Help with camera and lens info.

[Elrin]

I received an 8x10 camera with a brass lens and was wondering if anyone could contribute any information about them/the companies? I've done some research but I'm not finding a whole lot.

Camera:
8x10 Tailboard
'Chr. Tauber/Wiesbaden' identification on camera
No model number or model name

Lens:
'No. 17983'
'Bistigmat 18x24'
'Rodenstock Munchen'
'Bildaufn/Mattsch' which I have seen online people stating it means 'Scenery/Portrait' and others stating 'Take photo/??' as well as one is for use when you are focusing on the ground glass (Mattsch) and the other is for when you take the photo (Bildaufn), their reasoning was it makes up for the placement of the plate holder when inserted since the position from the lens is slightly different for the plate holder than the ground glass. The Mattsch mode extends the barrel .5cm, and has a revolver aperture.

I've narrowed down the lens to be from approx. 1892-1895, since Rodenstock's website states that's when the Bistigmat lens was created and within 3 years sold a ton.

I can't find anything about the camera or manufacturer besides a few advertisements in magazines from 1901/1903/1911 and then several in Nazi magazines during the war.

If anyone has any input or information about either I appreciate it. I'll also be posting this in the Plate Cameras forum as well. Thanks.

 

[MattKing]

Good luck with your task.
I can't help with any answers, but it is clear to me that that name plate is quite new - not of the same age as the camera and lens.

 

[MattKing]

PS - please don't post duplicate threads in more than one sub-forum - people will generally see your thread as a new one no matter where it is posted. I'll combine your threads.

 

[Tel]

I agree with Matt--that nametag on the camera is new-ish and seems to identify a camera shop in Church Street in Wiesbaden. It's also badly mounted; might identify a shop where it was sold or maybe was part of a window display(?). But the early Rodenstock lens is a great find. Maybe not worth a lot of money (I see one like this on evilbay with an asking price of $200) but a neat piece of history in any case.

 

[xya]

... one is for use when you are focusing on the ground glass (Mattsch) and the other is for when you take the photo (Bildaufn), their reasoning was it makes up for the placement of the plate holder when inserted since the position from the lens is slightly different for the plate holder than the ground glass. The Mattsch mode extends the barrel .5cm, and has a revolver aperture...

That's it. Sorry, can't help with the other questions. Good luck!

 

[Ian Grant]

This style of tail board camera is known as a Reisekamera the German term for a Travel camera. There are some variations but they were made mostly in Germany and France, and in Russia into the 1970's.

Ian