just finished my burke and james 5x7

[ImSoNegative]

been working on this thing for about a month or so, lots of stipping and sanding, lots of little screws, and just a little bit of cussing, anyway got it all back together, it also has the 4x5 back.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8500/8303141720_43f5363eb3_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28713901@N04/8303141720/)
burke and james 5x7 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28713901@N04/8303141720/) by J. Golden (http://www.flickr.com/people/28713901@N04/), on Flickr

[Ed Bray]

Good job, looks very nice now.

[ImSoNegative]

thanks ed

[Drew Bedo]

Looks freatêI also like the brass lens and Packard hsutter.

I had one of these back in the 1990s (yup—the last decade of the previous century!). Now I wish I had never sold it off at the old Houston Camera Show.

The B&J cameras are a little clunky, but because they are over-built they are also durable . . .and they will do as much and more than many Deardorffs fo the same period in terms of movements.

[Mark Sawyer]

The B&J cameras are a little clunky, but because they are over-built they are also durable . . .and they will do as much and more than many Deardorffs fo the same period in terms of movements.

That pretty much defines the B&J! It's become one of my favorites, and the camera of choice when I need lots of movements. The looks grow on you just because it's so practical and over-built. And the maple underneath the grey paint is beautiful.

That's a great little 5x7!

[largeformatguy]

Although I'm not able to see your photo, for whatever reason, I bought a B&J 5x7 about 3 years ago and refinished it as well. Swell little camera. Here's mine.

86076

[Alan Gales]

They are such pretty cameras when they are refinished! Why did they originally paint them battleship grey?

[Roger Thoms]

Hey, where'd the picture go, well nice job just the same and largeformatguy yours look very nice too. Looks like a lot of work to strip them down and refinish. My girlfriend has a 5x7 B&J, it's in nice shape and the grey paint and most importantly she really likes the grey and red color scheme. So I'm off the hook as far as refinishing goes.

Roger

[Drew Bedo]

They are such pretty cameras when they are refinished! Why did they originally paint them battleship grey?

I think they were intended as a working commercial tool in their day. I think the grey paint had something to do with replicating the look of a more expensive metal camera such as the Kodak Masterview, but I could be way off on that.

[ImSoNegative]

hmmm what happend to my picture? oh well, here is another one

[ImSoNegative]

here is a before picture

[Andrew Tymon]

Is there any finish on the camera?

[largeformatguy]

hmmm what happend to my picture? oh well, here is another one

Beautiful camera!
After the grey paint is stripped (apologies to your girlfriend, Roger), you can see that the woodworking is pretty nice too.

Alan

[ImSoNegative]

Is there any finish on the camera?

i just put a light stain of "colonial mapel"

[henseman]

Wow...beautiful work. I have one myself...may get adventurous and do this. Mine came with a 4x5 reducing back and I'm looking for a full 5x7 back for it. Anyone know where I can get one?

Brian