Hi Scott:
I interesting project. I did the same several years back by buying one from Japan. This may sound a bit morbid. But I was so amazed by the workmanship they did on the camera and holding it I would get a sense of how part of the soul of the craftmen lived on through it although they were all long dead I am sure.
Anyways I got my wordworking buddy to adapt a 4x5 wood back and a back from a graflex camera. I was making a 5x7 back but haven't attempted that yet. I did not refinish the camera as I figured it would be too time consuming and a hassle. I made it to take pictures. However, I sure would like to have it nicely finished like you. It came with the tripod mount. I also bought a full plate camera that I did adapt to 5x7. Just to warn you, the bellows on my camera was shot, so I made my own bellows but it has a tendency to fold backwards a bit. I couldn't figure out why but then I realized that the original bellows was very thin and mine was thicker. You have to have a very thin bellows with this camera using thin material in order for it to work properly. The 5x7 folded fine but it is a bigger camera.
Darcy
Thanks, Darcy. I wonder about the workmen as well.
I'm pretty confident that the bellows will be fine on this. In the meantime, I just stare at the nekkid camera, imagining the bright red bellows on it.
I'm liking these tiny, simple little lensboards. Just knocked out a half dozen in the same aged cherry. Will mount my 121/8 SA today, then I'll have five blanks for Petzvals and future purchases. Nice.
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