 1790s prints ($500), or anonymous stones from a geology trip vs flint axes that date back 400,000 years - pre Neanderthal, Homo Heidelbergensis. One of the latter may end up in my son's case of Thames treasures.
