New owner of B&J Press...

DougGrosjean · Dec 18, 2006

.... camera. Purchased on Ebay for about $125, which is a bit much if it turns out to have problems, but a good price if it turns out to be fine.

It looks to be very pretty in a gear-head kind of way, with an aluminum turning pattern on the aluminum parts, like some exotic sports car. Rotating back, 4x5, limited movements.

So I guess I'm in. Now I'll just have to get it in my hands, caress it and figure out what makes it work, and start jumping through the hoops of LF.

Can hardly wait. Going to give myself a project in 2007: photograph my sibs and parents with it, and give my Dad and my Mom (they're divorced) the results.

I'm sure I can do it, and I'm sure I'll enjoy the learning curve - though I suspect it may be steep at times.

Doug Grosjean
Pemberville, Ohio

jimgalli · Dec 18, 2006

Doug, if it's the one with the 13.5cm Heliar you did very well. You won't need to look any further for a superb lens on the portraits. Good for you.

DougGrosjean · Dec 18, 2006

I think it's the same one; here's a copy-paste from the ad:

"4X5 B & J Press Camera with a Voigtlander Braunschweis, Heliar 1:4.5, F=13.5cm, No 578924 lens with Compur shutter and a Kalart Synchronized Range Finder."

Man, I'm like a kid at, well... Christmas. Nice to hear I did good..!

athanasius80 · Dec 18, 2006

Congrats, I've taken my B&J press to all sorts of odd places and its a great little camera for what it is. Get the rangefinder calibrated and you'll be a happy camper. Enjoy!

Konical · Dec 18, 2006

Good Evening, Doug,

Congratulations! I saw that one and almost bid on it; I wasn't concerned about the lens, but I figured another one would come along for a better price someday.

Konical

Jim Jones · Dec 19, 2006

The ugliest camera I've used in the past 50+ years is a much abused B&J press, without rangefinder or optical finder, and a 1930 vintage Voightlander Skopar f/4.5 135mm lens. I love it. The Speed Graphic has some advantages, but for slow deliberate field work, the B&J is better. Even that uncoated lens is sharp.

Terence · Dec 20, 2006

Maybe I'm heavy handed, but I've broken two of the springs on the spring-back. Be careful when inserting film holders not to pry open the back ANY further than necessary. I've only used two-sided holders with it, and not my Graflex 6-shooter.

I could be wrong about their strength, but in searching for replacements I've come across several B&J Presses with broken springs.

That said, the thing is bombproof. Heavier than my Graflex cameras, but with better movements, the rotating back, etc. It was my first 4x5.

I've been toying with lending it out, similar to the MF Loaner program someone on APUG ran last year.

DougGrosjean · Dec 20, 2006

Terence said:
Maybe I'm heavy handed, but I've broken two of the springs on the spring-back. Be careful when inserting film holders not to pry open the back ANY further than necessary. I've only used two-sided holders with it, and not my Graflex 6-shooter.

I could be wrong about their strength, but in searching for replacements I've come across several B&J Presses with broken springs.

That said, the thing is bombproof. Heavier than my Graflex cameras, but with better movements, the rotating back, etc. It was my first 4x5.

I've been toying with lending it out, similar to the MF Loaner program someone on APUG ran last year.

Did you ever find a new source for those springs? I've got to imagine they're an off-the-shelf item, providing you just know what shelf.

Grin - had I known a loaner might be available, I might have gone that route. Finally decided that the price was low enough that I'd take the gamble.

Thanks to all for the info and encouragement! It does help.

Terence · Dec 20, 2006

DougGrosjean said:
Did you ever find a new source for those springs? I've got to imagine they're an off-the-shelf item, providing you just know what shelf.

Grin - had I known a loaner might be available, I might have gone that route. Finally decided that the price was low enough that I'd take the gamble.

Thanks to all for the info and encouragement! It does help.

Given the lens you got, assuming everything is in working order, I'd say you did more than alright. I paid more than that and with a lesser lens, about 7 years ago. Worse comes to worst, you should easily be able to resell at that price (or better) if you write up a better ad and play up the lens.

And if any one know the right shelf to look on for the springs . . . I'll buy a half dozen. They're just different enough that I haven't found a close enough match from some other "parts" backs I've picked up.

Now if anyone in NYC wants to borrow an 8x10 Korona . . .

DougGrosjean · Dec 20, 2006

<< Given the lens you got, assuming everything is in working order, I'd say you did more than alright.>>

<<< Worse comes to worst, you should easily be able to resell at that price (or better) if you write up a better ad and play up the lens. >>>

I'm expecting to really enjoy it.

<<< And if any one know the right shelf to look on for the springs . . . I'll buy a half dozen. They're just different enough that I haven't found a close enough match from some other "parts" backs I've picked up. >>

What is so unique about them? Dimensions? Geometry? Length?

Curious because it's also possible to have springs made, and there are books of springs, too... I'm just not able to imagine the springs on a fairly common camera being very uncommon.

<<< Now if anyone in NYC wants to borrow an 8x10 Korona . . . >>>

I'm good here, thanks!

Terence · Dec 20, 2006

I could probably use a piece of spring steel and an angle grinder to get what I need, but it's not worth the effort. It's just strip with horns on either end. Everybody seemed to have different length springs, different width horns, screw holes at a different spacing. It's probably a 10 cent piece of spring, but it'd be an hour of blood, sweat and tears to make it.

Besk · Dec 21, 2006

I have a set of springs if you want them. Let me know. In fact have the whole back (less ground glass.)

BrianShaw · Dec 21, 2006

Good for you Doug. I don't know much about B&J since I got started with SuperGraphic and kept with the Graflex products since. I saw a B&J at the auction sidte.. and they ARE pretty. Have fun!!

DougGrosjean · Dec 21, 2006

BrianShaw said:
Good for you Doug. I don't know much about B&J since I got started with SuperGraphic and kept with the Graflex products since. I saw a B&J at the auction sidte.. and they ARE pretty. Have fun!!

Thanks, Brian.

Looking at a spec sheet, it looks like the Graflex was the main market, and the Burke & James and Busch Pressman were attempts to out-do the various Graphic models on price or features. Beyond that, heck I don't know either!

Found out today that my local lab can scan my 4x5 negs, and just as a cheap test I've ordered a Yankee 4x5 developing tank. Oh, and a Polaroid back. So when the stuff arrives, another local camera store has a pack of 4x5 film in stock, and I should be good go.

Begs the question:
Was Christmas any better when you didn't know what you were getting?

New owner of B&J Press...

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