I've a few Baco 4x5 film holders---very well made, high quality stuff!
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I've a few Baco 4x5 film holders---very well made, high quality stuff!
The Ries Tripod Company until recently was located on Bainbridge Island, WA. They recently moved to Bremerton, about 40 miles from Tacoma. I needed a part for my Ries Tripod head, so it finally gave me an excuse to visit their plant. Very interesting tour! Although my Ries dated to the early or mid 1940s, they were able to supply a repair part at a fair price and repair it while I waited.. Anyhow, back to Baco. Ries told me they own the rights to at least the 4x5 Baco cameras.
Bob.
I used a New Vue for a year or two. Like a few other cameras of that era it used screw focusing and had a revolving back. Movements were limited only by the quite stiff bellows. Another advantage of the New Vue and many other cameras of that time was the use of an ubiquitous 4 inch lens board. The extension rods for New Vue cameras are often missing. Some of the other similar cameras had built-in extensions. Someone who already has one of this class of cameras might well be satisfied with it. Anyone shopping for an inexpensive view camera should also consider the elegant Graphic View, the slightly more functional Graphic View II, the Kodak Master View or its offspring, the Calumet CC 400, or B&H monorail or more transportable flatbed cameras. They may cost little more than a New Vue or Baco.
Baco also made a head which tilts on two planes. I have one as well as a clam shell and rarely use any other head. I bought the clam shell from Cole Weston new for $5.
Baco was acquired by the Ries tripod company in 1976. The Baco head became the basis for the later Ries tilt heads. Ries went beyond Baco's head with the 2 way tilt. Ries still owns the rights to the Baco product line.
Any photo of the Baco 4x5 Press-veiw camera
Dave