Tiltall/Star D Tripod History - A Genetic Mutation?
C.Phillips
Tiltall/Star D line of tripods down pretty good, did you? You know -
Marchioni brothers, then Leitz, then Star-D and now after a long pause
a company in China? Well here's something that I stumbled upon while
looking through ebay's [recently] past auctions. Take a look at:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2917839439&category=30095
Now here's what has been bothering me about this New Old Stock tripod:
1) The name plate riveted to the tripod says "Brilliant Professional" as
made by the "Brilliant Screen & Tripod Inc." company of Jersey City N.J.
However, the old hang tag attached to the tripod says "Star-D D-26
Professional" of 889 Broadway, New York NY. This info I received today
after contacting the winning bidder, and he says that the hang tag
mentions *nothing* about the Brilliant company name, only Star-D.
This has me thinking that just *maybe* this "Star-D" hang tag doesn't
actually belong to this tripod, yet the tripod itself does appear to be
more like a Tiltall (or Star-D variant), at least according to the jpeg
pictures and the buyer's E-mail description of it. So what's going on?
2) Speaking of that hang tag... notice that it's attached by a string to
a center column folding-type elevator crank? Yep, this "Brilliant
Professional" has a geared center column (as you may be able to just
barely make out by the teeth on the column). Otherwise it's 100%
identical in every way to a Tiltall according to the buyer - the same
materials, same shape, same machining, same screws. The telescoping legs
have brass inserts and not the later Star-D nylon, and the feet have
spikes that extend and retract by turning a knurled ring with the rubber
cushions staying in place. It seems that this tripod is a Tiltall in
every way but the name - and the fact that it has a geared column.
And back to that Star-D hang tag - the fact that the tripod has a geared
center column which isn't even mentioned on the tags bulleted "features"
list (according to the buyer) hints that maybe this tag doesn't belong
and was added by someone later, perhaps by a long ago camera store
employee/owner trying to sell the tripod by using a better known name?
Why would a tripod manufactured by the "Brilliant Screen & Tripod Inc."
company and called the "Brilliant Professional" model have a Star-D hang
tag on it to begin with?
3) The 4 handles aren't attached and aren't otherwise shown, no big deal
and probably irrelevant to the general thrust of this post. But the
buyer says that they came in a separate envelope and are the standard
all aluminum Tiltall/Star-D type machined handles - one long, one
medium length, and two knurled short stubbys.
More questions (what, me redundant?):
Is it possible that this old (NOS- New Old Stock) tripod made by
Brilliant Screen & Tripod Inc. located in N.J is the *predecessor* to
the Marchioni company - could the Marchioni brothers have started their
company in N.J. under the Brilliant name before changing it by/to using
their Sir name? Or was the tripod made by the Marchioni Bros. and sold
under license to Brilliant for Brilliant to machine a geared column into
it and then resell with the Brilliant name riveted on? It's interesting
to note here that the Brilliant company and the Marchioni operations
were both located in New Jersey, Leitz and Star-D I'm not sure about tho
I believe Star-D at least had their warranty service address as NYC yet
I'm not sure where their manufacturing facilities were actually located.
On the other hand, it could be a product made after the Marchioni Bros.
sold the rights to Leitz and then Star-D, and it was made by one of them
and sold under license to the Brilliant company for them to machine a
geared crank and center column into and re-label under their own name.
But that doesn't sound right either - why would an outside company
invest in the machining/milling tools just to make a geared center
column on somebody else's tripod when (more than likely) the original
company - be it the Marchioni Bros. or Leitz or Star-D - already had the
tooling to do this in the first place? Why not, for instance, just do it
and call it the "Tiltall Professional Plus" ("with new geared column")
or the Leitz or Star-D "Hey Buddy, Crank This" version or... whatever?
This last speculation of mine is the one that I think is the more likely
scenario: First came the original designers and makers, the Marchioni
Bros. - then along came Leitz - then, and for a very brief and now
forgotten time period came Brilliant who added the geared center column
onto the original design - then came the Davidson company that chucked
the geared column and went back to the original version, perhaps as a
cost saving necessity, and who produced both the Tiltall and Star-D line
of tripods, later just the Star-D line and eventually into bankruptcy.
But if this sequence is correct, then that might explain the Star-D hang
tag on a Brilliant tripod, as Davidson/Star-D now owned some Brilliant
Professional tripods that were easier to get rid of by simply slapping a
Star-D hang tag on and shoving them into a Star-D or Tiltall box and
Getting Them Out The Door! It sure beats trying to remove and replace a
metal nameplate that's already riveted on with one of your own...
Who was the Brilliant Screen & Tripod Inc. company anyway, and what ever
happened to them? I assume by the name that they also made (perhaps as
their primary focus) projection screens, but I can't find a single clue
as to their products much less their company history and timeline, and
the thick industry trade catalogs I once owned from the 1960's thru the
late 1970's I long ago threw in the trash - darn it.
Does anybody know *anything at all* about this older tripod or the
history of the company that made it? Don't bother asking me any
questions as the above is what very little I know about it. I'm just
hoping that the name and the auction's jpegs will jar somebody's memory.
And just when you photographic equipment history buffs thought you had
the Tiltall tripod history 100% right, here comes the bug in the soup.
8-0
(Please post all responses to this thread and not E-mail directly)
Alan Browne
re-composing it in Copperplate and sending out for engraving on a
titanium plate. It will hang in a place of honor in my home.
Thank you.
Alan
C.Phillips
Say - who ran over your puppy anyway?
Alan Browne
I think you could start a new NG:
rec.photo.equipment.tripods.history
Cheers,
Alan
H. David Huffman
I bought a Star D Tripod in 1973 to use with my Mamiya C-33 and it is
laying across my lap as I type.
It has a metal tag glued to the collar, and it reads:
STAR-D Mfg. Co., Inc.
New York, New York.
Professional
No other identifying marks, but I've read, years ago, that it was an
in-expensive copy of the Tiltall and I have enjoyed using it all these years
when I have something important to shoot pix of.
If you wish, I can try to take a pic or two with an inexpensive digital
camera I have and email it to you.
Sincerely,
H. David Huffman
"C.Phillips" <phillip...@starpower.net> wrote in message
news:3E996B2A...@starpower.net...
C.Phillips
And for you, maybe?:
rec.photo.other_equipment.
Shouldn't you be watching TV or something? Do they even *have* that in
Canada yet? Surely they must have at least installed it in your "Armed
Services" barracks, I mean, what else would those guys have to do,
protect you citizens from invading hordes of rabid penquins?
Whoops... never mind.
For all the time you've spent with your sarcasm, perhaps it would be
better if you just kept your Royal Canadian mouth shut and sat back to
see if maybe you might learn something rather than fling your rubbish
across the border to our side of the fence? Jesus, there's always a
NG's pet monkey/resident demagogue to step forward with a pen (and
knife) in hand, I guess you're the one self designated for
rec.photo.equipment.large-format?
I see that you've been posting some pretty lame questions that would've
been easily resolved if you just got off your lazy butt and did a little
research on your own. But that's not the Canadian way, is it? Must we
Americans *always* show you the way and hold your hand?
Say, I've got an idea, a way to show us your metal - YOU try to find the
correct history of these tripods (a subject appropriate to the three
NG's appended to and one that which comes up with interest every so
often and remarked upon by those with, unlike you, something of *value*
to contribute). No? Doesn't interest you? Then why are you posting to
this thread, for what purpose, where is the redeeming value-added?
Or better yet, why don't you simply round up the rest of the Canadian
"boys" and go marching off to the local pub and fight down a brewski and
attempt to do so without getting your panties in a twist?
You're just what your country needs - yet another pseudointellectual
with his mouth being his most protuberant feature.
Have a great day, indeed.
Ta ta
C.Phillips
But I'm aware of all the various versions of this tripod (I *think*)
except for the one proffered by Brilliant Screen and Tripod, and it is
this manufacturer that I'm interested in and particularly just where
they fit in to the tripod's Tiltall/Star-D lineage. I've even gone to
the Patent and Trade office online to see if there's a mention of the
company in their database, but there wasn't even a single record (?!?).
Has me puzzled! If you should stumble across any info, please post here.
But thanks again.
ajacobs2
> Tiltall/Star D line of tripods down pretty good, did you? You know -
> Marchioni brothers, then Leitz, then Star-D and now after a long pause
> a company in China? Well here's something that I stumbled upon while
> looking through ebay's [recently] past auctions. Take a look at:
Last Month at the PMA, Bogen/ Manfrotto had their entire tripod line up on
display. Four aisles over a Taiwan knockoff company had their knockoffs of
the Bogen lineup on display. Three aisles from them , Mainland China had
their Taiwan Bogen knockoffs of the real Bogen Knockoffs on display. Aside
from the finishing and quality of the castings, they looked all the
same....the difference "price and feel" . And for about a 110 dollars I
could have a 320 dollar Bogen. I wouldn't, too rough for me, but they are
there and there are many knockoffs of the Tiltall that were shortlived. It
was the state of the art for that era of tripod.
Alan Browne
Getting it all out? Cheaper than therapy, huh?
I just meant to tease you a bit. It looks like you got your chain
seriously yanked. Dial the gain down on the 'ole sensitivity dial.
Here's a hint though: A tripod is a thing. A thing that is hopefully
sturdy and rigid and and right for the use. The best tripod I have I
bought used. It is beat up and ugly and heavy and sets up quickly.
Perfect when I drag out the big lens. Otherwise it sits alone and
unloved until I need it again. I wouldn't care if it was made from rare
cherry wood in 1899 and if Ansel Adams had used it. I wouldn't care if
I needed it to start a fire. A photo equipment newsgroup is rightly
about photographic equipment, and yes tripods are right in there. But a
long, tedious, boring, pedantic post about who is right about the
pedigree of some obscure tripod is pushing it. If somebody jibes you
about it, take the kidding in good stride and get on with life.
ME trying to find the CORRECT HISTORY of a TRIPOD? ROTFLMYSAO!
As for my Q's at LF, they are just that, questions. I hope to rent the
equipment, make a few frames that are at least half-decent and go back
to my ho-hum 35mm life. It pleases me imensely that several people at
the LF NG took a few minutes to reply.
Lame questions? No more lame than the hundreds of questions I have
answered at 35mm to "newbies" without accusing people of being lazy. I
did search on speccific areas about LF and got 'some' but not all of
what I needed... so I go to where there are some knowledgeable and
friendly folks.
You like insulting Canadians? Have at it. The thing is, if Americans
are taken hostage again (let's say in Tehran) and the Canadian embassy
people are there to help get many of them out of the country, we will do
it again. And again, no matter how boorish *some* of you Americans are.
Fortunatley YOU represent about 1% of Americans.
Cheers,
Alan
C.Phillips
>
> Getting it all out? Cheaper than therapy, huh?
In who's dollars?
> I just meant to tease you a bit.
Backtracking now, are you? A bit late for that I'm afraid...
> Here's a hint though: A tripod is a thing.
Another Dr. Phil is born (such insight) - David Letterman, did you get
this one?
> Here's a hint though: A tripod is a thing. A thing that is hopefully
> sturdy and rigid and and right for the use. The best tripod I have I
> bought used. It is beat up and ugly and heavy and sets up quickly.
> Perfect when I drag out the big lens. Otherwise it sits alone and
> unloved until I need it again. I wouldn't care if it was made from rare
> cherry wood in 1899 and if Ansel Adams had used it. I wouldn't care if
> I needed it to start a fire. A photo equipment newsgroup is rightly
> about photographic equipment, and yes tripods are right in there. But a
> long, tedious, boring, pedantic post about who is right about the
> pedigree of some obscure tripod is pushing it. If somebody jibes you
> about it, take the kidding in good stride and get on with life.
> ME trying to find the CORRECT HISTORY of a TRIPOD? ROTFLMYSAO!
So THAT'S it - you're just a frustrated critic looking for a venue! What
does your lack of caring about tripods - or anything else for that
matter - have to do with MY post? Personally, I find your long, tedious,
boring and pendantic rant concerning your lack of concern for your
equipment a bit much - what does that have to do with the time of day?
If the pedigree of a particular tripod is not of your interest, why is
mocking the post of note your only response? Indeed, why should you even
respond at all? Was there an ego hoping to be soothed, was it your "name
in lights"... had you simply run out of reasons to post anything at all
worthwhile?
Do ALL of you Canadians suffer from such a blatent inferiority complex?
And would you kindly get your "fix" at somebody else's expense?
> As for my Q's at LF, they are just that, questions. I hope to rent the
> equipment, make a few frames that are at least half-decent and go back
> to my ho-hum 35mm life. It pleases me imensely that several people at
> the LF NG took a few minutes to reply.
And did their response look anything like your response to my post? I
bet not, even if you gave them tempting reason. Yes, good folks at LF.
> Lame questions? No more lame than the hundreds of questions I have
> answered at 35mm to "newbies" without accusing people of being lazy. I
> did search on speccific areas about LF and got 'some' but not all of
> what I needed...
> so I go to where there are some knowledgeable and friendly folks.
And I thought I was there too. So what are *you* doing here?
> You like insulting Canadians? Have at it. The thing is, if Americans
> are taken hostage again (let's say in Tehran) and the Canadian embassy
> people are there to help get many of them out of the country, we will do
> it again. And again, no matter how boorish *some* of you Americans are.
> Fortunatley YOU represent about 1% of Americans.
And the American taxpayer will continue to pay for your nation's
protection, as we must by default of your proximity, even as your
politicians and political hacks disparage nearly everything about us
(with the polls following closely). And we will pay again, and again and
again even as you cut your defense budget to next to nothing knowing
that we Americans - even the *borish* ones - will be there to protect
your tender asses. How luxurious, how f&%#ing luxurious.
Unfortunately YOU represent nearly every Canadian.
A suggestion: Next time you want to go off on an American, if it's to be
tongue-in-cheek (which the substance of your mocking rant obviously
wasn't), try ending it with a little winky thingee.
To your everlasting health.
;-]
McLeod
you who make me thankful every day that I am a Canadian.
"C.Phillips" <phillip...@starpower.net> wrote in message
news:3E9A2E46...@starpower.net...
Dan Fromm
My, you do go on.
Andrew Price
Yes, doesn't he just. How old do you think he is?
McLeod
and Star D tripods he's probably as mature as he's ever going to get.
Unless he's a teen just interested in retro gear.
"Andrew Price" <ajp...@free.fr> wrote in message
news:7muo9vo4ftursu15d...@4ax.com...
Alan Browne
Canadians. You win. Invade please.
Cheers,
Alan
Dan Fromm
Interesting question. He could be 13, but over 75 seems more likely.
What's your guess?
Richard Knoppow
a Star-D, bought about 1954, which finally fell apart a
couple of years ago. I think Davidson was located in Los
Angeles at the time. They made inexpensive but good quality
tripods. The quality brands of the time for small cameras
were the Tiltall and Quick-Set. My original Tiltall will
take an 8x10 camera!
--
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dick...@ix.netcom.com
lingeri...@gmail.com
how much do they sell for?
fluffy...@gmail.com
It is a quality tripod that I have used for years - I would say professional grade - and I found it interesting that it has a Woodside, NY address that I didn't see on any of the other posts. Also interesting that it states "46th Year". I haven't found much on the internet about this company and was trying to price it for ebay or Craigs List.