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View Full Version : Ross Half Plate Field Camera HELP!



Kierra
3-Jan-2013, 02:50
Hey all,

I need a hand. For Christmas I was given this beautiful 1888 Ross London half plate field camera but the interwebs aren't being very useful in terms of finding out much about it. It came with a barrel lens and 2 what I assume are film backs. I cannot seem to find any info on how to load the backs, what the take ie. film or wet plate, or the best way to possibly try and use this with the barrel lens.

Thanks in advance.

86450864518645286453

IanG
3-Jan-2013, 03:38
The holders have clips on the side and are for dry plates, looks like they are half plate with isnserts for quarter plates from the 4th photo. You'd need film adapters which are hard to find or make a 5x4 back for modern DDS (film holders). With modern film you'd also need a shutter.

Where abouts are you, and welcome to the Forum BTW.

Ian

Steven Tribe
3-Jan-2013, 08:35
A very nice set!

Unlike Ian, I wouldn't recommend adaption as the character of the camera changes a lot.
1/2 plate size is good for contact prints without the need for an enlarger.
The current lens, mounted on a newer lens board, was installed when a previous owner bought insert(s) to produce 1/4 plate glass negatives.
Converting to using modern film is just a question of locating 1/2 plate film sheaths which fit into your book holders. I did have extra last year, but these are now gone. Will see if I have some in the last boxes.

These wonderful plate holders are pressing the limits of what mahogany can manage, so there may be some skrinkage cracks even though they look to be in good condition.
Do you have the three legs for the brass tripod support?

As you appear only to have 2 double plate holders, it is probably best to modify other (bought!) additional 1/2 plate holders if you want to go the way of wet plate!

sully75
3-Jan-2013, 08:43
It would be easy enough to adapt a modern 4x5 back to the camera without modifying the actual camera. That said after working on an older half plate camera for a while and finally giving up, you have to decide whether you want to fiddle with a camera that ultimately will not be as good as the modern camera you can buy and use today. It will be fine and can take great pictures but as far as usability goes a modern field camera is going to be superior. Nothing wrong with either choice.

Steven Tribe
3-Jan-2013, 09:45
By the way, why do think it is a Ross camera?

The round lens board points to Manchester!

IanG
3-Jan-2013, 10:46
Unlike Ian, I wouldn't recommend adaption as the character of the camera changes a lot.
1/2 plate size is good for contact prints without the need for an enlarger.

I'd do both (& have), but I'm nnot suggeesting adapting the current back rather making an additional back, just as I'd make a mew lens board or two, probably one with a lens/shutter. That's what I've done with 3 cmaeras now. I wouldn't do anything that damages the original camera though.

Ross sold various cameras at different times under their own name but some were made by other companies, Dallmeyer did the same.

I think what's surpised me about these older British made camera is how remarkably sturdy they are despite being much lighter than most of the US cameras.

Ian

rjmeyer314
3-Jan-2013, 11:35
I have a half plate camera. I went to the trouble of buying a few plate holders and film sheaths. I scrounged up some outdated film from the UK. Ultimately I found that 5x7 film holders fit my camera as well as the plate holders did. Now I shoot 5x7 film in it. I obviously don't know if this would hold true for your camera, but if you have easy access to some 5x7 filmholders you might try it.

IanG
3-Jan-2013, 12:10
With pre-WWII cameras that only holds true for most US made half plate cameras and some UK made Kodaks, British cameras used non standard book-form type holders and these vary from model to model sometimes from the same manufacturers.

Post WWII the International standard for7x5 and Half plate means that the outside dimensions of modern holders are the same, the continental equivalent will be the same as well. In the UK after WWII most manufacturers used the International standard, Gandolfi & Watson continued with book-form as well.

Ian

Steven Tribe
3-Jan-2013, 15:52
I was thinking that this camera, with some unusual features, was made by Billcliff in Manchester.He had a period when he produced a lot of round lens board cameras. He also delighted in using ebony for "edging" alongside the the mahogany?

Peter Gomena
3-Jan-2013, 16:01
I can't help, but I wish you good luck on your adventures with this camera. It's a beauty. Old cameras are fun to use and can produce excellent images. You will have to put up with some quirks, but once you figure things out, you'll probably enjoy it.

It looks as though you might also need to adapt it for a modern tripod unless you have the original legs to fit the base.

IanG
4-Jan-2013, 01:48
I was thinking that this camera, with some unusual features, was made by Billcliff in Manchester.He had a period when he produced a lot of round lens board cameras. He also delighted in using ebony for "edging" alongside the the mahogany?

That particular lens board is one hallmark of Billcliff, another is the slightly unusual tripod ring for the legs. Billcliff's must have been a large workshop as they were making cameras for a number of companies as well as selling them under their own name.

Ian

Steven Tribe
4-Jan-2013, 07:02
It looks as though you might also need to adapt it for a modern tripod unless you have the original legs to fit the base.

Getting 3 legs for this is absolutely not a problem. "orphaned" legs (?) are two a penny.

They never command a price approaching the Graflex types.

IanG
4-Jan-2013, 16:34
Getting 3 legs for this is absolutely not a problem. "orphaned" legs (?) are two a penny.

They never command a price approaching the Graflex types.

They are about but hard to get :D Again they aren't standard so you need the tripod ring to check they fit. At least twice I've been piped to to the post by a buyer who grabs them all and that's as an early-bird to the sales.

It is a case of getting out and about looking and my local very large flea market beckons on Sunday :) Actually there's not much photo gear but what's there is mainly at bargain prices, it's oftyen anyique dealers selling items they don't secialiose in.

Ian

Kierra
5-Jan-2013, 01:20
Hey everyone,
Thanks for your replies and your help!

I live in Sydney, Australia. My partner purchased the camera on eBay from the UK. The camera is labeled as a Ross London camera, I have attached a photo. As for a tripod, my partner could more than likely make something to fit into the base to attach to my Manfrotto legs.

I'm thinking my best bet is to try get a 4x5 back to fit and a different lens with a shutter so it will be usable. I'll keep the dry plate backs and the barrel lens for later down the track when I hopefully will have my own darkroom facilities to be able to do and make them.

86647

IanG
5-Jan-2013, 02:58
If you can get a back from a 5x4 Pacemaker Speed or Crown Graphic it's simple to attach this a board that's interchangeable with the current back. Look on the Graflex.org website there's two types of back the simple spring type and the later International back, the latter are more expensive and more desirable to many users. I'm actually happy using the spring backs.

A good woodworker can make you new lens boards.

Ian

Steven Tribe
5-Jan-2013, 03:30
Nice Ross plaque!
Ross were basically a lens making company, who went into the retail selling of cameras etc. to broaden their appeal to the public as their domination of the UK market had been in decline since the 1860's. Billcliff remained an exclusive Manchester (still a boom city in England then) firm selling under their own name but supplying to others. The fact that this is a camera obviously made by made by Billcliff adds to the historic value of the "Ross" camera. Most suppliers to Ross remain anon!

r_a_feldman
5-Jan-2013, 15:32
If you are good at woodworking, you can make a reducing back that fits in place of the book-form film holder. I made one for my Japanese Okuhara half plate field camera. Pticures are in Post #9 at http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?51845-4x5-Victorian-Camera-first-results

Bob

Kierra
6-Jan-2013, 04:01
If you are good at woodworking, you can make a reducing back that fits in place of the book-form film holder. I made one for my Japanese Okuhara half plate field camera. Pticures are in Post #9 at http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?51845-4x5-Victorian-Camera-first-results

Bob

Bob, thank you!
This looks like a good solution to my problem. My patner is more than competent with woodworking (he makes guitars) and should be able to make the adapter for me.

Next matter of business is a different lens with a shutter. Any recommendations?

IanG
6-Jan-2013, 07:22
Some older British field cameras use sliding lens boards which means a lens has to fit a flange, you're lucky in that the way your lens board fits you can use any lens that'll fit.

It's up to you how modern a lens you use but a multi-coated 150mm Symmar or Sironar is inexpensive in a Copal #0 shutter, a 150mm Xenar would also be a good option - best used stopped down for overall sharpness.

Ian

Kierra
7-Jan-2013, 01:13
Some older British field cameras use sliding lens boards which means a lens has to fit a flange, you're lucky in that the way your lens board fits you can use any lens that'll fit.

It's up to you how modern a lens you use but a multi-coated 150mm Symmar or Sironar is inexpensive in a Copal #0 shutter, a 150mm Xenar would also be a good option - best used stopped down for overall sharpness.

Ian

Thank you for your recommendation, I will look into them.