At least some TN Deardorffs had aluminum knobs. The bottom plates on the Chicago Deardorffs were inscribed “Photographic Equipment” in the bottom of the circle; the TN Deardorffs were marked “View Cameras.”
You could write Ken Hough at: k4sb@frontier.com He’s very helpful.
Keith Pitman
Keith, It's pretty well documented that old parts were used until gone. The knobs and hardware are stainless, so I think that alone takes it out of the Chicago realm. The stenciling on the nameplate is reminiscent of TN cameras, not Chicago. The last two Deardorffs I bought new in 1987 both had aluminum knobs and plated hardware. Both were within the last 50 cameras that Deardorff made, bought new at Central Camera in Chicago. The baseplate on this camera says: Photographic Equipment. Not all TN camera baseplates were marked View Cameras. I have photos of 4 different TN Dorffs and two (7000 Serial #'s) say Photographic Equipment, while one (803x serial #'s) says View Camera. The most recent one one ( 809x Serial #) has a plain baseplate, but I believe that one may have been assembled in Boston, MA.
Ebony Wide
Linhof color
Just ran across these early publicity photos...a bit gaudy! Have not shared this in awhile...the Layton L-1, my DIY precursor to the L-45A. Design patent issued in 2002. Wood/Resin laminate, specs out very close to the later metal version, but this early version is a bit heavy...just over 9lbs (vs. appx. 7lbs. for the L-45A):
But I knew that I'd ultimately need to go to metal with the L-45A (plated 6061/7075 aluminum). Lighter, sleeker, sturdier, more precise...plus it allowed me to do stuff like this:
Edit: Ha! I'd almost forgotten...the quick and dirty duct-tape focussing hood - about the only thing I could use in the constant, near hurricane force winds on the Summit of Mt. Washington (NH) in winter!
Another Edit: Interesting footnote about those high winds...the camera's curvy design allows it to be very "slippery" and thus quite stable in high winds. And the bellows are actually thin enough that they basically are free to vibrate about, without vibrating the camera.
John
will you show the summit images you made
Tin Can
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