Using a old 4x5 box camera with film & vintage glass plates.

[Greg]

Just obtained a 4x5 "no name" box camera. There is a top loading door to access where to slip the sheet film holder down and another space behind it to store 2 film holders. Only nomenclature is "2305" on the inside of the door. Shutter has 2 settings: instant and one to lock the shutter from opening.

2 4x5 film holders: One sheet film holder, and one PREMO FILM PACK ADAPTER.

Also a still sealed box of one dozen 4x5 glass plates. Eastman (Kodak) UNIVERSAL PLATES with "3015 17 13" stamped on the bottom of the box.

I intend on using the camera with Ilford FP-4+ film and processing in Diafine to keep the D-Max under control from most probably overexposure.

Also have to source out a 4x5 glass plate holder. Intend on attempting to shoot using the 12 glass plates. I have a IR scope so processing by inspection possible. Any suggestions on a developer for processing them?

[Bill_1856]

Wonderful! I am envious.

[jnantz]

hi greg:

http://web.archive.org/web/200104150...ne-delmar.html

have fun !
john

[Chauncey Walden]

You might be surprised at the actual shutter speed. I was with mine. Have fun.

[Greg]

Simple question... The front of the camera is held in by 4 small screws. Is it safe to remove these screws to access the inside of the camera and clean the lens?

[jnantz]

hey greg

YES !
yiou can clean/oil the shutter too
and clean the lens... you will need
to remove the "choke" to clean the front.

have fun with yours, i love mine ! ( for almostw 2o years ! )

[Greg]

hey greg

YES !
yiou can clean/oil the shutter too
and clean the lens... you will need
to remove the "choke" to clean the front.

have fun with yours, i love mine ! ( for almostw 2o years ! )

Could you describe to us what the "choke" is and how to remove it?

thanks

[jnantz]

there is a metal thing that sits inside the barrel.
it looks like the metal thing that holds + crops off the milk glass viewer ..
but really small and in the front of the lens.
its hard to explain but i am sure you will see it even though i can't use the right words to explain what it is.
anyways, it chokes the lens down with a permanent f-stop. box caemras, folding cameras &c tended to have them
because they were usually outfitted with a wollaston / meniscus lens, and stopped down they can be sharpish.
to remove it, you can probably just wiggle it free with something thin like a micro flat edge screw driver.
be careful, old, thirsty, moroccan leather rips pretty easily.

[Greg]

Well removed the front of the camera. Shutter seems to have seen very little use after all these years. Works very consistently at about a 1/15 second in either direction. That little "choke" is missing and looks like it was removed by some tell telling marks. Fixed aperture of 9mm and lens to film plane around 127mm gives me an aperture of f/14. Was able to easily squeeze my hand into the camera from the rear and clean the back of the lens... took me a minute or two to get it back out. Finder mirrors worse for wear but with cleaning hopefully will be just functional enough for framing. Will be shooting FP-4 plus and processing in Diafine then get back again to printing with my Durst and making Lith prints.
Thanks...

[jnantz]

That little "choke" is missing and looks like it was removed by some tell telling marks. Fixed aperture of 9mm and lens to film plane around 127mm gives me an aperture of f/14. Was able to easily squeeze my hand into the camera from the rear and clean the back of the lens... took me a minute or two to get it back out. Finder mirrors worse for wear but with cleaning hopefully will be just functional enough for framing. Will be shooting FP-4 plus and processing in Diafine then get back again to printing with my Durst and making Lith prints.
Thanks...

weird ... the photo you posted of the camera shows some sort of ring inside the barrel
f14 sounds about right ...

good luck lighting -