Gundlach-Manhattan Optical Co.
Seebold Invisible Camera Corp.
Rochester, New York, NY

 

Korona Banquet Camera

 

 

Gundlach-Manhattan Optical Co. Catalog, May 1, 1920, p. 21
KorBanCat.jpg (42879 bytes)

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 x 20"
The lens is a Gundlach-Manhattan Turner-Reich triple convertible anastigmat (12", 21", 28") in a Betax No. 4.  Only the rear lens (21") would be suitable for banquet photos, and this would stretch the bellows to their maximum in order to focus.
The shutter is a beefy 4" in diameter, yet is dwarfed by the truly large size of this camera.
1228.Gundlach-Manhattan-Korona.Banquet.View-12x20-a.with two.holders.and.case-2000.jpg
1228.Gundlach-Manhattan-Korona.Banquet.View-12x20-a.camera.only-1500.jpg
1228.Gundlach-Manhattan-Korona.Banquet.View-12x20-b-750.jpg1228.Gundlach-Manhattan-Korona.Banquet.View-12x20-c-750.jpg
1228.Gundlach-Manhattan-Korona.Banquet.View-12x20-d-750.jpg1228.Gundlach-Manhattan-Korona.Banquet.View-12x20-e-750.jpg
1228.Gundlach-Manhattan-Korona.Banquet.View-12x20-f-1500.jpg

Bottom
1228.Gundlach-Manhattan-Korona.Banquet.View-12x20-bottom-1500.jpg

Label, lower part of front standard ("Korona Banquet View / Seebold Invisible Camera Corp. / Rochester, N.Y.")
1228.Gundlach-Manhattan-Korona.Banquet.View-12x20-label.lower.front.standard-1500.jpg

Stamps "19", probably an assembly number, on bottom of fixed platform (top) and first hinged front extension (bottom)
1228.Gundlach-Manhattan-Korona.Banquet.View-12x20-stamps.assembly.no.19.bottom.of.platform-1500.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date Introduced: - ; Years Manufactured: c. 1914-1930's
Construction: front and rear focus via rack and pinion (two gear tracks on top of base rails); double swing and swing front; non-reversing; three-piece lens board
Materials: walnut-stained cherry body, cherry base, black leatherette bellows ; nickeled hardware
Sizes Offered: 12x20
Notes:
Came with a canvas case. 

The first front extension in hinged up for storage.  The second front extension is hinged down, to get out of the way in case you get an extreme wide angle lens like a Radar Extreme Wide Angle Anastigmat F16.  The platform and bellows provide about 24" of draw.The catalog suggests a No. 6 Turner-Reich Anastigmat Series II, which is capable of 15"/24"/36" focal lengths.  It is an odd choice, since 15" would appear not to cover the format, and 24" would be too long for the bellows.  The camera above has a No. 5 (12"/28"/21"), for which the 21" option appears to work, but requires that the bellows to be fully extended, a practice not recommended for antique cameras.

References:
Korona Cameras, Gundlach-Manhattan Optical Co. (Rochester, NY), 1914
Korona Cameras, Gundlach-Manhattan Optical Co. (Rochester, NY), 1915, p. 29
Korona Cameras, Gundlach-Manhattan Optical Co. (Rochester, NY), Jan. 1, 1918, p. 25
Catalogue of Cameras, Kodaks, Lenses and Photographic Accessories, Central Camera Co. (Chicago, IL), 1919-1920, p. 36
Korona Cameras, Gundlach-Manhattan Optical Co. Catalog, May 1, 1920, p. 21
Photographic Lenses and Korona Cameras
, Gundlach-Manhattan Optical Co. Catalog #22, c. 1922, p. 47
Catalogue No. 10 and Bargain Book No. 11 of Cameras, Kodaks, Lenses and Photographic Accessories, 1920-1921; Central Camera Co. (Chicago, IL), 1920, p.33
Catalogue No. 21 of Cameras, Kodaks, Lenses and Photographic Accessories 1923-1924, Central Camera Co. (Chicago, IL), dated 1923-1924, p.49
Photographic Lenses and Korona Cameras, Gundlach-Manhattan Optical Co. Catalog No. 25, 1925, p. 46
Catalogue No. 27 of Cameras, Kodaks, Lenses and Photographic Accessories 1925-1926, Central Camera Co. (Chicago, IL), 1925, p. 61
Photographic Equipment Apparatus and Supplies, Catalogue No. 18
, Norman-Willets Photo Supply, Inc. (Chicago, IL); c.1925, p. 6
Catalogue No. 31 of Cameras, Kodaks, Lenses and Photographic Accessories 1926-1927, Central Camera Co. (Chicago, IL), 1926, p. 73
Catalog of Photographic Apparatus and Supplies, Catalog No. 121,
Chicago Photo Supply House (Chicago, IL), c. 1926, p. 2
Photographic Materials Mail Order Cash Catalog No. 127,
George Murphy, Inc. (New York, NY), Jan. 1927, p. 32
Korona Cameras, Gundlach-Manhattan Optical Co. (Rochester, NY), 1930
Photographic Materials Mail Order Cash Catalog No. 130, George Murphy, Inc. (New York, NY), Jul. 1930, p. 31
Photographic Supplies, Burke & James, Inc. (Chicago), Catalog #250, 1931, p. 24 (as The Rexo Banquet Camera)
Photographic Materials, Mail Order Catalog No. 131,
George Murphy, Inc. (New York, NY), April 1931, p. 31
Cameras - Lenses - Equipment, Catalog No. 32, Gundlach Manufacturing Corporation (Rochester, NY), c. 1932, p. 38
Photographic Materials Mail Order Cash Catalog No. 132, George Murphy, Inc. (New York, NY), May 1932, p. 31
Catalogue No. 42 of Cameras, Kodaks, Lenses and Photographic Accessories 1932-33, Central Camera Co. (Chicago, IL), p. 43
Photographic Materials Mail Order Cash Catalog No. 134, George Murphy, Inc. (New York, NY), May 1934, p. 31


 

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