Thrashing on a beautiful F&S 7x17

My new (1924) Folmer & Schwing 7x17 camera came in the mail yesterday. The first thing I noticed was that the GG frame was mounted to the back inside out. When I took off the frame, I then noted that there is no rib groove for the holder. Also the holder area is stained wood and not black paint.
A recent post suggested modifying the camera and not the film holders, and I have 5 holders vs this one camera, so the camera "lost". Today I routed out a 3/32 x 1/4 in. groove for the S&S holders.
This camera is gorgeous, so taking a router to it caused me a little pang, but away I went. The photos document the set-up with the home-made jig, the finished groove before painting, and the painted back before re-assembly.
Testing the finished result shows a nice light-tight fit between camera and holder(s).
Perhaps the wonderful shape of this camera is the result of a backwards GG and inability to accept a holder. Whatever it was, it's functional now, and I aim to use the h--- out of it.
I often wondered how you guys use a router to do this. I used a crank-necked gouge on my 5x12 back. Your way seems more accurate somehow...

You're braver than I. Nice work.
 

Media information

Category
Technical Gallery
Added by
Deckled Edge
Date added
View count
549
Comment count
1
Rating
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Image metadata

Device
NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D50
Aperture
ƒ/4
Focal length
31.0 mm
Exposure time
1/200 second(s)
Filename
setup_1.jpg
File size
120.6 KB
Date taken
Sat, 19 January 2008 4:50 PM
Dimensions
499px x 398px

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