Junk of the week?

[David H. Bebbington]

Of course the goods on e-bay vary in quality, but I was amused to see this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PLATTENKAMERA...569384556QQcategoryZ33193QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
It's all ready to use, you don't even need to stomp on it, that's been done for yoi!

 

[medform-norm]

Of course the goods on e-bay vary in quality, but I was amused to see this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PLATTENKAMERA...569384556QQcategoryZ33193QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
It's all ready to use, you don't even need to stomp on it, that's been done for yoi!

Wow, a forerunner of the field camera, first time seen with a flexible bed! It's prize will soon rocket if it is a true prototype... Do away with limited front movements and fold the bed the way you want: up, down, sideways or swing a little to the left. Very ingenious for its time, wonder why we don't encounter this feature in more cameras.

 

[laz]

It has 4 bids! I'm gonna improve my German it must be one hell of a sales pitch!

 

[David H. Bebbington]

And you could learn plenty! It says:

Aussagekräftige Bilder ersetzen (fast) das unmittelbare Betrachten.
Alte Plattenkamera, Marke Zeiss Ikon Compur Nr. 258646
Die Kamera ist in einem optisch guten gebrauchten Zustand. Keine Funktionsprobe. Die Mechanik funktioniert. Dazu gibt es einen Selbstauslöser.

Which means:
These informative pictures are (almost) as good as seeing the camera close up.
Old plate camera, type Zeiss Ikon Compur No. 258646
The camera is in a good used cosmetic condition. It has not been tested. The mechanical components [shutter I suppose] work. Comes with a self-timer [he means a cable release - Drahtauslöser].

 

[laz]

The camera is in a good used cosmetic condition.

I'm gonna faint!

 

[Mongo]

Why do I think somebody couldn't figure out how to open it so they just forced it with some sort of lever (a screwdriver perhaps) until it did open?

 

[Andy K]

The camera is in a good used cosmetic condition...

What as, a football?

 

[thedarkroomstudios]

I think I have one that is in worse condition rotting in my basement somewhere... don't worry, I'll list it here 1st so y'all can get a crack at it !!!

 

[laz]

Alright, it now has 5 bids! Fess up, which one of you has a secret ebay.de identity and is just trying to throw us off the scent of a great find?

 

[laz]

I just had an idea: let's get together and buy this thing! We can make it an APUG award of some sort and pass it around from winner to winner. The APUGie!