One Gandolfi.. Two Gandolfi's.. three..

[Bob S]

Billingham bags are definitely more practical with their modern divider systems, and they are beautiful and well made, but their style harkens back to an earlier time.

I also have a Fogg bag. Have you ever seen those? Originally made in the UK but they moved to France.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I also have a Fogg bag. Have you ever seen those? Originally made in the UK but they moved to France.

Yes, Fogg is another elegant bag with a vintage look.

Another bag that I like is the fishing bag from Border Leathercrafts that came with my Noblex 150 from the estate of Ted Harris who used to be a moderator at the Large Format Forum. I made some dividers for it to protect the camera and manage the space better, but it’s one of the most comfortable bags to carry that I have, kind of like a classic Domke in not feeling overpadded.

 

[Ian Grant]

I try not to be a collector, but for a while, I had a thing for Perrin leather bags like the one on the stool in the photo, and I accumulated quite a few of them in nice condition. They were premium photo bags in their day and look like what Billingham aspires to be, but don’t seem to be well remembered, so they don’t sell for much on eBay. Also, since the leather has aged, they are prone to straps breaking, but they’re nice enough to be worth maintaining.

David, that's a canvas case in the photo, the only leather is straps and fittings and also the carrying handle in the photo, these were common here in the UK

Most companies bought their cases in from outside suppliers, in the 1920s The Altrincham Rubber Company offered cases in 200 different sizes and styles. This one is very similar to two Thornton Pickard canvas cases I have, the only difference is TP cases used a green canvas. The two companies had close links Altrincham Rubber Co being a sub-contractor to TP.

Typically a leather case was more than double the cost of a canvas case and the best triple the price.

Ian

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

David, that's a canvas case in the photo, the only leather is straps and fittings and also the carrying handle in the photo, these were common here in the UK

View attachment 258947

Most companies bought their cases in from outside suppliers, in the 1920s The Altrincham Rubber Company offered cases in 200 different sizes and styles. This one is very similar to two Thornton Pickard canvas cases I have, the only difference is TP cases used a green canvas. The two companies had close links Altrincham Rubber Co being a sub-contractor to TP.

Typically a leather case was more than double the cost of a canvas case and the best triple the price.

Ian

Looking more closely at your crop and the way the fabric is fraying, I think you’re right, Ian. Also this case has a handle sewn or riveted to the top, and on all my Perrin bags, the handle straps wrap around to the bottom of the case. Sorry for taking the thread off topic from Gandolfi. I should photograph my Perrin bags properly some time and start a new thread about them. Meanwhile, here’s a quick snapshot of an one that I use for tripod heads and accessories that shows how the straps look.

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

. Meanwhile, here’s a quick snapshot of an one that I use for tripod heads and accessories that shows how the straps look.
View attachment 258979

Thanks for sharing!

to get it on track again....this one was also auctioned in July but apparently as a separate item:

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

...and another one with a really beautiful leather case!...and greatly presented
(5 x 4inch, teak body and Ross Homocentric f5.6 7inch)

 

[Ian Grant]

That's a more typical British leather case. I spent hours restitching my Half Plate Kodak Specialist 2 case last year (British made Kodak Ltd camera not Eastman Kodak),

It's worth remembering why Gandolfi survived so long, it was because they were so mall, and also not a profit driven company, in latter years just two aged brothers and a retired nephew. Another truth is earlier pre WWII Gandolfi's are far better made. The difference is the brass work originally bought in, later had to be made in house, it's not the sae quality.

Ian

 

[BradS]

....
I should photograph my Perrin bags properly some time and start a new thread about them...

View attachment 258979

I look forward to it. That would be interesting. Like others, I have a thing for bags (and jackets).

 

[BradS]

...earlier pre WWII Gandolfi's are far better made. The difference is the brass work originally bought in, later had to be made in house, it's not the sae quality.

Ian

Can you elaborate on this? Were the differences due to materials or craftsmanship or something else?

 

[Ian Grant]

Can you elaborate on this? Were the differences due to materials or craftsmanship or something else?

A combination, First the brass work had originally been bought in, there were once many London camera manufacturers before WWII and much of the brass work was common to a number of companies only a few bits were specially made for particular companies. Later brass work was made in house and isn't as elegant and, in the last few years it was made by Arthur and Fred's nephew a retired engineer.

Arthur and Fred's father Louis and elder brother Thomas were far better craftsmen. You really need to see the DVD with the 16mm film footage of the companies last days, Fred and Arthur were a unique pair of bachelors. They weren't businessmen production was very low they had a long waiting list,

I guess you need to see older Gandolfi's and similar British wood and brass cameras to appreciate the subtle differences I'm alluding to.

Ian

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

A combination, First the brass work had originally been bought in, there were once many London camera manufacturers before WWII and much of the brass work was common to a number of companies only a few bits were specially made for particular companies. Later brass work was made in house and isn't as elegant and, in the last few years it was made by Arthur and Fred's nephew a retired engineer.

Arthur and Fred's father Louis and elder brother Thomas were far better craftsmen. You really need to see the DVD with the 16mm film footage of the companies last days, Fred and Arthur were a unique pair of bachelors. They weren't businessmen production was very low they had a long waiting list,

I guess you need to see older Gandolfi's and similar British wood and brass cameras to appreciate the subtle differences I'm alluding to.

Ian

Thanks Ian, I don't know any pre-WWII camera's made by Gandofi, but had always the impression that their camera's - apparently the later ones - were made less refined than let say the top Houghton camera's (Victo, Sanderson); the difference must have been in the brass work (the difference can be seen looking at the brass struts - and there is less brass inlay).


<edit> just found a picture of what seems an older Gandolfi - might be pre-WWII since the brass work seems more refined:

 

[Craig75]

Thanks Ian, I don't know any pre-WWII camera's made by Gandofi, but had always the impression that their camera's - apparently the later ones - were made less refined than let say the top Houghton camera's (Victo, Sanderson); the difference must have been in the brass work (the difference can be seen looking at the brass struts - and there is less brass inlay).


<edit> just found a picture of what seems an older Gandolfi - might be pre-WWII since the brass work seems more refined:

This is a 10 minute bbc documentary in the 1970s and the brass is discussed a little there.

 

[Ian Grant]

Thanks Ian, I don't know any pre-WWII camera's made by Gandofi, but had always the impression that their camera's - apparently the later ones - were made less refined than let say the top Houghton camera's (Victo, Sanderson); the difference must have been in the brass work (the difference can be seen looking at the brass struts - and there is less brass inlay).

I think "less refined" is the right term. I have quite an early Half Plate Gandofi which I need to restore, needs a strut made and new bellows that does have the same feel and quality of the Houghton cameras.

Was only £30 with a lens and tripod The seller was clearing her brothers house people wanted to buy the lens and tripod separately but the woman was honest the shutter had no shutter blades the tripod was broken (now fixed) and the bellows disintegrating. The wood work and brass are in excellent condition. I have the correct brass to get the missing strut made (modern brass is very different).

That latter comment may be one reason why the post WWII Gandolfi's appear less refined, modern Brass alloys contain significantly less copper. The later Gandolfis use a heavier guage brass for struts etc.

Ian

 

[BradS]

@Ian Grant Very interesting. Thank you.

@Craig75 Thank you for the BBC video too.