Soft focus is an acquired taste. No harm no foul if this isn't your cup of cappuccino. That's perfectly OK. But before you leave, note that every detail is present. The photograph glows but the core image is actually sharp.
I was sitting in a 1930's porch swing enjoying a glass of good wine with my 50 year high school buddy, Glen, when suddenly I was inspired to go get the camera and bang off a few pics.
So the camera is an Eastman Kodak 8X10 2D with accy 6.5X8.5 back on it. Film is Eastman Aerial Reconnaissance Panatomic X from long roll, cut to fit the holders. All of that is ordinary compared to the lens.
The lens is a prototype Pinkham Bi-Quality 16" f5. As far as I know, the only one in existence. About 1954 the nephew of the original Pinkham did a run of the best of the best, the Visual Quality Series IV, and since he couldn't use the old name, he called them Pinkham Bi-Quality. They were all 14" f4, except this one which was obviously a test prototype to decide if they should also do a run of 16" lenses. They did not.
The other story is my friend of 50 years. No, I didn't go on Shorpy.com and download a picture from the depression era. My old friend is actually the artist in the group. Everything you see in this scene is not only in use, just as it would have been in 1937, but it's carefully placed to have an authentic look of a days gone by small farm garage and workshop somewhere rural.
btw, this is current work. Friday the 13th July this year. Another note, if you're curious about the lens, I did a
page about it a few years ago at my web site with a bunch of pics done with it.
I remember this car, Jim!
It’s a good subject to return to. It gives me memories of my very first car and the first of so many clashes with “authority”!
I had to get me driver’s license in Birmingham UK in 1965 as I was flying that evening to take up a medical post in Harare Central Hospital in Zimbabwe, (then, Salisbury, Rhodesia).
To be sure of passing the much feared and absolutely required “emergency highway braking test”, I had the brillian idea of having new “original old stock” T-Ford Brakes installed to be absolutely prepared.
....and as second thoughts a new-fangled invention for the car of an after-market seat belt which I clipped in place!
Well, before we left Birmingham on the test, on a particularly overcast day, the examiner warned me that he would not say “brake now”, but simply signal the critical “emergency stop” by, at any moment, dropping his clipboard on the dashboard without a single word of earning. Well I was fully prepared and like a tiger, wound up and ready to pounce!
Well we drove about 6 miles out of town and picked up speed on an empty road as instructed and suddenly the heavens opened and we were flying along like a bullet, when the fellow looked at the horrible sky and struggle of the wiper to clear the windshield and became so startled. The dreaded clipboard fell to the dashboard.
I was so ready. I slammed on the breaks and that T Ford screeched to a halt so perfectly....and he went flying into the windshield.
“Was that perfect or not?” I proudly declared.
“You idiot, I had to put the bloody thing down, as it was impossible to see through your damn windshield...and you failed your test!”
So I restarted the engine, slowly drove to the edge of the highway and opened the irate examiner’s door.
“So sorry, old chap, but since I failed the test, I cannot take responsibility of driving 6 miles with a valuable man like you. So walk back!”
“But look at the rain! He argued.
“But look at the perfect skid marks on the wet road!” I replied.
I flew out of the country that night!
In the British Colony, the next day, to pass the test, I had to adjust the mirror, kick all four tires, say I was a doctor and simply start the engine and drive hundred yards!
Now thatcwas a great test and I have never looked back, but I do miss my 1937 T-Ford!
Asher
