Half-plate plate holders

[Matt Bigwood]

Last year I bought two half-plate cameras at auction, an E&T Underwood Instanto, and a Lancaster Instantograph. Unfortunately they only came with one darkslide that someone had tried to convert to using film. I bought four Thornton Pickard double darkslides off eBay but they are slightly too wide. There are quite a few half-plate holders on ebay but it's too much of a gamble buying them as they may not fit. The one that does fit the camera is 5.76 inches wide and the Thornton Pickard is 6.1 inches wide.
Any advice on where I can get one that fits?

 

[Ian Grant]

I might be able to help Matt. I bought a job lot of cameras, and there were half plate holders at the last Camera Fair, some may fit the Instantograph.

Then I already have quite a variety other Half plate book form holders that don't fit my cameras. I could swap for the TP holders as I have 2 TP Imperial cameras.

Back in 1977 I went round the former E&T Underwood factory without realising. Hogg Lab Supplies were in the building and had a specialist photochemical section. Ninian Hogg took me through the labyrinth of the factory which was three buildings knocked into one, floors at slightly different levels, he pointed out the wood working shops and the pulley wheels in the ceiling. It was all demolished in the 80s.

I will look in the next couple of days.

Ian

 

[Matt Bigwood]

Hi Ian, that would be fantastic, thanks. I looked on Google Street View to see if there were any remains of the factory but it looks there are now flats on the site.

 

[Nas]

Last year I bought two half-plate cameras at auction, an E&T Underwood Instanto, and a Lancaster Instantograph. Unfortunately they only came with one darkslide that someone had tried to convert to using film. I bought four Thornton Pickard double darkslides off eBay but they are slightly too wide. There are quite a few half-plate holders on ebay but it's too much of a gamble buying them as they may not fit. The one that does fit the camera is 5.76 inches wide and the Thornton Pickard is 6.1 inches wide.
Any advice on where I can get one that fits?

Hey Matt, the Lancaster Instantograph holders are a very unique design - I have one of their cameras but can’t remember the size. The holders have a metal shield on them and the edges use grooves instead of tabs like other holders.

 

[Ian Grant]

Hey Matt, the Lancaster Instantograph holders are a very unique design - I have one of their cameras but can’t remember the size. The holders have a metal shield on them and the edges use grooves instead of tabs like other holders.

I have one holder, I think Half plate, with the metal shield. I'll dig them out tomorrow.

Ian

 

[Matt Bigwood]

Thanks Nas and Ian, the one holder that came with the camera fits OK but the Thornton Pickard holders are larger.

 

[Nas]

Thanks Nas and Ian, the one holder that came with the camera fits OK but the Thornton Pickard holders are larger.

Even if the Thornton Pickard holders were the correct width I can't see how they would fit without the grooves. Example of the J Lancaster holders I found online. Even Thornton Pickard holders can differ between their cameras. I've got at least two different designs, neither of which fit my Triple Imperial.

 

[Ian Grant]

OK, there are 4 potential holders for the Instantograph. One with the badge, 3 maybe - 2mm wider, similar edge slots, should be easy to adapt.

I need to cross-check all the other half plate holders, to see which aren't compatible with any of the half plate cameras I have.

Ian