Hi,
Accidentally found a 5x7 (or most probably 13x18cm) camera for cheap. Having used a relatively modern 4x5 with paper positives for a while now I'm excited about this larger find, probably manufactured in the end of the 19th century.
So, the specs, the text I've been able to read. The sign on the camera reads: "H. Mackenstein Fab't a Paris. Bruno Laenger (Saenger?) & CO. St. Petersbourg."
The lens: "Tessar Zeiss 1 : 4,5 F - 18 cm Bte E. Krauss Paris No. 148885 (?)".
It seems to be difficult to find info on Mackenstein cameras online and even a search on this forum did not bring up anything. I would be thankful on any information regarding it.
It seems that the camera has been sitting on a loft for a while - the front is dirtier than the other sides and the apparatus has a quite strong unpleasant old smell to it. It is otherwise in good order: bellows do not seem to leak, everything kind of moves, the back rotates, an image is produced on the ground glass onto which other format guidelines have been drawn hinting the possibilites. The aperture moves smoothly although the ring is not attached to it anymore, but this seems to be easily fixable. A lot of questions regarding the restoration arise though: how to clean the outside of the lens (soda and lemon juice?) and whether the inside can be done at home too or would it be to difficult? Would it be with a possibility that I won't be able to reassemble the lens or are these generally simple lenses that I can just start unscrewing from the "logical" point? Is it possible to attach a shutter which it seems to miss right now?
I'm still in the beginning of hopefully turning the camera into a beaut so there's a lot of info to be read regarding restoration... Still, wanted to make the thread already so that if anyone with info regarding the camera knows anything - please do write!
Accidentally found a 5x7 (or most probably 13x18cm) camera for cheap. Having used a relatively modern 4x5 with paper positives for a while now I'm excited about this larger find, probably manufactured in the end of the 19th century.
So, the specs, the text I've been able to read. The sign on the camera reads: "H. Mackenstein Fab't a Paris. Bruno Laenger (Saenger?) & CO. St. Petersbourg."
The lens: "Tessar Zeiss 1 : 4,5 F - 18 cm Bte E. Krauss Paris No. 148885 (?)".
It seems to be difficult to find info on Mackenstein cameras online and even a search on this forum did not bring up anything. I would be thankful on any information regarding it.
It seems that the camera has been sitting on a loft for a while - the front is dirtier than the other sides and the apparatus has a quite strong unpleasant old smell to it. It is otherwise in good order: bellows do not seem to leak, everything kind of moves, the back rotates, an image is produced on the ground glass onto which other format guidelines have been drawn hinting the possibilites. The aperture moves smoothly although the ring is not attached to it anymore, but this seems to be easily fixable. A lot of questions regarding the restoration arise though: how to clean the outside of the lens (soda and lemon juice?) and whether the inside can be done at home too or would it be to difficult? Would it be with a possibility that I won't be able to reassemble the lens or are these generally simple lenses that I can just start unscrewing from the "logical" point? Is it possible to attach a shutter which it seems to miss right now?
I'm still in the beginning of hopefully turning the camera into a beaut so there's a lot of info to be read regarding restoration... Still, wanted to make the thread already so that if anyone with info regarding the camera knows anything - please do write!
