Camera Identification Help

EASmithV

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• Aug 27, 2008

• #1

I know this sounds stupid, but do you think that you could identify my camera? It has some odd markings, but a Google search did not prove useful. Also, do you think I should bother to restore the paint coat? I don't want to screw it up if it is an antique, but I don't think it is.

 

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EASmithV

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• Aug 27, 2008

• #2

by the way I have cleaned it up since this was taken so it looks a bit better. The numbers (date??) on the part of the label that is
too curved up to see looks like 1987

 

dbonamo

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• Aug 27, 2008

• #3

To me the date looks more like 194?

 

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EASmithV

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• Aug 27, 2008

• #4

Its hard to read, let alone in the pic let me see if I can take a better one.

 

Nicholas Lindan

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• Aug 27, 2008

• #5

Burke & James or Calumet (or ????) 'Orbit' 8x10 monorail. I have never seen one exactly like it - seems to be a _very_ basic no-movements model. Arkay makes print driers, I don't know what connection they have or ever had with cameras. Possibly the camera is something Army surplus c. WWII.

 

Last edited by a moderator: Aug 27, 2008

Barry S

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• Aug 27, 2008

• #6

Yes, Orbit was a Burke & James brand. It may have been Arkay company equipment at one time. I wouldn't worry about restoring or painting--it's not exactly a rare antique.

 

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EASmithV

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• Aug 27, 2008

• #7

Thanks thats just what I wanted to hear

 

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EASmithV

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• Aug 27, 2008

• #8

by the way the back can rotate and tilt, but those are the only movements

 

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EASmithV

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• Aug 28, 2008

• #9

You were right about not seeing anything like this before. I have been searching the internet like crazy and have not found any piucture like it. It is possible that I am not looking in the right places or I dont have enough information to do an effective search. However a though crossed my mind... If it has an arkay sticker, and Is an Orbit camera, is it possible that Arkay had this camera custom made for a specific purpose?