Building a back for an 8x10 Mahogany Ebony Camera

[Jim Fitzgerald]

I have been asked by a friend of mine who recently purchased a Mahogany 8x10 Ebony camera that was missing the back. I've built several backs before and this will be a nice challenge. My question is to the group is this. Could someone with an 8x10 Ebony take some pictures for me showing how the springs attach to the ground glass frame. I am familiar with the traditional shackles that Deardorff uses and Kodak but from the pictures I've seen I can't tell how Hiromi does his on the Ebony.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I wish this camera was mine as it is beautiful. It will be a joy to work on it.

Thanks.

[Eric Leppanen]

Hopefully someone can come up with something better but here are some of my auction site photos when I sold my SV810U years ago....

[Eric Leppanen]

And here is a page from the Ebony 8x10 user guide....

[Jim Fitzgerald]

Eric, thanks very much. Anything is helpful and this helps.

[pepeguitarra]

Here is some ebony videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCnPIz0aLog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A56T3xmPkqA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uwy5l7JQXPQ&t=246s

[Jim Fitzgerald]

Thanks for the videos. They are nice but I need someone who owns a camera to take some detail pictures for me of how the springs attach to the ground glass frame. I should say what the springs slide on which are attached to the ground glass frame. Four clips? of some kind. Thanks.

[Keith Pitman]

Jim,

Hope these pix help.

There are two flat springs: the upper one is short and the lower one is longer with right angle parts soldered (?) to each end. One of the right angle parts is short and simply anchors that end of the spring to the GG holder. The right angle part on the other end is longer and has a slot that allows the GG holder to lift. Both ends of the long spring are secured to the GG holder by wood screws with washers under the heads.

Both of the right angle components on the ends of the larger spring fit into mortices in the camera back.

Both springs are secured one over the other with two machine screws. I did not notice, but I presume the machine screws are screwed into threaded inserts.

Let me know if I can clarify this or provide other information.

[Jim Fitzgerald]

Jim,

Hope these pix help.

There are two flat springs: the upper one is short and the lower one is longer with right angle parts soldered (?) to each end. One of the right angle parts is short and simply anchors that end of the spring to the GG holder. The right angle part on the other end is longer and has a slot that allows the GG holder to lift. Both ends of the long spring are secured to the GG holder by wood screws with washers under the heads.

Both of the right angle components on the ends of the larger spring fit into mortices in the camera back.

Both springs are secured one over the other with two machine screws. I did not notice, but I presume the machine screws are screwed into threaded inserts.

Let me know if I can clarify this or provide other information.

Keith, very kind of you to post these pictures. It is just what I need. Thanks for taking the time to do what you did as it is greatly appreciated. A very unique way of attaching the springs.