Modify Busch Pressman back to accept Polaroid Pack holder?

**Darin Boville** · 14-Sep-2010, 00:19

Modify Busch Pressman back to accept Polaroid Pack holder?

Topic says it all--is this possible? It is just shy of being wide enough as it is, it seems...

--Darin

**Darin Boville** · 16-Sep-2010, 21:21

Not possible? Or unknown?

--Darin

**Vick Vickery** · 17-Sep-2010, 09:05

Darin, have you actually tried to insert a pack holder? Its been more than 30 years since I had a 4x5 Busch, but I used a Calumet roll holder in mine and I think it was almost as thick as a 405 pack holder...had no trouble inserting the roll holder.

**Darin Boville** · 17-Sep-2010, 10:15

The pack back are just a tad too thick. Looking into the back with a flashlight it seems I should be able to dremel off the part of the tension arm that is stopping the back from extending further, or maybe put a groove in the body so the point of the arm, which acts as a brake, can go a bit further.

Don't know which is better or what problems I might encounter. At this point I'm not even sure how to get access to the back area...

--Darin

**domaz** · 20-Sep-2010, 14:38

Remember that the groundglass has to sit within something like 0.3 mm of where your modified Polaroid back sits for this to work. Camera backs are not forgiving at all.

**Darin Boville** · 22-Sep-2010, 16:47

It looks to me that I can modify it without changing anything important. There are four silver arms, spring-loaded, that govern how far out the back can move. When fully extended the bottom of the arm bangs up against the camera body preventing further extension.

It seems that all I have to do is grind off a bit of the tip of those arms to allow the ar to move a bit more, this gaining the extra bit I need to get a pack back in. I'm guessing the springs will be o.k.

I'm going to give it a try and photograph the process (just in case it works!)....

--Darin