I recently purchased a magnificent antique French tropical plate, and roll-film (using a Rollex film back) camera made around 1915. Crafted with a superb, solid tropical wood body and featuring an elegant burgundy leather bellows. This camera embodies the technical refinement and aesthetic elegance of early twentieth-century European workshops, when photography was still an art of precision and every instrument was built with the care of a scientific device. The camera is in excellent overall condition, fully functional and visually impressive.
The Camera
The camera has no branding, no nameplate, or ID of any sort, other than on the lens. In the absence of any information about the manufacturer, I will refer to the camera as a “Tropical Camera with H. Duplouich Lens” or “Duplouich Tropical Camera”.
The term “tropical” was used for cameras built from moisture-resistant woods such as mahogany or teak, carefully varnished and fitted with thick leather bellows. These cameras were designed for explorers, expedition photographers, or travellers working in colonial and humid climates. Due to their solid construction and craftsmanship, many of these tropical models have survived in excellent condition to the present day.
The body, made of solid tropical wood, displays a polished and varnished finish that highlights the natural grain of the material. Its folding design allows for compact closure.
I found the number 27 engraved in the wood, inside the box under a metal plate, presumably a serial number. This suggests that the camera was built to order in small quantities.
The rear cover retains the original ground glass focusing screen, intact and without cracks. The burgundy leather bellows remains flexible and perfectly light-tight. The nickel-plated fittings and the metal front retain their shine, showing only minimal traces of age.
The Lens
The camera is equipped with an H. Duplouich Rectiligne Extra Rapide lens, manufactured in Paris, a high-quality optical system used in professional medium and large format cameras during the Belle Époque. It also mounts a Bausch & Lomb shutter (Rochester, USA), well known for its precision and reliability. Shutter speeds range from 1 s to 1/100 s, plus bulb and time.
The combination of these two components, French and American, was typical of high-end, hand-assembled French cameras made between 1910 and 1920, intended for photographers who required both versatility and durability.
Accessories
I purchased the camera with several original period accessories, a rare feature in cameras of this type:
- A 9×12 cm plate holder, complete and well preserved
- An original orange filter in a brass rim, which fits snugly onto the lens. The filter enhances contrast in black-and-white photography.
- A Rollex Patent adapter, made of black-lacquered metal, allowing the use of roll film and effectively converting the camera into a dual-purpose system: plates or roll film. This accessory, patented in Germany by Rollex Fotowerke, was highly valued by field and travel photographers for the versatility it offered. Finally, an original orange filter with a metal rim is preserved, fitting perfectly onto the lens and used to enhance contrast in black-and-white photography.
Glass Plate Holder
The camera was built for use with 9 x 12 cm glass plates and came with one glass plate holder. This is in remarkably good condition, and the light seals look good. I have purchased four more; these are not in such good condition, and I am refurbishing them.
The Rollex Film Back
The Rollex Patent system roll-film holder/back was a German innovation that revolutionised field photography by enabling the use of roll film in cameras originally designed for glass plates or sheet film. This advancement made transport and workflow easier, anticipating the flexible film era that would dominate the following decades.
The Rollex name originated with Balda-Werk in Dresden, Germany in the late 1920s. Later, Linhof of Munich adopted the name and produced more advanced versions, including the better-known Super Rollex line. Linhof’s models were designed for professional cameras such as the Technika series.
The Camera Condition
All mechanical parts are in good working order. The shutter operates smoothly at various speeds, and the diaphragm and release controls are firm and responsive. The ground glass provides a clear and sharp image, enabling precise focusing. The folding and locking mechanisms function correctly, with no looseness or misalignment. The overall finish and presentation of the set are excellent, both aesthetically and structurally.
That is not to say that the camera was without problems or challenges. I am currently testing the camera with dry glass plates and film. I will be updating this article with details and photos taken with the camera shortly.
About Henri Duplouich
Henri Duplouich was a Parisian maker active in the early decades of the twentieth century, specialising in high-aperture lenses and precision handcrafted cameras. His “Rectilignes Extra Rapides” optics were highly regarded for their correction of aberrations and brightness, ideal for portrait and architectural photography. Duplouich lenses were often mounted on luxury wooden cameras produced in France or Belgium, made to order for professional photographers.
Using the Duplouich Tropical Camera
I am in the process of testing and resolving minor issues. I will post details and photos. Watch this space…