Info on Ansco Deluxe 8x10

[Larry_Reaves]

Hello all - first post here.

I have recently acquired a Ansco Deluxe and it is in need of some rebuilding/repair.
This is the one w/ grey paint and nickeled hardware.

I have googled for anything related to this camera and seem to come up empty, other than the occasional photo.

Just making this thread in hopes someone has some info about this camera.

Thanks,
~larry

 

[Nick Zentena]

http://www.fiberq.com/cam/scovill/agfa.htm

You mean one of those? What do you need to know?

 

[JBrunner]

The "deluxe" signifies the grey paint and nickel hardware.

I believe (not positive) both AA and EW used this camera (Weston not the deluxe, Adams maybe) or a pretty similar model for a period of time.

It is a standard tail board/rail style view camera, similar but perhaps a bit nicer than the offerings from Kodak and Burke and James during the same era. You don't mention if it has front tilt, which would mean it was the "commercial" model, as opposed to the "portrait model. There isn't much to learn about it that is any different from any other camera of this style. Any parts you need to restore it will need to be found second hand, or made. Lens boards shouldn't be overly difficult to find or have made. I think they are the 6"x6" with the round corners type. In good shape it is a very good portrait and passable but a bit restrictive landscape camera. If it does have the front tilt, it is quite a bit more usable for landscapes.

The amount of money, time, and effort for restoration can quickly overtake the cost of finding a better example, depending on what is needed, so if you are looking for the experience of restoring a classic camera it may be a fun candidate, but if you are just looking to shoot, you may consider otherwise, again depending on what needs to be done, and how much ability you have to do the work yourself.

 

[PHOTOTONE]

The link in the above post shows older versions of the same camera. The Agfa/Ansco view cameras came in several sizes, and had built in rail extension, so no need to have a separate back rail for long lenses. There was one model that had triple-extension bellows and for this a separate short rail addition was provided. The grey painted versions were the last ones made. Good servicable view cameras, rather heavy. Replacement bellows can be made by all the usual bellows vendors. Some models had front swing, others did not, just having rise and shift. These cameras use a very large wood lensboard which is good for adapting a packard shutter and barrel mount lenses. The movements should be self-explanatory.

 

[Larry_Reaves]

Thanks for the quick responses.

Yes this model has the tilt on the front.
I guess what I'm looking for might be any documentation on this camera... something like a repair manual or maybe a user manual.
The camera does seem pretty self explanatory as far as it's operation.
It also came with a custom built 4x5 back.

I'm most likely going to restore this as best I can, I'm pretty handy with tools and woodworking. Seems basic enough to just take everything apart and clean up/rebuild certain parts.
Any links would be greatly appreciated for similar projects or online stores catering to this type of thing.

Thanks again
~larry

 

[PHOTOTONE]

Most older wooden cameras did not come with instruction manuals, as they are pretty much self-explanatory. If you need to learn view-camera technique there are several well known books available on the subject that would apply to your camera as well as all others. I don't think any classic wood view camera ever had a "repair" manual. If you have broken wood parts, any good craft-woodworker quality cabinetmaker could custom make replacements by measuring the broken part. Most of the metal parts can be made from sheet brass or sheet aluminum, or even sheet steel, all of which can be purchased in small "hobby" size sheets from well stocked hardware stores. Bellows replacement requires sending the old bellows (along with the front and back bellows frames) to a bellows maker who will make a new bellows and attach it to the wooden front and back forms (frames) so all you have to do when you get the bellows back is screw it back into your front and back standards.

 

[PHOTOTONE]

The following link is to a 1941 Agfa/Ansco catalog...which shows cameras similar to yours (as well as many other products). This is probably the only documentation you are going to find.

http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/agfa/agfa.html

 

[John Kasaian]

Someone on ebay sells copies of 8x10 Agfa repair manuals fairly regularly. You might check it out.