B&W No. 2 Folding Autographic Brownie

Following up on the antique shop finds in this post: Both cameras needed work on the bellows as they were full of holes. However, the internet recommended solution of painting with Water Based Gutta seems to have done the trick. So I loaded up the No.2 Folding Autographic with a roll of Pan F and took it for a wander up to St Martha's, Guildford.
I (semi-)stand processed the film (Tetenal Paranol S @ 1;100, 30mins+3 inversions+30mins) and scanned it today...

Frame#2 -as scanned: (Frame#1 was filthy, covered, I suspect, in dusty little bits of the inside of the bellows, you can see the remains of this at the edge of this frame too)


Frame#2 -cropped, tweaked contrast, and burned in the sky a little in LR. Then I got carried away and spot-removed the worst of the dust!

*boosting the contrast has however shown up some bromide drag especially as seen above the tower. A risk with stand processing that needs investigation... suggestions appreciated.

Frame#3 -LR edited as above: Looks like I didn't get all the light leaks. I'm hoping this is either the film numer window or the Autographic door leaking. More gaffer tape will be required.


Frame#8 _LR edited as above. Those swirly, out of focus edges are interesting and the vignette was in-camera too.


Verdict: It's about 95yrs old! So I reckon it's doing alright for it's age. If I can sort that leak out I'll be using this more.

It is worth keeping a duff roll of film especially for 'new' old cameras. As you wind the film, you generate a small amount of static electricity on the film which will attract any loose dust inside the camera - as you have found. If you run the duff film through the camera first, it will do a splendid job of cleaning the insides and then you can use the good film without any dust problems.

john.margetts said:

It is worth keeping a duff roll of film especially for 'new' old cameras. As you wind the film, you generate a small amount of static electricity on the film which will attract any loose dust inside the camera - as you have found. If you run the duff film through the camera first, it will do a splendid job of cleaning the insides and then you can use the good film without any dust problems.

Click to expand...

That's a handy tip John, thanks. Although, with this one I think I may also have to try painting the insides to stop more dust falling off over time.

Remarkably good results from such an old camera.