A wooden foldable Photo-Sport 6 x 9 cm stereo camera. The camera contains a corroded and hard to read Photo-Sport plaque on the front. Photo-Sport was a photography store at 56, Rue Caumartin in Paris. The company was founded in 1898 by Georges de Corbin and was in business until 1932, maybe longer. It was not unusual at the time for retailers to brand cameras with their own name. A catalogue from 1902 shows many Photo-Sport branded cameras and lenses.
The camera has two Balbreck ainé lenses. Maximilien Balbreck was born on 10 August 1826 in Remoiville. His company was specialised in the manufacturing of precision instruments, including cameras and lenses. The company Balbreck ainé was founded in 1854 and was located at 81, Boulevard du Montparnasse in Paris. The company moved later to 137, Rue de Vaugirard. Maximilien became Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in 1883. His son also got the name Maximilien, and after he joined his fathers company they continued as Balbreck ainé et fils. Maximilien Balbreck died on 5 October 1902. His son continued the business as Max Balbreck. Max probably died in 1913, and his widow continued the business as Vve Balbreck (Vve is the French abbreviation for “Veuve”, meaning “Widow”).
Specifications
| Manufacturer: | Unknown |
| Year of introduction: | c. 1900 |
| Year of manufacture: | c. 1900 |
| Type: | Tailboard stereo camera |
| Serial number: | None |
| Negative type: | Glass |
| Negative format: | 6 x 9 cm |
| Lens: | Two Balbreck ainé Série A Extra Rapide lenses1 |
| Serial number lens: | 728 and 729 |
| Lens aperture: | f/12 |
| Focus: | By shifting the holder with the negative |
| Shutter: | No shutter |
| Dimensions (L x W x H): | 26.5 x 19.5 x 21 cm (unfolded) |
| Construction: | Wood |
| Other features: | The panel with the two lenses can be replaced for a panel with one lens. The camera supports basic tilt and shift adjustments to control perspective. |
Glossary: tailboard camera / negative
References
- Trutat, A. (1894) La photographie en montagne. Via: cnum.cnam.fr ↩︎