Ansco 8x10 Field camera - need help

[spsauber]

Hi
I just received my camera today and the front rise does not hold it's position.
The gear does rise/fall but when I let go it drifts down.
Anyone come across this and have any ideas?
Thank you
Sean

 

[michaelorr]

Is there a locking nut on the other side of the standard from the adjusting knob? Should be a shaft with threads at the end, that goes through from one side to the other, and it tightens up with the knobs at either end (at least in my wood field cameras).

 

[NedL]

Don't know about the ansco, but on my old eastman, you pull the adjusting knob out and it disengages the gears and locks the rise/fall in place.

 

[tessar]

On my Ansco 8x10 the rise/fall knobs move in and out left/right to lock/unlock. Facing the camera, when the right knob is pulled out, rise/fall is locked. When the left knob is out, rise/fall is unlocked. The mechanism may be a little fiddly; do a little wiggling of both knobs and everything should fall into place. It took me a while to figure this out.
You've got yourself a great camera. Heavy, but solid as a rock and stable.

 

[spsauber]

Awesome - you guys are great. The rise does lock when I pull out the knob. thank you.

Now two more questions -
1. I have looked for a couple of days now and cant find a manual for the camera - know of any sources?

2. Please take a look at the pic - it appears that the front carrier is slightly off track.
And also the tabs seem to be bent.
Should I remove the front folding extension to get the tracks aligned and what are the tabs for?

Thank you!

 

[shutterfinger]

Do some more careful checking. While the track on the left has 7 teeth showing and the right has 8 the gap between the sections appears wider on the right.
As long as the standard remains square to the base and/or camera back when zeroed and moves smoothly across the gap I would leave it alone. If the standard is not square when zeroed or binds at the gap then I would adjust it so that it does.

 

[John Koehrer]

The tabs are stops. I'd presume they should be bent at 90 degrees to the long dimension.
The carriage should work smoothly and I'd think that the gaps not being equal will not allow it to work right.
At least one screw's been replaced, the crosspoint on the left should be a straight slot.

I would take the front ext off and take a look, the way one stop is straight and one bent suggests it was dropped.
Poll the hinge entirely and see if there's any damage to the screw holes too.
I notice the slotted screw on the left isn't aligned with the one below it. Check the rest of the camera
to check the other screws, if the slots are parallel then someone/ had that apart too*

*Some older cameras had all the screw slots in line when they left the shop as a sign of good craftsmanship.
I don't specifically know about Ansco.

 

[Wayne]

I think I have a manual for an Ansco somewhere. Might be a while before I can find and scan it though. I don't recall it being particularly detailed, but I don't recall a lot of things

 

[Wayne]

I found the manual, but if I can't get it scanned tomorrow it will be about 10 days and you may need to remind me.

My Ansco 8x10 frequently gets off track and mis-aligned like yours is. I don't know why or when it happens but it does. Its easy enough to get straightened out. Mine doesn't have those tabs.

 

[spsauber]

Wayne - that is great - thank you.
I will check back in if I don't hear from you soon
Thanks for offering to do this!
Sean