While You Wait.

[Ian Grant]

Been looking at an advert in a 1934 BJP Almanac for the "Jano", Plateless camera, made by M.Janovitch & Co, in London.

Positive images made in less than five minutes with the "Jano", Plateless camera.

How did these work ? An image posted a couple of hours ago by Mike Richards is making me think, as I saw a very similar camera in Izmir (Turkey) in an antique shop last year.

Ian

 

[RJS]

Very similar looking cameras and photographers are common in Tijuana. They have cans of chemistry hanging down in which they do their nearly 'instant' processing. At least this used to be true. Always some old Kodak looking camera stuck out in front, and a big box behind. I think in more recent years many used Polaroid. I haven't been to TJ for some time - it takes too long to get back across the border - so I can't tell you more. I think I knew at one time what process they were using, and I'm sure someone reading APUG will know. But at least a few years ago these things were everywhere in Mexico.

 

[BarryWilkinson]

Also very similar to camera's still used in Havana.

Barry

 

[JBrunner]

Just guessing, but from that doohickie on a swivel on the front of the camera that the procedure might be...

expose paper negative of subject
develop and fix
swing doohickie into place
photograph paper negative that has been affixed to the doohickie
develop and fix final image

 

[Ian Grant]

It may be a reversal process shot straight onto paper, just like in Phot-booths . . . . . .

Ian

 

[anjo]

Related article: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghan-camera24-2009jun24,0,6804391.story

 

[Wade D]

I was down in Tijuana last summer when my wife's sister came from Michigan for a visit. We had a picture taken by a street photographer with a zebra striped donkey.
I watched as he did his magic in the box behind the camera. There was no second exposure so I assumed the process was direct positive. No markings on the paper to indicate a brand. 5 Pesos for a 5x7 print in 5 minutes. Not bad.

 

[David Grenet]

If it's a direct positive the image would be laterally reversed - any text in the frame Wade?

 

[trexx]

It is neg-to-pos process. Notice the board in front of the lens. A picture is taken at the old folder's film plane. hand dunked in developer then fix. Quickly rinsed and clipped to the board where a picture is made of the neg at the back plane of the box. I met a man here in Tucson at the Western Historic Photography Society. He had documented these cameras and photographers. He had also done similar photography on Conney Island in the 20's & 30's. He had a colection of the cameras and photographs back to the 30's.

 

[Wade D]

If it's a direct positive the image would be laterally reversed - any text in the frame Wade?

No, there was no text but it was laterally reversed. I watched very closely and there was no second exposure so I'm pretty sure it had to be direct positive.
On another occasion years ago my wife and I went to a photo studio in the mall that did "old time" photos. I dressed as a cowboy and my wife dressed as a call girl. We came back in an hour and received a nice 8x10 sepia print. Too bad such things get lost over time and many moves. The memory is in our minds and not on the wall.