How hard to put a roll film back on this oddball Toyo?

[paulr]

I have a Toyo 4-3/4 by 6-1/2 with a 4x5 back. 1970ish.

Is there a way to put a 6x9 back on it without emloying a machine shop or lots of duct tape?

[lenser]

Simple, use an insertable back like the Calumet version. Works exactly like a 4x5 film holder, so no modifications are needed. There is also a 6x12 version.

[paulr]

Cool. Are these bulky and heavy? I'm worried about tweaking out the springs on the film back. last time I had to bend those back into shape it took a long afternoon with pliers and watchmaker's screwdrivers and not enough alcohol.

[Oren Grad]

The Calumet is designed to be inserted into 4x5 backs. It may not make a complete light seal in the Toyo "kyabine" back. Can you measure the exact dimensions of the opening and post here? We can compare against 4x5 backs.

[paulr]

Sure, I can do that, thanks. It's certainly an odd size back. Almost 5x7 but not quite.
This is more of a what-if? thought experiment. I don't think I'll be doing this anytime soon. But I can see it being a way to get some more use out of the camera.

[Oren Grad]

It was a standard format in Japan. There is a 5x7 back for the camera but it's very scarce. I think 4x5 reducing backs are a bit more common.

[lenser]

They are bulky on the end that holds both spools. The part that inserts into the camera back is no more bulky that a standard 4x5 film holder. I've owned two in my life, starting in the late 1960's and I've borrowed a friend's 6x12 version. They all work basically the same way and besides the slightly cumbersome process of loading the film, are dirt simple to operate. I think you'll find them just what you want. The 6x7 and 6x9 versions are relatively inexpensive, while the 6x12 runs several hundred dollars. All are workhorses. Oh yeah, they also work with both 120 and 220 rolls.

[Frank Petronio]

It's a simple flat mount, I had one. The seller cobbled a crap steel DeVere back onto the one I had. You could do the same with any sacrificial back from an old camera and a sheet of model aircraft plywood painted black with a hole cut out. Very basic crude woodworking skills only.

The are nice cameras, a lot nicer with the OEM backs ;-/

The bellows are often funky at this age too.

[Frank Petronio]

71105

[Frank Petronio]

71105 71106

[paulr]

Frank, is that a devere 5x7 back? I've heard many tales about 5x7 OEM toyo but have never seen one (even in pics). Very cool whatever that is. Always thought it would be nice to upsize, although the investment in new lenses and enlarger kept me from looking too hard.

I really like the camera. I've had mine (4x5) since the early 90s. It needed a new bellows immediately. The replacement one still has that new car smell.

For a roll film holder, if try it, I may just get the standard kind everyone's mentioning. But I might make a Frankenback like what you're describing to mount a dslr for some harmless fun.

[Frank Petronio]

The problem with the back was it was about 3/4 inch larger than the camera itself and it was made from steel, defeating the purpose of having such a light, compact field camera. I was furious at the seller for being deceptive, his response was that he didn't think it mattered. He ended up sending me some cash to temper me but it soured the camera for me so I used it for a couple of months and broke even reselling it with an honest description.

The chances of find a lone OEM 5x7 back are almost nil but perhaps a wooden camera could be sacrificed, especially one with a bad bellows? For 4x5 it is easy enough to find a Crown-Speed Graphic back and they are pretty nice backs already, just screw them onto a piece of plywood of the proper thickness for the Toyo's latches and you're good.

You know I keep saying how nice this forum is for buy and sell but come to think of it I've met some real stinkers. Buyer beware....