13x18 FKD Reisekamera

[Ash]

Arrived home from work and this was waiting for me. I had a feeling it may turn up today...




Since it's got too dark to take my own, this is one of the seller's images:





Not sure if I'll keep the lens and shutter. I don't really need either, and they are heavy - watch out they may end up in the classifieds! As for the camera it's in pretty good condition but I should have checked the seller images more closely; there are missing knobs and screws all over the place.


This weekend I hope to do as much as possible to get it working for me:

-Modify the original back to standard 5x7 holders
--add a U-shape of wood
--shape the wood for the steel spring edges
--cut the groove for the holder to lock into

-Find/buy knobs, bolts and screws to complete the camera

-Build a lensboard adapter from Contessa Nettel to FKD.

-Test!



Not sure how much I will do, but I hope it'll be done sharpish.

[Ash]

So far tonight I've pulled out loads of excess bits from the back, it's ready for a butchering.

Lensboards on the Contessa are as tall as the FKD ones, but 1/3 the width. This means I can keep the lenses as is, and am planning on making stoppers panels for either side. That way they'll cut out the light and lock the board in the center without needing a whole adapter plate. That's the plan anyway.

The board with the little Dagor lens will sit fine. Annoyingly I need to trim down the excess length I'd left on the Ernon's board before it will fit.

There are a lot of pinholes in the corners of the bellows, but it's only a problem at full extension - when the bed is doubled in length from the picture above. Currently I should be ok, but may take some paint to the inside to sort it out.

[Ash]

With a new hacksaw this was so much easier than previous projects.

I bought a M4 x 16mm bolt for the missing knob on one side of the rear tilt, and some pine stripwood to use in the back. The spare B&J back was the 'good' back from the Goerz mod; the Goerz now has the glassless back with moldy focus hood.

On the back I did as I planned and glued down 3 strips of wood, one on the bottom and one either side. Then I realised that they didn't come long enough at the entry point so stuck a piece either side to aid the insertion of a film holder.

At the front I carved down the Contessa lensboard slightly (it was too long anyway) and made spacer panels for both sides. These then have a stripwood block along them to form a light trap against the raised bit of wood the Copal 3s is sat on. I noticed a tiny bit of light leaking through on one edge even after painting the rear black. Will see how it goes. This lens will probably live on the camera, in which case I'll make a better board adapter or just fit it to a full sized board.

[Ash]

[Steven Tribe]

Nice to see a "Russi" close up. Is this Beechwood, I see?

[Ash]

Your guess is as good as mine Steven. It must have been beautiful brand new.

[Ash]

Two quick test shots. Ernon 180/3.5 at 1/125 f/8

[George E. Sheils]

Wow.

Congratulations on the great results from your work on getting this fine camera going again.

Well done !

[bolas]

Since few days i'm a happy owner of this russian wooden camera I have no idea if it is FK or FKD, but it is 13x18 cm format. Lens are quite eary model of Industar-4 (4,5/210) made in GOMZ, serial number 3567.Unfortunatelly the nameplate on front of camera is missing. Is there any chance to get the year of production ?

Few pics:
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/827/fkd13x1812.jpg
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/4112/fkd13x1805.jpg
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/5171/fkd13x1808.jpg

[Ash]

Yours looks like a much nicer version of mine. No idea on production I'm afraid!