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Look what I just bought?

You bought a desk weight that may be able to take pictures. Is a shutter hidden in there?
 
I don't know, but I want it.

This website could be a wee bit dangerous around Christmas.
 
I think the shutter is a stylish felt hat.
 
Cue Mr. Ian Grant in 4, 3, 2, ...
 
Dan Fromm said:
You bought a desk weight that may be able to take pictures. Is a shutter hidden in there?
Click to expand...

It hasn't shipped from the auction house yet but I will update this thread when I have it in hand. I'm thinking the shutter might be my right hand with a lens cap and my left hand with a stopwatch
 
Looks a bit like this one too.

An R Clarke Half Plate Mahogany Field Camera, 1880-1890, with unmarked f/8 brass lens, body, G-VG, lens, G, front element loose; Marked to top 'R. Clark, 31, Mosley Street, Newcastle'. Very little is known about R.Clark and it is not even certain if he was a maker or a retailer.

Image courtesy of thesaleroom.com

R Clarke Half PLate

 
moggi1964 said:
I'll let you know when it arrives. It's a lovely piece of work by the look of it and there will be a place on the shelf for it if it isn't useable.
Click to expand...
Looks excellent. That lens looks very intriguing. These beautiful old cameras produce amazing results.
 
mshchem said:
Looks excellent. That lens looks very intriguing. These beautiful old cameras produce amazing results.
Click to expand...

I am excited to see it.

On the complete opposite side of things I picked up a Fuji Instax 300 today for the holidays. Be nice to visit mum and leave behind some pictures. Did a couple of test prints and they aren't too bad at all.

Back to the 5x4 (I think), I've been reading about glass plates which is an amazing topic. Moving on to tin soon.
 
As well as felt hats Altrincham was also the home of Thornton Pickard, so look for one of their front mounting shutters Altrincham Town Football team are known as the Hatters. the Mad Hatter in Alice and Wonderland is a refence to the poisoning suffered by workers hadling the felt used in the hat industry in th etown.

Looks like a half plate camera and could well be a Franks camera they ceased trading in 1897.

Ian
 
You need a broad brimmed felt hat and a lot of film. Go out and enjoy yourself.
 

Mercury poisoning was the cause of Mad Hatter syndrome.

https://mgsblog.org/trending/what-was-mercury-used-for-in-hat-making/
 
The stuff you learn on this forum. Thanks Ian.

Can't wait to get my hands on it so I can share more images and detail with you. We are in the middle of moving house so who knows when that might be but I think the excitement of when it arrives means unpacking will take a second place.
 

Good to know you've got your priorities right!
 
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