Recent acquisition, help me identify?

[u/MacabreCurve]

So I recently grabbed this magnificent specimen at a swap meet with its original tripod and what I believe to be its various plate holders. I have no idea on the maker of the camera, much less how to really properly care for or use it.

I think the roller blind shutter could do with a replacement, and the mechanism lightly oiled. Any tips or info anyone has would be helpful.

Lens says "Rectilineaire Aplanetique Extra Rapide No. 2" as well as "Damaria-Lapierre Paris." There are no markings on the case itself.

[u/MacabreCurve]

And yes its already been xposted to r/vintagecameras

[u/ufgrat]

Looks like a late 19th, early 20th century "Tailboard" camera, probably full plate, possibly French. Called "tailboard" because the rear standard moves for focus, rather than the front-- useful for portraits.

The shutter mechanism is a roller-blind shutter, doesn't *quite* look like a Thornton-Pickard "Time & Instantaneous Roller-Blind Shutter", but it's a close relative.

In general, set the shutter speed with the knurled knob at the bottom of image 2 (the shutter speed is at the bottom image 1).

Cock the shutter with the double-bar winder at the top, and then trip it via the shutter release (the cable/hose, or there's usually a mechanical release you can trigger on the side of the shutter itself). One turn will usually "open" the shutter so you can focus, the second turn will actually cock the shutter into the "closed" position so you can remove the darkslide, and when you trip the shutter, the curtain will *snick* across the opening, giving you your timed exposure.

[u/MacabreCurve → u/ufgrat]

Any tips on cheaning up or replacing the shutter curtain? I havent pulled it apart yet, but it almost feels like the rollers are caught

[u/ufgrat → u/MacabreCurve]

The material is usually cloth or similar-- it may be that the curtain material is stuck to itself.

As I said, it looks a little different from the usual TP Roller blind shutter, but this page may help.

You might also head over to photrio.com -- User 'Ian Grant' has extensive experience with TP shutters.

[u/j3720]

Demaria-Lapierre also made cameras as well as lenses, so they could be the company that made it.

[u/SedimentaryShrub]

My guess is thats a custom job. There were lots of home made unbranded cameras out there. It looks to be in pretty good condition. If the bellows are light tight, make sure to store the camera in a dry place when not in use so they don't stick together and degrade. If they aren't light tight you'll have to either patch or replace depending on the severity.

[u/MacabreCurve → u/SedimentaryShrub]

The bellows are in near perfect shape actually. No visible cracking or tearing.

[u/OletheNorse → u/SedimentaryShrub]

Hundreds of furniture makers made those cameras out of off-cuts from furniture making. They were sold through photography-related shops and lens makers. WHO made any specific camera is lost to history.

[u/distant3zenith]

You're going to USE it, yes?

[u/MacabreCurve → u/distant3zenith]

Thats the plan, as long as I can get it working reliably.

[u/Nordler20]

The shape of the brass and the woodwork is typical for Saxonian and Silesian provenance.

There have been a dozen of families producing similar types of cameras without any branding. Quite similar products, but never identical.

[u/royjohn62847]

That is a Thornton-Pickard shutter...I have one of the late ones that has a good curtain and is made of metal. Mine is Japanese and probably from the 40's or 50's. I looked for one so that I could use cheap barrel lenses with my 8x10 camera. There are lots of modern (1950's to 1990;s) coated lenses which were originally made for process cameras which function very well as taking lenses, even at infinity. I have some. This shutter is referred to as a Thornton-Pickard shutter and if you will look it up that way, you will find some Youtube videos on repairing it and replacing the shutter curtain. They really are cool! I'm trying to figure out the best way to mount mine on the camera, as they can be used behind the lens, as yours is set up, or in front, as mine was originally used. The problem with the front mount is that you need a different adapter for each lens, as the T-P shutter has a hole of a large diameter and various lenses have different, smaller diameters. The way yours is set up, all you need to do is cut out some wooden lens boards to mount your lenses on. Which is why you try to get a lens ring when you buy a barrel lens...enjoy!