Re: 5x7 Camera Project

["Paul A. Lehman" <palehman@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Brian:

Brian Reynolds wrote:
> At the recent New York City Camera Show I came upon a nice 5x7 camera
> that (after a couple of days of waffling) I had to buy.  The name
> plate on the front says it is a Criterion by Gundlach-Manhattan
> Optical Co. from Rochester, NY.

I'll check my reference book at home tonight to give you dates of
manufacture, etc. It sounds like a "field" or "rail" camera
typical of the 1890-1940. Gundlach is more known for their Korona
series of cameras. They also put out a variety of lenses with
their name on them.

> 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 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. The notch is there to hold the internal septum used to
divide the bellows. The septums were typically accordion folded
stiff cloth. Replacements are easily made out of cloth, stiff
paper or cardboard.

The extension rail is used for long lenses, or for close-ups
using short lenses, limited only by the the length of the
bellows.
 
> Does anyone have more information on this camera?  Was a 4x5 reducing
> back made for this camera? 

Wood reducing backs are very common for 5x7s. They may sell from
$50-$150 depending on the condition. For the early cameras, they
are all about the same so you do not need to get one from the
same manufacturer as the camera. accessories for 5x7s may be
coming on the market with lower prices as this film size is
becoming less popular in the US (still strong in Europe I hear).
I like the 5x7 size myself. Plenty of film types are still
available in this size.

> I'm now working on converting this to a stereo camera for contact
> printing Holmes cards.  What sort of lenses should I be looking for?

On my 5x7 I have successfully used a pair of Zeiss Tessar lenses
in Compur shutters (c1925-1930). If you want to go classic, keep
an eye out for a lenses set from an early Kodak stereo (c1910).
Another alternative might be the Mamiya TLR 80mm or 135mm lenses
that sell from $80-$125 used. Remove the lower lens with shutter
from the assembly. These are narrow enough to be spaced fairly
close together. (Maybe the upper viewing lenses could then be
used in a viewer?????)

> I figure medium format lenses probably won't cover half a 5x7 sheet,
> but 5x7 and 4x5 lenses may be too big to mount side by side on this
> camera.

Remember, if for stereo, you will only be exposing a 3.25 x 4.75
portion of the 5x7 film per lens. For Holmes cards, you could
even put up with some corner loss by using only the center of
each negative pair.

>  Barrel mounted lenses would fit, but making the exposures
> would be a pain unless I could find one of those Packard stereo
> shutters.

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

>  Of course there are always pinholes, which I will probably
> do first anyway.

There is a local photographer named Tom Harding (now in his 80s)
who does pinhole photography with a 5x7 Korona then prints them
in platinum. He sells each for ~$2000 per print.

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.

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

More info to come tomorrow.

Paul A. Lehman