Re: B&J Rembrandt 5X7 & 8X10
The medium-dark wood stain was the standard factory finish on the many Rembrandt 5x7s I've seen, and it looks good on them, so I'd go with that. The battleship-grey was a semi-popular fad after WWII, mostly, I suspect, because there was so much of the paint available cheap as war surplus. It's full of lead, so be careful while refinishing!
Re: B&J Rembrandt 5X7 & 8X10
Per some former folks in management the Gray was because the wood was often not matched in grain and the gray paint covered it well.
At times more than on wood species was used in a camera - something covered by paint.
Strip all the paint and re finish to show the woods beauty.
Re: B&J Rembrandt 5X7 & 8X10
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Willie
Per some former folks in management the Gray was because the wood was often not matched in grain and the gray paint covered it well.
At times more than on wood species was used in a camera - something covered by paint.
Had to be to hide the wood and grain. Have restored 3 B&J Rembrandt cameras over the years. On two of them the same wood was used and the grain very much matched. On the 3rd, not only did the grain not match the previous two but two different species of wood used. Gray paint had to be to hide the wood and its grain. On all three after stripping the paint off I stained them with almost clear stain. To be honest the one with the 2 different species of wood actually looked great after staining it.
Re: B&J Rembrandt 5X7 & 8X10
All good info guys, thanks!
The bare wood stripped by somebody prior, is dense, fine straight grain but hard to drill, screws don't hold well second use
for now I will stain the bare wood, not strip anything more, and get all new screws
Interesting that both cameras use the same gears and rack on identical dimensions, mix and match
Anything from B&J Chicago seems very efficiently made, post World War II
The monorail B&J also used the same metal parts
Does anybody know if OE 8X10 Rembrandt had rear swing like the 5X7 does? This 8X10 is locked down with screws
Conversion will be easy with Grover parts, or using a Mill to cut slots, it does have rear rise and tilts
Re: B&J Rembrandt 5X7 & 8X10
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Tin Can
Does anybody know if OE 8X10 Rembrandt had rear swing like the 5X7 does? This 8X10 is locked down with screws
Per my 1962 B&J catalogue, the 8x10 Rembrandt back adjustments included rise, fall, swing, and tilt. (catalogue actually says "swing or tilt" which I think is a typo. Over the years have found many typos in my collection of B&J catalogues). As I remember my 8x10 Rembrandt had the exact same back as my first 8x10 - B&J Commercial View.
Re: B&J Rembrandt 5X7 & 8X10
Thanks Greg, I suspected the swing was disabled, the camera seemed a Bitza, the price was right, only 2 bidders, I beat the other guy by $5, and got a great value
I will fix it
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Greg
Per my 1962 B&J catalogue, the 8x10 Rembrandt back adjustments included rise, fall, swing, and tilt. (catalogue actually says "swing or tilt" which I think is a typo. Over the years have found many typos in my collection of B&J catalogues). As I remember my 8x10 Rembrandt had the exact same back as my first 8x10 - B&J Commercial View.