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View Full Version : Using a old 4x5 box camera with film & vintage glass plates.


Greg
15-May-2016, 16:12
Just obtained a 4x5 "no name" box camera. There is a top loading door to access where to slip the sheet film holder down and another space behind it to store 2 film holders. Only nomenclature is "2305" on the inside of the door. Shutter has 2 settings: instant and one to lock the shutter from opening.

2 4x5 film holders: One sheet film holder, and one PREMO FILM PACK ADAPTER.

Also a still sealed box of one dozen 4x5 glass plates. Eastman (Kodak) UNIVERSAL PLATES with "3015 17 13" stamped on the bottom of the box.

I intend on using the camera with Ilford FP-4+ film and processing in Diafine to keep the D-Max under control from most probably overexposure.

Also have to source out a 4x5 glass plate holder. Intend on attempting to shoot using the 12 glass plates. I have a IR scope so processing by inspection possible. Any suggestions on a developer for processing them?
Bill_1856
15-May-2016, 16:34
Wonderful! I am envious.
jnantz
15-May-2016, 18:03
hi greg:

http://web.archive.org/web/20010415010419/http://boxcameras.com/cyclone-delmar.html

have fun !
john
Chauncey Walden
16-May-2016, 11:49
You might be surprised at the actual shutter speed. I was with mine. Have fun.
Greg
16-May-2016, 15:44
Simple question... The front of the camera is held in by 4 small screws. Is it safe to remove these screws to access the inside of the camera and clean the lens?
jnantz
16-May-2016, 17:37
hey greg

YES !
yiou can clean/oil the shutter too
and clean the lens... you will need
to remove the "choke" to clean the front.

have fun with yours, i love mine ! ( for almostw 2o years ! )
Greg
17-May-2016, 06:15
hey greg

YES !
yiou can clean/oil the shutter too
and clean the lens... you will need
to remove the "choke" to clean the front.

have fun with yours, i love mine ! ( for almostw 2o years ! )


Could you describe to us what the "choke" is and how to remove it?

thanks
jnantz
17-May-2016, 06:34
there is a metal thing that sits inside the barrel.
it looks like the metal thing that holds + crops off the milk glass viewer ..
but really small and in the front of the lens.
its hard to explain but i am sure you will see it even though i can't use the right words to explain what it is.
anyways, it chokes the lens down with a permanent f-stop. box caemras, folding cameras &c tended to have them
because they were usually outfitted with a wollaston / meniscus lens, and stopped down they can be sharpish.
to remove it, you can probably just wiggle it free with something thin like a micro flat edge screw driver.
be careful, old, thirsty, moroccan leather rips pretty easily.
Greg
17-May-2016, 16:37
Well removed the front of the camera. Shutter seems to have seen very little use after all these years. Works very consistently at about a 1/15 second in either direction. That little "choke" is missing and looks like it was removed by some tell telling marks. Fixed aperture of 9mm and lens to film plane around 127mm gives me an aperture of f/14. Was able to easily squeeze my hand into the camera from the rear and clean the back of the lens... took me a minute or two to get it back out. Finder mirrors worse for wear but with cleaning hopefully will be just functional enough for framing. Will be shooting FP-4 plus and processing in Diafine then get back again to printing with my Durst and making Lith prints.
Thanks...
jnantz
17-May-2016, 18:13
That little "choke" is missing and looks like it was removed by some tell telling marks. Fixed aperture of 9mm and lens to film plane around 127mm gives me an aperture of f/14. Was able to easily squeeze my hand into the camera from the rear and clean the back of the lens... took me a minute or two to get it back out. Finder mirrors worse for wear but with cleaning hopefully will be just functional enough for framing. Will be shooting FP-4 plus and processing in Diafine then get back again to printing with my Durst and making Lith prints.
Thanks...

weird ... the photo you posted of the camera shows some sort of ring inside the barrel
f14 sounds about right ...

good luck lighting -
Greg
18-May-2016, 03:56
weird ... the photo you posted of the camera shows some sort of ring inside the barrel
f14 sounds about right ...

good luck lighting -

Yes camera's a bit weird. In the the front of the camera there is a "barrel" with a 9mm hole in the center. One would think that the hole was a constricting aperture inside the barrel, but when you view it from the back of the front board, the hole in the front board in front of the shutter is also 9mm (and not the larger diameter of the "barrel" as one would think). The shutter's opening is also 9mm. The shutter's opening (oval hole) in effect now becoming my maximum aperture. Best guess is that I have a generic no name brand 4x5 box camera that's been tampered with. Never the less, am really looking forward to trying out the vintage box camera this coming weekend....
jnantz
18-May-2016, 06:53
your camera has not been tampered with .. ( except by you right now )
the barrel is the choke i was talking about.** it is friction mounted and pops right out.
the lens is small, not big .. the 9mm hole trims the edge of the lens.
if it doesn't read cyclone sr on the door flap its probably a conley/sears model.

** i should have said front plate, not barrel. sorry for the confusion. it took me a day
to find the front plate of one i use as a parts camera. looks the same as yours except for the
shutter speed arrow, yours is an arrow, mine is teardrop shaped.
Greg
18-May-2016, 07:27
your camera has not been tampered with .. ( except by you right now )
the barrel is the choke i was talking about.** it is friction mounted and pops right out.
the lens is small, not big .. the 9mm hole trims the edge of the lens.
if it doesn't read cyclone sr on the door flap its probably a conley/sears model.

** i should have said front plate, not barrel. sorry for the confusion. it took me a day
to find the front plate of one i use as a parts camera. looks the same as yours except for the
shutter speed arrow, yours is an arrow, mine is teardrop shaped.

Thank you... Camera was obviously taken apart at some time in the past, nice to know was kept as original. Tried to gently pry out the "choke" but it is in there quite firmly. Since the hole in the board is the same diameter as the 9mm hole in the choke, no need to try harder to remove it. Am now really looking forward to using it.
Greg