Burke & James 5x7 Project Cam - Progress...

[scott]

I looked it up: I bought it online from Mountain Glass in Asheville. In 2020! (man, time gets faster and faster.)

That looks great! Let's see some results...

Robert

Looked at the page. Ouch…

Started in on the bellows patching. I’ve never had luck with liquid electric tape as a patch but this seems to be holding. However, the bellows is a sieve. Holes are tiny, but a bunch of them. Might be able to make them passable for now, using the entire can of liquid. But they need to be replaced. Started looking at materials ($$$), but with the exponential progression in manufacturing quality and general proliferation of Chinese-made bellows available on eBay, it doesn’t make sense for me to make them. Will see how long I can keep the old ones going for now though…

[Brazile]

Looked at the page. Ouch…

Yeah, I didn't need much, and it was a lot cheaper five years ago!

Started in on the bellows patching. I’ve never had luck with liquid electric tape as a patch but this seems to be holding. However, the bellows is a sieve. Holes are tiny, but a bunch of them. Might be able to make them passable for now, using the entire can of liquid. But they need to be replaced. Started looking at materials ($$$), but with the exponential progression in manufacturing quality and general proliferation of Chinese-made bellows available on eBay, it doesn’t make sense for me to make them. Will see how long I can keep the old ones going for now though…

I went the eBay Chinese (seller ecbuyonline? something like that) route for my Seneca 5x7, whose bellows were in the same shape as yours, and was completely satisfied with the results, FWIW. Worked great and have held up well.

Robert

[scott]

Looked at the page. Ouch…

Yeah, I didn't need much, and it was a lot cheaper five years ago!

Started in on the bellows patching. I’ve never had luck with liquid electric tape as a patch but this seems to be holding. However, the bellows is a sieve. Holes are tiny, but a bunch of them. Might be able to make them passable for now, using the entire can of liquid. But they need to be replaced. Started looking at materials ($$$), but with the exponential progression in manufacturing quality and general proliferation of Chinese-made bellows available on eBay, it doesn’t make sense for me to make them. Will see how long I can keep the old ones going for now though…

I went the eBay Chinese (seller ecbuyonline? something like that) route for my Seneca 5x7, whose bellows were in the same shape as yours, and was completely satisfied with the results, FWIW. Worked great and have held up well.

Robert

Iv’e dealt with him before (though he is probably a bunch of people now). Was great to work with. Good to hear your experience. There’s some dude on there now, with discount and giving me a private offer, is like $89 shipped. Done.

[scott]

And speaking of eBay... Negotiated a price on some old old wooden holders. Look pretty good. Old Eastman-style holders, which I actually prefer. Seller says they're good; will be here Wednesday, so I'll see what I see then. Was hoping to break this sucker in this weekend, but...



Still waiting to hear back on the custom bellows.

[Brazile]

Are those film-only or plate holders with film inserts?

Need to get you to try plates one of these days. I'm helping to teach a workshop in making them next month, so I'm deep down the rabbit hole at the moment getting ready.

Robert

[scott]

They look to be film only. Do t know that I will ever again have the time, patience, or focus to try plates. Have always been impressed with your attack on that front.

[Brazile]

Hey, I've already done all the work of figuring out how even a doofus like me can do it, should be no problem for you, especially if I can tell you what's what. Seriously, it's no harder than homebrew, which you're good at (I've done a bit of cider-making only).

If you do find yourself with a plate holder, let me know and I can set you up with some plates to try. It's really not that difficult, I just made it harder for myself in various ways, and made it look worse to the outside world by sharing all my mistakes. Now it's getting to be second nature. I've made and shot a bunch of plates getting ready for this workshop, and it's all going smoothly now.

It's very nice not to be tied to film availability and price, especially in less common sizes. If you have a holder, you can make a plate for it, as I have now done ranging from 2x3 up to 11x14. That said, I keep meaning to refurbish the whole plate camera I have (which I may have got from you? it was a while back) as that size seems like it might be a sweet spot for me.

Robert

[scott]

Yeah, I’ll have to look. I may have an 8x10 plate holder somewhere. Appreciate the offer, you’re killing me.

The holders came in. They’re old Gundlach wooden holders. In incredible condition. One needed to be glued in one corner (clamped now), but other than some wax on the slides and new tape, they seem perfect. Will have to test the light traps, but they’re elegant and very light. We’ll see.

[Brazile]

Excellent. I've been happy with my old wooden holders (have them in 4x5, 5x7, 8x10, and 11x14). They usually need regluing in the corners, as with yours, but I enjoy using them. Plus a bunch of them are actually plate holders with the film inserts, so work either way...

[Julio1fer]

Very impressive project!