goamules
9-Jun-2016, 18:22
Many people have bought wonderful old Rochester wholeplate cameras.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8022/7615612952_af26e38226_b.jpg
Rochester Universal
The problem is, Rochester cameras (Universal, Carlton, and others) in that format came during the dryplate era, and finding a film holder is difficult. Plate holders are somewhat common. The solution is to use film sheaths, that fit in wholeplate plate holders. I actually enjoy loading these much more than a conventional, modern Lisco holder. In the dark, they are easier to hold and feel where the film is sliding in. Then, it's easy to drop the sheath into the plate holder, and close the darkslide. Fumbling with a film holder seems much more difficult, after you've used one of these adapted dryplate holders. You can get them in wholeplate size, and even with an adapter to step down to 5x7.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7083/27498881821_dcb5eeeb93_b.jpg
The other challenge is finding a Wholeplate holder that fits your camera. No, they are not all the same. Rochester, Century, and other camera companies made unique holders, particular to just their camera. They were not standardized, though the film size was. A Rochester takes an 8 inch wide holder, without the "catch" strip of wood near the top. Other cameras use wider or narrower holders, that won't work. Other holders have the catch, which fits into a thin groove in the camera back. In practice, the holder locks into the camera, so you can remove the dark slide without pulling the holder along with it, ruining your film. But that was a lesson learned, and Rochester in the 1890s didn't put a catch strip on their holders. They slide in and out easily, you just hold them in with your thumb when removing the slide.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7531/27498882501_13b68cfa44_b.jpg
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7764/27472692802_4fe1a8a802_c.jpg
Sheath installed
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8022/7615612952_af26e38226_b.jpg
Rochester Universal
The problem is, Rochester cameras (Universal, Carlton, and others) in that format came during the dryplate era, and finding a film holder is difficult. Plate holders are somewhat common. The solution is to use film sheaths, that fit in wholeplate plate holders. I actually enjoy loading these much more than a conventional, modern Lisco holder. In the dark, they are easier to hold and feel where the film is sliding in. Then, it's easy to drop the sheath into the plate holder, and close the darkslide. Fumbling with a film holder seems much more difficult, after you've used one of these adapted dryplate holders. You can get them in wholeplate size, and even with an adapter to step down to 5x7.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7083/27498881821_dcb5eeeb93_b.jpg
The other challenge is finding a Wholeplate holder that fits your camera. No, they are not all the same. Rochester, Century, and other camera companies made unique holders, particular to just their camera. They were not standardized, though the film size was. A Rochester takes an 8 inch wide holder, without the "catch" strip of wood near the top. Other cameras use wider or narrower holders, that won't work. Other holders have the catch, which fits into a thin groove in the camera back. In practice, the holder locks into the camera, so you can remove the dark slide without pulling the holder along with it, ruining your film. But that was a lesson learned, and Rochester in the 1890s didn't put a catch strip on their holders. They slide in and out easily, you just hold them in with your thumb when removing the slide.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7531/27498882501_13b68cfa44_b.jpg
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7764/27472692802_4fe1a8a802_c.jpg
Sheath installed