Trying to identify a film back.

[pgk]

I have a camera with a back on it which is designed to take a film holder which slides into a recess which is 3 5/8" wide and 1/16" thick - the holder must be in the region of 5 3/16" long (give or take a little). Can anyone suggest what back/film holder this may be for? Photo will follow but hopefully the dimensions are enough? The glass in place is exactly 3" x 4" so I thought 1/4 plate?

[Rod Klukas]

It does sound like a 3.25 X 4.25" or 1/4 plate as you surmised This size film was discontinued in the early 1970's. Not completely sure, but 1973 sounds about right. This format was used from 1880's, though slow to catch on until the photographic surge was set off by the introduction of roll film cameras for amateurs, Circa 1888.

[Rod Klukas]

An Image of the camera front and rear would help.

[pgk]

Here's the image of the back and the glass (which is upside down showing the brass sliders which fit together).

206108

[pgk]

After lots more research I have found the following. The 'slide-in' section is ~92mm wide and the thickness of the plate which will fit into the slider is 1.2~1.3mm. I suspect that the camera dates from before 1930. The only roll film holder I have as yet come across which looks like it might fit was a Rollex which sold a couple of years back on eBay and which was described as having a 92mm wide plate which, from the photos looked like it might fit. Does anyone know what the description of this fitting might be (ie which camera it was originally intended for)? I have little doubt that the camera was built for a specific back because it folds up correctly with the rear section perfectly aligned (and was obviously built with the appropriately thicker rear section), and suspect that it was intended for use with this specific roll film holder. Gandolfi apparently did a lot of 'bespoke' cameras to order.

[Rod Klukas]

This will be difficult. When Goerz, Image, Ermanox, et all, the 6 who combined in 1926 to create Contax in 1926 and 1927, they had over 511 different models of camera for sale...

I thought at first it might have been a Heidoscope, the predecessor to the Rolleiflex at Franke and Heidecker, but that is just smaller.

So not sure, but good luck.

[Rod Klukas]

This site may have some info you. http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/site/entry_C916.html

Be well and stay safe,

Rod

[pgk]

Thanks Rod. I've been contacting eBay sellers of such backs to ask them for measurements as few ever show them (which means that it must be difficult for buyers to figure out what the back fits). I'd looked at the link you showed already - the problem is, as you say, the plethora of models which backs could have been made for - this http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Rada_Rollfilm_Back shows a variety of fittings (more than 30) for the Rada roll film backs but not, unfortunately, their dimensions.