I can't believe it was almost 25 years ago that I read your review of the Philips 8x10 Explorer on LF Photography Forum.
Now you're making me feel old! Hahaha...
I used to have a 4x5 model just like the one in the second photo and I consider it to have been possibly the finest 4x5 field camera ever made (and I've used a bunch both through the VC Magazine articles I wrote and personally). What a joy to use, and Dick was such a great person to meet and get to know.
In a span of time, I owned an 8x10 Explorer (while I waited for my 8x10 Compact II to be built) and a 7x7, plus one of the very rare 12x20 cameras Dick made. All of them have been passed off to friends to shoot with and I miss the 7x17 and the 4x5 the most.
I lost track of him a few years ago (maybe 5-8 years ago now?) so I don't know if he's still living in Texas or not. I hope he's still shooting and kicking about.