I've been doing some minor repairs on the c.1885 Watson tailboard I bought earlier, intending to use it soon. I have two holders for it. These are the wooden book style for half plate glass. Instead of sliding straight down into the camera back, they have sort of notches on the left side and go in by inserting that edge first, then swinging the rest of the holder into place and then sliding it down a few inches. I'm finding these old holders are harder to put 4x5 sheet film in than I first thought. Here's what I'm thinking of doing. Couldn't I take one of the holders to a woodworker who specializes in antiques/restoration and have him fabricate a wooden adapter with outside dimensions exactly like my half plate holders, and make it so I can simply use modern 4x5 holders in it? A modern holder looks like it would easily fit into those dimensions. That would make the camera much easier to use, and the results should be better rather than trying to force a sheet of 4x5 to behave in an old dry plate holder. Anyone ever done anything like this? And no, I'm not a purist.
Kent in SD
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