What is this? (Page 3): It is NOT a part of a telescope mount or any surveying equipment. In both of these, both azimuth and elevation must be read, and a full 360 degree rotation and...

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

MCHUGH wrote:

All that have suggested that it has to do with a s... (show quote)

It is NOT a part of a telescope mount or any surveying equipment. In both of these, both azimuth and elevation must be read, and a full 360 degree rotation and azimuth scale is essential. An elevation scale this small would be useless for any astronomical or surveying application. I don't think there has ever been a piece of equipment of this type that relied on a simple locking knob for adjustment.

Andy

bluezzzzz Loc: Stamping Ground, KY

MCHUGH wrote:

When I bought the old studio it had an 8x10 Elwood enlarger, maybe that was part of it.

I think you have got it. A quick Google image search brought this up:

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

bluezzzzz wrote:

I think you have got it. A quick Google image search brought this up:

Looks right to me. Glad I didn't have to use it in my darkroom!

Andy

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

It’s obviously an early model Batsnabble Vid-Stabulatric Farbelizer. Been some time since I’ve seen one on eBay!

(once you’ve got hands-on, it’s use is intuitive!)

Dave

MCHUGH Loc: Jacksonville, Texas

Uuglypher wrote:

It’s obviously an early model Batsnabble Vid-Stabulatric Farbelizer. Been some time since I’ve seen one on eBay!

(once you’ve got hands-on, it’s use is intuitive!)

Dave

Dave where can I find out info on the Batsnabble Vid-Stabulatric Farbelizer? I tried googleing it but got no results. I plan on selling this and want to get the info correct in the ebay listing. Would appreciate your help.

waynewiz

This looks like part of a navifation device that a ship'd captain would use !

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

More frivolity and speculation from me:

My first studio darkroom had 2 Elwood enlargers- a 5x7 and an 8x10. They too were purchased form a retiring photographer. It took 4 of us to move the 8x10 into the darkroom and put it in place. We also had a 4x5 Eastman Auto Focus unit of similar construction. These were all excellent durable machines with very even diffusion type lamp houses, especially nice for printing wedding pictures and portraits.

The 8x10 Elwood did not require a separate mechanism for easel tilting, it had its own legs and the entire base could be tilted. I don't, however, remember any kind of angle scale. The part shown in the image here is reminiscent of the Elwood build and finish, however, it does not seem to be strong enough to support the 8x10 baseboard- perhaps a smaller model. I made a wooden wedge that I used for easel tilting.

The only online information about thos shows advertisements. I can't locate any detailed parts lists or service diagrams or any instruction manuals. I use theses old units for about 5 years, mostly in straightforward alignment and eventually replaced them with Omega models. I always tried to do my image management, as to perspective, in the camera in that re-alignment of the enlarger after tilting the lens board, stage and/or the easil, was very painstaking!

It is more likely it's a tilt head for a tripod or a camera stand. Here's my guess:

Some photographers, like me, do their view camer movement and image management by eye- understanding the tilts and swings and observing the result on the ground glass. The front and back standards are able to be tilted, shifted, swung, and have a vertical rise and fall. A combination of tilting the entire camera combined with all of theses movements yielded many different perspective control elements as well as the enablement of increasing depth of field without stopping down as by the numbers, that is, figuring out the various and angles, pitch, etc, and arriving at their require effect by doing the math and then fine-tuning visually.

Early on, some wooden view camera had angle scales (much like the on in the OP's image) on the front and back standards and later on some metal models by Sinar, Cambo, and others had a raft of theses angle scales, on e each control, and referred to them as "vernier scales", in that they were more precise and enabled direct and repeatable adjustments, as well as additional features, like anti-yaw compensation. I stuck with my bare-bones Linhof Kardan modes without issue.

The rotation scale? I guess that it was used for panoramic images whereby two separate negatives were printed and combined, the method before the advent of electronic lacing. The scale may have helped determine where one image ended and the second kicks in. It could also have something to do with a circuit camer with a rotating clockwork type motor that rotates the camera and operates a slit shutter for 360-degree panoramic views.

ACTUALLY in maybe an "aroysgevorfn opfal" (A Yiddish word or useless-junk- things to be thrown out). A have a few drawers full of those kinds of things and as my grandmother would say, "someday it might bring a use"! I usually need them after I throw them away.

charlienow Loc: Hershey, PA

To me it looks like there is a part missing on the bottom that allows rotation left and right. On that part there is probably a manufacturers name.

MCHUGH Loc: Jacksonville, Texas

E.L.. Shapiro wrote:

More frivolity and speculation from me:

My first studio darkroom had 2 Elwood enlargers- a 5x7 and an 8x10. They too were purchased form a retiring photographer. It took 4 of us to move the 8x10 into the darkroom and put it in place. We also had a 4x5 Eastman Auto Focus unit of similar construction. These were all excellent durable machines with very even diffusion type lamp houses, especially nice for printing wedding pictures and portraits.

The 8x10 Elwood did not require a separate mechanism for easel tilting, it had its own legs and the entire base could be tilted. I don't, however, remember any kind of angle scale. The part shown in the image here is reminiscent of the Elwood build and finish, however, it does not seem to be strong enough to support the 8x10 baseboard- perhaps a smaller model. I made a wooden wedge that I used for easel tilting.

The only online information about thos shows advertisements. I can't locate any detailed parts lists or service diagrams or any instruction manuals. I use theses old units for about 5 years, mostly in straightforward alignment and eventually replaced them with Omega models. I always tried to do my image management, as to perspective, in the camera in that re-alignment of the enlarger after tilting the lens board, stage and/or the easil, was very painstaking!

It is more likely it's a tilt head for a tripod or a camera stand. Here's my guess:

Some photographers, like me, do their view camer movement and image management by eye- understanding the tilts and swings and observing the result on the ground glass. The front and back standards are able to be tilted, shifted, swung, and have a vertical rise and fall. A combination of tilting the entire camera combined with all of theses movements yielded many different perspective control elements as well as the enablement of increasing depth of field without stopping down as by the numbers, that is, figuring out the various and angles, pitch, etc, and arriving at their require effect by doing the math and then fine-tuning visually.

Early on, some wooden view camera had angle scales (much like the on in the OP's image) on the front and back standards and later on some metal models by Sinar, Cambo, and others had a raft of theses angle scales, on e each control, and referred to them as "vernier scales", in that they were more precise and enabled direct and repeatable adjustments, as well as additional features, like anti-yaw compensation. I stuck with my bare-bones Linhof Kardan modes without issue.

The rotation scale? I guess that it was used for panoramic images whereby two separate negatives were printed and combined, the method before the advent of electronic lacing. The scale may have helped determine where one image ended and the second kicks in. It could also have something to do with a circuit camer with a rotating clockwork type motor that rotates the camera and operates a slit shutter for 360-degree panoramic views.

ACTUALLY in maybe an "aroysgevorfn opfal" (A Yiddish word or useless-junk- things to be thrown out). A have a few drawers full of those kinds of things and as my grandmother would say, "someday it might bring a use"! I usually need them after I throw them away.

More frivolity and speculation from me: br br My ... (show quote)

E.L.. Shapiro you have given me another good idea as a camera tripod base. You are probably right that it probably needs to be trashed. I am a pack rat and like you when I do throw something I need it shortly afterwards. Thanks for all your help.

ibabcock Loc: Central VA

do you still have the item?