Need Help With Agfa Ansco 8x10 Movements

[TheTrailTog]

I recently acquired an Agfa Ansco 8x10. I believe it to be a variant of the Universal. I went out to shoot with it for the first time today and I couldn’t get the rise/fall to work. There appears to be some clutch mechanism that locks it up the second I try and adjust it (see pics). I looked all over and couldn’t find a any sort of release. Am I missing something? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[removed account4]

Hello Xia_Ke

I'm not completely familiar with your camera so I am not sure if my observations+suggestions will be worthy of a read or a response...
but ... did you unscrew / loosen both knobs ? Dord the knob in the middle sticking out from the lens board rise and fall as well ?
Sometimes the wood in these cameras swells and makes it difficult to move things up and down.. people use "pledge" wax/furniture polish to sometimes
"lubricate" camera wood and lithium grease on a toothpick might lubricate metal fittings...
Have fun with your new toy
John

 

[TheTrailTog]

Thanks John. Those side knobs don’t loosen and the bottom middle knob controls the shift only. I’m sure it has to be some stupid little thing I’m missing, but I don’t want go forcing anything. Everything else works nice and smoothly.

 

[Vaughn]

One moves the knob outwards/inwards to free it up to turn. Pull or push on the knob sidewards.

I have an older model that the rise will not lock now..

 

[Donald Qualls]

The right side rise knob should pull out away from the standard to unlock, then push back in once adjusted to lock again.

 

[TheTrailTog]

Thanks Vaughn and Donald, that did the trick! I knew it had to be something easy that I was missing...lol

 

[Vaughn]

Yes, thanks, Donald! Since mine refuses to lock, I did not remember which way was locked.

 

[removed account4]

Thanks John. Those side knobs don’t loosen and the bottom middle knob controls the shift only. I’m sure it has to be some stupid little thing I’m missing, but I don’t want go forcing anything. Everything else works nice and smoothly.

Xia_Ke:

My response was going to be "weird" .. until Vaughn and Donald came to the rescue !
John

 

[Donald Qualls]

Glad I could help. My Anniversary Speed Graphic has the same kind of lock on the focus rack.

 

[Wayne]

I recently acquired an Agfa Ansco 8x10. I believe it to be a variant of the Universal. I went out to shoot with it for the first time today and I couldn’t get the rise/fall to work. There appears to be some clutch mechanism that locks it up the second I try and adjust it (see pics). I looked all over and couldn’t find a any sort of release. Am I missing something? Thanks in advance for your help.

Welcome to the Ansco Universal Club. I posted a pdf of my owners manual on this site somewhere a few years ago, maybe it can be tracked down.

 

[TheTrailTog]

Welcome to the Ansco Universal Club. I posted a pdf of my owners manual on this site somewhere a few years ago, maybe it can be tracked down.

Thanks! Found an old thread from 2016 of you discussing scanning it when you got a chance, but couldn’t find the actual upload. No worries though, the camera was very straight forward and easy to figure out other than the front rise.