LF camera Made in Italy - request for information

[BlueWind]

Hello

This is a request for help from members who might be familiar with Large Format cameras made in Italy. I have a LF camera made by “La fotomecânica C. Lupo” , from Torino. The “La Fotomeccanica C Lupo” made several LF cameras (models “Victoria”, “Aldina” , “Studio 7” ) until the early sixties. All seem to use 13 X 18 negatives (this needs to be confirmed). This is the model I have

It will be difficult, or impossible, to restore it to its original form, due to the unavailability of important missing parts. It may also have been subject to changes by previous owners.
So I may try to rebuild an hybrid LF camera adapting parts from other cameras (or making those parts, if possible). Before I start the project I would like to know some details from the original model
The first questions I would like to be answered (if possible with pictures) are :
What is precisely the model that I have ? What lens / lenses were used in this camera ? How was the procedure to insert/remove the negative holders ? What negative holders were used ?
If you can suggest some Italian web resources (large format photo websites, clubs, associations, etc) where I can ask for more information, that woul be great. Language will not be a problem , being a native Portuguese speaker I can understand written Italian.
Thank you in advance for your input
Regards
Joao

 

[MTGseattle]

I hope this link works.

There's a brief paragraph regarding Fotomeccanica Lupo

L'INDUSTRIA FOTOGRAFICA ITALIANA 4 - DANILO CECCHI

L'INDUSTRIA FOTOGRAFICA ITALIANA 4. Storia delle fotocamere italiane. Danilo Cecchi, giugno 2002

www.nadir.it

 

[BlueWind]

I hope this link works.

There's a brief paragraph regarding Fotomeccanica Lupo

L'INDUSTRIA FOTOGRAFICA ITALIANA 4 - DANILO CECCHI

L'INDUSTRIA FOTOGRAFICA ITALIANA 4. Storia delle fotocamere italiane. Danilo Cecchi, giugno 2002

www.nadir.it

Yes the models made by C. Lupo are mentioned there.
As a side note, I was amazed by the amount and diversity of camera models made in Italy..
Thank you for your reply
Joao

 

[Marco Gilardetti]

Unfortunately I don't know of any Italian forum where anything but the number of pixels in a mirrorless digital gizmo could be seriously discussed. You're already writing in the most knowledgeable place in this regard, I'm afraid.

Despite living in Torino, I wouldn't know where to find any relevant information - too many years have passed. Perhaps a starting point would be to write to a pair of renowned used camera shops here in town. Probably they don't know anything either, but you can ask if they can put you in contact with some collector who may indeed know.

IL CONTATTO - Vendita materiale fotografico nuovo, usato e da collezione.

Reflex Top Linea – Il negozio dei fotografi a Torino

www.reflex-top-linea.it

 

[Dustin McAmera]

I guess you found this Aldina:

Oldcam auction June 2023

Oldcam auction June 2023

oldcam.be

 

[Dustin McAmera]

.. and this one, which seems to be the same as yours, but has wooden parts in the standards. For sale at subito.it

https://www.subito.it/fotografia/vintage-banco-ottico-la-fotomeccanica-lupo-vicenza-457544283.htm

 

[ic-racer]

It appears to offer no movements other than focus and may have used some propriatary film holder system.

 

[Dustin McAmera]

Yeah. Of the two, I'll take the Aldina. Thanks.

 

[BlueWind]

Thank you all for your replies.
So far, no answers. I even contacted "CAMERA - Centro Italiano per la fotografia" in Torino, and nothing.
I will remove the remains of the Italian camera, keep them apart, and will use the robust column to hold another LF heavy studio camera that is currently living on a tripod. It is possible to build a functional adaptation .
Regards
Joao