Packard 3 leaf camera shutter.
Category
Photographic technology
Date
Unknown
Materials
Metal, Plastic, Textile
Measurements
102 x 102 x 20 mm
Order this imageCollection
Fox Talbot Museum, Wiltshire
NT 1524713
Summary
Packard 3-leaf camera shutter. The shutter consists of a thin (7mm), flat black metal case with a central circular opening (2"/5cm diameter), containing three coupled blades of thin black plastic. The mechanism is activated by a simple non-lubricated, air-driven piston connected to a flexible air hose and bulb (missing). The front of the case is covered in felted textile. The blade mechanism consists of two leaves, separately pivoted near the bottom of the case. These overlap slightly at the center of the opening, but do not quite cover the top of the opening. Simultaneously, a “guillotine” blade moves down to cover the remaining area. The air-activated piston moves the guillotine blade, which is coupled to one of the vertical leaves by a small rivet: this first vertical leaf is then coupled to the other vertical leaf by a second rivet. In this manner, movement of the guillotine blade opens or closes all three blades.
Provenance
Part of the Fenton Collection. A gift from British Film Institute in 2017. From 1986-1999, part of BFI collection for the Museum of the Moving Image. BFI purchased collection in 1986 from James Fenton's Museum of Photography, Port Erin, Isle of Man 1976-1986