a question for the folks with Century studio cameras

[Rick L]

I just picked up a 9A and stand this weekend - overall - its in great shape with a really nice lens

It came with the sliding (split?) back and an 8x10 and a 5x7 reducing back -

and I have a couple questions about the sliding back, some previous owner stuck a couple wood screws in the top of the frame to keep it from moving too far.

it looks to me that there is a piece broken off the brass part in the middle - (picture below) it seems to be missing a section that would mate up with the various slots in the back to position it.

can anyone share a clear picture of the part (assuming I am right) with a length- or does anyone have a spare of the part off a broken back?

also there are two swivel latches (also pictured) in the middle top and bottom - what are they for? I can only guess some kind of divider when taking two images on one sheet.again - any image and measurements?

[badler]

Could you post a picture of the whole back? I have a sliding 1/2 plate back that takes century 5x7 cassettes. I think it is similar. The swivel latches are for masks that could be for partial exposures. The best source I have found is a Tom Lazarus from Akron. He posts here occasionally and is on FB. He can advise you on just about all things Century Studio Camera.

[Rick L]

i will get a picture tomorrow -

but I did find this close up of the brass catch on an eBay listing for a 9A -





so now I know what that should look like - as I expected mine is broken, missing the curved part - no to extrapolate the length and make a replacement

[badler]

I am sorry I can’t help you. Mine is a different sliding back. I would check with Tom L. He is certain to have some advice.

[Tin Can]

I don't have a Century, but I may have a sliding back for one which was made to make many tiny pics by sliding a couple combinations on 5X7 film

I had my hands on it last month

It may take awhile to find

I know the curved hook is very common on sliders I use, even into the 1950's on B&J backs

[Rick L]

here is a picture of the sliding back on my 9A - you can see the square rabbit for the insert - and the small brass swivel latch top and bottom



I found these on eBay

its the right size and has a half circle cut out for the swivel - not sure how those "wings" fit into a back

the only Lazarus I see in the member list hasn't posted in a while

I got a 8x10 and a 5x7 reducing back with the camera, so the need to do two on a single sheet is limited

[Peter De Smidt]

[erie patsellis]

The term for the masks is “splitter”.

[Rick L]

thanks - perfect - much better picture than the ebay one - so the curved piece is for a finger and there is a pin to mate in the slot- very easy to copy

[Tin Can]

Maybe you want to make many 35mm negs on 5X7 film on a Century

I bought this for peanuts some years ago, just to see it

My crime is I HAD a Century camera before, but no back, so I sold it.

It slides both X/Y to cover the film, year books?

1 by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr

2 by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr

3 by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr