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J.GIRARD & Cie - Le Rêve Idéal (1907) 

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J.Girard - Le Rêve Idéal (1907)

Sold by J.Girard & Co (successor of E.Girard & A.Boitte), Le Rêve Idéal is bearing a resemblance with an Afpi-Universal made by Wünsche. In addition to a similar design and identical dimensions, these two cameras have several similarities (a double pistons shutter, same legs holding the flap, hooks for bellows).

This is not a surprise because this company was in fact a distributor of photographic cameras, mainly imported from Germany.

Le Rêve Idéal is an interesting folding which has multiple refinements.

bulletFirstly, this camera was using equally 9x12 cm glass plates or VIDIL rollfilm. This type of film allowed to frame and focus the photography on a translucent paper which was inserted between two portions of sensitive film.

The use of VIDIL rollfilm required to equip the camera with a large rollfilm magazine. 

bulletThis camera allowed "double-extension" in order to offer a long focal distance. This feature required to equip the camera with a special lens "doublet", able to correct chromatic aberrations and distortions.
The camera exposed here is equipped with a doublet lens Symetrical Anastigmat f:6.8 made by Roussel.

When the simple-extension was used, two little hooks were allowing to reduce the length of the bellows avoiding this one to cut the focal plan.

Depending of the extension mode selected, the photograph had to use one of the range of distances. Each ranges has a double scale : one for glass plate, one for rollfilm.

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The shutter is a Bausch & Lomb equipped with a double piston. It is offering apertures from 6.8 to 44. The range of speeds varies from 1/100 sec to 1 sec. Pose B and T are also possible. The speed selector is marked "AUTOMAT".


Double-extension setting
 

 

This camera was given to me by a friend who is a charming Lady of 80 springs. This camera was owned by his father since he found it in 1945... on the top of a garbage can!

Thanks to Vilma for this great gift and above all, for her daily kindness.

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