Seeking Gandolfi knowledge

[Roy Hammans]

I have just acquired an almost mint Gandolfi Universal, dating from around 1900-1920, stamped with Louis Gandolfi's name inside. It has a perfectly good original Ross Xpress 6 inch f4.5 lens with no shutter, plus original Gandolfi dark slides.

It has provenance going back to its early years as the sole camera used by the University of Cambridge's Sedgwick Museum and Department of Geology photographer Albert Barlow in the UK in the early to mid 20th century. His successor bought it from the University when the department finally closed its photo unit, around the same time all the other in-house University photography departments were closed down (I used to work for one of them in the 1970s). I have bought it from him.

I am in the process of restoring it as it's a bit grubby having been been packed away for well over 20 years unused. It has a new bellows, fitted some time ago, but is original in every other way, including (I believe) the lens.

I know my way around most large format cameras but can't quite work out what the two knurled knobs on the top of the rear standard are meant to do (see photo). Does anyone happen to know?

My initial thought that they were to lock and release the swing back, but they appear not to do this as the back still swings whether they are loose or tightened.

All advice gratefully received.

[William Whitaker]

My best guess is that the knobs are a focus lock for the rear standard.

Lovely camera, btw.

[John Kasaian]

A wild guess, but some kind of rise for the rear standard, perhaps?

[Andrew Plume]

Hi Roy

From experience of owning, having owned a number of similar Tailboard's, definitely for holding the rear standard in place

good luck with the restoration

Andrew

[karl french]

Fold down the bed. Pull out the rear standard for rough focus. Use the two locks on top of the rear standard to lock it in place. Fine focus with the knob on the right of the bed. I love Gandolfi Universals. Just about every British camera maker made a version of this camera.

[Roy Hammans]

Thanks everyone.
I agree that they must be for locking the rear standard in place, the problem is that currently they don't.
It looks like I'll have to unscrew a few screws last tightened by Louis Gandolfi (and beautifully aligned as was his practice), remove the rear standard and see if I can free the clamping mechanism that runs underneath the rails on the folding bed.

I'll report back on how it goes.

[Steven Tribe]

This locking system - which is most common on the front standard on the more traditional UK field cameras - does eventually show signs of wear in the small piece of flat brass which clamps around the brass strip in the base. This will probably have to be renewed on both sides. In theory, they could have just been displaced from underneath the rail by uneducated hands!
Try unscrewing the knobs and lifting the rear standard up! You may also need to turn the back to remove any other locating strips from underneath the rail.

[Roy Hammans]

UPDATE.
On removing the rear standard from the guide rails it was immediately obvious where the problem lay.
The rods that go from top to bottom of the rear standard are made of steel and were well and truly rusted. The expansion of the rust against the mahogany meant that there was absolutely no freedom to move at all, so the rear standard could not be locked in place along the rails.

After applying a small amount of WD40 and leaving overnight, I was able to gently tap the threaded end with a soft hammer and gradually free them enough to get a grip on the locking plate sufficient to twist back and forth until they started to move. They put up quite a fight!

The photographs show what I found...
196031196032

This shows one rod after restoration next to the one still to be done.
196033

I also took the opportunity to restore the brass guide rails while I was at it. No signs of wear and they come up as new (left side: before; right side: after).
196035

The rear standard now locks in place perfectly and I marvel at the design ingenuity that allows this simple mechanism to provide a reasonable degree of back swing as well.

[Steven Tribe]

Well done!

I thought you might like to see the illustration on the cover of the standard book on UK camera makers. A horizontal version of yours - made by ? for Ross.

After seeing your corrosion, I removed the locking mechanism from my Lizar 15x12" to check condition. No problems - all parts are made in brass. There is an extra brass screw in the underneath locking plate, which allows tension and release, but prevents it turning and getting stuck!

[Roy Hammans]

Well done!

I thought you might like to see the illustration on the cover of the standard book on UK camera makers. A horizontal version of yours - made by ? for Ross.

After seeing your corrosion, I removed the locking mechanism from my Lizar 15x12" to check condition. No problems - all parts are made in brass. There is an extra brass screw in the underneath locking plate, which allows tension and release, but prevents it turning and getting stuck!

Thanks Steven, it's odd that Gandolfi chose to use steel rods when everything else is brass.
Not seen that book, may seek out a copy. The cover camera looks like a copy of mine - or perhaps it pre-dates Gandolfi and that's where he got his design from!

[karl french]

He started out working for another maker before establishing his own shop. This design predates the establishment of Gandolfi. Lots of interesting information on this site:

http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/site/b_chap.html

[pgk]

I have a near identical camera. Can I ask you what the external dimensions of the back actually are (I have a similar model made by the brothers which is marginally larger than the earlier version from Louis)? Also can you tell me where it is stamped? Mine has a stamp on a cross piece right under the bellows, which required a dentist's mirror to find - I bought it as being from an unknown maker but the stamp is from L Gandolfi is clearly original as the camera is unrestored. Mine has provision for stereo work too, although someone has butchered part of the relevant front section unfortunately.