About Those WP Cameras

[Mike Castles]

Thanks for the input everyone, it has been helpfull. Should clarify, the camera is not a Wet Plate camera, but Whole Plate taking film holders, though this model did come with a wet plate back.

The knobs are is good (but not very good) conditionand will need to be replated (they appear to be pot metal under the brass coating) so that will save me from finding someone to make new knobs (which might be possible, but a bit pricey). The wood repair should not be major just need to fabricate the bracket that the back sits in.

yes to Dave, have Satin Snow glass in all the other view cameras so why not give Dave a bit more work to do (sorry Dave).

The camera back should be OK, just need to find some metal pins to replace the 2 that are missing on one side and the other 2 that have been replace with screws - the previous owner was not very interested in a correct repair it seems. May need to fill some of the screw holes with wood dowel, then drill new holes for the correct screw size.

Will have to wait close the camera up good (film holder and lensboard) before I can check the bellows for light leaks.

Keep those ideas coming, always open to what others have done or are doing with these older cameras.

[big_ben_blue]

Nice camera - I got a WP Universal too .

Mine is missing a small piece of wood though. Could you maybe post a picture of the endpiece of the front extension please? That would help me greatly with rebuilding mine.

Thanks, Chris

[Mike Castles]

Not a problem Chris, just to verify what you need a pic of, you need one showing the endpiece of the front (not the front standard) correct? If you look at one of the pic's posted you can almost make out the screws in the wood that hold that piece in place.

Let me know and I will try to get the pic's posted this evening. Oh, and thanks for the comments, look forward to hearing your thoughts on the camera, since I have just started to explore this one.

[Jeremy Moore]

Will have to wait close the camera up good (film holder and lensboard) before I can check the bellows for light leaks

Mike. Cover the back opening with opaque paper (black foamcore like you're gonna need for that map ). Wedge a couple of hand towels around a flashlight in the lensboard hole. Turn on the flashlight. Turn off the lights.

[Mike Castles]

Thanks Jeremy...good idea.

Chris, here are a few pics of the front - let me know if they help or not.

[Bernard Kaye]

I metr you at the show in Grapevine; you have your work cut out for you. If anything WP is seen by me, I will notify you. Enjoy. Bernie

[Ernest Purdum]

Congratulations. The Universal was one of Rochester's nicer cameras. Jeremy's offer of holders to try out sounds like the best idea right now. I'm guessing that you will find that most holders meant for spring-backs will work.

[big_ben_blue]

Mike - Thanks for the help; the photos were close, but from the wrong end
I would need a photo of the other end of the extension (see below).

My Universal is different in the layout of the knobs and such. Looks like the company freely exchanged parts between their different models (Universal, Monitor, Carlton,...).

Cheers, Chris

[Mike Castles]

Mike - Thanks for the help; the photos were close, but from the wrong end
I would need a photo of the other end of the extension (see below).

My Universal is different in the layout of the knobs and such. Looks like the company freely exchanged parts between their different models (Universal, Monitor, Carlton,...).

Cheers, Chris

Darn, not much help then was I - will take another one and post when I get the chance. But I can tell you there is a notch in the brass (or should I say brass plated) where you have the arrows pointing on each side. On mine there is another piece of brass plated metal that spans across the bed. It will be easier to see than explain I think. But yes the are difference between the two, so I think you are correct that they used what was on hand when building them...or for the short span they were made . This link might help as well.

[Mike Castles]

I metr you at the show in Grapevine; you have your work cut out for you. If anything WP is seen by me, I will notify you. Enjoy. Bernie

Hey Bernie, it was nice to meet you. May have the work cut out for me, but what nice work it will be...more fun than the day to day work. Thanks for keeping an eye out for WP for me.

Best,
Mike