Deardorff or Neardorff? Please help me identify.

[koh303]

I don't think it's an Indian copy. I did look into that though.

Any reason I should spring for a metal bed plate? What was their actual application?

It helps prevent splitting of the base, which was very common due to the poor construction quality of the base on these cameras.
It does not always help though.
It also helps preventing the base bed from becoming scratched up from the tripod plate/base, which is otherwise tightened to the wood. The aluminum handles that with a little more grace.

[Jim Noel]

It is not an Indian copy. I have owned those in the past. Except for the wire,it is identical to my pre 1939 5x7.

[sperdynamite]

Ok that's helpful. I'm going to enjoy getting this thing into a solid user condition. I'm one for a camera that just looks used enough, so I'm not afraid to continue doing so. Now to find me a good Fuji 250/6.7....

[c.d.ewen]

Often enough. Found a 270mm Computar there once, marked as an enlarging lens. $200.

Charley

You wouldn't think a place like B&H would screw up very often.


Kent in SD

[dsphotog]

I don't think it's an Indian copy. I did look into that though.

Any reason I should spring for a metal bed plate? What was their actual application?

If it were mine, I'd keep it original.
Enjoy it as the builder intended.
Although if it never had a base plate, it originally had no front swing,
the front swing was added later.

[Tracy Storer]

Looks like a mid '30s Deardorff retrofitted with front swing later. (A. 1933 "earliest camera that can be fitted with FS" B. Cast Aluminum rear swing turntable-went out in '38 when they started using SS instead.) Can't tell from your photos whether the hardware is nickel plated brass, brass painted gold, or lacquered natural brass. If it's nickel, that would suggest a transitional camera from '37-'38. Around the time they changed from Cast Alu to SS for the turntable they also started plating the hardware, but used up old parts until gone.
I will second spending some time on Ken Houghs website, info that helps nail down dates is sprinkled all over the site, so read every page. Ken occasionally posts here as "TheDeardorffGuy".

Also, FS normally does not have the wire which you normally see on rear swing, later cameras have the (rear-swing lock knob) wire looped in the middle to keep it on the pivot screw. It DOES look like a rear screw set. The wire may be soldered to the screw heads, and may be there to help the screws from "racking" the normal piece you would see there is a threaded post with a wide flat head.

[koh303]

If it were mine, I'd keep it original.
Enjoy it as the builder intended.
Although if it never had a base plate, it originally had no front swing,
the front swing was added later.

Actually, the base plate came before the front swing, and in any case, so many cameras were built not according to some production scale or list, only some SN were listed, and MANY cameras were retrofitted very early on with front swings, or with base plates or with both.

[Tracy Storer]

Sorry, Front swing came in 1950, bedplates in 1952.

Actually, the base plate came before the front swing, and in any case, so many cameras were built not according to some production scale or list, only some SN were listed, and MANY cameras were retrofitted very early on with front swings, or with base plates or with both.

[koh303]

Sorry, Front swing came in 1950, bedplates in 1952.

yes, thats what i meant to say . Fat finger dislexia.