[W&B] shutter to identify

[dcolucci at aol.com]

Pre-sale ?

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry  

-----Original Message-----
From: "Milan Zahorcak" <milan.zahorcak at comcast.net>
Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2007 06:52:48 
Subject: RE: [W&B] shutter to identify

  
This is Dan's shutter pre-sale.  My pic shows the shutter in the pre-view or perhaps the T-position. With the front plate rotated clockwise about 1/3 of the way, and held open over the lens. 
  
http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/milanpub/Misc/rotary.jpg: <http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/milanpub/Misc/rotary.jpg> 
  
Simple rotary shutters were around for a long time.  This one is a very basic design, perhaps late 1880s, early 1890s, from the Great Years of simple shutters when emulsions speeds became too fast for lens caps but not quite fast enough for shutters blades and timing gears. 
  
I don't know if I go reading too much into the design, and your patent illustrations are far more elaborate than this shutter.  Once the idea of rotary motion comes to mind, there are countless variations.  When you think about it, this sort of design was used on millions of simple box cameras . . . but may not have been patented as a stand-alone shutter.  Might want to check some of the early box camera designs like the Boston Bulls-Eye, etc.  I think the Schmid camera had a built-in rotary (Patent 369,818). 
  
mz 
  
  
  
 
-----Original Message-----
From: woodandbrass-bounces at kjsl.com [mailto:woodandbrass-bounces at kjsl.com] On Behalf Of DColucci at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 2:30 AM
To: woodandbrass at kjsl.com
Subject: [W&B] shutter to identify

 
W&B'ers 
  
I picked up this shutter on ebay a year or so ago, from the Milan Collection. 
  
Its a small rotary shutter that fits on to the front of a lens and is secured by a thumbscrew which adjusts a band to grip the front lens hood.  Right now, it sits on a Darlot # 1 lens, which sits on a ROC New Model 1/4 plate camera. 
  
At this time, I just have this quick digi-pic.  I will send more pics soon. 
  
It can be seen here: 
  
http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/shutt.jpg: <http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/shutt.jpg> 
  
Obviously, the front plate is rotated, against the pressure of the spring, and is cocked and held ready to release with the chrome arm.  Lifting that arm releases the circular plate which spins the aperture in front of the lens.   There are 3 notches around the shutter to change the speed of the shutter.  The only markings are 1-2-3 which denotes the different shutter speeds.  The red arrow points to an arm that looks like a piece has broken off.  I dont think the missing piece is of any significance. 
  
Here are 3 patents that seem related.  
  
PHOTOGRAPH-CAMERA 
  SHUTTER - Google Patents: <http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT367986&amp;id=8zZGAAAAEBAJ&amp;dq=camera+shutter&amp;num=50&amp;as_drrb_is=b&amp;as_minm_is=1&amp;as_miny_is=1790&amp;as_maxm_is=1&amp;as_maxy_is=1890&amp;ie=ISO-8859-1&amp;jtp=1#PPP1,M1>  
  
SHUTTER 
  FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS - Google Patents;;: <http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT284645&amp;id=ySJQAAAAEBAJ&amp;pg=PP1&amp;dq=camera&amp;num=50&amp;as_drrb_is=b&amp;as_minm_is=1&amp;as_miny_is=1840&amp;as_maxm_is=1&amp;as_maxy_is=1885&amp;ie=ISO-8859-1#PPP1,M1>  
  
SHUTTER 
  FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS - Google Patents: <http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT364413&amp;id=rdBAAAAAEBAJ&amp;pg=PP1&amp;dq=camera+shutter+rotary&amp;num=50&amp;as_drrb_is=b&amp;as_minm_is=1&amp;as_miny_is=1790&amp;as_maxm_is=1&amp;as_maxy_is=1890&amp;ie=ISO-8859-1#PPP1,M1>  
  
Any thoughts ?  
  
Dan 
  
PS - Shutters for 4x5 must be much more rare than larger sizes, but many of the unusual pre 1900 shutters I have come across, are in fact for 4x5's....coincidence ?