Antique Dr. R. Krügener Plate Camera. Frankfurt, Germany, Circa 1910

Antique Dr. R. Krügener Plate Camera. Frankfurt, Germany, circa 1910 Magnificent antique plate camera, made by the prestigious Dr. Rudolf Krügener in Frankfurt, Germany, around 1910. This is a small format camera, built in varnished mahogany wood with solid brass fittings. Compact, solid and refined, this piece represents the perfect balance between technical precision and artisanal elegance, which distinguished German production in the early twentieth century. Equipped with an original Dr. R. Krügener Antiplaner lens no. 805, signed and numbered, the camera forms a complete and coherent maker’s set, very uncommon today. The design of this piece is especially ingenious. Instead of the usual folding system, the upper body and the base are two independent sections, which are joined by a hand screw. This system allows the camera to be mounted both in vertical and in horizontal position, which offered the photographer of the time an unusual versatility for the 9x12 cm format. The structure, stable and precise, shows the practical and innovative approach characteristic of Krügener, who combined mechanical robustness with quick use solutions. The bellows has been carefully restored, respecting its original shape and proportions. The deteriorated material has been replaced with a high quality technical fabric, maintaining the original appearance of folding leather. It is currently flexible, firm and completely light tight, with no light leaks or visible cracks, which guarantees full and safe functionality in every exposure. One of the most valuable aspects of this example is its front mechanical curtain shutter, fully operational and precisely restored. This system, characteristic of the best models of the period, allows exact control of exposure time by means of a tensioned curtain, released by a metal trigger. The camera preserves its original release cable, which actuates the mechanism smoothly and without perceptible delay. That this shutter works correctly more than a century after its manufacture is exceptional, and the professional restoration has returned all its efficiency to the system, ensuring a uniform and silent response. The firm sound of the release, without oscillations or jams, is testimony to the quality of the original design and to the careful maintenance it has received. The focusing mechanisms, the lens extension and the locking system work with precision, without play. The ground glass focusing screen, in its original frame, remains clear and firm, and the brass hinges still close with perfect adjustment. The wooden surfaces show a bright varnish, with warm reflections, while the metal parts preserve their original lustre. Due to its meticulous construction, its fully operative mechanism and its extraordinary overall condition, this Dr. Krügener camera ranks among the most representative pieces of the period prior to the integration of the German photographic industry into ICA A.G. A model of precision and elegance, ideal for collectors who value rarity, pure mechanics and the handcrafted heritage of the pioneers of optics. A camera by Dr. Krügener is an authentic and rare piece of early photographic history. Its rarity and its exceptional state of preservation make it a solid investment, with a rising value among collectors of antique cameras. Every detail of this piece breathes authenticity, evoking a time when perfection was an art. It is not only a camera, but a creation to admire, to study and to preserve as a jewel that will enhance any demanding collection of early photography. Dimensions: 14 × 19.5 cm (5.51 × 7.68 in). Plate format: 9 × 12 cm. History of Dr. R. Krügener Dr. Rudolf Krügener was one of the most notable and singular figures in the history of European photography. Scientist, optician, manufacturer and inventor, he founded in 1888, in Frankfurt Bockenheim, the Photochemisches Laboratorium und Fabrik photographischer Apparate Dr. R. Krügener, combining chemical research with mechanical design and artisanal production. Trained as a chemist, he applied his knowledge of photosensitive processes to the creation of precise cameras and high performance optical lenses, becoming a reference in the technical evolution of photography in Germany. During the first two decades of the twentieth century, Krügener developed a wide range of field cameras, portable models and folding bellows cameras, but he also introduced a series of “detective cameras” or hidden cameras, conceived for discreet use. These compact and high quality pieces placed him among the most original manufacturers of his time. His company stood out for its attention to detail, the quality of its finishes and the use of noble materials such as mahogany and brass, as well as for the integration of lenses of his own manufacture. The Antiplaner lenses, like the one mounted on this camera, were advanced anastigmatic designs, created to compete with the best products of Zeiss and Voigtländer. They provided excellent correction and sharpness far above average, which consolidated Krügener’s reputation as a maker of precision instruments. Unlike other manufacturers, Krügener designed both the body and the lens of his cameras, which gives his pieces an exceptional technical and aesthetic coherence. In 1909, his company was integrated into the ICA A.G. conglomerate Internationale Camera Actiengesellschaft, together with Hüttig, Wünsche and Reicka, giving rise to one of the largest groups in the German photographic industry, from which Zeiss Ikon would later emerge. The absorption of the firm did not make his legacy disappear, since many of his mechanical and optical principles were incorporated into the early ICA models. Dr. Krügener was a man with both a scientific and an artistic mindset. His search for technical perfection, his attention to detail and his constant experimentation make him an essential figure to understand the transition between nineteenth century artisanal photography and modern optical engineering. Today, the examples that bear his name are true symbols of an era of invention and mechanical refinement, and they are counted among the most coveted pieces by collectors of historic cameras.