Wisner 14 x 17 & 7 x 17 Camera documentation?

Dave Wooten · Jul 18, 2006

If any Appugers have or know the whereabouts of Wisner 14 x 17 and 7 x 17 cameras, could you share this info? Date of manufacture or purchase etc. They (especially the 14 x 17 ) are probably among the more scarce as they were not a regular catalog standard...some do not have serial numbers...

Terence · Jul 18, 2006

I believe Kerik sold a 7x17 not too long ago (on APUG, if I remember correctly).

And there was a 14x17 on eBay within the last 6 months. I'll see if I took snapshots of the screen.

wfwhitaker · Jul 18, 2006

I sent Dave a PM, but for the sake of the thread, I have the Wisner 14x17 originally owned by Clay. Tracy Storer has one, too. That makes three that we know of. Any others? Does Ron read this stuff? Tracy?...

Dave Wooten · Jul 18, 2006

Medium rare to rare please!

Thanks Will,

I have sent Ron a note also. It is possible however that he doesnt know the travels, trials, tribulations and jubilee the various 14 x 17 cameras have gone through. I am betting that the Wisner 14 x 17 is one of the most rare if not the most rare of the Wisner Cameras....

Kimberly Anderson · Jul 18, 2006

Dave Wooten said:
I am betting that the Wisner 14 x 17 is one of the most rare if not the most rare of the Wisner Cameras....

Dang, the way Ron talked about my 4x5 Pocket Expedition made me think I was buying the rarest of the rare.

Dave Wooten · Jul 18, 2006

Michael Slade said:
Dang, the way Ron talked about my 4x5 Pocket Expedition made me think I was buying the rarest of the rare.

Michael, The pocket expedition is certainly in the running and IMO is really a choice camera to own, probably all of the 4 x 5 cameras had serial numbers, that would be interesting info. Also for a while there was a Connoisuer series advertised, custom order, I only saw a photo of one and it was really beautiful...don't know if that was the only one made or not?

As per the 14 x 17 some were made custom for specific projects...I think it is possible that individually by format there are more 20 x 24 and 16 x 20 Wisner cameras out there than the 14 x 17. Presently I know of three that are in use in the U.S. Those 3 are Will in DC who posted above, Tracy Storer in California and myself in Nevada. I have not seen or heard of a Canham or Lotus 14 x 17 in use. Kerik has a really sweet "Anthony" in wonderful condition.

I recently obtained a lens marked Versar Portrait and View 14 x 17 Wollensak-Rochester F-6, so I would assume at one time in the past century the format was not as uncommon as it is at the present.

Thanks all for the replies...

Kerik · Jul 19, 2006

Hey Dave,

Patrick Alt has a sweet Lotus 14x17. He also has a beautiful ROC 14x17 that he restored. Plus about a thousand other view cameras in literally every format ever produced (at least that's what he told me once).

Have you put that Versar on your camera yet? I'm curious what the approximate focal length is...

RobertP · Jul 19, 2006

Does the Wisner 14x17 have the standard Wisner front standard with 5 1/4" lens boards? This can be limiting to some of the larger portrait lenses. I've been searching for a soft focus to cover my 8x20.

RobertP · Jul 19, 2006

Michael, I have an 8x10 pocket expedition. My 8x20 is also a cherry wood expedition model with vertical and horizontal backs. The only thing it doesn't have is the geared front rise that the pocket expedition has.

wfwhitaker · Jul 19, 2006

Kerik - The 14x17 Versar is 18 1/4" FL. I have a 17x20 Versar which has a focal length of 22 1/2". (http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/wollensakcate/p10.html)

Robert - The Wisner 14x17 does use 5 1/4" lens boards and, you're right, it's very limiting for a camera that size. It all but prohibits using the 22 1/4" Verito which is in a #5 Studio shutter. There are some work-arounds, but I haven't had an opportunity yet to pursue that.

RobertP · Jul 19, 2006

Will, The nude series that I have on exhibit now was shot with the rear half of a 14 1/2" verito. That makes it a 24" lens and it covers well without any loss of image quality as far as a contact print goes. I don't know what the diameter of the 18" verito's barrel is ( 22 1/4" with the replacement front element) so I'm not sure you could squeeze it on that small wisner board. Let me know if you can. I may have to look for some of the old rapid rectilinears. I think there was an 16x20 made that would fit. The other option would be having a custom- made front standard made but that would entail a new bellows too and I don't think I want to go that route. Any thoughts would be helpful

Dave Wooten · Jul 19, 2006

Kerik said:
Hey Dave,

Patrick Alt has a sweet Lotus 14x17. He also has a beautiful ROC 14x17 that he restored. Plus about a thousand other view cameras in literally every format ever produced (at least that's what he told me once).

Have you put that Versar on your camera yet? I'm curious what the approximate focal length is...

Kerik,

Thanks for the info, also according to the info Will refered to me the f/6 Versar is 18.25 inches....I am going to try and put it on the camera this evening...

Dave Wooten · Jul 19, 2006

8.5 inch shutter!

Kerik said:
Hey Dave,

Have you put that Versar on your camera yet? I'm curious what the approximate focal length is...

Kerik,
I had gotten a board thinking it would fit but the hole size is a bit too small, about 1/8"...I can have it cut larger but I am thinking of just having a metal one made at a machine shop....here are the measurements and focal lengths (2 lenses)

1. Versar 18.25" F/6---hole size needed is 95 mm /3.75" the shorter lens need a much larger hole as it is F/4
2. Verito 14.5" F/4----takes a 105 mm or 4.25 inch hole

of interest...

I "picked up" an ilex shutter (huge!) that is 8.5 inches across. The center hole for threading the lens into is 4 3/8" id..has T B and 1 sec 1/2 , 1/5, 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, and 1/100 settings....know of the lens that would be for this shutter..F/6 24"?

as the hole size is about 4 3/8 it might be possible to use this on the Wisner board, the more I work with this I feel the toyo 6 inch boards are very funtional and practical for the front standard size for any one making
an ULF camera...

Wisner 14 x 17 & 7 x 17 Camera documentation?

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