Graflok back on half plate Instantograph

Great, thanks Ian that might be useful.

I eventually found two 5x7 film holders on Ebay USA and have them on the way, one is a Fidelity Deluxe and the other is a wooden version that looks pretty much the same. Both are from the same chap and hopefully the same dimensions. The are supposed to be but you know Ebay sellers can be a a bit economical with the truth.

I was disappointed to have to go to the USA with associated import costs but nothing was available here or in the EU. If i had been a bit less impatient something would have turned up eventually.

With your measurements and from my film holders I might be able to make a back that fits a few sizes but that will depend on how the T distances vary. I suspect that might not be possible.

The other problem might be whether the Instantograph has enough free space to expose a full 5x7 area, I can check that when the film holders arrive.

Nick
 
The 7x5 holders are 150mm wide, that's the only critical measurement.

When I began using LF (1976/7) Half plate and Whole plate films were just discontinued by Ilford here in the UK, I had a De Vere monorail with Whole plate, Half plate, and a 5x4 back. No 7x5 film was available and nor were plate or film holders, that really only changed quite recently, 20 years or less. As a consequence there's almost no second hand 7x5 film holders available here in the UK.

I bought quite a few 7x5 film holders from the US at a very good price on advertised for sale another Forum 3 or 4 years ago. I think the new price here in the UK was £75 a pair a year or so before that, I bought a mint pair from an Irish photographer for Half price and he loaded them with FP4+ so I could test them :D

Shooting 7x5 film in a half plate camera (if possible) is a lot easier than cutting film down or the more expensive Ilford ULF yearly option, just make sure the iner edges of the camera where the plate/film holders fit s is a good matt black finish.

Yesterday while tidying & sorting I found an Instantograph back (Quarter plate) it has the two bits that hold the GG screen in place missing from my Tail board quarter plate camera, so now I don't have to make new bits. The quarter plate Instantograph I have (well just a few parts left) uses a smaller than normal tripod thread.

Ian
 
Aaah, that explains why I struggled to find some. Ok 150mm, I'll measure the rear standard tomorrow and see how that shapes up. With luck I might be able to use the existing half plate back for dual use but I doubt it, anyway making a new back and GG shouldn't be a major problem

Availability of half plate film is very reason I want 7x5, I have to cut down film to fit my half plate holders. I'm not bothering with the Ilford yearly option as the extra cost really doesn't do it for me. Half plate is fine for self coated plates but not for ready made media.

My half plate Instantograph uses a 1/4" standard thread which surprised me a bit since it was made in 1892. I expected it to be 3/8" or a proprietary attachment method.

Nick
 
Some of my wood and brass cameras use 3/8" tripod threads, others use 1/4" while others have bras rings to attach tripod legs. What surprised me was even my 18x24 German Reisekamera uses a standard tripod thread. The McKellen camera I'm restoring is unusual as it took the brass tripod ring (centre part's missing) and has a tripod socket.

The advantage of the brass ring method is the camera can be folded up with a lens and also shutter attached, (except the McKellen). I have some sets of wooden tripod legs and set a set up on Thursday expecting the tripod to be less stable than a modern tripod. I was surprised that despite flex in the legs the system was very good and quite rigid.

1710

Actually the camera shown is just sat on the ring and only has a tripod socket, but was it still stable.

Often when you acquire thse cameras you find the screen has been marked usually in pencil or smaller format plates/film as well. One of my 12x10 plate holders came with inserts for 10x8 plates, and one or two of the film holders for myhalf plate Kodak Specialist 2 camera have been adapter to take 5x4. Kodak themselves sold Half plate holders that tookI think Quarter plate. So I'm happy to shoot 5x4 with a Half plate camera.

Ian
 
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Like Ian, I've found the individual clip-on legs are much more stable than expected, except on a smooth floor, where they simply glide outwards. If you look at old pictures of camera club outings and suchlike, it seems to have been the custom to spread the legs much more widely than the approximately 22° we see today. Perhaps it was the easiest way to adjust the camera height.
 
I don't have a camera with the brass ring system but have an old wooden tripod with a 1/4" screw head. The legs are not restrained and slip sideways on anything smooth. I plan to make up a small central ring with three chains (like bath plug chain) going to each leg from it, I just need to get my head round making it adjustable.

My Instantograph folds very nicely with the standard lens attached, but it is a small lens though, only 47mm diameter. I don't have a shutter for it though.

Nick

1711
 
There's always exceptions, my quarter plate Houghton Victo is similar, however the Whole plate Victo has the tripos ring. I have an early wooden tripod with a 3/8" screw that came with my £30 Half plate Gandolfi but it was broken, I've grafted in fresh wood and repaired it but it's been sat waiting painting a couple of years. Like yours the legs aren't restrained.

I bought 4 sets of tripod legs a few years ago at a camera fair, the seller had brought them especially for me, I also found some tripod rings. The tripod legs have quite sharp points and would damage a wooden floor but be OK on carpets etc, and fine outside.

I have boxes of shutters Nick :D

Ian
 
I'll have to go to a camera fair sometime, we don't seem to have them down here so I rely on Antique shops and Ebay, rarely a bargain. We go to our son's near Tamworth reasonably often, so might try the Birmingham fair sometime.

I do need to get a shutter as I'm limited to longer than 1sec exposures on that camera. I have a modern Shen Hao and use that with an old compur shutter Anastigmat.

I really ought to get that tripod restored as an antique camera on a modern Manfrotto isn't quite in keeping :)

Nick
 
Camera makers did supply an adapter with a central tripod thread, that clipped inside the brass turntable ring. You might be able to find one.
To make the chains adjustable, you simply need to connect three chains to a central ring and put hooks on each leg. Then simply choose which link you fit over the hook. Obviously, the shape of the hook needs consideration.
 
The next Wolverhampton Camera Fair is the 28th September.

David M said:
Camera makers did supply an adapter with a central tripod thread, that clipped inside the brass turntable ring. You might be able to find one.
To make the chains adjustable, you simply need to connect three chains to a central ring and put hooks on each leg. Then simply choose which link you fit over the hook. Obviously, the shape of the hook needs consideration.
Click to expand...

I have a couple of those adapters and while neither fits any of my cameras they give me the pattern to make my own. Both need to be partially taken apart for fitting so they don't clip in and out, some thought's needed to make one's that will clip in and out. These old cameras don't sit well (flat) on shelves because of the focus thumb wheels and/or the thumb screws on the brass tripod rings, so a clip in/out adapter would resolve this

The other thing that's useful is a tilting block between an early tripod and the camera, these are easy to make mine came in a box of old cameras and oddments (can't find a photo). Early tripods usually have no tilt mechanism.

Ian
 
1777109378321.png

This ring was in a job lot box, and I I'd given it no thought. Then I bought some tripod legs cheap on eBay, and was surprised how narrowly they opened at the top.

Then I realised the legs paired with the tripod ring.

1777109877406.png

I still need a front standard for my Instantograph.

Ian
 
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