Half plate back for Gandolfi

[ElmoLopez]

Does anyone have a half plate back that will fit a Galdolfi? I found it as a small shop in London a few months ago. The owner said I'd never find a back for it, and so far, he's been right. I have a few friends who are willing to 3D print one for me, but I need some exact measurements. Thanks:)
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[pgk]

Gandolfis vary in dimensions significantly, I have owned quite a few and the only ones which were consistent were the later 10" x 8" cameras as far as I can tell. Your easiest solution is to get one made or adapted using the dimension from the real of your camera, or fit any suitable 5" x 4" back onto a plywood adapter for the camera. An easy enough fix for a usable camera. Trying to find a Gandolfi half-plate back which fits is going to be very difficult but you might just get lucky. I picked up a spare front for a half=plate universal which is nearly identical dimensionally to the one on the camera - but is actually 2mm too high. It fits into the sliding recess perfectly but will need 2mm shaving off!

I do have an early half-plate Universal camera by Gandolfi (which yours looks like a version of) so if you can just measure the rear outside dimensions I can post a photo, sizes, etc..

[ElmoLopez]

Hi there, thanks for the reply. You're right, finding an exact one is going to be a huge challenge. Here's a couple of pics. I'm not sure where I bought this measuring tape from, but it's whacked as the measurements don't start for a 1/2 cm after the leading edge, but you get the idea. The bottom and top track that the back plate sits in looks to be just a 1/2 cm or so

[pgk]

OK. Firstly, Gandolfis were built to imperial measurements! Yours looks very like mine and if so the overall size of the back will be near enough 8 inches by 8 inches with a 1/4 niche edge 'rebate' where it fits into the camera. Here's a 'phone snap of the back which has Gandolfi made plate holders with it. My camera has no nameplate but L Gandolfi is stamped on a cross slide under the bellows (dentist's mirror was needed to find it). It would be easy to have a play plate made and fit a 5" x 4" back from another camera onto it. I'm in the process of fitting a Linhof back onto mine!
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[ElmoLopez]

Yep, that's what I'm hunting for. Those critters are so hard to find. I've been looking at a maybe getting a reducing back that will bring it down to half plate size and just trimming off the outside edges, but that's nearly as hard to find as well. I have a friend who has a 3D printer and he's willing to print a back, not even sure that would work. I'm willing to give it a go, but I don't have the exact measurements anyway. I wish my woodworking skills were better than they are, but I don't have the equipment or knowledge to attempt it.

[ElmoLopez]

Oh, mine says Gandolfi behind where the lens board sits, but the front name plate says Dallmeyer. So I'm assuming Gandolfi made it for Dallmeyer, or someone has Frankensteined it at some point.

[pgk]

From what I have read Louis built cameras for a number of businesses and Dallmeyer may have been one of them. I have a Packard shutter also badged Dallmeyer! Your easiest route is to look out for a different, slightly larger back and 'convert' it or modify up as 5" x 4" back as I suggested (some basket case cameras come up at auctions). Very occasionally I have seen backs come up for sale but perhaps only one every few year.