2 day restoration - Houghton Victo

[Ian Grant]

I bought this Whole Plate Houghton Victo a few years ago, at the time there was a broken piece broken off and missing, that holds the front focus track, and the front standard was warped with quite a bow where the lens board fits, and it didn't have one.

I had to steam the bowed part clamping it with a slight reverse bow, until it finally dried straight, I grafted in some mahogany to repair the missing section, then it sat . . . . . . . . .











I made a new lens board, and added a 10" Beck RR lens, re-attached the bellows to the front. I had planned to just sell it like that. However, I realised that it was worth the effort to make the camera more saleable, so stripped it down, clean up the wood work, polished the brass, while still keeping sufficient patina. I found the tripod ring and will offer a set of tripod legs as an extra,

It's one of 4 wood & brass cameras I hope to sell this weekend. A French 13x18 Chambre de Voyoage, British HAlf Plate "The Standandard", a German Reisekamera.

Ian

 

[Soulstar89]

Nice Ian. I’m learning that it’s extremely beneficial that I learn some repairing skills for larger film formats. Opens up more opportunities to explore different items.

Where will you be selling the items this weekend?

 

[Marley's Ghost]

Lovely Job Ian, I need to start on my Kodak 2D!

 

[Camerashy]

Restoration=satisfaction, sometimes it can be frustrating but ultimately rewarding, good job Ian.

 

[Marley's Ghost]

Not camera related ... but uses much of the same skills ... I recently restored a Czech double bass which tested all my woodworking skills ... I think my 2D will be a walk in the park after that.

 

[Ian Grant]

Nice Ian. I’m learning that it’s extremely beneficial that I learn some repairing skills for larger film formats. Opens up more opportunities to explore different items.

Where will you be selling the items this weekend?

I'm having a stall at Wolverhampton Camera Fair. I know the eBay value (from completed sales). I also know what items owe me, in terms of cost & time, and will accept reasonable offers.

It's round two of selling off surplus cameras, lenses, etc, and follows a conversation I had when @AnalogueWendy visited me about 3 years ago. It's about being rational, only keeping a few items, not being a hoarder.

If there are items I think may be of interest to members of this forum, I will list them here first. There's plenty more to go, in terms of LF cameras and lenses, 5x4, 7x5, 10x8. Maybe 100 Thornton Pickard shutters, 10+ LF LF SLRs. A busy Winter of restorations.

I may add a few 35mm & MD cameras to Sundays stall.





There is a a lot more.

Ian

 

[Soulstar89]

I'm having a stall at Wolverhampton Camera Fair. I know the eBay value (from completed sales). I also know what items owe me, in terms of cost & time, and will accept reasonable offers.

It's round two of selling off surplus cameras, lenses, etc, and follows a conversation I had when @AnalogueWendy visited me about 3 years ago. It's about being rational, only keeping a few items, not being a hoarder.

If there are items I think may be of interest to members of this forum, I will list them here first. There's plenty more to go, in terms of LF cameras and lenses, 5x4, 7x5, 10x8. Maybe 100 Thornton Pickard shutters, 10+ LF LF SLRs. A busy Winter of restorations.

I may add a few 35mm & MD cameras to Sundays stall.

View attachment 5710

View attachment 5712

There is a a lot more.

Ian

I understand. I’ve a black nikon f Apollo 35mm camera I bought years ago. I don’t use it anymore as I’ve moved away from 35mm but I always make an excuse to not sell it as I’ve created some great pictures from it in the past.

 

[Ian Grant]

I understand. I’ve a black nikon f Apollo 35mm camera I bought years ago. I don’t use it anymore as I’ve moved away from 35mm but I always make an excuse to not sell it as I’ve created some great pictures from it in the past.

I may go add some 35mm cameras just before I leave at 6:50 am tomorrow. Why do I need Exacta's ?

There is a purpose to this thread, and maybe I & @AnalogueWendy should collaborate on a more serious post.

There was (maybe still is) a photographer, and his wife, who had a huge camera collection, talking well over 2,000, They gave talks and lectures, and were also great photographers, but as they aged they had to downsize to a bungalow. The sheer volume of their eBay sales meant they had to sell at low BIN prices, they did not have the time to wait for the hassle of auctioning.

What's important is knowing true worth, look at completed sales prices on eBay and other auctions.

Keep what you will use, and maybe a few collectibles, but clear out . . . . . . .

I blame Wendy, but she IS RIGHT

Ian

 

[AnalogueWendy]

That Victo looks so nice!
Hope you had a good day yesterday, Ian, and that some of those cameras and photophernalia will now be used and enjoyed by other photographers.
My, forthright, advice to Ian was based on my own experience. I have written about it here. In case any of you have not yet seen that article, here is the conclusion

“Do enjoy your photographic kit actively and then move along anything that is sitting in boxes and not receiving proper attention or enjoyment. Happily there is a whole new generation discovering what are now called 'alternative processes' and they will relish and maybe even use your neglected treasures.”

Are you still truly enjoying your collection of photographic kit? A story . . .

No - don't worry. I don't want to buy it (well not ALL of it). It's just that a post by @Ian Grant seemed to deserve a longer explanation. Here's the story . . . When our father died my sister and I inherited a medium sized, neglected collection of cameras and 'photophernalia' built by our...

www.5x4.co.uk

I accept the blame for your massive clear out very happily, Ian!

 

[Ian Grant]

Thanks for those comments, Wendy.

The Camera Fair was not the success I had hoped for, far from it. The early bird entrance fee of £17.50 has virtually killed early visitors, I noticed that at the last fair as well, and after 10am it was quieter than usual.

I only sold a few small items, enough to cover the cost, and a bit more, It was strange people weren't buying, the stall next to me sold nothing at all. Luckily I had made a bunch of GG focus screens specifically to take with me, and sold a few, also I will get orders for more.

One seller had 5x4 Fidelity DDS for £7 each and 10x8 for £80, all in excellent condition and those are bargain prices, as I was leaving the prices gad dropped.

So no cameras sold, and yes the Whole Plate Victo is a lovely camera . . . . . .

Ian

 

[Soulstar89]

That Victo looks so nice!
Hope you had a good day yesterday, Ian, and that some of those cameras and photophernalia will now be used and enjoyed by other photographers.
My, forthright, advice to Ian was based on my own experience. I have written about it here. In case any of you have not yet seen that article, here is the conclusion

“Do enjoy your photographic kit actively and then move along anything that is sitting in boxes and not receiving proper attention or enjoyment. Happily there is a whole new generation discovering what are now called 'alternative processes' and they will relish and maybe even use your neglected treasures.”

Are you still truly enjoying your collection of photographic kit? A story . . .

No - don't worry. I don't want to buy it (well not ALL of it). It's just that a post by @Ian Grant seemed to deserve a longer explanation. Here's the story . . . When our father died my sister and I inherited a medium sized, neglected collection of cameras and 'photophernalia' built by our...

www.5x4.co.uk

I accept the blame for your massive clear out very happily, Ian!

Hey Wendy. I have to agree with the quote. I’ll give it a read.

 

[Soulstar89]

Wow I’m surprised. The person who got a the 4x5 film holder for that price is insanely lucky. Wow.

 

[Ian Grant]

Wow I’m surprised. The person who got a the 4x5 film holder for that price is insanely lucky. Wow.

Well guess who got them . . . . . And 2 were free, with an extra discount for buying them all.

Isn

 

[MartyNL]

Typical of camera fairs, you end up leaving with more than you arrived, no matter which side of the table you're on!

And as for early birds, most are the dealers trying to grab a bargain before the punters arrive...

 

[Ian Grant]

Typical of camera fairs, you end up leaving with more than you arrived, no matter which side of the table you're on!

And as for early birds, most are the dealers trying to grab a bargain before the punters arrive...

I've been going regularly to this particular camera fair for about 18 years, since moving back to the UK in 2011 it's rare I miss one. I really only buy from 3 or 4 sellers, and they give me good deals,

I always go as an "Early Bird", but the last couple of times there's been a noticeable absence of outside dealers, buying for re-sale elsewhere (I mean not stallholders). Usually there's a French woman who spends thousands, she must specialise in certain cameras,

Yes, I did come back with more than I went with a new large Edward Weston book, still in its sealed wrapping, & 2 others for a pound each, a bargain Dallmeyer 2D lens with adjustable soft focus. Oh, and of course the DDS.

The logic is downsizing, only keeping certain cameras, matching them with excellent lenses, selling cameras with lenses and where needed tripod legs. I needed the 10x8 DDS to go with 2 10x8 Agfa Ansco cameras I will be selling, the 5x4 were just a bonus, 6 for under £20. I will use the Dallmeyer 2D it's a 9" f6 lens and covers half plate, 7x5 as well stopped down.

Ian

 

[Soulstar89]

Well guess who got them . . . . . And 2 were free, with an extra discount for buying them all.

Isn

I had to reread your post then I figured you bought the holders. You have a good eye for a bargain.

 

[Ian Grant]

I had to reread your post then I figured you bought the holders. You have a good eye for a bargain.

Well I'm normally leaving at 10am when the door price drops, this was the first time I stayed until almost the end, as I had a stall. Experience now means I have a good idea of actual value, I look at eBay completed sales prices as well.

I only buy when the prices are well below eBay, and it's nearly always sellers I buy off quite regularly. Sunday was the first time in ages that I haven't bought from one particular seller, he has an up market camera shop and essentially just wants surplus stock/items he's bought sold and out of the way, Usually these are items he wouldn't sell on his shop, or are in need of TLC, like the £20 Gandolfi tripod.

The person selling the 10x8 & 5x4 is normally a touch expensive, but he's moving and has no space for storage, so he had priced to sell. Why they didn't sell really surprised me, they were easy to see, on a stall near the entranced with a clear pricing label, £7 is a very low price. I paid £4.50 for 4 with 2 free MPP 5x4 plate holders, with film inserts.

The Dallmeyer 2D seller is someone else I often buy from, he is another with a small shop, in a covered market. He said take it to your stall, have a good look at it, that was about 8am). When I went to pay him about 2pm, he'd forgotten about it.

These are sellers buying collections, people having a clear out, shops & studios closing. They keep the best to sell in their shops, that gives them the profits, the rest is in storage between camera fairs.

Ian

 

[Nas]

Wendy is very knowledgeable and wise I am yet to fully take her advice onboard but that doesn't mean I don't think about it every time I make a new purchase