Cameras/810 Technical camera
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Question
Mr. Silver,
I have a chance to purchase an old wooden large format camera. I collect cameras but don't know to much about this type. All the info I have on it is that is has a brass? plate that says 810 Technical camera V.R. Gaines & CO. The lense cap says Wollensak and the actual lens has Rapax written on it. I think it has a wooden tripod with it.
Any help you can give is greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Karen
Hello Karen,
"Technical" and "process" cameras are generally considered to be white elephants with virtually no value by knowledgeable camera collectors. They are extremely common, usually over-sized, and rarely offer any practical usability today. I do not recommend investing in such an item. However, if you're truly tempted, determine a conservative value based on the camera's decorative appearance. The prettier the camera, the more you might consider paying. But NEVER pay more than perhaps $250-$300, and then only for one that's seriously beautiful, ideally with plenty of nice wood and brass and a fancy red bellows. As for the Gaines company specifically, all you need to know is that they made zillions of those big cameras from the mid 1920's through the 1940's, primarily for the printing and lithography business, NOT for general photography. I think the only company that made more was Levy. Neither uncommon or desirable or valuable. Save your money. It would be far better spent on cameras of true historical importance.
Best wishes,
David Silver
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David Silver
Expertise
I'm an expert on all types of antique, classic, and contemporary cameras, as well as the general history of photography. Everything from ancient box cameras to modern single-lens-reflex; from simple Kodaks to sophisticated Leica and Nikon; from glass plates and roll film to movie and 35mm. I can identify and appraise them, explain how they work, and offer insights on their restoration and care. I can also provide historical background on vintage cameras and equipment, and guidelines on their purchase and sale.
Experience
I've been a professional photographer and a student of the history of photography for nearly 30 years. During that time my collection of vintage cameras and photographic paraphernalia has grown beyond 2000 significant pieces. I've published nearly 70 articles in the field, including 16 in the popular "Buying Classic Cameras" series for PHOTO SHOPPER MAGAZINE from 1995 to 1997, I'm currently a contributing editor for CAMERA SHOPPER MAGAZINE and McKEOWN'S PRICE GUIDE TO ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC CAMERAS, and I've written numerous entries for WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA. Portions of my collection have been displayed in museums and special exhibits in the past two decades, and many of the items were photographed as illustrations for books. In 1985 I founded the International Photographic Historical Organization (InPHO), which eventually evolved into its intended purpose as the best first resource for information on the history of photography. I'm also a founding member of several e-mail forums dedicated to specialized areas of photography, and I'm the moderator of the Internet Directory of Camera Collectors (IDCC), which remains the largest and most successful such group in the world. For more information about the International Photographic Historical Organization and its many services, please visit its web pages at:
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