Need information on early sliding box camera - plans or photos

**Tim Meisburger** · 7-Aug-2013, 16:34

I have been thinking about building a camera for some time, but have been unable to get any usable drawings for a field camera. I was poking around the early photography website last night and saw some really beautiful early sliding box cameras with dovetail corners and brass hardware, and I realized I could use all my woodworking skill for something like that, use the lens for fine focusing, and not have to worry about sourcing racks and pinions and bellows etc.

While I could easily do this to my own design, I do think it would be useful to look at how they did it back in the day, so if anybody has drawings for an old sliding box camera, or an example they are willing to open up and photograph, that would be greatly appreciated. I'll share the build process, and any working drawing I do, on the DIY thread.

Cheers, Tim

**MMELVIS** · 7-Aug-2013, 17:12

Try this
http://home.online.no/~gjon/sliding-...ra_replica.pdf

More camera types on this page
http://home.online.no/~gjon/camerabuilders.htm

**Tim Meisburger** · 7-Aug-2013, 17:42

Thanks Melvis, but without sections or details or attribution to a specific historical camera the plans are not much use. I've looked through that site and have not seen anything like what I am looking for, but possible I have missed something. If I can find someone with an original willing to take some picture and do a few simple measurements, I can draw the plans myself (I used to do reconstructions for a living history park and have drawn plans from period illustrations for things as varied as houses and wheelbarrows.)

**Tim Meisburger** · 7-Aug-2013, 18:51

Okay. Nevermind. I found enough information at the following two websites: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1139489@N25/pool/

http://www.vintagephoto.tv/slidingbox.shtml

Now I'll need to collect some wood and other stuff and I'll be ready to start. I'll do some drawings and post in DIY.

**AtlantaTerry** · 14-Aug-2013, 00:57

Tim,

I looked at the Flickr group. Some very nice woodworking skills were evident.

From what you say about your own woodworking skills, I believe your main problem will be to find an appropriate lens that is in good enough condition to create quality photographs.

Let us know how you do with this project.