Summer on the way!

Simon Howers · Mar 31, 2016

Looking forward to better weather after a terrible winter here - my workshop flooded when the river Worth in Keighley burst it's banks on 26th December, we're still clearing up.

Current rebuild project, an Erneman ¼ plate camera with lots of metal plate holders well underway. Anybody know where I can buy the really thick velvet they used as light seals? Pictures to follow.

Shown here is a hand-built 6x9 field camera which will be modified to take glass quarter plates. Photo near the top of the Furka Pass (Switzerland/Italy) in 2008.

RSalles · Mar 31, 2016

Simon,
Sorry for your workshop...
We have some things in common, as I like bikes and photo too - I used to go to the roads with my bike and a pair of cameras in the bag, that's a lot fun.
Show us more the camera you've built, is the one with you in the photo?

Cheers,

Renato

benjiboy · Mar 31, 2016

I'm looking forward to some better weather too Simon, but unfortunately in recent years the only way to tell that it's summer in the U.K is the rain feels warmer

Simon Howers · Apr 8, 2016

Simon Howers said:
Current rebuild project, an Erneman ¼ plate camera with lots of metal plate holders well underway. Anybody know where I can buy the really thick velvet they used as light seals? Pictures to follow.

.

Herewith some pictures of the "Erneman Project". I have 9 plate holders. 3 are in reasonable condition and can be used, the other 6 have been stripped and now need cleaning up and repainting. Fitting velvet seals is going to be fun.
Glass ¼ plates have been delivered by Newcastle Optical - seen here in packaging, each one is individually wrapped!
The spring back on the camera needs some cleaning up but appears to be in working order.
I shall do the testing with commercial emulsion and then intend to move to something faster - say 125 ISO - so that I can hand hold the camera.

Simon Howers · Apr 8, 2016

RSalles said:
Simon,
Sorry for your workshop...
We have some things in common, as I like bikes and photo too - I used to go to the roads with my bike and a pair of cameras in the bag, that's a lot fun.
Show us more the camera you've built, is the one with you in the photo?

Cheers,

Renato

Herewith pictures of miniature field camera. Currently the back takes a 6x9 rollfilm magazine. I will be adding a spring holder for ¼ plates.

baachitraka · Apr 8, 2016

I wish I own that camera too.

Ian Grant · Apr 8, 2016

Simon Howers said:
Herewith pictures of miniature field camera. Currently the back takes a 6x9 rollfilm magazine. I will be adding a spring holder for ¼ plates.
View attachment 154106 View attachment 154107

You might think about a 9x12 back as film is available, and you can still coat your own if wanted as well.

Is the Erneman definitely Quarter plate, most were 9x12.

Ian

Simon Howers · Apr 8, 2016

The glass plates are 3¼" x 4¼"

RSalles · Apr 8, 2016

Simon Howers said:
Herewith pictures of miniature field camera. Currently the back takes a 6x9 rollfilm magazine. I will be adding a spring holder for ¼ plates.
View attachment 154106 View attachment 154107

Lovely camera indeed! Let me know if you'll sell some copies,

Cheers,

Renato

Simon Howers · Apr 12, 2016

Simon Howers said:
Herewith some pictures of the "Erneman Project". I have 9 plate holders. 3 are in reasonable condition and can be used, the other 6 have been stripped and now need cleaning up and repainting. Fitting velvet seals is going to be fun.
.View attachment 154103 View attachment 154104 View attachment 154105

Stripped the spring back and started cleaning the plate holders. New ground glass ordered - from Lithuania already!

Brian Schmidt · Apr 14, 2016

I haven't been able to figure out where to get the velvet parts. I have been thinking about asking the Large Format and Ultra Large Format people as they seem to build quite a bit of their own stuff. I have a Rada roll film holder that had bad velvet and I ended up using foam rubber and a piece of backing paper to imitate a Hasselblad's Mylar light seal. I am thinking it will work but I am sure you will want something less cobbled for your plate holders. I certainly wish I knew where to get it.

Brian

Simon Howers · Apr 17, 2016

Brian Schmidt said:
I haven't been able to figure out where to get the velvet parts.

Brian

I haven't found velvet which is as thick as the original anywhere. I use the the thickest I can find and glue it to thin modelers' plywood to raise the pile to the correct height for the darkslide

Brian Schmidt · Apr 17, 2016

Simon Howers said:
I haven't found velvet which is as thick as the original anywhere. I use the the thickest I can find and glue it to thin modelers' plywood to raise the pile to the correct height for the darkslide

I did this for a while at first but it wore out right away. It worked well for about fifty images but then little streaks of light turned pretty big pretty fast.

Go look at your screen door. Many have a seal of sorts that is made of long-haired stuff. Maybe that could be adapted? It is about the right pile. I am not sure if it is dense enough. Mine is a silvery-grey so it might pass light. It might be able to be dyed.

Brian

Simon Howers · May 2, 2016

Refurb proceeding on plate holders.
Took a while to get the paint off and clean up the parts. I have to replace a couple of small brass rivets which are easy to make from wire.
I found some suitable velvet tape.

Paint has to be applied very thin and left on top of a radiator to dry and go hard for several days.

ced · May 4, 2016

If you go to a store that sells all kinds of material and garnishing for dresses & furniture/curtains etc. sometimes hobby stores for ladies
I am sure you can find lush velvet ribbon/tape which you can cut in strips wide enough for the seals

Summer on the way!

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency