luisalegria
Joined: 07 Mar 2008 Posts: 6602 Location: San Francisco, USA
Expire: 2018-01-18
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Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 7:18 am Post subject: Los Alamos Labs (Atomic program) 1940'50's Instrument Camera |
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luisalegria wrote:
I don't actually have a use for this, so I will be selling it. A fascinating and historic bit of equipment though !
Los Alamos National Labs (the bomb-makers) developed a lot of its own tools, including cameras for all purposes. This one seems to have been made at the labs, as it lacks all makers trademarks, except for the lens, which is a Bausch&Lomb 57mm f/2. I think this dates back to the 1940's or early 1950's. It could possibly be a Manhattan Project leftover, but I doubt it.
This thing is probably an Oscilloscope (or Oscillograph as they were then known) recording camera, apparently designed for a very large tube. Or it could have been meant for any of a range of other cathode-ray tube instruments also used at the lab. It certainly was not meant for a standard Dumont-type Oscilloscope (before Tektronix and HP took over the Oscillo market, you had Dumont), as they could have bought a Dumont camera for that, and the tubes on those were way smaller than what this beast can handle.
The back is a pretty standard 4x5 spring back with ground-glass, possibly bought from Graflex, as its identical with the one on my Speed Graphic. This camera may predate the use of Polaroid film, as I don't think 4x5 Polaroid backs were available so early. The early Oscillo cameras I know of actually used the Polaroid roll film like the first Land Cameras.
The shutter is operated by a large electric solenoid, and there is a manual open/close knob. It doesn't have speeds set, just an open/close indicator, so I think its meant for timed exposures. This makes sense as without fast Polaroid film they would be forced to use fast emulsions, which weren't very fast.
The body is solid cast aluminum, and the internals are quite crude. This certainly wasn't a polished commercial product !
Its missing its nameplate, but I have seen a picture of it and it is a Los Alamos National Labs property ID.
_________________ I like Pentax DSLR's, Exaktas, M42 bodies of all kinds, strange and cheap Japanese lenses, and am dabbling in medium format/Speed Graphic work. |
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patrickh
Joined: 23 Aug 2007 Posts: 8551 Location: Oregon
Expire: 2011-11-18
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Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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patrickh wrote:
Fascinating arcana - what a strange object. Looks like a mortar rather than a camera.
patrickh _________________ DSLR: Nikon D300 Nikon D200 Nex 5N
MF Zooms: Kiron 28-85/3.5, 28-105/3.2, 75-150/3.5, Nikkor 50-135/3.5 AIS // MF Primes: Nikkor 20/4 AI, 24/2 AI, 28/2 AI, 28/2.8 AIS, 28/3.5 AI, 35/1.4 AIS, 35/2 AIS, 35/2.8 PC, 45/2.8 P, 50/1.4 AIS, 50/1.8 AIS, 50/2 AI, 55/2.8 AIS micro, 55/3.5 AI micro, 85/2 AI, 100/2,8 E, 105/1,8 AIS, 105/2,5 AIS, 135/2 AIS, 135/2.8 AIS, 200/4 AI, 200/4 AIS micro, 300/4.5 AI, 300/4.5 AI ED, Arsat 50/1.4, Kiron 28/2, Vivitar 28/2.5, Panagor 135/2.8, Tamron 28/2.5, Tamron 90/2.5 macro, Vivitar 90/2.5 macro (Tokina) Voigtlander 90/3.5 Vivitar 105/2.5 macro (Kiron) Kaleinar 100/2.8 AI Tamron 135/2.5, Vivitar 135/2.8CF, 200/3.5, Tokina 400/5,6
M42: Vivitar 28/2.5, Tamron 28/2.5, Formula5 28/2.8, Mamiya 28/2.8, Pentacon 29/2.8, Flektogon 35/2.4, Flektogon 35/2.8, Takumar 35/3.5, Curtagon 35/4, Takumar 50/1.4, Volna-6 50/2.8 macro, Mamiya 50/1.4, CZJ Pancolar 50/1,8, Oreston 50/1.8, Takumar 50/2, Industar 50/3.5, Sears 55/1.4, Helios 58/2, Jupiter 85/2, Helios 85/1.5, Takumar 105/2.8, Steinheil macro 105/4.5, Tamron 135/2.5, Jupiter 135/4, CZ 135/4, Steinheil Culminar 135/4,5, Jupiter 135/3.5, Takumar 135/3.5, Tair 135/2.8, Pentacon 135/2.8, CZ 135/2.8, Taika 135/3.5, Takumar 150/4, Jupiter 200/4, Takumar 200/4
Exakta: Topcon 100/2.8(M42), 35/2.8, 58/1.8, 135/2.8, 135/2.8 (M42), Kyoei Acall 135/3.5
C/Y: Yashica 28/2.8, 50/1.7, 135/2.8, Zeiss Planar 50/1.4, Distagon 25/2.8
Hexanon: 28/3.5, 35/2.8, 40/1.8, 50/1.7, 52/1.8, 135/3.2, 135/3.5, 35-70/3.5, 200/3.5
P6 : Mir 38 65/3.5, Biometar 80/2.8, Kaleinar 150/2.8, Sonnar 180/2.8
Minolta SR: 28/2.8, 28/3.5, 35/2.8, 45/2, 50/2, 58/1.4, 50/1.7, 135/2.8, 200/3.5
RF: Industar 53/2.8, Jupiter 8 50/2
Enlarg: Rodagon 50/5,6, 80/5,6, 105/5.6, Vario 44-52/4, 150/5.6 180/5.6 El Nikkor 50/2,8,63/2.8,75/4, 80/5,6, 105/5.6, 135/5.6 Schneider 60/5.6, 80/5.6, 80/4S,100/5.6S,105/5.6,135/5.6, 135/5.6S, 150/5.6S, Leica 95/4 |
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