bee exposure meter

[fcderosa]

Cruising eBay I saw this;
http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Watkins-Bee-Exposure-Meter-Dial-Tool-Keeping_W0QQitemZ110047445563QQihZ001QQcategoryZ361QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item110047445563


Any idea what a bee exposure meter is? :?

[Jerrymac]

http://www.boxcameras.com/watkinsbee.html

http://www.nikon.co.jp/main/eng/feelnikon/kumon/08e.htm

"Though it could easily be mistaken for a pocket watch, it's workings are not quite as complicated: Inside the Bee Meter is POP (Printing Out Paper), which turns black when light hits it.
Exposure measurements could be taken several times by rotating the POP. In the bottom center of the device is a circular window, divided into halves."

[fcderosa]

:D Bhwahahahahahahahahaha, and here I thought it was something to chase bees with. :D  :D  :D

[fuzzybeekeeper]

Basically it is an exposure meter for early photographers.  Quite an ingenious device.  You rotate the dial for a new piece of light sensitive paper and then count how long it takes to get as dark (or gray) as the "control" half of the opening.

I actually own one that my former in-laws bought me on a trip to England.  I haven't seen it in years but it is in a stack of my "stuff" somewhere.

fuzzybeekeeper