One-off wonders
I have a small weakness for cameras and other photo equipment that are one-offs. I define each of these as an item that is unique in the true sense of the word and the only existing example of its type. Some are beautifully engineered pieces of equipment that have been built for specific purposes. Others have just been home-made for little more than fun. With some of these one-off cameras I know the provenance. Others I know nothing about. Here’s what is currently in my collection.
The CieLisT
A beautifully engineered panoramic camera, made from a Wray Stereographic stereo camera with the original lenses removed, an Angulon 90mm f/6.8 lens added and a viewfinder adapted from a Zeiss finder originally made to cover a 30mm focal length on 35mm film. The area at the film plane originally designed to shoot twin 24x24mm images has been adapted to make a single 24x95mm image. More about this camera here.
​Rignall 35
Wooden 35mm camera, made by Mike Rignall, a British engineer who makes his own designs of pinhole and panoramic cameras to order. This one is a replica of a camera Mike made as a schoolboy about 75 years ago, the original now long gone.
Photosniper copy
Made in Russia from an unnamed Zenith SLR and MTO 500 mirror lens. No further information.
Johnson Wray 35
Sold as a Wray subminiature camera, but Wray never made such a thing. Lens is from an enlarger. No shutter or a way of inserting film, unless it was a piece cut from a roll of 35mm and tucked in the back. A mystery camera.
Mousetrap camera replica
Replica of one of Fox Talbot’s cameras. Made by a carpenter for a museum but never displayed.
​Wray Farvu
Wray’s first camera, advertised in 1930 and 1931, but of which no example has yet been discovered. This one was put together by building a body to use a found lens and shutter assembly which appear to be from a Farvu. Carpentry by Mike Rignall.
Astrophotography monorail
Monorail reflex camera, thought to be for astrophotography, though this has not been substantiated. Takes 5x4-inch glass plates.
Monorail macro camera
Monorail type camera with 10.5cm f/4.5 Tessar lens in a Zeiss Ikon shutter and a film back that seems to have been removed from a Zeiss folding camera. Shoots eight 6x9cm exposures on 120 roll film.
Home-made panoramic camera
Found in an auction without lens or shutter. Subsequently equipped with both from a handy junk box for display purposes only. Made to shoot 17x5.5cm pictures on 120 roll film.
Jermyn stereo camera
Hand-made in the 1950s by an engineer called Leonard Jermyn for his brother Stanley who was an eminent botanist. The camera was used to shoot stereo pictures to illustrate Stanley Jermyn’s lectures.
One-shot 35mm camera
Described in an auction catalogue as ‘An Interesting Home-Made Reflex Single Shot Housing’. Appears to be a home-made Visoflex for a screw-lens Leica, leaving a bit over which could be a one-shot camera body to take a Leica screw lens, but no shutter.
Stereo projector
Made in the 1960s by an amateur engineer to show stereo slides shot with his Stereo Realist camera.