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Looking for wetplate camera

Posted by Gavin Maitland on April 8, 2013 at 15:06

Hello all,

I am extremely keen to get my wetplate practice up and running by this summer but have been stopped in my tracks by buying a dud 19C camera.

I know this forum has not got many practitioners on it but is there anyone out there who knows where I can buy a new or old camera that is suitable for wetplate use - i.e. it must have a usable or converted darkslide and must be in working order but I don't care if it doesn't 'look the part' at this stage.

Any help gladly appreciated!

Gavin.

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Replies

  • Gavin Maitland April 22, 2013 12:31

    Hi Jeff.

    Thanks for getting in touch, that sounds amazing! I grew up near Guildford so I know the area. I would love to come down and have a look. Perhaps you can give me your email and i'll be in touch or email me on gavinmaitland80@hotmail.com.

     

    Cheers!

  • Jeff Gould April 20, 2013 13:03

    Gavin,

    I've missed out on this as i've not been checking on this site for a few weeks, but I live in Guildford, Surrey, easy to get to from London, and have pleanty of plate holders of all sorts of sizes, also might have a suitable camera for you, amongst my collection of wood and brass. As I'm only 35 mins on train from Waterloo, you are welcome anytime. I do have an 1850 Daguerrotype camera, as well as a Dubroni, which might interest you.

    regards

    Jeff
     
    Gavin Maitland said:

    Hi John, thanks for the offer but I ma based in London. If i'm ever up your way i'll give you a shout.

    Best,

    Gavin.

  • Gavin Maitland April 12, 2013 10:37

    Hi John, thanks for the offer but I ma based in London. If i'm ever up your way i'll give you a shout.

    Best,

    Gavin.

  • John Brewer April 12, 2013 10:01
    Gavin I have dozens of plate holders of various sizes you can try. You're welcome to come up and spend a few hours at my Manchester studio. Drop me an email if you're interested. john at johnbrewerphotography.com
  • Tony Richards April 10, 2013 16:13

    I doubt very much the MPP one will fit. Its pot luck to get a wooden book form holder to fit. I have no half plate ones to send you to try unfortunately.

    This is converting a 10x8 but you get the idea. These are a different fit to your camera. Thats why I asked if you had a 5x4 camera.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Vlb7DRoSSVI

  • Gavin Maitland April 10, 2013 16:04

    No, neither the lens nor the camera has a makers mark, frustratingly. 

    I suppose i'll have to keep trying half-plate holders 'til i find one that fits. You're right an MPP one might do the trick.

    I suppose you probably have a lot of experience adapting plate holders - do you know of any good websites with hints and tips, etc?

  • Tony Richards April 10, 2013 15:52

    A bit if wood filler might help. That third image shows the metal insert I mentioned. You might be able to cobble something together.

    Is there any sign of a manufacturer? You might get lucky and get a half plate holder to fit although they are made in all shapes and fits. Not standard at all.

    Tony

  • Gavin Maitland April 10, 2013 15:36

    Thanks for getting back to me Tony.

    the plate is 6 1/2 x 4 3/4 so I guess thats half plate?

    The 'big resinous blob' is part that the screw should screw into which is supposed to be sitting tight in the wood.

    I haven't looked at in almost a year but know that I do i think that perhaps hope is not all lost. Perhaps with a touch of wood glue and replacing some of the smaller screws (victorian-screw-replacements.co.uk?) it might well sit tightly once again.

    Then I just need to get or adapt a darkslide for wetplate.

    I took a couple better photos to give an idea. You can see how the wood has completely rotten away on one side.

    P1070950.JPG

    P1070951.JPG

    P1070952.JPG

  • Tony Richards April 10, 2013 15:08

    Hi Gavin,

    Measure the ground glass screen at the rear of the camera, that'll tell you the plate size. If its a little bigger than 5x4 its probably half plate.

    Would a decent wood glue not set that joint? Is the insert that the screw screws into amongst that big resinous blob?

    You can buy metal inserts but they are probably a different thread to the bolt thats on there.

    Tony

  • Gavin Maitland April 10, 2013 14:56

    Hi Tony.

    Its a little bigger than a 5x4 - I know this because I bought a 5x4 darkslide for it and its too small - though i'm not sure where/how you measure to find out....maybe you can tell me?

    One of the joists in the central folding mechanism is totally eroded and the camera can't sit still as a result so is no good for taking pictures. I have thought of putting some kind of putty in there.

    Its hard to get a  photo of but I've added one of the camera and one of the joint. You can't really see that there is bassically just a big hole where the screw is supposed to go.

    Any advice is appreciated.

    P1070407.JPG

    P1070423.jpg

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