nhchen
Nathan
Hi everyone, I need your expertise to identify this camera I received. It's not working right now but I think I can fix it. Ignore the lens, it didn't have a lens so I put that one on. It's got a focal plane shutter with reflex viewing on top. It doesn't have any name markings in it which makes me think it may be home made?
Regards nathan
Regards nathan
BillBingham2
Registered User
Looks like a Fred to me.
Anything of interest in on the inside (marks, scribes, pencil notes)?
Even the one-offs that I've seen (though not many) have a "Made in XXXXX" on them.
I still say Fred, but he looks like a good bit of fun still could be had with him, with a bit of TLC.
B2 (;->
Anything of interest in on the inside (marks, scribes, pencil notes)?
Even the one-offs that I've seen (though not many) have a "Made in XXXXX" on them.
I still say Fred, but he looks like a good bit of fun still could be had with him, with a bit of TLC.
B2 (;->
Scrambler
Well-known
What a beauty ;-)
I can't give you a definite but Medium Format SLRs are thin on the ground. The nearest designs I have seen are Japanese postwar. I would be guessing that's the origin. There are a few brands. Google should help.
I can't give you a definite but Medium Format SLRs are thin on the ground. The nearest designs I have seen are Japanese postwar. I would be guessing that's the origin. There are a few brands. Google should help.
tunalegs
Pretended Artist
I've seen a similar camera on Yahoo Auctions Japan, a while back, I don't remember what they listed it as though. But I'm therefore guessing that it at least must be Japanese.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
The rack mechanism, lever and knobs look very much like those on Mentor and Primar LF reflexes, but the former never had a SLR with integrated film holder, and while the latter are best known for their 6x6, that had a very different construction paradigm without rack and bellows. It might be some other German maker sharing the same hardware parts supplier, or a Japanese maker inspired by them.
nhchen
Nathan
Well I did get it from Japan, so very likely Japanese. The only marking I can see is the Number "5" stamped inside the film chamber and in the removable back, which doesn't help much.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
Panel stampings generally were for assembly, and as far as I can make out, Japanese makers used Arabic numerals there too, so that does not point to a Western origin.
As far as I can make out, the major strains of Japanese SLRs were derived from the Reflex Korelle, Graflex RB (and other early 20th century reflex cameras) or KW Pilot 6 - all of them with key features different from yours.
As far as I can make out, the major strains of Japanese SLRs were derived from the Reflex Korelle, Graflex RB (and other early 20th century reflex cameras) or KW Pilot 6 - all of them with key features different from yours.
nhchen
Nathan
Well after many hours of taking it apart and putting it back together, the camera is alive again!
Even inside the camera, there were no markings to help identify it. I did manage to replace the shutter ribbons and curtain.
One day I may need to replace the bellows. Now all I need to do is test it with some film!
I wonder what original lens it had on it?
regards,
nathan
Even inside the camera, there were no markings to help identify it. I did manage to replace the shutter ribbons and curtain.
One day I may need to replace the bellows. Now all I need to do is test it with some film!
I wonder what original lens it had on it?
regards,
nathan
BillBingham2
Registered User
WOW, most excellent! I wish I had the skills and time to breath live into such a wonderful camera.
Thanks for sharing!
B2 (;->
Thanks for sharing!
B2 (;->
nhchen
Nathan
Thought I should update this with some photos I took with the camera and the fujinon 105mm enlarging lens attached to it:
regards,
nathan
regards,
nathan
RichC
Well-known
Excellent job! It's nice to see this old camera live again...
nhchen
Nathan
Randomly looking though camera repair blogs I’ve finally identified what this camera is - a Katsunuma flex. It’s a rare Japanese 6x6 slr. Found on this website 『KATSUNUMA-FLEXでの発見』
Regards
Nathan
Regards
Nathan
lynnb
Mentor
I hadn't seen this thread before today - great job Nathan! The pictures are excellent. Well done!