a c1893 Zeiss shutter from our journal issue 15-4
Toronto. You never know what gems hide in our journals! In issue 15-4 Ev Roseborough wrote an article titled, “An Early Zeiss Shutter“. Early indeed! The box (from Bill Belier’s collection) contains some lenses and the shutter (c1893). Also included is a hand-drawn sketch plus notes hand written in early German.
The shutter photo was nicely enhanced by Topaz Photo AI which has yet to successfully handle text. The photo was reduced to thumbnail size in Affinity Photo which in many ways mimics Photoshop, but not the Adobe monthly fee business plan.
Ev writes in part, “On Nov. 8, 1893 Carl Zeiss patented a shutter of the above description. An ink sketch pasted in the box cover indicates that this timer controlled both aperture and exposure by the diaphragm. Fastened to each lens mount with screws, it engaged a projecting arm, the travel of which detemined the aperture; exposure was by controlled release of the air from the bulb.
“The script has baffled several german scholars; hopefully someone may have a complete unit.”
Of course members can read Ev’s complete text in the pdf version of issue 15-4 on the (free to members) DVD. Not a member? See the notes under menu item ‘MEMBERSHIP’ above or to use a card or PayPal account, the buttons to the right of this page. Any questions or problems, drop a message to our membership secretary, Lilianne Schneider, at member@phsc.ca.
You may come across an early Zeiss shutter/lens at one of our fall events. Certainly, you will discover items that will nicely add to your personal collection. Our next fall event is the fair on October 20, 2024. I will add a poster as we near the event.
