Burke & James Press 4x5 rotating back- light leaks solved?

[KinoGrafx]

I posted this elsewhere, but might as well plop it here too for posterity- I’ve read here (and elsewhere) about problems with the rotating backs on the 4x5 burke & james press cameras leaking light, but just discovered that of the 3 variants I have (how many did they make?) one has a fatter area between the groove (in which the thin ridge of all 4x5 holders fall into) and the outside edge of the camera, so with most modern film holders, their topmost “bump-out” rides up on that, leaving the film open to light leaks. Older holders that are flat from the ridge to the top (where the slide is) or have slightly larger areas before the top bump-out, settle in and work fine, no light leaks.

Anyway, something to be aware of if you happen to use one of these great little press cameras. Hopefully the crudely marked up pic makes it more clear...

 

[AnselMortensen]

I had a B&J Press 4x5 as my #1 camera for quite a few years, and never had a problem with light leaks from that situation....used both wood & plastic film holders...no problem.

 

[KinoGrafx]

This all makes me wonder how many variations of the 4x5 B&J Press (speed press, watson,etc) were made? I have 3 here, all different, and i’m not exactly a dedicated collector...

 

[rknewcomb]

Hi,
So you are saying that there are variations in the cameras themselves that require the use of different "standard" 4x5 film holders?
Robert

 

[KinoGrafx]

Hi,
So you are saying that there are variations in the cameras themselves that require the use of different "standard" 4x5 film holders?
Robert

Yes- This one model I have has the greater distance between the thin channel (that accepts the skinny ridge on the film holders) and the outside edge of the camera back. It's about 21mm, where my other B&J Press is more like 18mm. A newer Fidelity holder has a flat space of about 19mm before it bumps out again where the slides insert, so it rides up on the "offending" B&J.
Maybe it was a very early version?

 

[rknewcomb]

I never would have thought that there was a difference since they would have been building cameras to accept a standard holder.
Wow.

Robert

 

[Donald Qualls]

I never would have thought that there was a difference since they would have been building cameras to accept a standard holder.
Wow.

Robert

The standard for the holder might have changed over decades. After all, Graflex holders were standard once...