Does anyone know of "Brand Camera Company?"

[william_spence]

Hi there! I've seen a couple of listings on Ebay for "Brand Camera Company." One ad said it was made in Los Angles. Has anyone heard of this company or know of the cameras? Mahalo!

[mark_severson]

I asked this same question a while back; the answers that resulted are

here:

http://hv.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=00448t

[dean_lastoria]

I have one -- 4x5 -- lots of movements, and much more solid than a

graflex (same price range) but it isn't portible at all. It has two

rails. Mine is great though. The serial # sugest that there wern't many

made.

Good luck.

Dean

[merg_ross]

My first view camera was a Brand 17 purchased used in the early

1950's. It had a double telescoping rail, lots of swings and in my

opinion a very good camera. It came with a large aluminum handle and

sports sights which I removed--can't imagine it as a press camera

when the graphics were still available. As a view camera it was

excellent, good extension and a revolving back.

[david_powell5]

I have a 4x5 Brand 17, Brand Camera Co., Los Angeles 15, Calif., Serial Number 2021. No plastic here. Great folding metal hood, plain ground glass, geared focusing on both rails (convenient to both hands and very solid), rotating back, bellows and rail extension are excellent and all swings , tilts, and rise movements (horizontal shift, front standard only) are generous on both standards and have very positive locking screws, and zero position locks. I use it with an old 4.5 165mm Ernemann-Dresden Ernotar. The bellows might be a little cramped and the rails too long for lenses shorter than about 127mm. In all, I would recommend this camera for any serious work except that requiring wide angle lenses, if the price is right and you don't mind making your own lens boards. I got mine for $50 several years ago, but this camera is better designed and made than many costing multiple hundreds.