Question about Horseman ground glass and back compatibility

I am looking for a ground glass back for my Horseman 970. From what I can find from other discussions is that modern backs will not fit.

Will backs for the Horseman VH-R fit?

Does anyone know where I can find ground glass for the 970?

Currently I form an elaborate jungle of rubber bands and use my Hasselblad's ground glass inbetween the bands so it sits on the film plane. Then move it around and check focus.

I would like to find a solution to this.

LOTS of info here... http://photo.net/medium-format-photography-forum/?category=Horseman&p=1

I once got a VHR new-in-box Fresnel from KHB. Perhaps they can get a ground glass also. If you go 'generic' there should be many options available for the glass. Just measure the size and have one cut to fit.

If you need a filmholder/gg assembly, post a picture of the back of you camera. I can see if it looks like a VHR back will fit.

Krzys said:

I am looking for a ground glass back for my Horseman 970. From what I can find from other discussions is that modern backs will not fit.

Will backs for the Horseman VH-R fit?

Does anyone know where I can find ground glass for the 970?

Currently I form an elaborate jungle of rubber bands and use my Hasselblad's ground glass inbetween the bands so it sits on the film plane. Then move it around and check focus.

I would like to find a solution to this.

Click to expand...

The rb rollfilm backs works exquisitely on the horsemen. I had a VH and I used the motorized rb 6x8 back on it. I guess the 970 has the same graflok-like back (do check this) so it should work. The rb backs can be quite inexpensive. The 6x8 is a bit pricier now but you can always use an old 6x7 one on there....

Ground glass you can make yourself. Just get two pieces of glass and rub them together as randomly as possible with water + pipe grinding compound in between. After 10 minutes of grinding, voila. You can do it with plexiglas too. Not perfect but hey, when you need ground glass, you need ground glass.

Keith, I think the VH-R will take the RB/Grafloc backs but the earlier models don't which indicates the VH-R backs don't fit the earlier models. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Honestly I don't know. Best thing would be for Krzys to find a local RB user and just try it, or post a pic of the 970 back and we might be able to tell.