Ernemann Heag 0 Model A 9x12 plate

[Stephen]

From Ebay, a reasonably priced Ernemann, £15, often very expensive in some listings, a Model A from about 1920, they were made from 1917 to 1925, with various lens., F6.3 Detektiv aplanet lens version on this one. I have Agfa plate holders that fit and a 120 roll film back, along with focusing screens.

Contemporary Ernemann Adverts.

Stephen.

[hansz]

This forum gets better and better!
Any numbers, gentlemen?

[Stephen]

Hansz,

I'll get the surviving numbers as soon as it arrives, the top shot is from the listing, second stock shot, so don't take the number!

However, I do have one of the very tiny glass plate versions, with the pneumatic shutter, in the workshop pending making some new body parts, I will will check out that one for numbers. It dates from about 1901/2 I believe, although I was told it was 1899 at one time.

The elderly lady who sold it was the widow of a member of UK Legation staff in China during the Chinese Boxer rebellion, and stated that the camera was used then, during the famous Peking legation siege of 1901.

But the years dates do not quite match production of the Ernemann model, and the glass plates that came with it only show later scenes of Boxer rebels held just after the rebellion. Some photos were used in the UK newspapers of the time, from this camera.

She stated that the Ernemann camera was chosen, as it was so small, and would not be taken as a normal camera by the Chinese, so that shots could be taken without it being noticed. Also the pneumatic shutter was silent, again making it inconspicuous in operation.

Like all these stories it must be tempered by reality, I have no proof it was in the 99 day siege, nor was it used for the famous shots of the executed Boxer Rebels, although she had another larger format Ernemann that she claimed was used. Unfortunately this one and plates was bought by the owner of the shop. She said the larger one was the official Legation camera. Again I am not sure as I don't think Ernemann were manufacturing in time enough to have them in China for 1901.

Do you know when Ernemann actually started production?

Stephen.

[hansz]

Heinrich Ernemann started production in Dresden, 1889. With the incorporation(1899) of the company Ernst Herbst & Firl, Görlitz (founded in 1870), he transformed the company in an A.G. in 1898 (Heinrich Ernemann A.G, Dresden).
This all from the records... When the actual production started under his own name I can't say...
Hans

[Stephen]

It might then, be just possible for the miniature Ernemann and the larger Ernemann 9x12 plate the lady had, to have been in Peking for 1901. The larger was also fitted with a pneumatic shutter. I have a few Dufay glass mounted film transparencies taken by the ladies Husband whilst in India in the late 1930's in the Empire Colonial service.

The miniature Ernemann has suffered aluminum oxide powdering of the body structure plates, but they are plain metal sheet under the leather, and replaceable. Not bad condition otherwise for over a 110 years old now. The Shutter works perfectly and the lens is clean and clear. Fixed focus only on this tiny "matchbox" model, they obviously though such small cameras did not need focusing.

I hope the condition of the Ernemann Heag 0 coming from Ebay is all right, as there has been another just sold on Ebay, and it was a complete basket case, without even any bellows, and £26 ... and other Ernemanns are sold regularly for £50/80 or even more.

I do like old 6x9 plate size cameras, as with adaptor backs, like Rada or Rollux, they are still easily usable with 120 film. But usually they are soooooo expensive nowadays!

Stephen.

[Stephen]

By the way I really like the Ernemann printed adverts, as good as Ensign plates in the 30's, or the colour plate Kodak adverts, "Mein Bester Freund" has exceptional advertising style. It is also noticeable that just like Ensign and Koak, the adverts were often aimed at the Lady Camera users.

Stephen.

[Stephen]

Another Ernemann advert, 1920's and for the F2, but the picture shows an ordinary type!

Stephen.

[Stephen]

Tried tonight on Ebay to get a Rada back or a Rollex back to go with this camera, but both shot from £9 to over £30, well outbid ,so no go! I have a Rada back already, but it is being re-painted at the moment, perfect inside but outer paint was awful!! The older Rollex backs usually are expensive anyway.....they work very well on most older plate cameras.
Stephen.

[Stephen]

The Ernemann Plate camera has arrived and a small correction, it is the 9x12cm Ernemann, not 9x3cm, and has got three cut film holders and a film pack holder with it.

The bigger size is useful, it can still take roll film adaptors, but the plates are larger and contact prints worthwhile from this size. I will test with paper negatives first.

The larger 9x12 size could also take Fuji instant film adaptors as well.

The glass focusing screen has one small corner broken, but the broken glass bit is there, and can be superglued back together, worthwhile as it has an etched line for framing and is original. Glass can be easily replaced anyway.

The Shutter works 100%, all dead accurate on my tester, and the lens glass elements are good, clean, but a bit dusty, easy to clean up further. The infinity focus is accurate to the bed scale, checked with the focusing screen.

I'll do some black and white tests today, with the Agfa Standard as well.

Stephen.

[Stephen]

Couple of Photos of the Ernemann Heag 0 Type A , 9x12 format, as received, including the sellers dust etc., looks like it has been stored for a long time.

The leatherette bellows are quite sound, a quick test with photographic paper whilst taking the photos outside in the sun, resulted in no fogging.

The wooden body casing of the Ernemann camera is 100% and the leather very good, but needs some decent leather treatment, as it is so dry. The body catches work, on the front and the clip release for the film holders.

The cut film/plate holders have dates scratched on the surfaces, on for 1918, and two with 1920, and assorted pencilled dates up to 1924.

The Ernemann makers round brass plate on the top of the body is missing, they were only glued on, and are usually gone, but a replacement can be made.

An original Ernemann trademark brass plate plaque is still riveted in place inside the wooden body.

The Body numbers are 692931 and 06861.......the second is on the frame edge, first main number stamp embossed into wood.

Lens numbers are 511753 ..... Ernemann Doppel-Objektiv type...... 14cm Focal Length and F 1:11 Stop (F11 140mm).

The shutter appears made by Ernemann, there is no separate makers name, it has B and T nd 100/50/25/ speeds, and it is an everset type shutter, with a cable release socket on the release lever. Tests as dead accurate.

Next a few tests shots with paper negatives.

Stephen.

[Stephen]

The Lens and shutter unit, no make on shutter.

Stephen.

[Stephen]

And of course Ernemann became part of Zeiss........
Stephen.

[hansz]

Stephen,

Zeiss Ikon made a lot of those postcard size marketing materials.
Have you got more of those (and if you are willing to send me some 300dpi scans of those...)

Reason: I started a 'postcard' section on the website...

Hans

[Stephen]

Jul 6, 2013 7:33:04 GMT -5 hansz said:

Stephen,

Zeiss Ikon made a lot of those postcard size marketing materials.
Have you got more of those (and if you are willing to send me some 300dpi scans of those...)

Reason: I started a 'postcard' section on the website...

Hans

I have a couple of stored Zeiss adverts away, If you click on the image it is on photobucket, click magnify twice to bring up the original and can be downloaded at full size. It was photographed, not scanned.

Stephen.

[Stephen]

First quick test of the Ernemann, 9x12 Ilford o/d HP3 cut film in Rochester Cathedral, time exposure of 10secs at F22...it works!!
re-photographed from neg with OM pen PM-1, sepia and tilt shift via the Gimp. The curved bottom is from the Gimp, not the negative or lens, but the organ leaned backwards to much without correction.

I have few more sheets of the old HP3 and will take a few more shots around the Cathedral with the Ernemann next week.

Stephen.