Years ago I owned a similar style drop plate camera in quater plate format ( houghton butcher). It was large, heavy and cumbersome in use although the lens did offer a good sharp contrasty image.
i sold it due to the not so easily available filmand the fact that I was, at the time , more into roll film formats and cameras.
Since returning into LF as a ole format for my togging, I have had the occasional yearn to adopt a detective camera, basically the same as the houghton but 9x12 format and of course French / European.
Much as they can be found in excellent condition, they demand a hig price ( for a box camera!).
The majority that become available even at a moderate cost usually have faults or lack the plate holders.
Anyway I came across this one :
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Dating back to circa 1900, it is for its age in vgc.
The lens is clean with no fungus.
The sliding lens protector is present and functions correctly.
The viewfinders are reasonable, a little breaking up of the mirror silver I think but perfectly usable and let’s be honest they were never great for seeing through back in the day anyway.
The diaphragm is smooth ( adjuster located above the lens) and offers apertures from f/8 to f/64 interestingly marked in two stop increments.
The shutter cocks and fires just fine using the arme key to cock it . The shutter release being located alongside with P and I modes.
Even the fastest shutter speed of 1/60 sounds to be spot on!!!
The shutter speeds can be made slower using the knob on the side which effectively slows the guillotine speed quite literally by a brake like system.
The half moon configuration of numbers relate to focus distance min 2.5 meters ( about 8ft) through to 20meters...... after that with the aperture stopped down and brings infinity into focus.
This mechanism is a tad stiff to operate but it is functional and may simply need cleaning.
There are two bubble levels, both intact although only one appears to work.
The other panel on the side near the rear of the camera with a key like attachment is the mechanism for dropping the exposed plate inside the camera.
There is a frame counter 1-12......unbelievable that it still works flawlessly after more than a century.
There are however only 8 plate holders remaining with this camera.
The interns need a good clean and the holders require treating before use of which I have suitable products so it shouldn’t be long before I get chance to try obtain an exposure on film, bah no, not film why I use film when the j lane glass plates are available in 9x12....... what better way to give this camera a new lease of life than to use glass plates like it was destined for well over a century ago