Identify my new folding camera

Grafx

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I bought an old bellows camera at a garage sale. It has no ID anywhere outside or within the camera itself. Only the lens has an ID. It is a very old folding. It takes Seneca 3 x 5/14 sheet film packs. The lens is a Voigtlander 5 7/8" Dynar no3 f/6-44 without shutter. The camera uses a winding focal plane shutter mechanism. It looks to be in good shape. It has a separate fold down sighing glass that says Made in France. Folded it measures 8x4x2. Is it possible to send send some photos of it to have it identified on this forum?
 

Donald Qualls

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Photos would help a great deal. You can attach them to your posts in this thread by uploading directly from the message editor.
 

Kino

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Sounds like it's a 3A/post card format camera and it could be like those "no-name" 9 x 12cm folding cameras that were assembled from various suppliers by independent film equipment distributors.

But, of course, pictures would help greatly...
 

Sirius Glass

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Need some photos to help you.
 
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Grafx

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Here are some photos of the camera. Any information you can provide would be helpful. Any idea what it would be worth online?
I wasn't quite sure about the uploading procedure.
Thanks.
 

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grat

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Whoa. That's an unusual beastie. Focal-plane shutter, and what looks like a plate holder?

Yeah, I know-- you said all that in your description.

My guess would be it's a one-off built by someone.
 
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removed account4

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hi Grafx
Not sure of the brand it might taking some digging .. use the lens name as part of the search together with 3A .. I kind of agree with kino, it looks / seems like a 3a post card format camera.. kodak made them by the boatload they usually go for around $60 each.
you might make contact with the good folks at pacific rim camera, they know a lot about a lot and might be able to help you figure out the make &c

have fun with your new toy !
John
 

Sirius Glass

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That is a great folding sheet film camera. Enjoy.
 

Kino

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That is a very well built camera. Wish I could help you identify it, but I am guessing it is fairly unusual.
Nice!
 

Donald Qualls

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Fortunately, you don't need to know who built it to identify what plate holders it takes -- and that pack film back is easily converted to a ground glass for focusing. Postcard format plate holders (and film sheaths, and especially film in that size) are harder to find than the more standard 9x12 cm or 4x5 inch, but J. Lane (our own @Nodda Duma ) makes and sells dry plates in that size, so if you can find one or more plate holders that fit the mount, you can make glass negatives (and maybe ambrotypes). BTW, glass negatives are really nice for contact printing...
 
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Grafx

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I want to thank everyone for their comments and help trying to identify this camera. Yesterday, I decided to place it on Ebay for $125. It was sold within 2 hours to someone who lives only 20 minutes from me!!! I find this forum to be very useful for any photo equipment questions I have.
 

Donald Qualls

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Nice flip, then. If I found one of those with at least one plate holder and ground glass back, I'd be very, very tempted. I've got two plate cameras, but a different aspect ratio adds interest...
 

gone

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I LOVE that front standard! Looks like a castle drawbridge, and it sure looks sturdy. I'd buy that camera in a second if it was reasonably priced. If the shutter curtain is less than reliable, and I would bet that it is, just slap a lens-in-shutter on the front. Cool.
 

Ron (Netherlands)

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Prices largely depend here on what is delivered with the camera: an original ground glass screen, plateholders, other stuff....
...and whether the shutter is in working state....
 
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