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View Full Version : Help Identifying a piece of ironwork attached to old field camera


steveo
30-Nov-2015, 08:34
I picked this up as a bit of winter project. Its missing the back or any film holders so I'm going to have to work something out there and the bellows are terminally moth eaten but I've been thinking of trying to make some bellows for ages. It looks to be a fairly basic meniscus lens so its not going to be good for more than contact prints.

But it has this large piece of iron work attached, any one know what its for? I'm guessing its some form of tripod attachment but I've never seen anything like it before.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/612/23099426350_7b3e9a8cce_b.jpgUnidentified 2x3 Field Camera ('https://flic.kr/p/BcdAFy') by Steven ('https://www.flickr.com/photos/49248828@N06/'), on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5765/23286753942_c834df53cf_b.jpgUnidentified 2x3 Field Camera ('https://flic.kr/p/BtLGDC') by Steven ('https://www.flickr.com/photos/49248828@N06/'), on Flickr
Jon Shiu
30-Nov-2015, 08:39
Yes, for tripod. The bracket would hold the tops of the wooden legs.

Jon
Michael E
30-Nov-2015, 08:57
Pretty little camera. Get some tripod legs and you are good to go. Well, plus a back with holders. Plus new bellows. It doesn't have any movements, right? Or any aperture device? Very basic...
steveo
30-Nov-2015, 09:31
Yes, for tripod. The bracket would hold the tops of the wooden legs.

Jon

Thanks Jon


Pretty little camera. Get some tripod legs and you are good to go. Well, plus a back with holders. Plus new bellows. It doesn't have any movements, right? Or any aperture device? Very basic...

Yeah its a weird one, its almost a box camera but it doesn't have a shutter and can be focused. I'm guessing it pre-dates faster emulsions and would have used a hat for a shutter.
ic-racer
30-Nov-2015, 09:32
It is the head of a surveying tripod. I'd cast it aside to make room for a photography tripod.
steveo
30-Nov-2015, 09:40
It is the head of a surveying tripod. I'd cast it aside to make room for a photography tripod.

Ah, would it have run on a circular race?
IanG
30-Nov-2015, 09:45
It should have a normal tripod mount. You should be able to make and adapter easily to use a roll-film back.

Ian
steveo
30-Nov-2015, 10:14
It should have a normal tripod mount. You should be able to make and adapter easily to use a roll-film back.

Ian

I've had a prod and its held on with a nut and bolt the same size and thread as a standard tripod mount. I've removed it just now and the QR plate for my tripod fits fine so thats one less problem.

My current thoughts are to make a perspex sheet to cover the back of the camera, cut a slot and mount an RB67 back to that. I'll probably make another with some ground perspex to act as a focusing screen. And I need to make bellows...
Jim Jones
30-Nov-2015, 17:32
A Graflok back mounted on a sheet of plywood cut to fit like the original back would be versatile.
IanG
1-Dec-2015, 04:39
It's bugging me, I should be able to identify this field camera, I saw one recently in an advert. Steve is it not a Quarter plate camera ?

Ian
steveo
1-Dec-2015, 13:59
It's bugging me, I should be able to identify this field camera, I saw one recently in an advert. Steve is it not a Quarter plate camera ?

Ian

Fairly sure it can't be, the opening at the rear where the bellows meet is only 4 inches square. Isn't quarter plate 4.25 inches?