Chassis for an old Bernard Watchl 8x10

[berserkLuca]

Hello everyboy, few months ago I bought an antique 8x10 camera, a Bernard Watchl made by wood. I also have two chassis but:

1. they are very old and the "volet" seem to be hard to open, so I'm afraid to miss the focus on the subject
2. one of the chassis need to be repair and doesn't have the support for film, can be use only with glass at the moment.

So the question is: there are some type of chassis compatible with various system or I need to find one that fit my bernard?

Are the measurements of these chassis usually standard?

Here few images of the chassis:

201091

201092

201093

201094

Luca

[Steven Tribe]

Yes, the dark slides can be difficult to move - and difficult to service as they can’t (easily!) be removed. Obviously, wood dimensions change through 100 + years and a bit of sanding/lubrication is necessary.

There are no standard measurements and there are a couple of mounting methods. Yours is probably the (offset) insert method.

You will be moved to the appropriate thread sometime to-day!
I think you camera set is the continental European standard of 18x24cm - not 8x10"!

Extra metal sheaths holding the film in the plate holders are available.

[berserkLuca]

Yes, the dark slides can be difficult to move - and difficult to service as they can’t (easily!) be removed. Obviously, wood dimensions change through 100 + years and a bit of sanding/lubrication is necessary.

There are no standard measurements and there are a couple of mounting methods. Yours is probably the (offset) insert method.

You will be moved to the appropriate thread sometime to-day!
I think you camera set is the continental European standard of 18x24cm - not 8x10"!

Extra metal sheaths holding the film in the plate holders are available.

Hello! thanks, yes it is 18x24 not 8x10... but there is a chance to find a site with different chassis and format to see if I can buy some chassis with compatibility?

Or is better to ask someone to make a custom chassis?

Luca

[Steven Tribe]

Making a new plate/film holder that works perfectLy, requires the presence of the camera - or at Least, the camera back. Making a good plate holder, is, in my view, more difficult than making a camera!
A few of us have collected extra 18x24cm plate holders through the years, so a listing in “wanted” might help. You will have to provide a lot of measurements. And be prepared for some sandpaper/plane adjustment, as well as checking film/plate - ground glass positions.
But again, renovating your present holders is probably just as “easy”!