Grundner Eyelid Shutter

[smoke665]

Reading some articles on large format cameras and came across this - Grundner shutter (very BIG) 135mm 5.3" - wetplatedreams I'll point out that my experiences in large format are limited, my only experience being with a more modern 18x22 horizontal graphic arts camera. Is anyone else familiar or used this "eye lid" shutter arrangement?

 

[cgw115 140]

Saw one in for repair late last century at Commercial Camera Repair on Church St in Toronto's photo ghetto. The shop was HQ for medium+large format service. Seriously Jules Verne/steampunk-ish!

 

[smoke665]

Seriously Jules Verne-ish!

That's exactly the description I was struggling to find when I saw this

 

[IanG]

I have one of these shutters, Kodak Ltd listed them in their 1940 Professional catalogue. Here in the UK Kodak had were also wholesaler, as well as manufacturer. They didn't sell competitors products, rather items to compliment their own products

There are better shutter options, I have a wide variety which I can use with my larger shutter-less lenses. Focal plane, TP roller blind (I have 80+), LUC, Gitzo, Dallmeyer Ideal, etc.

This is a large Thornton Pickard roller blind shutter, 1/10 to 1/90 + T, the lens here is a 20" (500mm) f8 Rapid Rectilinear, for a 12"x10" camera. This particular shutter is the 3½" version, it also fits my 8¼" f3 Dallmeyer 2B, which is an 1864 Quick acting Portrait Petzval lens.

I also have a large Gitzo studio shutter, a single speed and T front mounting leaf shutter, with flash sync, it fits the same lenses and I use it for studio work.

The Kodak Studio Shutter in the catalogue is a rear mounted Dallmeyer Ideal, these were Packard Ideal shutters made under licence here in the UK. Packard shutters are still made.

Ian

 

[smoke665]

@IanG very interesting. Are you using reproduction cameras or restored originals? Ive always thought I'd like to try a 4x5, but im afraid it would end up not being used much like my 35s and 120 film cameras.

 

[IanG]

@smoke665, I restore vintage LF field cameras, SLRs, shutters. I started around 2007.

I started using 5x4 for work in 1996, and since1987 for my personal work with a Wista 45DX. I rarely use 35mm but do shoot 120 usually in a TLR alongside an LF camera, als0 a 6x17 camera.

Back in 2004 I added a 10x8 camera, then a Crown Graphic for hand held work, quickly switching to a Super Graphic. I'm lucky as I have a decent sized darkroom.

Ian

 

[smoke665]

I'm lucky as I have a decent sized darkroom.

That makes a difference, when I owned the newspapers in the 70s I had nice commercial setup. Pretty much all I needed. When you're using one everyday, chemicals, film, etc. are cheaper in bulk, plus there's less waste.