Mikeinlagardette's photos

At the same car show, the radiator badge was Maxwell, not Chrysler. This was the first model built by Chrysler, and was very advanced for it's time, having four wheel hydraulic brakes, a Ricardo designed cylinder head, and the comparatively high compression ratio of 5:1, gave it a top speed of 70mph. I think that this is the only example of these cars in Europe, and I imagine they are rare even in the US. Olympus AF10, f2.8/35mm Olymus lens. Polypan F in Thornton's Two bath, 5+5 mins @21C. Scanned@2400dpi on Epson V500

Seen a t a classic car show a couple of years ago, this Renault tourer still has the radiator mounted behind the engine, giving the classic smooth front, so I suppose it's from before 1928. I could not find out anything about this car, but I think it is an 18HP model. Olympus AF10, f2.8/35mm Olymus lens. Polypan F in Thornton's Two bath, 5+5 mins @21C. Scanned@2400dpi on Epson V500

The western doorway is at the base of the tower, which was begun around 1200, but the decoration around the arch looks to be a little later. Whatever, it's ornamental masonry to a high standard, and matched by the elaborate ironwork on the doors, which are seemingly much later. The church was restored in the 19th century by the architect G.E. Street, so the hinges might even date from that time. 1960 Kodak 66, f4.5/75mm Anaston lens, x2 yellow filter. Foma 400 in Thornton's Two Bath, 6+6mins@21C.

This 19th century public house was originally called the Queen Victoria, but since everyone refers to it simply as "The Queen Vic", it was re-named just that, when it was re-vamped ! A nice restoration, but spoilt by the air conditioning units on the main facade. Canon Ixus 960is

Another Ensign, this time an 820, takes 6x9 or 6x6 frames on 120 or 620 film. The title refers to the fact that I fitted it with a Schneider Xenar lens in a Compur shutter, which came from a very tired Kodak Vollenda, and replaced the damaged Ensar shutter and lens originally fitted. The result is quite good, but I don't use it much, - again, nowhere for a rangefinder !! Canon Ixus 960is

1950's Ensign Selfix 16-20, Model II. A very nice 6x4.5 folder, and made in England ! This version has an f4.5/75mm Ross Xpres lens - a Tessar clone, and a folding Albada viewfinder. Takes 16 frames on 120 (or 620!) film. High quality of construction and finish, but spoilt by having no accessory shoe for a rangefinder, and the front cannot be closed with a filter mounted - how stupid !! There were other versions of this camera, with triplet lens and conventional viewfinder, and also a version with a coupled rangefinder, but these last are rare, and thus quite expensive. Ensign was the trademark of a wide range of cameras made by the Houghton Butcher company in London, one of the earliest camera makers in England, but despite several mergers in post war years, they finally ceased production in 1961. Canon Ixus 960is Camera-Wiki article: camera-wiki.org/wiki/Houghton_and_Ensign

Little tower with Chestnut roofing, in the garden of the museum in Crozant, Creuse. Also taken with a 127 size camera, a Yashica 44, another delightful miniature, this time a TLR. Like the Komaflex, I gave up on the problems of slicing 120 film - I found it almost impossible to do this without leaving either scratches, or other defects, on the film. I still have a Yashica 44LM, but it's in poor condition, and it is way down the list of priorities at present !! Yashica 44 Foma 200 in Diafine

Here's the same loco in a warmer environment ! Arrived at Felletin with the 14:05 Thursday only service from Guèret, which operates during July and August. Taken with the rarest camera I have ever owned, a Komaflex S - a 4x4 single lens reflex, using 127 roll film. Only a few thousand were made, a beautiful miniature, like a tiny Hasselblad, but the difficulty of cutting down 120 films, plus the limited range of commercial 127 films, meant it had to go !! Komaflex-S. Efke 100 in Caffenol C

Retired SNCF diesel railcar No X2900 stands rather forlornly in the yard at Guèret on a cold February day. Restored and operated by a group of enthusiasts, it operates a series of special trains during summer. Minolta Dynax 600si. Rollie R100 in Caffenol C.