Yet another new lens board

Ian Grant

Ian Grant

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Had a sort through lens flanges last week, I acquired quite a few more in 3 job lots recently. I managed to match around 8 to lenses. I'd mistakenly never tried this one, assuming it was too large for my Dallmeyer 2B. I was surprised to find it was the correct thread, it had come fitted to a 18x24 Reisekamera's lens board. However, there was damage to the threads preventing the lens screwing in fully. That took a bit of work scraping the damaged area of the threads cleaner, then a quick flick with a Dremel,to finish off. The flange was paint stripped, given a rub down, then primed, and resprayed, only fitting for a 161-year-old lens.

I still have 55+ lens flanges, that don't match any of my lenses, so time for a swap thread I think.

Unlike the Americans, I as in also We, here in the UK & Europe have a variety of shutter options for barrel lenses, A glance at a 1941 Kodak Ltd Professional Catalogue shows a few. So I have a few choices, Eyelid, Barn door, TP, Gitzo, and Focal plane, and more for small lenses.

Ian
 
That's looking very handsome, Ian.

Out of curiosity, I noticed the lensboard is made out of 3 sections of wood with grain running in opposing directions. Not something I've seen too often but it may depend on the specific wood type?
You'd suspect a lot more work to make than out of a single piece of wood and that glued joints would be a source of weakness. I can't imagine it's purely cosmetic or decorative, so the only thing I can think of is to prevent warping?
But how likely is the risk of warping panels in general, or was it specific to tropical reisekamera's?
 
I had a custom board made for my Szabad 5x7 by Burley Cameras, it was a similar construction to the above less the flange (a copal 2 hole in my case), I guess for the reasons Marty has suggested above.
 
Traditionally larger panels for cameras, lens boards, plate holder dark-slides, were made u[ in section, this provides better dimensional stability, warping.

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You can see this on my 18x24 Reisekamera, but it; the same with British, French, US cameras etc. This image shows the lens flange I've used.

In my case it is sometimes cosmetic to match originals, it also looks better. Sometimes it's just veneer.

Ian
 
MartyNL said:
But how likely is the risk of warping panels in general, or was it specific to tropical reisekamera's?
Click to expand...

The rusk of warping is high, but there are other issues Tropical cameras often use different wood, Teak instead of Mahogany, they may also have brass bracing inset in the corners.

A large issue these days is central heating drying out wood causing shrinkage, this typically affects book-form dark-slides. It also affects antique furniture.

Ian
 
Camera-making emerged from fine cabinet making. Composite panels like this enabled them to be lighter, flatter and stronger. Skilled Victorian labour was cheap and their prosperous customers were demanding. It also presented side-grain all round, so that screws did not have to be inserted into end grain, which gives a very poor grip on the thread.
 
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