1931-35 KW Patent-Etui 9 x 12 Plate Camera

[Matt Hall]

I recently got a 1931-35 KW Patent-Etui 9x12 glass plate camera. It has the focusing screen but had no plate holder. I purchased one recently but when it arrived I noticed that is has no pressure plate to keep the glass flush against the focal plane. I also noticed that the opening for exposure when the dark slide is removed is 86mm x 121mm. Isn't the glass plate 90mm x 120mm? That means that the hole is longer than the plate. Anybody know what is going on? I have included 4 photos to illustrate the issue.
Thanks, Matt

 

[Two23]

I have a 9x12cm Patent Etui with original holders in a billfold, and the original box. Does the back of the holders have "KW" embossed in it? My holders also seem to be 121mm.


Kent in SD

 

[Dwight Anderson]

That looks like a pack film adapter, is there a slot on top in the back half?

A glass plate holder usually loads from the front, with some type of spring at the bottom to hold it in place.

 

[bdial]

Dwight is correct, it's a film pack adaptor.

 

[Nodda Duma]

Yeah that’s a film pack adapter. You’d want to try and find a plate holder for the camera.

 

[Matt Hall]

Any way I can adapt it to accept a glass plate? What are the exact dimensions of the 9x12 plate. Is it the 90mm x 120mm or is that the dimension of the exposed part of the plate?

 

[Nodda Duma]

The 9x12 dry plates I make are 88x119. You could adopt it for dry plates by incorporating a spring back to keep the plate in position (think cut up and folded strip of the side of a milk jug) and epoxying in some lips to prevent the plate from shifting around.

 

[Matt Hall]

I have already plugged the hole in the side with a piece of sheet material from the dark slide of a 4 x 5 film holder. I have a 60mm x 85mm aluminum pressure plate on order that will be attached to four springs to apply pressure to the glass plate (see photo). All I need are some internal rails to keep the plate from moving laterally and I think I'm set. Thanks for the help and your link for access to some sensitized plates. Matt

 

[Romanko]

Hi Matt,
I have a camera like yours. They require a special plate holder with a thinner than standard rim (called Normalfaltz in German). Zeiss, Voigtlander and many other holders are too thick to fit KW Patent Etui (and could also be slightly wider). You will need to find the original KW holders.

There's a whole thread on 9x12 cm holders here:
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/9x12-plate-holders-1.39756/

You should be able to use 9x13 cm photo paper in the film pack adapter that you have. Put the paper under a black card with some foam to work as a pressure plate.
Foma produces sheet film in 9x12 format. You will need a sheet film adapter to use it in a glass plate holder. They are not very common but do appear sometimes. Before I got sheet film adapters I used to attach the film to a scrap glass plate using a few drops of syrup. I also found that CD/DVD cases make perfect plates to put behind the sheet film.

As you've discovered, new glass plates are also available both in the US and in Europe.

 

[Matt Hall]

Hi Matt,
I have a camera like yours. They require a special plate holder with a thinner than standard rim (called Normalfaltz in German). Zeiss, Voigtlander and many other holders are too thick to fit KW Patent Etui (and could also be slightly wider). You will need to find the original KW holders.

There's a whole thread on 9x12 cm holders here:
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/9x12-plate-holders-1.39756/

You should be able to use 9x13 cm photo paper in the film pack adapter that you have. Put the paper under a black card with some foam to work as a pressure plate.
Foma produces sheet film in 9x12 format. You will need a sheet film adapter to use it in a glass plate holder. They are not very common but do appear sometimes. Before I got sheet film adapters I used to attach the film to a scrap glass plate using a few drops of syrup. I also found that CD/DVD cases make perfect plates to put behind the sheet film.

As you've discovered, new glass plates are also available both in the US and in Europe.

Here is the solution I came up with. I fashioned some plastic spring clips from a piece of circular trash can and attached them to the lid of the film pack adapter. When you close the lid it applies gentle pressure to the glass plate inside, keeping it from moving. I have also glued some rails on the focal plane side to keep the glass plate from sliding left or right. Then I applied foam to the inside of the lid so it makes a light tight seal when closed. Hopefully this will work.