Pecole Posted June 18, 2010 Share #1 Posted June 18, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) My wife, who is historian, used a STARE portable copying stand when working at establishing a catalogue of the Toledo cathedral's library in 1961, and took superb pixes of manuscripts' illustrations. I later traded this equipment, property of the Louvain university, for a transparancies viewer they needed, and was happy to add it to my collection. Here are the photos of the STARE in operation, dismantled in its canvas bag, the bag ready for transport, and finally the FLOTH plumb line with its U-shaped suspension clip (there exists also a pentagonal version of this clip). Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 3 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/124058-stare-an-unusual-piece-of-collection/?do=findComment&comment=1355473'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 18, 2010 Posted June 18, 2010 Hi Pecole, Take a look here STARE, an unusual piece of collection. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
dkCambridgeshire Posted June 18, 2010 Share #2 Posted June 18, 2010 Very interesting post. I'm looking for a clip for my plumb-bob Cheers dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted June 18, 2010 Share #3 Posted June 18, 2010 Just come back to my serial a Little... Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/124058-stare-an-unusual-piece-of-collection/?do=findComment&comment=1355801'>More sharing options...
Pecole Posted June 19, 2010 Author Share #4 Posted June 19, 2010 (edited) Just come back to my serial a Little... Quite interesting to compare our two STARE. Mine was bought in 1933 (I got a copy of the purchase voucher) and is similar - but a little more elaborated - to the first (1931) model illustrated by Dennis Laney. Yours is definitely more recent. I didn't find yet the latest appearance in Leitz catalogues. Edited June 19, 2010 by jc_braconi Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pecole Posted June 19, 2010 Author Share #5 Posted June 19, 2010 (edited) Very interesting post. I'm looking for a clip for my plumb-bob Cheers dunk This plumb - as you probably know - is not a Leitz, but a mason's one. Edited June 19, 2010 by jc_braconi Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted June 19, 2010 Share #6 Posted June 19, 2010 This plumb - as you probably know - is not a Leitz, but a mason's one. Infact, the Leitz's ones were (strangerly) unnumbered... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted June 19, 2010 Share #7 Posted June 19, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Quite interesting to compare our two STARE. Mine was bought in 1933 (I got a copy of the purchase voucher) and is similar - but a little more elaborated - to the first (1931) model illustrated by Dennis Laney. Yours is definitely more recent. I didn't find yet the latest appearance in Leitz catalogues. Pierre, This is an OMEXO as you can see on the last line of the catalog picture Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan mcfall Posted May 11, 2022 Share #8 Posted May 11, 2022 Just a little more on the FLOTH, mostly questions. Although the SenKlot or plumb bob called FLOTH is often associated with the STARE copy stand, it was available earlier, primarily for use with the enlarger stand and FILUM arm (VIDOM magazines 51 and 80). Naturally, it was added to the portable copy stand when it became available. As is well known there seems to be two versions, but no change in code word. As the elmar barrel was 27mm, the later lens barrel of the 50 Hektor, Summar, and even the Summitar all all 29mm, and the earlier circular FLOTH would not fit. For some reason Leitz just did not enlarge the circular FLOTH design to fit the larger lens barrels, but went to an angular or flat sided. I cannot understand why a new code word was not utilized. The circular FLOTH is 27.2mm inside and is a very nice precise feeling fit to the Elmar. The angular version is 30mm and the fit to the later lenses is loose and feels a little sloppy. When the later angular FLOTH is used on the Elmar it is very loose at over 3mm clearance. I have several of the red boxes that I think are original to the early and late version and they are identical. Did Leitz leave it up to the dealers to get the correct FLOTH with the correct lenses of their customers? The first photo shows 9 Floth attachments of which 3 are the angular version. Although they are not serialized, Photo 2, shows a FLOTH with the "Germany" engraving in the font often seen on Wetzlar export items of the period. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 3 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/124058-stare-an-unusual-piece-of-collection/?do=findComment&comment=4433015'>More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted May 11, 2022 Share #9 Posted May 11, 2022 Have to check if my boxed one is engraved Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Russell Posted August 9 Share #10 Posted August 9 (edited) I am considering trying to use my tablet ( iPad Pro 9.7”, weight 437g.) with the STARE cum FLOTH ‘combo’ to digitise my collection of 10x8” contact sheets if I can discover a way to establish a connection and have sought an instruction manual to no avail, not even from the Vienna Leica Classic Store, which has 2 on offer (one without FLOTH). The dimensions of the connecting arm and fastening hardware would be desirable before ordering it and I wonder if some STARE user/owner may be able to oblige or point me in the right direction to find this information on line? Edited August 9 by Tony Russell To improve the post. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerzy Posted August 9 Share #11 Posted August 9 Vidom #51 from 1999 contains detailed descrption of components involved including photos with use cases, some additonal information is in Vidom 80 from 2002, Vidom is a periodical magazine of Leica Historica Germany and is published in German language available to members. From time to time some issuesw of Vidom may be found on selling platforms. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Russell Posted August 9 Share #12 Posted August 9 Thank you for your reply, Jerzy. I shall try and locate the sources you so kindly suggest. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitz Posted August 9 Share #13 Posted August 9 8 hours ago, Tony Russell said: I am considering trying to use my tablet ( iPad Pro 9.7”, weight 437g.) with the STARE cum FLOTH ‘combo’ to digitise my collection of 10x8” contact sheets A better approach might be to buy a flat bed scanner. STARE and OMEXO are relatively expensive. On e-bay today, STARE in the US at $400; OMEXO in Austria about $900. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
willeica Posted August 10 Share #14 Posted August 10 11 hours ago, zeitz said: A better approach might be to buy a flat bed scanner. STARE and OMEXO are relatively expensive. On e-bay today, STARE in the US at $400; OMEXO in Austria about $900. I agree. The Leitz copying/close up items are only for collectors, I have some of them in my collection. Either a flatbed scanner or photographing from a flat lightbox with a modern macro lens and stand will produce much better results. Unless, of course, Tony actually wants to use the original Leitz equipment The image below is from a photographic plate which is about 135 years old (early 1890s) and I photographed it with an iPhone on a lightbox and then worked on it with Photoshop. There was some damage to the plate which could not be repaired, but this is very usable. The institution which has this plate also scanned it with an industrial scale scanner, but it was no significant improvement on this one. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! William 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! William ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/124058-stare-an-unusual-piece-of-collection/?do=findComment&comment=5846169'>More sharing options...
pedaes Posted August 10 Share #15 Posted August 10 25 minutes ago, willeica said: The image below What a stunning image. Lady could be a model! Detail in shadows and sky, amazing for 135 years ago plus a little help from PS. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
willeica Posted August 10 Share #16 Posted August 10 1 hour ago, pedaes said: What a stunning image. Lady could be a model! Detail in shadows and sky, amazing for 135 years ago plus a little help from PS. The woman is gathering/gleaning potatoes in Northern France. The same photographer, Alfred Werner, took this famous image in a studio in Dublin with the largest portrait camera ever made. He won a prize for it at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 and it shows an English woman called Maud Gonne who espoused liberation causes in Ireland and France and was greatly admired by the poet W.B. Yeats. Those large negatives would have been printed using projection onto an enlarging board. Some cameras and magic lanterns doubled as enlargers back then. The staff in our National Photographic Archive refer to the giant negative plate as 'Big Maud'. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! All a bit off topic, as all I intended to show that was that using a flatbed or a lightbox can produce good results. At Photo Museum Ireland, which I chair, we recently approved the acquisition of this Hasselblad X-2D based copying set up after our old Hasselblad Drum Scanner gave up the ghost. STUVU.docx It has just arrived and staff are about to be trained in its use. William 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! All a bit off topic, as all I intended to show that was that using a flatbed or a lightbox can produce good results. At Photo Museum Ireland, which I chair, we recently approved the acquisition of this Hasselblad X-2D based copying set up after our old Hasselblad Drum Scanner gave up the ghost. STUVU.docx It has just arrived and staff are about to be trained in its use. William ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/124058-stare-an-unusual-piece-of-collection/?do=findComment&comment=5846223'>More sharing options...
Tony Russell Posted August 10 Share #17 Posted August 10 (edited) I am overwhelmed by the many responses with suggestions illustrating different and possibly better and less expensive solutions to my pending quandary as to how best to proceed, only increasing my anxiety about deciding, but thank you all. Forty years ago, I, with a Reprovit IIA + Leica MDa, (their equipment) re-photographed the entire collection of historical photographs at the Venezuelan National Library in Caracas, as an independent contractor at their National Center for Documentary Conservation, then under the direction of recently deceased curator, Lourdes Blanco, R.I.P., with comparative ease. Unfortunately, I never made the transition to digital despite my very best efforts and investment of time & treasure and barely get by with my iPad pro 9.7”, even after 25 yrs. : I have to admit to being a digital dunce and in my own defence contend I was too old to switch. My solution would allow me to conveniently access my thousands of contact sheets without physically opening the indexed photo paper storage boxes and allow me as well the possibility of emailing selections of my work. I’ve seen a STARE with FLOTH in good condition being offered for €230 but someone I consulted raised the question as to whether it could, in fact, manage the 437g my iPad pro 9.7” weighs + the weight of an aluminium tablet holder/clamp which, if I can ascertain the corresponding STARE arm’s connecting fastener’s dimensions/threads, may allow the connection I seek. Can anyone help with that information? Last but not least, thank you all for your information, suggestions and the exceptionally wonderful examples provided of what can be done when one knows how. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! selfportrait, M4, Visoflex lll with R-adapter, Telyt-R 400mm f/6.8 prototype, tripod mounted, 1/15 sec. f/6.8 at closest focusing distance, self-timer, Tri-X. ©️Tony Russell, 1973 Edited August 10 by Tony Russell Chose a better turn of phrase 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! selfportrait, M4, Visoflex lll with R-adapter, Telyt-R 400mm f/6.8 prototype, tripod mounted, 1/15 sec. f/6.8 at closest focusing distance, self-timer, Tri-X. ©️Tony Russell, 1973 ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/124058-stare-an-unusual-piece-of-collection/?do=findComment&comment=5846380'>More sharing options...
zeitz Posted August 10 Share #18 Posted August 10 2 hours ago, Tony Russell said: Forty years ago, I, with a Reprovit IIA + Leica MDa, (their equipment) re-photographed the entire collection of historical photographs at the Venezuelan National Library in Caracas, as an independent contractor at their National Center for Documentary Conservation, then under the direction of recently deceased curator, Lourdes Blanco, R.I.P., with comparative ease. The Reprovit IIa is a very unique piece of photographic equipment. Oddly they are almost worthless, at least in the US, because of the cost of shipping them and their massive size when storing them. I have two of them. The insulation on the some of the wiring has turned to plastic and broken off resulting in a rewiring project even before thinking about plugging them into the wall outlet. In the US the lights are often taken from the outfit to use as interior decorations. And a great self-portrait. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
willeica Posted August 10 Share #19 Posted August 10 (edited) 2 hours ago, Tony Russell said: I am overwhelmed by the many responses with suggestions illustrating different and possibly better and less expensive solutions to my pending quandary as to how best to proceed, only increasing my anxiety about deciding, but thank you all. Forty years ago, I, with a Reprovit IIA + Leica MDa, (their equipment) re-photographed the entire collection of historical photographs at the Venezuelan National Library in Caracas, as an independent contractor at their National Center for Documentary Conservation, then under the direction of recently deceased curator, Lourdes Blanco, R.I.P., with comparative ease. Unfortunately, I never made the transition to digital despite my very best efforts and investment of time & treasure and barely get by with my iPad pro 9.7”, even after 25 yrs. : I have to admit to being a digital dunce and in my own defence contend I was too old to switch. My solution would allow me to conveniently access my thousands of contact sheets without physically opening the indexed photo paper storage boxes and allow me as well the possibility of emailing selections of my work. I’ve seen a STARE with FLOTH in good condition being offered for €230 but someone I consulted raised the question as to whether it could, in fact, manage the 437g my iPad pro 9.7” weighs + the weight of an aluminium tablet holder/clamp which, if I can ascertain the corresponding STARE arm’s connecting fastener’s dimensions/threads, may allow the connection I seek. Can anyone help with that information? Last but not least, thank you all for your information, suggestions and the exceptionally wonderful examples provided of what can be done when one knows how. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! selfportrait, M4, Visoflex lll with R-adapter, Telyt-R 400mm f/6.8 prototype, tripod mounted, 1/15 sec. f/6.8 at closest focusing distance, self-timer, Tri-X. ©️Tony Russell, 1973 Now that I understand what you want to, I suggest getting a modern holder for the iPad such as any of these or similar https://www.aliexpress.com/p/tesla-landing/index.html?scenario=c_ppc_item_bridge&productId=1005005857131051&_immersiveMode=true&withMainCard=true&src=google&aff_platform=true&isdl=y&src=google&albch=shopping&acnt=615-992-9880&isdl=y&slnk=&plac=&mtctp=&albbt=Google_7_shopping&aff_platform=google&aff_short_key=_oFgTQeV&gclsrc=aw.ds&&albagn=888888&&ds_e_adid=&ds_e_matchtype=&ds_e_device=c&ds_e_network=x&ds_e_product_group_id=&ds_e_product_id=en1005005857131051&ds_e_product_merchant_id=669525251&ds_e_product_country=IE&ds_e_product_language=en&ds_e_product_channel=online&ds_e_product_store_id=&ds_url_v=2&albcp=22476408939&albag=&isSmbAutoCall=false&needSmbHouyi=false&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22476413733&gbraid=0AAAAA_TvRHpBLBGba2yFrz2kmPPsf1Pur&gclid=CjwKCAjwhuHEBhBHEiwAZrvdcs4AxrvGQLq5kvDdM4vlIFhpwuL3CgNLcyzqL9XZZAN9L6CuALD-dRoCBgUQAvD_BwE and if you want to keep the process 'Leitz Authentic' use the FLOTH to judge verticals. Another approach would be to mount the iPAD vertically (you can even use a tripod for it) and also the target object, just as was done for copying and printing in the earliest days of photography by the likes of von Monckhoven. The STARE is described on pages 41 and 42 of this early booklet showing Leitz accessories for scientists, but I don't know if this could be described as a 'user manual'. William p17233coll13_1559.pdf Edited August 10 by willeica Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Russell Posted August 11 Share #20 Posted August 11 Finally, getting somewhere: confirmations that both the STARE camera-carrying arm and the carrying/mounting iPad pro holder use 1/4” connecting screws have been procured. The iPad pro 11”, 3rd gen. (2021) if so, probably doesn’t weigh much more than a Leica screw mount with lens and visor. It is my opinion that for non-critical reproductions, the image quality produced by both my iPad pros is more than adequate. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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