Need Help With Agfa Ansco 8x10 Movements

TheTrailTog · Dec 28, 2020

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 · Dec 28, 2020

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 · Dec 28, 2020

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 · Dec 28, 2020

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 · Dec 28, 2020

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

TheTrailTog · Dec 28, 2020

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

Vaughn · Dec 28, 2020

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

removed account4 · Dec 28, 2020

Xia_Ke said:
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 · Dec 28, 2020

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

Wayne · Dec 28, 2020

Xia_Ke said:
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 · Dec 28, 2020

Wayne said:
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.

Need Help With Agfa Ansco 8x10 Movements

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