Re: 5x7 Camera Project

[Brian Reynolds <reynolds@xxxxxxxxx>]

Paul wrote:
> Brian Reynolds wrote:
> > snip... The
> > bottom of the camera and extension bed are marked 23.  The lens board
> > opening is about 130mm by 85mm.
> 
> The numbers on the parts were for the factory assembler to insure
> the correct rail was matched to the correct body. If it has a
> true serial number it will be stamped on the inside back
> (typically), usually in the black paint (which makes it even
> harder to find and read.
> 

The inside of the ground glass holder has a 89 (or 68 depending on how
you hold it).  The inside of the camera itself doesn't appear to have
any markings.

> The lens board size suggests it may have been originally designed
> for stereo. To confirm this, look on the lens board body frame of
> the camera in front, and on the frame in back, if there is an
> appx. 1/4 inch wide notch, top and bottom, then this is a stereo
> camera.
> 

When I saw the shape of the lensboard the first thing I looked for
were notches to fit a septum.  There are no notches on this camera.
Perhaps they stopped notching the camera after Holmes cards went out
of fashion.

> Single lens Packards are very common, stereo Packards are very
> hard to find. (IMHO)
> 

Single lens Packard shutters are still manufactured.

> BTW, I have made very functional lensboards using two sheets of
> Bass wood. A 1/8 inch full size face piece sandwiched (glued) to
> a 1/4 in sheet on the inside to fit the inner frame. I have a
> "door-knob" drill bit set bought eons ago that has different
> sizes of hole blades. Cut the hole(s), sand, stain, varnish, and
> it will look as good as new.
> 

My camera seem to take a 1/4 inch faceplate backed by an 1/8 inch
light trap.  A 3/8 inch lensboard with an 1/8 inch rabbet might be the
easiest solution.

> I've enjoyed my 5x7 and usually contact full frame prints.
> 

Several of my friends hold Victorian dances (in period costume).  I've
been thinking of getting a 5x7 lens and offering to do portraits
on-site.  It would be fun to do stereo cards, but I don't think I'd be
able to do it all on-site.

> More info to come tomorrow.
> 

Thanks.

By the way, I now have a temporary web page at
<URL:http://www.panix.com/5x7.html> with a pair of pictures showing
the front and back of the camera.  The quality is pretty bad because I
used very old color Polaroid film.

-- 
Brian Reynolds                  | "Humans explore the Universe with five
reynolds@xxxxxxxxx              |   senses and call the adventure science."
http://www.panix.com/~reynolds/ | - Edwin P. Hubble