I know, I know. I cant help myself. Its just it was going sooooo cheap. Even with the fuel for collection its one of the cheapest camera deals….. ever!
Let me introduce you to a Hunter Penrose Ltd Process Camera. It is huge. The ground glass measure 18.5 x 16 inches. With very little tinkering this is going to make a great studio wet plate camera. Its surprising what one can find on Feepay nowadays.
I pick it up this week before I pop off to NY. I’ll leave it in the studio for John to play with while I’m away. If he’s feeling adventurous he might like to make a silver bath so we can shoot plates this size… hint hint nudge nudge.
The white masking tape is A4. Gives you an idea of what plate size might be achievable.
I’m assured that when extended the bellows are in excellent condition.
Comes with a plate holder thats adapted for film at the moment but thats apparently just a glass plate to wedge the film against, similar to when we shoot tintypes.
These metal parts inside the rear are for holding the original plates and measure 16×13.5 inches. These can be removed. It even comes with a Ross-London Homocentric f10 lens.
More pics to follow after I’ve picked it up, oh, and told Steph I’ve bought another camera….
A fantastic camera, and truly monstrous in its dimensions. It will be a 2 man job (at least) to move it around, but given that it will be studio based, hopefully this will not happen all that often 🙂
The Hunter Penrose is pretty much the scourge of the Museum world – they appear fairly regularly for disposal, and institutions such as the Media Museum in Bradford, and the National Museum in Scotland have several in their stores.
They are a bit of a headache due to their sheer size, and sadly many of them go to the great skip in the sky, so very happy indeed to see your saved and planned to be re-used 🙂
46 years ago when I started working I begun by learning how to work with this type of camera and after that as a prepress photographer. In those days a simple task that now takes a couple of minutes took hours to get it right. The shutter time was measured by taking off the lens cap and controlling the exposure with a wristwatch. The lighting was created by a system of arcs with two carbon chain attached to it and lit throughout the measurement, focus and exposure.
After many years I finally tracked down one of these cameras and now it sits in my advertising agency not for work but for show and tell and to teach our visitors what it was like to photograph in those days
Good to see the old cameras again.
I worked for littlejohns 1963 1970′
I then worked in the trade for another
40 years, the cameras where built to last.
I wonder how many digital platemakers,
Will still be around in 15 years.
Bring make film and developer
Great days,
I too acquired a similar Hunter Penrose process camera twenty years ago. I had grand plans for it to be displayed, but it only been admired by visitors to my home has sat in my games room (with full size antique table) in my annexe, which is about to be sold.
I have provenance for it, as it was used in the Manchester Guardian as a process camera, to copy every page of the paper for many years (before microfiche was invented of course) and acquired by an “inkie” who worked there before the printing plant was closed.
I would like to know what value to put on it, and advertise it for sale,hopefully to an ad agency or a newspaper, though Alex’s comments above are somewhat depressing!
Hi Roger,
I’m always looking for cameras to buy. Drop me an email tony@fourtoes.co.uk
Cheers and thanks for stopping by my blog.
Tony
I just stumbled about one of these just outside of Edinburgh if anyone is interested.
For sale? What size? and how much? 🙂
I case you are the person who just emailed me I just sent you some more pictures. If not email me at pascalpijper@hotmail.co.uk or call me on 07907657950
I have recently bought one of these. Two days ago in fact. I am desperatly seeking some parts to get going. I am looking for the origanal rear clasps. And more importantly dark slides. There is a plate holder with a roler shutter afair sadly I have no pictures to start to rebuild it.
I am looking at starting wetplate photography.
If any one can offer know of spares or has any advice please pass it my way..
My number is 07703577393
Thank you all and happy new year
Colin
Thank
Hi Colin,
Good to hear from you. Finding a plate holder for this is going to difficult. You’ll probably have to repair the tambour one you have or get a bespoke new one to fit.
For some reason those rear clasp parts tend to go missing, other people have asked in the past. I have no spares, only what I have on each camera.
I have one in mint condition and the latest one which I’m doing up, including repairing the tambour. If you need any pics just let me know.
I’m not sure if Tony Lovell still has spares. What size is your camera? Where are you based?
Great camera for large wet plates. Have you taken a workshop or are you self taught?
Please feel free to get in touch, there is also an active UK collodion Facebook page.
Best wishes
Tony
Hi,
I have a HUNTER PENROSE 1929 camera. I will be happy to know what the financial value.
Thank you!
Hi Mordi,
Depends on size and condition and if its all there? And who in your area is willing to buy it!
Ive seen them sell for between £150 – £1000
I own a Hunter & Penrose Horizontal Enlarger and am looking to restore it. It does not need much work just cleaning mostly. Can anybody help with information ? The enlarger has a manufacturers name plate and an additional metal plate with a logo and what i assume is a serial number ¨ No. ( 14A/2266)
our Museum on Alonnisos, Greece, has been donated a Hunter Penrose camera – heaven knows how it got here. Could someone please help me with a description of how it works and what it was used for so that we can add some information to the display
Hi Nick,
Heres a good description via Wikipedia
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Process_camera#:~:text=A%20process%20camera%20is%20a,camera%2C%20by%20a%20skilled%20operator.
And depending use the description changes slightly.
https://www.britannica.com/technology/process-camera
I picked up one of these a while back, only snag is it doesn’t have a baseboard, like you I’d like to use it for wet plate, is there any chance you could measure your base for me ? I’m pretty handy in the woodworking department so I thought I’d knock one up with a leadscrew for focus. It’s be handy to have an overall size to aim for. Thanks for the posts .. always interesting reading.
Hi John,
I sold mine a few years back, Ive have had three over the years. The main one was used on occasion for wet plate and now resides in Latvia.
So sadly, I cannot provide any measurements.
Tony