Ray Gem Camera

[Kris Bochenek]

Hi all. I got a beat up Ray Gem Camera from 1900's and after putting new leather and oiling the mechanism I would like to take few shots with it. The problem I have is that I don't have plate holders for it, so I searched high and low for them on Ebay, but nothing that fits turned out. I am asking here because I hope that someone might have one for sale or knows where to get one. The plate holders need to be .5" thick. Thank you

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Kris,

Where are you ? I think Ian Grant , an forum member, is the best advisor from England. PM him if he does not write here.

Good luck,

 

[Barry S]

Kris--what are the dimensions of the holder you need (aside from the .5" thickness)? Are you looking specifically for a plate holder or would a film holder be preferable?

 

[Kris Bochenek]

Barry, I would prefer a film holder. Once I get back home I will measure the camera's plate portion and post the dims.

 

[Barry S]

Ok--I have a box of miscellaneous old holders and will check if anything might work.

 

[Francis in VT]

Kris; See if there is a number after the name Ray Camera. I looked in my 'McKeown's' and there were quite a few different types.
Like another poster wrote, we need dimensions.

Francis in VT

 

[Ian Grant]

Kris,

Where are you ? I think Ian Grant , an forum member, is the best advisor from England. PM him if he does not write here.

Good luck,

It's a US, Rochester, camera so chances are plate/film holders are quite different to British ones which where mostly bookform.

So Barry is more likely to be able to help. I do have a big pile of 5x4 DDS plate holders and adaptors for film but these are all modern style to fit International backs.

Ian

 

[Kris Bochenek]

Sorry it took so long to respond. The overall size of the holder would have to be 4.75" x 6.5"x 0.5"

 

[Barry S]

Kris-- That's suspiciously close to the size of a modern 4x5 film holder. Have you tried fitting a standard Fidelity/Lisco/Riteway type film holder?

 

[Kris Bochenek]

Thank you, Barry. I will try that.

 

[Ian Grant]

You may need the older / thicker wooden plate/film holders, however the register is the same.

The big advantage with US Rochester made cameras is there's a degree of standardisation almost unknown at that time in Britain and Europe. A consequence is the post WWII International standards are based on some of those holders.

Ian