Looks awesome, Randy! Great job!
Looks awesome, Randy! Great job!
For comparison, I checked the weights of commercially available 16x20s and found Richard Ritter lists his at 17lbs and Chamonix is 26.6lbs (12.1kg). Canham does not list a 16x20, but does list a horizontal 12x20 at 16.8lbs. Currently, my build is 15lbs 4oz before adding the hardware. I think mine will come in around 16-17lbs, so still in the "lighter-weight" category, similar to Richard's.
Michael, nice job. I've been following the build.I can't remember if you have a long lens that required the long bellows? I remember when I built my 21LB. 14x17 I determined my longest lens and added four inches of additional bellow. I kept the bellows weight down by doing this. Keith knows what he is doing when it comes to bellows. I always forget to ask for the tabs and he always sends them later. The camera is looking great I can't wait to see it finished. I recently picked up my friend's Phillips 8x10 Explorer which is only 5.9 lbs! A lightweight ULF camera is a joy to use. Even my 21 lb 14x17 is easy to set up. I love it.
Thanks, Jim. This one is not for me, it’s for a friend. I’m glad you are still enjoying your latest 14x17 creation. It’s a great feeling to dream up a camera and then turn the dream into reality!
Sorry I missed seeing you when you were here a few weeks ago, but I’m sure we’ll catch up and get to compare cameras at some point. Apparently, you made a couple more carbon print converts while you were here and did an outstanding job with your workshop. Keep up the good work!
Little bit of progress yesterday after my root canal....
I mounted the big bellows on the rear frame--contact cement all the way around. Still need to trim the excess fabric.
Glued the spring anchors to the ground glass frame.
Marked off the leather handle outline on a belt blank I purchased from Tandy Leather.
Forecast for tomorrow is wind gusts up to 100mph, so it will be a good day to stay inside and get some work done!
Last edited by Michael Roberts; 5-Apr-2024 at 18:13.
A little more progress today. I taped off almost 1" of the inside of the rear camera frame and painted it flat black, then I chopped 1/8" x 1/8" basswood sticks, painted them, and glued them into the rear camera frame to serve as a light trap for the rear bellows frame. I set these into place a tad more than 3/4" to allow for the 1/2" bellows frame plus the 1/4" light trap on the inside of the spring back. This will also make it easy (in theory) to drop in the bellows and hold it in place while I screw in the bellows frame to the camera frame. But first...
I need to attach the carrying handle to the top of the rear camera frame, and to do that...
I needed to fabricate the leather carrying handle and a couple of brass handle brackets.
The brackets need filing, polishing, and holes drilled for screws to securely attach them to the camera. Things to do tomorrow....
My huge Deardorff needed 3 sets of bellows
I made three new frames
Turner made exact copies of fabric and folds
No glue, tiny nails just like 1920's
Then they went out business 10 years ago
Tin Can
Yes, I remember the Turner Bellows Company. I was one of their customers also. As well as Western Bellows. I love vintage cameras and equipment. It is a shame how much craftsmanship has been lost in the march of Progress….
Okay, I am officially a geezer….
One of the last bellows that Western Bellows made was for my 8x20. It took him quite a while to get it done. I went to his house to pick it up. He was a retired guy and his house had rooms full of bellows templates for different camera bellows. He gave it up because he was going to have to buy a huge roll of fabric to continue. Looking back I wish I would have picked his brain a little more. I'm sure he would have given me everything if I wanted to take over. I'm glad I didn't because I'm a photographer and I'll leave the bellows to Custom Bellows. I can't wait to see the finished beauty.
Progress yesterday, got the lens board frame and the film holder surround covered in adhesive felt. I tape the areas off that I want to protect and lay down a coat of contact cement before applying the adhesive-backed felt. My experience is the adhesive that comes on the felt does not stick well enough to wood to last.
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