Stegemann Reisekamera
One of our favorite reference manuals here at the shop is McKeown's Cameras. We like to joke that if a camera isn't listed in this book it does not exist. Well here we have a camera that seems to exist and doesn't seem to be listed in McKeown's. This camera, which we are referring to as a Reisekamera made by A. Stegemann eludes our ability to tell you much about it, at least specifically. Stegemann was a maker of many innovative types of field and studio cameras throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They experimented with some interesting camera designs (such as their Hand-Camera).
This camera is of the "Reisekamera" family, with "Reise" meaning "travel" in German. Cameras belonging to the Reisekamera category were typically tailboard cameras. These cameras usually have a fixed front standard and focusing is done solely by movement of the rear standard along a geared track. When not in use, tailboard cameras typically fold up the rear bed, instead of the front bed later common to field cameras.
In terms of this particular Stegemann Reisekamera, we are guessing it was made somewhere between 1890 to 1915. It features dual sliding front boards that allow for raising or shifting the lens board. Interestingly enough the front standard itself does not move, so the bellows do not rise or shift, just the lens board. Meanwhile the rear standard is capable of forward and backward tilt. The ground glass is hinged and must be swung out of the way in order to insert a plate holder. While a bit cumbersome by today's standards, prior to spring-tensioned ground glass backs this is one other way of solving that particular design issue.
Overall though the camera does remain quite lightweight and true to its "Reisekamera" nature. It is quite portable and could be tucked into a rucksack or saddlebags on a bicycle.
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