Toyo 4 3/4 X 6 1/2 Field? Tell Me About It

[Gene McCluney]

I acquired a Toyo 4 3/4 x 6 1/2 Grey metal colored field camera, which has a removable 4x5 revolving back on it. Very nice camera. I am curious about its age, and about the odd size cast into the nameplate data. Was there ever a 4 3/4 x 6 1/2 back? Seems to me that is just a wee smidge shy of 5x7 (or 7x5 for you Brits). Was there ever a 5x7 back? I wonder what time period this was made?
The features of this camera seem near identical to current Toyo field cameras, as in placement of the controls, and how you operate them.

I was recently surprised to find out that Toyo picked up the production of the Graflex Super Graphic press camera and manufactured it as the Toyo Super Graphic from 1979 thru 1985. One learns something every day.

[John Schneider]

There was a 5x7 back, an 8x10 back (these from personal experience), as well as a full-plate back (according to some eBay listings). The only downside to this camera is the Graphic lensboards, so I made an adapter to Linhof Tech boards.

[Jim Galli]

Gene, that was British half plate. Full plate being 6 1/2 X 8 1/2. Here's a pre-WWII (http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=25506) half plate that I'm trying to peddle. The format lived longer in Japan then elsewhere.

[Oren Grad]

To this day, Toyo still offers Graphic lens boards. Now you know why.

[Gene McCluney]

I can't fathom how a 8x10 back would work on this camera unless there was a back extension, that increased the body size of the camera up to 8x10 dimensions.

Wonder how one could acquire a 5x7 back?

[Oren Grad]

Yes, there was a 4 3/4 x 6 1/2 back for the Toyo - that was the standard back. Unfortunately, the 5x7 back is very scarce.

As for vintage, I'd guess 70s - early 80s, like its closest competitor, the Musashino (later Wista) Rittreck View.

[Jim Galli]

Gene, out at work I've got a (late 1960's?) Toyo Graphic. Were they assembled from stocks of parts gotten at the sale? I don't know, but cerainly it looks like the only change between it and a Super Graphic is the name. About 5 years ago I loaned it to one of our customers that didn't want me out doing the photographs for them. I gave them a bunch of Polaroid 55 and the graphic and told them to have at it. I never got it back. About 6 weeks later one of the guards showed up with the poor old Graphic and the tripod. The wind had blown it over breaking the revolving 4X5 back. I marched in to my boss with it and raised hell. He in turn raised a little hell with the customer and told them they'd have to replace my camera. Long story short, the only thing close was a Toyo AX and that's what they bought me. :D

[Gene McCluney]

Jim, if you have a Toyo Super Graphic, then it was made from between 1979 and 1985. Have a look at: http://www.cosmonet.org/camera/super_e.htm

[jnantz]

gene

have you called and spoken with the good folks at toyo/mamiya ?
i know they have different format backs for current toyo cameras,
perhaps they also have a nos back that would work with your camera ...

i have a toyo view camera, and the folks there were very helpful when i had troubles

you might also check with the people at pacificrimcamera(dot com) or
equinoxphotographic(dot com)

-- they might have one ...

good luck

--john

[John Schneider]

I misspoke above, the 8x0 back I was referring to is for a Rittreck view camera (which is an extension back). I guess you have too many cameras when you can't keep things straight.

Sorry for any confusion.

[John Schneider]

Another thought about 5x7 backs. I had two of these cameras (one with both 4x5 and 5x7 backs, the other with a 4x5 back).

I took an early Arca-Swiss (?) 5x7 back and adapted it to the second camera. I had to mill shoulders on both surfaces of the back plate (to mate to the light trap of the Toyo and to mate to the brackets that retain the back) and overall reduce the back in size. The back came out to a smaller package that the original back, with the GG closer to the body. However, this interfered with the travel of the rear standard locking arms as the camera folded, so I had to do some fitting by hand.

That camera with the adapted back has been sold, but here are some pics of what can be done to make a 5x7 back for this camera. The gray hammertone paint of the back nearly matched that of the body.

[Gene McCluney]

John, your adaptation of a Arca-Swiss? back is fabulous., however I think if I am patient enough I should be able to turn up a 5x7 back...someday.