Not exactly camera building and it is closely related

Most small engineering companies can make the springs, I had some made for a 5x4 camera back a few years ago and I'm about to get more springs made for contact frames when I've finalised the design.

Ian

 

You could work around this by having the paddles that secure it be rigid pieces of something mounted on center pivots with a coil spring under it on the pivot. A ¼" of good hardwood for the paddle and a washer to protect it from the spring. That being said a quick google search turned up lots of possible solutions for flat spring steel. You could even do away with the spring and use a similar bit of engineering to a book press.

 

Their cheap enough on the auction site by using a "printing frame" search or you can buy the spring steel with the same search term. Build your next one with the spring steel and don't forget you need good felt.

 

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-spring-steel-sheets/=ngn35m

 

sometimes car parts stores have springs for suspension
not sure if they are light weight enough for a split back ...

 

FYI, I made a discovery years ago that may help in this project. Aluminum stock when formed into a curve, perty much retains the curve indefinitely. So knowing that, I made the springs for my 8x10 contact printer from 1/2"x1/16" aluminum stock that I purchased at Lowes (or Home Depot). I simply created the two springs with a slight curve by forming them around a large bucket. The contact printer frame itself was made from a solid wood picture frame. It still works like a champ. I can post a picture of this contraption, if desired.

 

This will depend upon the particular aluminium alloy and what temper it's supplied in. Some alloys/tempers are like butter.

 

Then I wouldn't suggest using the "Buttery" type. Use the other kind. ;-)

 

Cut down hacksaw blades with the teeth ground off work well on my 10x8 camera.
I interleaved thin strips of wood to beef them up.
Most Model Engineering suppliers will stock spring steel strip but you will need to heat treat it after cutting and shaping it.

 

Interesting recycling Nice thinking.

Ian