Can anyone ID this full plate wooden monorail

[andarc]

I am mulling over whether to restore this camera. It is apparently a full plate camera. It has been fitted with heavy iron grips for a monorail, I see no evidence that it ever had a solid base. It has heavy mahogany construction akin to a late 19th century studio camera. The lensboard is 3&3/4" by 5". It is missing the original ground glass (it has a later jury-rigged gg made from a plate holder). There is no identification on the camera. An Alphax shutter was mounted on the lensboard at some much later time.

 

[Ian Grant]

It's a strange camera, yes a Monorail, but an obscure make, I read or own a lot of early Photo books from the mid to late 1800's onwards, and haven't seen one like that so far.

I have lab stand bits that could be used to make a Monorail but like this one therere's no appararent way of stopping front/back going out of alignment. So it may be home made.

Ian

 

[Jerevan]

Interesting camera, I've never seen one of these - I thought the monorail was a later (as mid 20th century) idea. Not much in the way of movements, but I think it could be worth restoring for photography use again. With a rail and some sort of Sinar style clamp, it could work well.

 

[andarc]

I've decided not to restore it, since I have no skills and talent in that direction. If someone would like to take it on, please contact me. Thanks for the information supplied.