Camera Talk

Ok, try this again...

For a long while I’ve been pondering a project. After a lot of internal debate and a fair bit of gear sell-off, I pulled the trigger. An excruciatingly long wait ensued but the mail lady dropped this off a few days ago:


Generated from my Apple iPhone using tools.rackonly.com


Generated from my Apple iPhone using tools.rackonly.com

A Seneca Improved View 8x10, appears to be variant 4. The camera is in pretty good shape - wood seems sound, finish is good. Metalwork is tarnished but should clean up well. Lensboard retainers are missing but I have some ideas for that. Needs a new ground glass, easy enough. The back is a little odd, at some point the Seneca back was grafted onto a Korona back. I could split the two, but I’m a little worried about what I might find. I think a little minor surgery is advised in order to hone the fit as is. Bellows are ugly as dirt and a little short but they’re sound and will work for now.

Also included were five wooden holders. All need a little TLC, one has 5x7 inserts I need to remove somehow, one is missing one end flap, which should be easy enough to mill a replacement.

I’m stoked. And I’d forgotten how big these things are. Too used to 4x5...

Scott

What a beauty Scott! Nice catch! Please keep us posted with the progress

Man, I hope she didn't hurt herself. Been a long time since I've seen a grey bellows like that, good thing it's in proper shape. I'm sure you can whip the rest of it back into working order.

PF

So PF, do you know where this bellows came from? Obviously a replacement but doesn’t seem home brew. I’m tempted to douse the thing in India ink...

I have no idea, Scott. It had to be around thirty years ago when I saw it. It was either in an antique store, or camera shop. I remember thinking I had a suit in the closet at home that looked like the same material.

PF