a question for the folks with Century studio cameras

[Rick L]

I just picked up a 9A and stand this weekend - overall - its in great shape with a really nice lens

It came with the sliding (split?) back and an 8x10 and a 5x7 reducing back -

and I have a couple questions about the sliding back, some previous owner stuck a couple wood screws in the top of the frame to keep it from moving too far.

it looks to me that there is a piece broken off the brass part in the middle - (picture below) it seems to be missing a section that would mate up with the various slots in the back to position it.

can anyone share a clear picture of the part (assuming I am right) with a length- or does anyone have a spare of the part off a broken back?

also there are two swivel latches (also pictured) in the middle top and bottom - what are they for? I can only guess some kind of divider when taking two images on one sheet.again - any image and measurements?

[badler]

Could you post a picture of the whole back? I have a sliding 1/2 plate back that takes century 5x7 cassettes. I think it is similar. The swivel latches are for masks that could be for partial exposures. The best source I have found is a Tom Lazarus from Akron. He posts here occasionally and is on FB. He can advise you on just about all things Century Studio Camera.

[Rick L]

i will get a picture tomorrow -

but I did find this close up of the brass catch on an eBay listing for a 9A -

214311

214312

so now I know what that should look like - as I expected mine is broken, missing the curved part - no to extrapolate the length and make a replacement

[badler]

I am sorry I can’t help you. Mine is a different sliding back. I would check with Tom L. He is certain to have some advice.

[Tin Can]

I don't have a Century, but I may have a sliding back for one which was made to make many tiny pics by sliding a couple combinations on 5X7 film

I had my hands on it last month

It may take awhile to find

I know the curved hook is very common on sliders I use, even into the 1950's on B&J backs

[Rick L]

here is a picture of the sliding back on my 9A - you can see the square rabbit for the insert - and the small brass swivel latch top and bottom

214345

I found these on eBay 214346 214347

its the right size and has a half circle cut out for the swivel - not sure how those "wings" fit into a back

the only Lazarus I see in the member list hasn't posted in a while

I got a 8x10 and a 5x7 reducing back with the camera, so the need to do two on a single sheet is limited

[Peter De Smidt]

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rego28hxj0dieiv/Sliding_back.jpg?raw=1

[erie patsellis]

The term for the masks is “splitter”.

[Rick L]

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rego28hxj0dieiv/Sliding_back.jpg?raw=1

thanks - perfect - much better picture than the ebay one - so the curved piece is for a finger and there is a pin to mate in the slot- very easy to copy

[Tin Can]

Maybe you want to make many 35mm negs on 5X7 film on a Century

I bought this for peanuts some years ago, just to see it

My crime is I HAD a Century camera before, but no back, so I sold it.

It slides both X/Y to cover the film, year books?

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51098355850_39082e820a_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kRoqXm)1 (https://flic.kr/p/2kRoqXm) by TIN CAN COLLEGE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tincancollege/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51098354870_dec46be375_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kRoqEs)2 (https://flic.kr/p/2kRoqEs) by TIN CAN COLLEGE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tincancollege/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51097632529_ab5c2de6be_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kRjHWi)3 (https://flic.kr/p/2kRjHWi) by TIN CAN COLLEGE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tincancollege/), on Flickr

[Rick L]

that is very interesting - never even heard of that one

[rjbuzzclick]

Think of the ‘wings’ more as ‘blinders’ to control stray light. My sliding back adapter for my 4x5 Speed Graphic has them.


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[Rick L]

Think of the ‘wings’ more as ‘blinders’ to control stray light. My sliding back adapter for my 4x5 Speed Graphic has them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

thanks for confirming - i figured that out when I was fixing an issue with the 5x7 reducing back

PS - just found this -it shows one on an Ansco studio camera at about the 2:38 minute mark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Phcwh8wqeC8&t=211s