...didn't think it applies to any of the other catagories, so I'll post it here. A few weeks ago I got to do some photography in an old San Francisco Victorian-turned bed-and-breakfast. In the main room of this joint wasone of them really big turn-of-the century portrait cameras on the rolling stand witht he Frankenstein-style knobs and pullies. If I'd known it was there, I would have staged a specific picture I've always wanted to recreate (Hurrell photographing Robert Montgomery in a mirror, with Montgomery holding the bulb for the shutter in his hand, the big camera looming over his shoulder and Hurrell in the background). Now it was a one-shot deal, and they charge for photography indoors... I'm cheap, but if I get desperate I might bite the bullet. Before I do, I was wondering if anyone knew of any photographer/museums/collectors/whatever in the San Francisco Bay Area who had one of these I could use to stage this photo around. How about it? Opportunity yomeet another Graflex enthusiast in the flesh (actually, kind of a scary thought). Or suggestions would be appreciated while I do some research into the possibility.

jeff

Old Deardorff and Kodak studio cameras like that often go for just a few hundred dollars (unless they happen to be in the New York area, where there's enough demand within driving distance), because they are too much of a pain to ship. The Deardorffs typically have a studio stand with two lead-weighted 13-foot steel columns and a cast iron base that add considerably to the shipping cost.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: David A. Goldfarb on 2005-05-23 17:15 ]</font>

Yeah, I'm hoping someone knows of one in a cllection or on display somewhere... found out to shoot the camera in the bed-and-breakfast would cost more than $200. I could BUY one for that much.

jeff