Deardorf 8x10

campy51

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Can someone confirm that this camera is a Deardorf? I was told it has been rebuilt with new bellows, but there is no bottom plate or nameplate. I did compare with other photos on ebay and it looks to be one.
 

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Ian Grant

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No other US manufacturer made a modern British style field camera. Square cornered bellows went out of use here in the UK around 1900 as they wear very badly, and manufacturers switched to tapered cornered bellows, US manufacturers like Century cameras (founded 1900) used tapered bellows.

Ian
 

GregY

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It's very common for early Deardorffs not to have nameplates. I can't remember when the round bottom plate came in, but my '38 5x7" Deardorff didn't have one. Early ones also had no front shift. The photos do look like the real deal....(fittings resembling mine)
 

mshchem

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My limited knowledge says yes, it's a Deardorff. I have a V8, has a decal on the side that identifies it. The cast aluminum base plate came in with WWII US Army orders. Never seen the brass triangular gussets before. All the hardware originally was nickel plate brass. Never seen original bellows in red. Deardorff used what they had on hand, and would build to order.
 

blee1996

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Looks like a genuine Deardorff to me by comparing the design and parts, since I have the later V8 with round metal tripod plate and front tilt. Yours certainly looks like it has been rebuilt with newer bellows, and reenforced corners for the bottom panel. Hope you enjoy it.
 
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campy51

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I bought this and a 11x14 home made camera last night at an excellent price. Here's a picture of the 11x14. It also came with film holders and 2 lenses. Goerz Dagor 9 1/2 " f6.5 and a Kodak Anastigmat 170mm f6.3
 

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jimgalli

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It's a Deardorff, but the brass hardware and square lens board area corners suggests that it's an earlier pre WWII one that someone has added the Postwar front swings to. Lovely to use but the giant heavy barrel lenses I love finally caused me to quit the Deardorff and go to my beloved Kodak 2D. It can hold up an 8 pound lens. Not important to most, but I'm just weird that way.
 

Mark Crabtree

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What Jim said. It is a nice, refurbished, fairly early Deardorff. Front swing was added later, a common upgrade.

The finish is interesting. I wonder who did the work. These early cameras had bare alloy standards with gold painted brass hardware, and it looks from your pictures that somebody redid the paint, which is cool. Most people would have polished the brass, but paint is what at least most had before the nickel and chrome plating that came later (at least I think some was nickel). Original bellows was a lovely red leather, explaining the bellows choice. That is a better color than most of the red bellows you see now.

I wonder if Ken Hough might have done the work. I don't know if that is a bellows he would have used, but I wonder who else would have redone the metal finish. The brass corner reinforcements are a modern addition likely to fight separation in bed. Original ones I've seen had four rubber feet; I assume to use on a studio stand. I personally like this style bed better than the metal plate which relies on a whole bunch of tiny screws. This style tripod socket is large on the inner side of the camera so can't pull through.
 
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campy51

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Today the leather handle broke and nearly dropped it. Anyone know where I can a replacement?
 

jimgalli

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campy51 said:
Today the leather handle broke and nearly dropped it. Anyone know where I can a replacement?
Click to expand...


lfgear810 on ebay perhaps will have them. He bought all the original dorff parts.​

 

mshchem

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Looking at the pictures of your camera, looks like someone replaced strap sometime in the last 80 years. All of the cameras I've seen use rivets, not screws. Makes replacing the strap a bit trickier.
 

blee1996

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Or you can try an alternative more robust handle like this:

6 1/2" Brown, Emergency Handle with Nickel Hardware, Leather, #67-BRO

Quality leather handles to fit your repair or style needs A distinctive high-grade handle is essential whether you’re starting from scratch, repairing or restoring Leather Emergency Handles are perfect for fixing your case in a pinch Length: 6.5" Width: 1.2" Buckle: 26mm Material: Leather...
www.weaverleathersupply.com
 

GregY

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mshchem said:
Looking at the pictures of your camera, looks like someone replaced strap sometime in the last 80 years. All of the cameras I've seen use rivets, not screws. Makes replacing the strap a bit trickier.
Click to expand...

Yes...... i replaced the worn handle on my '38 5x7..... rivets
 

GregY

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blee.... they are not more robust. the original handle on mine lasted from 1938 until 2009 (& it was only the stitching wearing out)..... The originals have the updside of collapsing flat against the top.
 

mshchem

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GregY said:
Yes...... i replaced the worn handle on my '38 5x7..... rivets
Click to expand...

Did you use any kind of split rivet tool, like pliers? I have a pre-WWII V8, the strap is still ok but it should be replaced. I want it to be perfect (perfectly installed) when complete. Not sure I'm capable of that
 

GregY

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mshchem said:
Did you use any kind of split rivet tool, like pliers? I have a pre-WWII V8, the strap is still ok but it should be replaced. I want it to be perfect (perfectly installed) when complete. Not sure I'm capable of that
Click to expand...

To be honest, i had access to a shop but no specialty tools. A very small ball peen hammer, screwdriver and a dremel tool (to very carefully remove the rivet heads (taped off around them).
 
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