What camera was Father Browne using to take his infamous photos?
- Thread starter Duck_Dur
- Start date
Thomas Krom
Member
A 1911 Kodak vestpocket camera.
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Richard C Elliott
Member
A Kodak Vest Pocket camera according to several accounts. Various models existed over the years but I think they were first introduced around 1910-1912 so it would have to be one of the early ones.
derek byrne
Member
Camera reputedly bought with money given to him by his uncle Robert Browne, bishop of Cloyne, from damages of £200 awarded to the bishop when he sued the Dundee Courier for slander in January 1912. I would label the photographs poignant rather than infamous.
That £200 would be an awful lot in today's money, about £15,000!
Mark VII
Member
I also thought that Browne had used a Vest Pocket Kodak, until I bought an early model of this camera from 1912. When using it, you immediately notice and see that Browne must have used a different camera. A few reasons:
- The conservator of Browne's photos found an uncropped print of a Titanic photo, and from this he deduced that the negative’s size has to be much larger than the negative that fits in the Vest Pocket Kodak.
- The Titanic photos in Browne's famous album are contact prints and have an aspect ratio that corresponds to 118 film (1.31:1) and not 127 film (1.54:1). A Vest Pocket Kodak uses 127 film.
- The Vest Pocket Kodak was introduced in April 1912. Assuming that stores had the brand-new camera in stock from Monday, April 1, 1912, Browne had only 8 days to purchase the camera before boarding. Not impossible but also not likely.
All in all, I think Browne used a quarter plate camera, such as the very popular No. 3 Folding Pocket Kodak that uses 118 film. The aforementioned conservator thinks so too. Check The Titanic Commutator Issue 200.
If you are interested, I can tell you more about the differences in practical use of a Vest Pocket Kodak versus a No. 3 Folding Pocket Kodak and the significant difference in image quality between the small Vest Pocket Kodak and a No. 3 Folding Pocket Kodak.
- The conservator of Browne's photos found an uncropped print of a Titanic photo, and from this he deduced that the negative’s size has to be much larger than the negative that fits in the Vest Pocket Kodak.
- The Titanic photos in Browne's famous album are contact prints and have an aspect ratio that corresponds to 118 film (1.31:1) and not 127 film (1.54:1). A Vest Pocket Kodak uses 127 film.
- The Vest Pocket Kodak was introduced in April 1912. Assuming that stores had the brand-new camera in stock from Monday, April 1, 1912, Browne had only 8 days to purchase the camera before boarding. Not impossible but also not likely.
All in all, I think Browne used a quarter plate camera, such as the very popular No. 3 Folding Pocket Kodak that uses 118 film. The aforementioned conservator thinks so too. Check The Titanic Commutator Issue 200.
If you are interested, I can tell you more about the differences in practical use of a Vest Pocket Kodak versus a No. 3 Folding Pocket Kodak and the significant difference in image quality between the small Vest Pocket Kodak and a No. 3 Folding Pocket Kodak.
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The following is an exchange by myself and Mark VII, please note that some of this has been edited for the readability of this exchange-
Mark VII
Hello Duck_Dur,
I’ve answered your question. Let me know what you think!
Duck_Dur
Hello Mark VII,
Apologies for the delayed response,
Thank you for answering my question regarding Father Browne's camera as I am interested in what it was as the photos show what the Titanic looked like, it is so sad that more photos of the liner weren't saved (or they were and are still yet to be found)
Regards,
Duck_Dur
- Edward (Duck_Dur)
Mark VII
ago.
Another passenger named Kate Odell took also a couple of photos. Luckily many more photos exist - around 300 - taken by press photographers.
After 112 years most photos have resurfaced so I don’t expect many more photographs of the ship.
Duck_Dur
Mark VII
I work frequently with photo chemicals and film stock and can say: it’s a painstakingly precise process. The film has to be developed asap and the water temperature in the dark room has to be constant to get any results at all. Even if the film survived the violent sinking, a 120 years cold salt-water bath will most certainly have destroyed the exposed silver-gelatine emulsion for eternity.
Mark VII
Hello Duck_Dur,
I’ve answered your question. Let me know what you think!
Duck_Dur
Hello Mark VII,
Apologies for the delayed response,
Thank you for answering my question regarding Father Browne's camera as I am interested in what it was as the photos show what the Titanic looked like, it is so sad that more photos of the liner weren't saved (or they were and are still yet to be found)
Regards,
Duck_Dur
- Edward (Duck_Dur)
Mark VII
No problem Duck_Dur! Happy you take an interest in Browne and his photography. I started a collection of antique cameras because of him and take photos the way he did 112 years
ago.
Another passenger named Kate Odell took also a couple of photos. Luckily many more photos exist - around 300 - taken by press photographers.
After 112 years most photos have resurfaced so I don’t expect many more photographs of the ship.
Duck_Dur
You never know, is there a possibility that un-developed photos from the wreck can be recovered and subsequently developed?(I am not too sure what water can do to film photos)
Mark VII
I work frequently with photo chemicals and film stock and can say: it’s a painstakingly precise process. The film has to be developed asap and the water temperature in the dark room has to be constant to get any results at all. Even if the film survived the violent sinking, a 120 years cold salt-water bath will most certainly have destroyed the exposed silver-gelatine emulsion for eternity.
Mark VII
Member
I looked it up, but according to the "essential book for the Kodak collectors" the Vest Pocket Kodak was introduced in April 1912.
Theoretically, still in time for Browne to buy one for his trip on Titanic but practically not very likely. Apart from the fact that distribution in 1910 was different from that in 2024, there was no time for Browne to get used to this new camera, that was quite revolutionary for its time and it also required a new type of 127 film.
On top of that comes the fact Browne used much larger film in his unknown camera, hence the great tonality and sharpness in his photographs. Even with modern film and the most expensive version of the 1912 Vest Pocket Kodak Special, I can't match the technical quality of Browne's photographs, something that's easily achieved with camera's from the same year with larger film inside.
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Mark VII
Member
There were basically four types of Vest Pocket Kodak's: non-autographic with/without special lens (1912-1914) and autographic Vest Pocket Kodak's with/without special lens (1915-1926).
You can easily distinguish between non/autographic Vest Pocket Kodak's because the newer autographic models have a lid and pencil on the camera's back. By opening the lid and using the pencil you could mark the negative with for example the shooting date and location.
Why is this even important? Because various museums, as well as Titanic: Honor and Glory, not only display the wrong type of camera but also the model of that camera which was only released in 1915...
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