US Navy Aircraft Torpedo Camera Type I with 5" Lens (24 volt)
Made by Solar Aircraft Co. Russell Vought Div. San Diego
Photo thanks to Peter - [email protected] (URL)
Related Local Links:
Medium Format Home Page
Medium Format Cameras List Page
Related Links:
Panoramic Cameras Page
Panoram 120 Wide Angle Camera - portion of ground glass back visible
Second view shows Extra Roll Back at Rear of Camera
Panoram 120 Wide Angle Camera with 20mm Nikkor Masked Finder Added
Photos provided Courtesy of Jim Villet
| Aircraft Torpedo Camera Manual Pages |
|---|
| Manual Pages and Ads, Sample Panoramic Photos |
| Manual, Ads, and Photos Courtesy of Jim Villet |
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 03:18:29 EST
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Panoramic Cameras VINTAGE!!
Hi:
You know I have one other camera that you really need to
show. I have a B&J Torpedo Panoramic Camera for
2 1/4 x 8 1/4 format pictures. This is not just any
B&J Panoramic Camera. This is the last camera out
of the factory after B&J Chicago went belly up. As far as I know the
camera was listed as available as late as 1971. This camera
was given to the Chief Machinist by the company because
the company had no money to pay him. He got this camera instead
of his last pay check. I have documentation and some of his pictures
and some articles about this camera. I do not have the time
to write a history of this camera but would xerox copies of
articles and documentation about this camera if your interested.
I will foward this information ONLY if you want to take the time to
write an article about this camera otherwise better to not go to the
trouble for either of us. Since your from SMU thought you might
be interested to publish an article. Publish or have no good information
about Classic Cameras.
Torpedo Cameras are fairly interesting in general: During WWII
they hung these on the wing of a plane. The plane made a run on
a ship and a picture was taken. This was cheaper than a torpedo
and the cost of a sunken ship. They could tell if the guy in training would
have sunk the ship from the picture. After the war B&J Chicago bought these
up. Originally these ran on 24 volts and had a fix focus Ross Express barrel
lens on them. They had a one speed shutter that functioned very roughly
between a 50th and a 60th of a second. The bomber camera was this
big thing with all sorts of things hanging off of it. What the B&J company
did was buy up all these cameras. Once they got a huge pile of these cameras
they cut off all the garbage, took out all the motors and wires, what they
were left with is a shell and a 120 roll film back which was a 2 1/4 x 8 1/4
panorama format. They then added a helical focusing mount. Next the
early cameras added a 120mm f6.8 Angulon uncoated lens in the early versions
and coated lens in the last versions. They also provided a ground glass
viewing
back for these cameras. What you got from B&J if you bought a late version
of this is a 2 1/4 x 8 1/4 panorama camera with a ground glass viewing back
which takes color pictures on 120 film. These camera interestingly may be
upgraded
to a more modern optic by installation of a 120 f6.8 Grandagon lens which has
almost the exactly flange to focal length distance and will cover 8
1/4". I
have
not done this but know this will work if someone wants to do so. My
camera has a custom rear locking latch for the roll film back with
machine drawing done by the Cheif Machinist to upgrade his own camera.
The camera happen to take nice color pictures. I have a file of wonderful
2 1/4 x 8 1/4 contact prints taken with this camera.
James S. Vilett
DBA Jim's Cameras
Seattle, WA
P.S. If anyone wants a Modern built version of this camera with modern
optics I know where there is one for a lot of money. $3500 for
the kit
with a modern 150mm Fujinon Optic Case, camera, ground glass
viewing back, rollfilm back.
Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999
From: Willem-Jan Markerink [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Torpedo Aerail Camera Back
Dear group,
Could anyone give me some explanations/directions about this item?
How much trouble is it to mount this back to the average 5x7 camera?
Would it fit a Speed Graphic 5x7? (that one doesn't have a Graflok
back)
What is needed to add an advance knob?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Torpedo Aerail Camera Back Made for 120 film, will use 220 also. The back has no dark slide and needs an advance knob installed. Mount to a 5x7 camera back or build a Linhof 617 or Fujinon 617 Clone. Just add a 75mm or 90mm View Lens to box of the right shape. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
--
Bye,
Willem-Jan Markerink
Date: Mon, 01 Mar 1999
From: julian clothier [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: "Torpedo Camera?"
Kia ora list, Gidday from New Zealand.
Nice to see we are starting to become human again eh?
Can someone please inform me just what a "Torpedo Camera" is and where I
may find a reference etc. I've looked up various camera collecting
reference books and don't seem to be able to find any info at all. Maybe
someone has a website with a picture . Also the Lab/shop I work in has a
Fuji 617 mint cond for sale and I replied directly to Steve Cook's list
mail request the other day with info etc. Thanks for any help re above.
Julian.
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 1999
From: "M. Denis Hill" [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: "Torpedo Camera?"
julian clothier wrote:
> Can someone please inform me just what a "Torpedo Camera" is and where I may > find a reference etc.
Short version, and this is hearsay: 6x18 format camera used to take pix of
torpedos being dropped from airplanes (WWII). Film holders are designed for
motor advance and have no dark slides.
--
M. Denis Hill | Area 360 Communications
360-202-6373 | mailto:[email protected] | http://www.area360.com
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 1999
From: William Franko [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: "Torpedo Camera?"
Reply to message from [email protected] of Sun, 28 Feb
>Kia ora list, Gidday from New Zealand. >Nice to see we are starting to become human again eh? > >Can someone please inform me just what a "Torpedo Camera" is and where I may >find a reference etc. I've looked up various camera collecting refenece >books and don't seem to be able to find any info at all. Maybe someone has a >website with a picture . Also the Lab/shop I work in has a Fuji 617 mint
The torpedo camera is an English from the late 30's or early
40's. They were built for the US military forces during the second
world war by Russell and Voight in 12 & 24 v models. The format was
2 1/4x 7 1/8 on 120 film. The film just had a longer leader but was
standard high speed film of the day. The shutter was a horizontal
blind shutter with a speed of 1/100 th of a second. The len may have
been a Ross f/4 or F/4.5 , 120 to 125mm fl. The film magazines are
removeable and are used today to make 5x7 cameras into pans.
During the 50's Burke & James in Chicago sold them as is or
converted them to manual use with wa Dagor lenses
The outfit came in a wooden box with the camera , 2 backs,
ground glass focuser and aircraft mount.
In use a photo was taken the instant that the torpedo was
dropped and an interpetetion was made from the print as to the sucess
of the drop. The film took 50+ seconds to advance to the next frame.
There were 4 shots to a roll.......................
bill.................
>cond for sale and I replied directly to Steve Cook's list mail request the >other day with info etc. Thanks for any help re above. Julian.
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 1999
From: Simon Nathan [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: "Torpedo Camera?"
dear julian:
it was sold in the latter fifties
by burke and james (nickname-bunk and junk) in chicago as royal panoram.
two lenses, standard lens and compur dial set f.6.8 goertz dagor.
torpedo training camera was its original purpose. it was sold in london
in raw form at war surplus harringays. write directly to me and i shall
fill you in quite a bit more without upsetting any one for lack of computer
talk.
I made next. cover of book "life's guide to paris" made
with 1961 follow on camera which had their magazines.
simon nathan.
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000
From: "Whipple, Don" [email protected]
Reply to: [email protected]
Subject: RE: who made this camera
Sam, I have a drawing on how to fabricate a plate that
holds a dark slide for the old Navy Torpedo Aerial Camera.
Don Whipple
[email protected]
Date: Wed, 09 Feb 2000
From: Greg Vannasse [email protected]
Reply to: [email protected]R
Subject: Torpedo camera film back
Hello list
I have a torpedo camera film back for sale. The gears just cleaned
and oiled, $200. If interested please email me. Greg
[email protected]
[ed. note: fixed typo(?) thanks!]
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000
From: Andy Buck [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: torpedo camera pages etc.
Bob -
btw, not to nitpick, but your page at
http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/mf/torpedo.html
states that the B&J had a 120 Super Angulon. It
actually had an Angulon, hence the f/6.8 speed.
I would love to buy one of those, but I've never seen
one for sale. Has anybody? and if so, what was the
price?
Andy
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000
From: Simon Nathan [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: torpedo camera pages etc.
andy-for starters the bunk and junk torpedo camera that i owned had 6.8
goerz dagor. truth is there is no 121mm f. 8 super angulon. it was so
marked to put it in a lower duty category. it is in 120mm ballpark. on
the matter of why the 6.8 model was kept in the schneider line.
certainly not for lens speed. i maintain brief explanation so as not to
offend younger list members. simon nathan from behind his rock, near
wendy's, in east orange, n.j.
Andy Buck wrote:
> Bob - > > btw, not to nitpick, but your page at > http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/mf/torpedo.html > states that the B&J had a 120 Super Angulon. It > actually had an Angulon, hence the f/6.8 speed. > > I would love to buy one of those, but I've never seen > one for sale. Has anybody? and if so, what was the > price? > > Andy
From Panoramic Mailing List:
Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2000
From: Willem-Jan Markerink [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: KB18B Navy Aerial Panoramic Camera
On 15 Nov 00 at 16:23, SA Photographers wrote:
> One of these beasts is for sale on Ebay. Featuring a rotating > prism and an original price of over $500K. Does anybody have any > info and is it worth bidding on. Has a 70mm magazine and takes a > 10 1/2 inch image, no mention of lens length. Craig Woods > > Amaclickclick > SA Photographers Web > http://www.photographers.co.za/
Hi Craig,
You might want to check the overview of 70mm cameras on my homepage,
some of these aerial dinosaurs are included:
http://www.a1.nl'phomepag/markerink/70mmback.htm
The main problem with these cameras is that while they have a nifty
(mirror) mechanism to shoot 180 degree shots, they do so in continuous
high-speed mode, matched to the speed of the plane (I guess), and
with rather complex controls.
Instructions how to modify these cameras to single-shot mode do exist
(I have one somewhere), but this stuff is not for the faint of
heart....
I was once tempted to buy a similar unit for US$250 from
www.surplusshack.com (or something like that), but passed on it
because of all the hassle involved (not to mention the handling of
these heavy beasts for actual shooting....it's heaps more easy to
take a Noblex 150 plus tripod and shoot 2-3 sequences and stitch
afterwards....all that even apart from the inherent problem of
finding/ordering 70mm film (if you were already set up for that then
you have an argument in favor; or, like me, were looking at Kodak HIE
infrared, which doesn't come in 120/220, only in 70mm....however,
by now that one is also being offered by individuals as cut-down
70mm, which is still much less hassle than this aerial beast).
Wouldn't mind owning one as a show-piece in my living room
though....they also exist in 9.5" perforated btw....forklift
recommended....8-))
Bye,
Willem-Jan Markerink
From Panoramic Mailing List;
Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2000
From: Willem-Jan Markerink [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Picture of Fairchild KA18A
Craig,
If you haven't seen an image of these beasts yet:
http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/fairch18.jpg
(now also linked from within this /70mmback.htm chapter)
--
Bye,
Willem-Jan Markerink
