What camera do these film holders go to?

BAC1967 · Nov 26, 2019

I bought a 4X5 contact print frame that came with these 5X7 film holders. It also came with a deep holder with a door on the back that is not light tight like the film holders. They all look like they would fit the same camera. My first thought on the deep one is that it may have been a ground glass holder but then why would it have a dark slide? There Is nothing on them like a name or number that would give me a clue as to the maker or camera. Does anyone recognize them or have any idea what they go on? Are these standardized to fit many cameras?

shutterfinger · Nov 27, 2019

The 3 in your first picture look like film sheaths for a plate film holder, the other 3 photos are of a film pack adapter.

BAC1967 · Nov 29, 2019

So they would fit into a holder intended for glass plates, not specific to a particular camera?

Daniel-J · Nov 29, 2019

I think you can try all the options if they fit. If the result is bad, it will be clear at once.

shutterfinger · Nov 29, 2019

Film and plate holders were made for a specific format camera. If they fit into the plate holder then they should produce good, in focus negatives provided all other aspects of the exposure were correct.
In the early days of photography holders were camera specific, I think. The current standard film holder specs; plate holder outside dimensions should match for standardized plate holders.

Depth to film surface should match with the film sheath installed in a plate holder.

Ron (Netherlands) · Dec 1, 2019

BAC1967 said:
I bought a 4X5 contact print frame that came with these 5X7 film holders. It also came with a deep holder with a door on the back that is not light tight like the film holders. They all look like they would fit the same camera. My first thought on the deep one is that it may have been a ground glass holder but then why would it have a dark slide? There Is nothing on them like a name or number that would give me a clue as to the maker or camera. Does anyone recognize them or have any idea what they go on? Are these standardized to fit many cameras?

View attachment 235444 View attachment 235445 View attachment 235446 View attachment 235447

First photo are 3 metal plate holders for glass plates. These holders can only be used for flat film with so-called film sheaths - you have to open the holders to see whether sheaths (made of thin sheet metal) are inside.
The other 3 photos show a filmpack holder (a pack carried several films) - the filmpack itself was light tight. These packs are not made any more. Some people change these film pack holders in order to be able to use them for wet plate photography. I guess for most of us these film pack holders are useless.

BAC1967 said:
So they would fit into a holder intended for glass plates, not specific to a particular camera?

no, these are not intended for that purpose since it are no film sheaths.

shutterfinger · Dec 1, 2019

Ron (Netherlands) said:
First photo are 3 metal plate holders for glass plates

Look again, they're film sheaths for plate holders.

Ron (Netherlands) · Dec 1, 2019

shutterfinger said:
Look again, they're film sheaths for plate holders.

Well, never saw any film sheaths with tabs on them...might be little hard to put them into a film holder...
and the sheaths I have and have seen, have different metal rims...

...therefore these are IMHO tabs on slides into metal plate holders

shutterfinger · Dec 1, 2019

And I've never seen a plate holder 1/8 inch thick with folded edges on 3 sides for film to slide into.

Ron (Netherlands) · Dec 1, 2019

shutterfinger said:
And I've never seen a plate holder 1/8 inch thick with folded edges on 3 sides for film to slide into.

1/8 inch = 3.175mm ..the old glass plates were just 1mm thick.
Most single metal holders are just 1/8 inch thick.

Many have folded edges;
https://www.photrio.com/forum/attachments/generic_plates-2-jpg.209856/

BAC1967 · Dec 1, 2019

They are for film, one of them had a sheet of 5X7 film in it. One is masked for 4X5 film. They are single sheet, not two sided like most film holders. They are thin and have a lip that holds it to the camera, all of them have the same lip including the film pack holder.

Ron (Netherlands) · Dec 1, 2019

BAC1967 said:
They are for film, one of them had a sheet of 5X7 film in it. One is masked for 4X5 film. They are single sheet, not two sided like most film holders. They are thin and have a lip that holds it to the camera, all of them have the same lip including the film pack holder.

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You're lucky, it are plate holders, with film sheaths in them....
Indeed you place these plate holders into the back of the camera, not into other plate holders,
and the rim (lip) will catch into the camera...

You can take the film sheaths out, so they may be easier to load with film....

shutterfinger · Dec 1, 2019

First I've seen that thin, but then I don't play with plate cameras.

Ron (Netherlands) · Dec 2, 2019

First question of the OP: What camera do these film holders go to?
Most probably these are made for plate camera's by Heinrich Ernemann.

BAC1967 · Dec 2, 2019

Ron (Netherlands) said:
First question of the OP: What camera do these film holders go to?
Most probably these are made for plate camera's by Heinrich Ernemann.

I think you're correct, looking at Ernemann cameras it looks like the film/plate holders are the same or very similar in design to the ones I have. Ernemann did make a few 13x18 cameras though they don't seem to be very common.

Ernemann Heag XII (Modell II)
http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/appareil-8007-Ernemann_Heag XII.html
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/heag-xii-modell-ernemann-plate-camera-131659216

This document lists a few other models that take 13X18 like the Heag IIa, Heag VI and the Heag XI
https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/01407/01407.pdf

Now, what to do with these, get a camera to go with them or find someone who needs the holders for their camera?

Ron (Netherlands) · Dec 2, 2019

BAC1967 said:
https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/01407/01407.pdf
Now, what to do with these, get a camera to go with them or find someone who needs the holders for their camera?

Many thanks for the link to the catalogue...I didn't have that one.
If you like the Ernemann camera's then you could try one. Like I said, you're lucky since you already have the film sheaths, so with film you're good to go.
Downside is that the camera's are not so easy to find in good condition ...and at a price.

...I have an old model Heag VI but still have to restore its focal plane shutter...although it still works with the leaf shutter. The camera came in its original bag with original plate holders. It looks like this one (image taken from internet):

BAC1967 · Dec 2, 2019

Ron (Netherlands) said:
Many thanks for the link to the catalogue...I didn't have that one.
If you like the Ernemann camera's then you could try one. Like I said, you're lucky since you already have the film sheaths, so with film you're good to go.
Downside is that the camera's are not so easy to find in good condition ...and at a price.

...I have an old model Heag VI but still have to restore its focal plane shutter...although it still works with the leaf shutter. The camera came in its original bag with original plate holders. It looks like this one (image taken from internet):

Nice looking camera Ron, I’ll have to keep an eye out for one.

What camera do these film holders go to?

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