View_Camera

I am helping a longtime friend sort through his fathers estate. There are many old cameras. One item probably belongs in a museum. It is a three color one shot (three 4X5 filmholders) color separation camera. Color pictures from this camera will last practically forever because they are B&W and the print process can use dyes that won't fade.
Is any University or individual interested? The lens is an uncoated Zeiss Tessar so it is from the late 40s. Is there a museum? There is a case and complete kit.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

You may be addressing the wrong audience, only a very small percentange of UHH members may be able to help.
Try advertising in educational forums and journals.

View_Camera

Networking works wonders. I am hoping somebody knows somebody who knows somebody who can help!

Kimchee

I would try Bluemooncamera.com. They are in Portland Oregon and I think, from what I hear about them, someone there would probably be able to direct you to someone who would know someone who could help. :)

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Wow. That IS a rare old device. It was likely used for dye sublimation process printing. Very few folks use film cameras to do that now, since better digital processes are available. A museum may be your best resting place for it.

Most cameras used for color separations used vacuum backs, sheet film, and primary Red, Green, Blue, and a "no filter" exposures to make separations for CMYK process printing. They were equipped with contact screens, pin registered at different angles, to create color separation negatives used to make printing plates for offset lithography. I worked in a yearbook company that had two of them. They were huge copy cameras with vacuum-backed, 40x30 inch vertical glass copy holders, pulsed Xenon light sources, filter holders, enormous Fujinon lenses, and a massive overhead rail system to move the copy board in and out from the lens with motorized drive. The graphic arts industry has come a LONG way from there in 40 years!

Jetman

I remember doing color separations on a Browning "Rail" camera in the 60s thru 80s. The target could be 26" X 26" and reduce to 1.5 inches. It could be used to make microfilm for spies. But color was a long process taking a whole morning. The bellows could move on the track 20 feet from the target. I would have killed for a color separation camera, but we didn't do enough color printing at Adprint to justify one.
Try calling one of the huge label printers such as Sierra Pacific, Josten's American Year Book and find the oldest 'make-ready' guy they've got. or try the staff at Berkley, or the Hearst Corporation, or the Getty Museum. Or try a small printing equipment wholesaler for ideas. They are very helpful when they're not busy. You will want one who does not exclusively sell used Presses, nor a certain brand. I'd send you to a specific contact, but mine are all dead. Speaking of which . . Dead is the average age of my customers these days. Good Luck. Tell us what he finds out. SLRs are not the only thing that's interesting.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

That was probably a camera used for the dye transfer process. If you want to see photographs done with that process look up Elliot Porter.
--Bob

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

His work is beautiful.

whitewolfowner

Try the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY. If they are not interested, they may know who would be. Call and start by talking to the manager in the photo book store.

sloscheider Loc: Minnesota

Try eBay...