FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board
Numismatic and History Discussion Forums => Coin Photography, Conservation and Storage => Topic started by: Andrew McCabe on November 21, 2014, 07:36:19 am
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Whilst arranging my new library I discovered a boxed up coin camera, which I've had since the early 1990s but that hasn't been used in this millennium due to digital. I'd intended to dispose of it a long time back, but I now intend to keep it as a piece of retro numismatic technology. It's now occupying one entire bookshelf in my new library. In case it's massive size isn't appreciated, note the heft of the carrying handle and shoulder straps. Yes, it's portable, its massive power supply can be substituted by an array of batteries that could propel a Tesla. There's an annular lighting set up fed by a large capacitor through industrial thickness power cables.
Forum often has threads about collectors struggling to take photos using their 10 MP mobile phone camera, but at least a phone cam doesn't require body-builder muscles and stamina, a 30 minute set-up time, and a cupboard to store it.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8618/15841870761_0a51569724_c.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/ahala_rome/15841870761/)
It took pretty good photos. The only setting was black and white, actual size, but the film was high quality and allowed for enlargements. You normally shot both sides of a coin on one print, by using a black background, flipping the coin, and exposing twice.
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That's some serious equipment. Did you have to wear a lead vest when using it? ;D
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That's some serious equipment. Did you have to wear a lead vest when using it? ;D
Yes, and issue a two-block neighbourhood evacuation alert before use. ;)
Amazingly, in 1995, this apparatus was the simplest and cheapest (at £900 for the apparatus, and £1 per shot for the film) method of coin photography. I bought it precisely because it was neat, simple and affordable compared to the alternative of hiring a specialist photo lab. I miss those days. Whilst the cost of photography has plummeted, the cost of coins has zoomed. I have an album of coin images taken with this camera that I'll show as background on its display shelf. Sadly, the coins were all sold late 1990s when I went through a liquidity crisis. If only I could have those coins back again..
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Now if only you could find a way to plug a digital camera into that....
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Now if only you could find a way to plug a digital camera into that....
You may have an idea there. If there was a way to mount a regular camera into where the polaroid sits and activate its shutter with the same electrical pulse that does the flash...then I'd have an annular light for the coin. I suspect it's technically possible with a lot of electromechanical skills. Then I'd need to go about finding spare annular light bulbs... Might be the most difficult thing.
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There are very good online fora for collectors of old cameras. That may be a source for the spares.
My dad was a film and photography prof and I was once a private investigator in the age of dark rooms (the Dark Room Ages ?) so I have a soft spot for real cameras. One of the few things I kept when I sold my collection of Soviet intelligence paraphernalia was a "Snaiper" 35mm telephoto camera with rifle-butt style mount.
Shawn
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Hi Andrew,
The equipment on the left looks like a CB radio or an old radar detector. :)
Meepzorp
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That's some serious equipment. Did you have to wear a lead vest when using it? ;D
Yes, and issue a two-block neighbourhood evacuation alert before use. ;)
Amazingly, in 1995, this apparatus was the simplest and cheapest (at £900 for the apparatus, and £1 per shot for the film) method of coin photography. I bought it precisely because it was neat, simple and affordable compared to the alternative of hiring a specialist photo lab. I miss those days. Whilst the cost of photography has plummeted, the cost of coins has zoomed. I have an album of coin images taken with this camera that I'll show as background on its display shelf. Sadly, the coins were all sold late 1990s when I went through a liquidity crisis. If only I could have those coins back again..
Hi Andrew,
900 GBP in 1995???!!!
And that was "cheap" ???!!!
In today's money, adjusting for inflation, that's about $4,000 (in US dollars).
Meepzorp
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Hi Andrew,
900 GBP in 1995???!!!
And that was "cheap" ???!!!
In today's money, adjusting for inflation, that's about $4,000 (in US dollars).
Meepzorp
Closer to $2500 today, $1500 then. It does seem absurd, but everything is included in this setup, no lighting or other gadgets needed, nor is any development needed, it included instant high quality printing, nor was any expertise needed (after all I could use it), and it was very compact as compared with alternates (though massive by today's standards). The price should be compared with the combined cost of a good SLR with a macro lens plus Danner-style equipment to take care of lighting automatically, or an alternative lighting jig, plus development or darkroom costs, plus the space needed. At the time a full setup to take and print publication quality photos would have cost significantly more, and today a full setup, to include lighting, and high quality printing, would still cost significantly more. The way I factored in the cost was that it was one Julius Caesar denarius and one pound per coin thereafter, and needed no expertise and took little space. I was collecting high quality coins at the time, so the per coin cost seemed reasonable.
I didn't however count on it being redundant five years later, but then again neither did Kodak (went bankrupt) nor Polaroid (went bankrupt) so I'm in good company.
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I try not to think too much on older technology purchases. Tends to induce uncontrollable sobbing. One always wants the latest best tool for the job but it is always short-lived. What have I learned from 40 years of buying expensive technology? Nothing! Still at it.
Ted