 Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2025 7:45 pm Post subject: |
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stevemark wrote:
Engels-Feitknecht & Cie, Biel/Bienne, Switzerland (around 1900).
I have a list of their Aplanat Serie IV as well as a printed image (engraving) of their Aplanat Serie 3.
Aplanat Serie IV was 1:8 and available f=12cm, 17cm, 23 cm, 29cm, 37cm and 45cm.
For formats 9x12 cm up to 30x40cm. Price was CHF 40.-- for the 12cm, and 170.-- for the larges 45cm lens.
They had their own enterprises for manufacturing cameras as well, obviously manufacturing to highest standards. Their "beste und eleganteste Atelier-Kamera" for instance was made either from Mahagoni or Walnut. Size started at plate sizes of 40x50cm (16x20"), continued with 50x60cm, 60x70cm, and 70x80cm cameras and went up to 80x100cm (32x40").
The 80x100cm camera would cost CHF 1450.--, plus another CHF 1450.-- for a corresponding Suter Aplanat 7.2/900mm. To give you an idea about the value of such a camera: Average workers hourly income was CHF 0.42 for men and CHF 0.24 for women in 1900 (see https://hsso.ch/de/2012/g/1).
That would mean nearly 7'000 workhours (for men), or more than 12'000 workhours (for women). Current minimal wages in Switzerland for women are in the CHF 25.-- ballpark, and 12'000 hours would translate to CHF 300'000.-- (today) for such a camera. WOW!
Further official information linked to the company here:
https://foto-ch.ch/persons/detail/26820
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