Lensboard Fetish Fun!

[John Kasaian]

I was wondering if anyone else enjoys bringing ratty old lensboards back to life? Often I'll get an old 'dorff board that will come with a lens or shutter or a box of parts bought on e-bay. They'll be painted, pierced. badly drilled, cracked or otherwise abused. A little work with sandpaper and putty and the things shine like a new penny---very rewarding stuff. I just finished working on an old board that was covered with badly applied black wrinkle paint, I guess to fill a small crack---you should see the beautiful mahogany grain on that puppy! Its a little thing, but I get a big kick out of it---maybe its "almost instant gratuity" I've been craving, I suppose. Does anyone else have a lensboard fetish?

[Geoffrey Swenson]

It seems like we are more and more desperate for new subjects for discussion. Not that anything is wrong with having fun :-))

[Capocheny]

Hi John,

Good to hear that things such as the restoration of an old lensboard is sufficient to keep you smiling. I don't feel that way about lensboards (certain female movie stars perhaps, but not lensboards :>)) but there are numerous other "small" things in life that I do enjoy (fountainpens, pipes, and OLD Bordeaux wines) and get a charge out of.

Bottom line is... "if it makes you happy, why not? Life is too short!"

Cheers

[Ralph Barker]

I hope you use old sandpaper to do the restorations, John. New sandpaper just wouldn't seem appropriate. ;-)

Seriously, I like the idea of putting older objects back into use, where feasible. There's a certain elegance involved, and the investment of time and personal effort adds value to the use of the item.

But, if you actually use the restored boards, it's probably not a fetish. So, you probably don't need to worry too much (or, seek counseling) about that. ;-)

[Jim Rhoades]

John; I sure hope it's not sick, but I too restore old Dorff boards. I have some beauties with holes so big I don't know if I'll ever find a lens to fit them.

I also make them out of Baltic Birch modeling plywood with weird veneer faces. Years ago I got a box of 50 rare wood veneer samples. My 240 Schneider is mounted on one with a Bird's eye Maple center with Zebra wood edges. It is very, uh, distinctive. Mix and match lensboards are neat. At least it gives me something to do on long winter nights.

[Eric Rose]

I guess I'm a pagan. I just make my own boards out of thin plywood purchased from a hobby store. The finishing consists of a couple of coats of flat black paint.

[Brian Ellis]

Not lens boards but I enjoy doing the same thing with old film holders. A little sand paper, a little paint, a little tape, some cleaning and polishing of the metal at the top of some darkslides and they look great, work fine, and cost very little. I think it's nice to keep this old stuff in use, it kind of goes with the large format territory in the digital age.

[jnantz]

hi john

i am kind of like that too, but with falling plate cameras. gotta love sewing machine oil - works wonders on a gillotine shutter.

[Jim Galli]

John, my personal take is that I love putting old lens boards from junk boxes back on Ebay and at least getting a little of my money I foolishly spent returned to me by some other fool. Of course 'dorff boards find a home at my house but rarely get improved from how they arrived. So many lenses.......so few lens boards! Does anybody really need 5 8X10 cameras?? Where do I check into 8X10 anon?

[John Kasaian]

Jim, Was that your old 4x5 Nagaoaka with a Leitmeyer WA on e-bay recently? I kept looking at it, fantasizing about really useful such a light, compact 4x5 field camera could be. Then I thought about what it would be like trying to use a loupe with my big armenian nose in the way on that little gg---I came to the conclusion that 8x10 is the only sensible alternative for the nasally challenged (hmmm...maybe I ought to look into getting a spare: I only have two 8x10s right now---three if I count the 9x9 K-17!)

[Jim Galli]

Phooey! Who wants a 2 ¾ pound elegant camera when you can haul around an 18 pound beast with a ground glass like a small TV.

[John Kasaian]

Indeed! Why pay a gym for the pleasure of lifting wieghts while staring at a blank wall when you can lug around an 8x10 while watching the earth explode with the change of seasons!