Wednesday, May 25, 2011

#13 Vredeboch Vrede Box

Vredeborch Vrede Box

Vredeborch Vrede Box
Meniscus lens, about 100 mm, two apertures f=11/16
Shutter speeds I (1/30ish) and B
Yellow filter controlled by the small button in the bottom.
Eight 6x9cm pictures on 120 film

Vredeborch manufactured a large number of models of this Vrede Box with very small differences:
Some with or without the yellow filter, self-timer or flash synchro socket. Some had the handle positioned in the center of the top panel others transversely. The same with the film advance by a round knurled knob or by a key. Also in colors, besides black there was some green and others red.
The lens were unmarked or marked as "Standard Menis 49" or "Paloma Menis"

Vredeborch Vrede Box


This camera was a gift from my great late friend Vitor Rodrigues (1962-2009).
He offered me this camera, a Kodak Vigilant Junior six-20 and a Canon A-1.


Vredeborch Vrede Box

I was called to the attention by a Dutch friend that the name "Vrede" means "Peace" in the Dutch language.
It's funny and I don't believe it's a coincidence: one of the lens names was "Paloma" that means dove in Spanish.

Edit - A reader asked me how does it work, as I think that the answer might help other readers here it is:

Open the back, pull out the film advance knob, remove the film camera box, load a roll of 120 film, put the film camera back, push the film advance knob back to place, close the back door, monitoring the film advance, with the little red window, advance it until you see the figure one.
Now you have some choices to make:
There is a round knob under the lens when you turn it you interpose or remove a yellow filter in the optical path, useful if you use black and white film.
Above the shutter release there are two sliders, the top one controls the aperture: out = f16, in f11.
The one under it controls the shutter: out = B (it remains open as long as you keep the shutter release pressed) in = 1/30 of a second exposure.
After you take the first shot, turn the film advance knob until you see the figure 2 in the red window, repeat this procedure until you reach the 8, after that turn it until there is no tension, remove the film the same way you loaded it.
I advise you to try all the controls before loading film to it to check if everything is working and get used to them, film is expensive.

Some pictures taken with it:

Me and my Vrede Box

Train by a Box

Just to show what the old gal can do


Stay tuned (o;

10 comments:

  1. Preciosidade... e no formato 6x9... fantástico!

    ReplyDelete
  2. wow, the third image is... awesome!!!

    enhorabuena, la cámara es magnífica...

    ReplyDelete
  3. @ Raul PC:
    É mesmo.

    @metamike:
    Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have this camera that I found in my grandfathers things but I don't know what to do with it or how to make it work...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Open the back, pull out the film advance knob, remove the film camera box, load a roll of 120 film, put the film camera back, push the film advance knob back to place, close the back door, monitoring the film advance, with the little red window, advance it until you see the figure one.
    Now you have some choices to make:
    There is a round knob under the lens when you turn it you interpose or remove a yellow filter in the optical path, useful if you use black and white film.
    Above the shutter release there are two sliders, the top one controls the aperture: out = f16, in f11.
    The one under it controls the shutter: out = B (it remains open as long as you keep the shutter release pressed) in = 1/30 of a second exposure.
    After you take the first shot, turn the film advance knob until you see the figure 2 in the red window, repeat this procedure until you reach the 8, after that turn it until there is no tension, remove the film the same way you loaded it.
    I advise you to try all the controls before loading film to it to check if everything is working and get used to them, film is expensive.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ok, thank you soo much!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I got the camera as a gift from my father in 1953 when I was 9 years old and took a lot of pictures. That was in Calcutta, India. Subsequently my restless teenage instincts made me take it apart! I did manage to put it together, except I reversed the meniscus lens - this resulted in rendering all but the central part in focus!

    Thank you for reviving many memories.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello, thank you for sharing this info and photos of your camera! I just recently bought one of these myself, on a local market and works quite fine.
    I haven´t ordered any film to it yet, though.I was wondering if you please could tell me about what ISO numbers one should use with the automatic in-built shutterspeed, depending on the light conditions?

    Kind Regards, Jerry

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hello!
    I just bought one of these camera during a local market. It seems to be working just fine, although I think I might have to clean it up a bit, it´s from 1957, according to the seller. I haven´t bought any film to it yet, since I´m a bit uncertain on what ISO number I should use for it. I´m mostly planning to use the in-built shutter speed of 1/30th of a second.

    Could you please tell me of wich ISO number I should have on the film when shooting with the automatic shutterspeed, depending on different light conditions?

    Kind Regards, Jerry

    ReplyDelete