Conley 5x7 folding camera with no back

[Kawaiithulhu]

I have received an oddity here: a Conley 5x7 folding camera (which is presumably a dry plate model) with no back or ground glass. This did, however, come with a number of 5x7 sheet film holders and all in a DIY carrying box for them all together.

My quandry is that I'm unfamiliar with how the normal backs are arranged and I don't know how can I "restore" this to use the 5x7 sheet film holders (and 4x5 reducing if possible), so I need suggestions and advice on what the original owner might have done.

Thanks for any hints or resources!

(bonus: the sheet film holders have film loaded, I'm going to match the notches and see if I can develop them)

 

[Ian Grant]

7x5 backs turn up quite regularly on Ebay, or if they have them near you Camera Fairs, I picked up 4 backs at a camera fair 2 years ago, one a Gandolfi Half Plate spring back another a US 7x5 spring back, the others were book form. The Gandolfi half plate back is in fact an International back so takes regular Half plate or 7x5 film/plate holders as well as post WWII European 13x18 holders.

You're luckier because companies in the US largely standardised on film/plate holder sizes in the early 1900's, really only Kodak Ltd here in the UK used the now International standards before WWII.

Adapting backs isn't too difficult, the 7x5 spring back was a touch small for my parts Seneca City View but I was able to add some mahogany to each edge to get it to fit perfectly. Just last month I picked up a 7x5/Half plate reducing back for a 10x8 camera for £10 ($13), it's Half plate so almost certainly for a British made Kodak 2D, I'll use it to shoot 7x5 which I already do with my Half plate Kodak Specialist 2. I should add the only difference between a Half plate spring back and a 7x5 is the size of the GG screen.

You're a subscriber here why not try a Wanted advert.

Ian

 

[Peter Schrager]

contact Richard Ritter he will make you a back for the camera

 

[Kawaiithulhu]

Thanks! Once I decide what direction I want to go I'll work with this advice in mind.