General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

10

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

.1 WOODEN BODY, WITH METAL FITTINGS AND LEATHER BELLOWS & CARRYING STRAP; GLASS BULL'S EYE LEVEL/.2 WOODEN FRAME HAS METAL FITTINGS;.3 ALSO HAS GLASS SCREEN/.4 METAL LENS HOOD/.5 VELVET AND NYLON (?) DRAPE/.6 RUBBER TUBING & BULB; METAL MECHANISM/ HARD BODIED RESIN CASE IS PT.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

38.5 cm

Width

32.0 cm

Height

49.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Photography

Category

Still cameras

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Calumet

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Illinois

City

Chicago

Context

Country

United States of America

State/Province

New York

Period

Unknown

Canada

Part of a large collection of photographic equipment used by Yousuf Karsh, Canada's internationally honoured portrait photographer. From 1932 to1992 Mr. Karsh operated from his prinicipal studio in Ottawa. He also maintained studios in New York City and London, England. In 1999 Mr. Karsh was named one of the 100 most influential people of the century. His prints and negatives and personal papers are housed at Library and Archives Canada. This is one of two Calument CC-800 8x10 view cameras that Karsh purchased from the Calumet company in 1956. They would remain his principal studio cameras until his retirement in1992. For more information on the reasons and circumstances behind Karsh's purchase of the Calumet CC-800 cameras, see: Bryan Dewalt, "Karsh: Image Maker. Bringing Artifacts to an Art Show," in Analyzing Art and Aesthetics (Washington: Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press, 2013), pp. 81-82.

Function

TO RECORD GRAPHIC IMAGES ON PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM.

Technical

KARSH'S PRINCIPAL CAMERA WAS AN 8X10 CALUMET, TO WHICH A 4X5 OR 8X10 BACK COULD BE ATTACHED. THE METAL LENS HOOD WAS USED TO KEEP LIGHT OUT OF THE LENS, AND THE VELVET CLOTH LOOSELY DRAPED OVER THE BACK. THIS CAMERA WAS FITTED WITH 14" KODAK COMMERCIAL EKTAR LENS, 1998.0052.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

.1-.5 no markings/.6 " de Groff " incised on cable release mechanism/ PT case bears numerous shipping and identification decals. Karsh letterhead taped to centre top of case, and marked " YOUSUF KARSH/ 18 E. 62 ST./ NEW YORK, N.Y. ". " CAMERA/ 4X5 BACK/ Ground Glass/ in 8X10 Film Holder/ Case " handwritten in blue ink on grey adhesive tape label, also on case top. " CONCORDE " tag, "BRITISH/ AIRWAYS... Cabin Baggage" tied to handle.

Missing

NONE.

Finish

.1-.3 PAINTED LIGHT GREY;.3 FITTED WITH OPAQUE GLASS/.4 SILVER METAL HOOD/.5 WINE RED VELVET CLOTH, BACKED WITH LIGHT BROWN COLOURED NYLON FABRIC/.6 BLACK TUBING & BULB; SILVER METAL MECHANISM

Decoration

N/A