Building a 18x24 camera back and ground glass frame

[trondareo]

I recently bought a Sperling 18x24 travel camera from approx. 1950. But it does not have a back, so I am preparing to build one. I have access to a woodworking and metal workshop, so no problems as long as I can keep up my precicion and patience.

The problem, that I would love to get some help on, is that I do not have the measurements or any clear image of how it should look. If any of you have a similar camera I would be very happy for some detail pictures, and thrilled with some measurements!

[trondareo]

I just finished the first job.
The hinges for the bottom board had bent, making it difficult to crank out the rear standard, as a result a part of the rear standard guide has come off and the brass has been reattached with some steel screws.


To straighten the hinges I had to unscrew them and lay them flat on an anvil. Light knocks with a small hammer and they came back to straight. On remounting the first hinge I found that, originally, all the screws have been filed flat with the hinge after they were screwed in. When I took them out I took no note of this and stuck them all in a film box for safe keeping. As a result I dont know which screw goes where and they do not align properly. For the second hinge I placed them on a sketch of the hinge. And they whent back in as nicely lined up as before. The first precision fault is a fact

[Tracy Storer]

Get a single-flute countersink and slightly deepen the countersink on the hinge leaf ?

[Tin Can]

Building a back is not impossible, yet I gave up. I find similar backs and adapt them.

[trondareo]

Tracy, That would work for some of them. But all the screws arent vertical, and hence the heads are filed down at angles. I dont think there is any option but to sort the screws into their original holes, or acept my fate.

[trondareo]

Randy. I am tempted to search for another back, but it is kind of fun to build one. What I need is the dimentions of a cross section. I have found some mention that there was close to a standard on these things. I have found some pictures of the hinged glass varitety that is original to this camera, but I am baffled as to how the film holder was kept in place. Is the hinged glass enough?

[Tin Can]

Randy. I am tempted to search for another back, but it is kind of fun to build one. What I need is the dimentions of a cross section. I have found some mention that there was close to a standard on these things. I have found some pictures of the hinged glass varitety that is original to this camera, but I am baffled as to how the film holder was kept in place. Is the hinged glass enough?

I am not familiar with that camera. Nor have I dealt with hinged GG backs.

Here are ANSI dimensions of DDS, but that may not help you.

Keep us posted.

Call me butcher of cameras...

[Andrew Plume]

...........well the very best with this project.............

but to be entirely honest, you may be better off in the long run to see if you can buy a back from a recognised manufacturer who is also able to supply you with a holder that is a true fit

btw, I'm assuming that this is a 18 x 24" and not an 18 x 24m

good luck again

rgds

andrew

[trondareo]

Thanks for the data Randy

Oh, its 18x24 cm, sorry.

[Andrew Plume]

Thanks for the data Randy

Oh, its 18x24 cm, sorry.

right, thx, it's a 18 x 24cm and not an 18 x 24" that you're looking for

and............err, before someone on here 'takes a shot at your tail' which is always a possibility on here, do a google search for 18 x 24m cameras, there's as usual plenty of stuff available regarding this, here's one:-

http://photo.net/large-format-photography-forum/00A8VW

rgds, andrew