Questions about my new Ansco 5x7

"Nick Zentena" wrote in message
...
Richard Knoppow wrote:


2, Universal View, made in 5x7 and 8x10 sizes. Similar
to
the Commercial view but has only the internal extension.
Bellows draw, 8x10, 26-1/2 inches, 5x7, 20-1/2 inches.

Both the Commercial and Universal had reducing backs
available. The 5x7 reducing back for the 8x10 is flat,
the
4x5 back for the 5x7 is on a small riser.


Both the Universal and Commercial View cameras have
two
1/4-20 tripod sockets on the bottom, one on the front
part
of the bed, one on the cross-brace of the back section.
Both
8x10 cameras are equipped for use on a sliding bed
block,
the 5x7 Universal does not have the side groove for the
bed
block. The bed block also has two 1/4-20 sockets on it
for
use on various tripods and camera stands.

The short bellows sounds like the Standard View
camera.
If it has a fixed front and only rear focusing that's
what
you have.


Hi,

It's front axis tilt,rise/fall and shift. Rear base
tilt and swing.
Focus on front and back. There is one tripod mount on the
front but not on
the back. I was thinking it wouldn't be that stable with
the front location
and the bellows racked out. I'm about 99% sure the
bellows have been
replaced some time in the past. They look way to good to
be orginal. The
outside dimensions of the back are about 10"x12" which is
why I don't think
it started life on the camera. Everything has Ansco name
plates. I don't
know maybe somebody took a few cameras apart and made one
good one?

Right now my plan is to glue in a block in the rear
rail for a tripod
mount.

Thanks
Nick

What you have is a Universal View. It sounds like its
been modified. The bellows should have a length of about 21
inches, since yours are only 14 inches its likely this was
part of the modification. My 5x7 Universal View must have
been built around 1940. Its bellows are original and in good
condition. My 8x10 Universal View is a war time camera. Its
bellows were a mess, I replaced them. Leather can be very
long lasting but is sensitive to the way its kept. From what
I can find out many leather dressings actually shorten the
life of the leather.


--
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA

"Nick Zentena" wrote in message
...
Richard Knoppow wrote:


2, Universal View, made in 5x7 and 8x10 sizes. Similar
to
the Commercial view but has only the internal extension.
Bellows draw, 8x10, 26-1/2 inches, 5x7, 20-1/2 inches.

Both the Commercial and Universal had reducing backs
available. The 5x7 reducing back for the 8x10 is flat,
the
4x5 back for the 5x7 is on a small riser.


Both the Universal and Commercial View cameras have
two
1/4-20 tripod sockets on the bottom, one on the front
part
of the bed, one on the cross-brace of the back section.
Both
8x10 cameras are equipped for use on a sliding bed
block,
the 5x7 Universal does not have the side groove for the
bed
block. The bed block also has two 1/4-20 sockets on it
for
use on various tripods and camera stands.

The short bellows sounds like the Standard View
camera.
If it has a fixed front and only rear focusing that's
what
you have.


Hi,

It's front axis tilt,rise/fall and shift. Rear base
tilt and swing.
Focus on front and back. There is one tripod mount on the
front but not on
the back. I was thinking it wouldn't be that stable with
the front location
and the bellows racked out. I'm about 99% sure the
bellows have been
replaced some time in the past. They look way to good to
be orginal. The
outside dimensions of the back are about 10"x12" which is
why I don't think
it started life on the camera. Everything has Ansco name
plates. I don't
know maybe somebody took a few cameras apart and made one
good one?

Right now my plan is to glue in a block in the rear
rail for a tripod
mount.

Thanks
Nick

What you have is a Universal View. It sounds like its
been modified. The bellows should have a length of about 21
inches, since yours are only 14 inches its likely this was
part of the modification. My 5x7 Universal View must have
been built around 1940. Its bellows are original and in good
condition. My 8x10 Universal View is a war time camera. Its
bellows were a mess, I replaced them. Leather can be very
long lasting but is sensitive to the way its kept. From what
I can find out many leather dressings actually shorten the
life of the leather.


--
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA

"Nick Zentena" wrote in message
...

I learned a few more things cleaning it up today. The
back
started life out being some sort of sliding back. It still
slides but it's
only setup for 5x7. The back actually adds just over 2" of
extension. I'm
not missing a rail. What I had thought might have been a
rear rail
attachment screw was in fact a little knob for the hook
on the camera to
grab when you fold up the camera. Shifting the front right
is kind of stiff
but other then that the cleaning and waxing seems to have
put things right.
Famous last words I guess. Just need to get a tripod
mount setup now.

Nick

There was a sliding back attachment for the 8x10 which
allowed two exposures on a single sheet for portrait work. I
don't see anyting like this for the 5x7 but the catalogues I
have may not be complete.
I found my 5x7 Universal View complete with case, lens,
camera stand, accessories, at a yard sale being sold as
_furniture_.


--
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA

Richard,
This reminds me. I asked about the odd back on my ansco universal 8x10 a
few months ago. I have since seen this back on two different ebay sales of
ansco 8x10 universals. Though I can't rule out that they are the same (not
mine I still own and use it) camera. So it apears that this was not the one
off or custom back we initialy thought.
Oh the joys of a photography question you don't have the answer to at your
fingertips!
Alan Wood

"Richard Knoppow" wrote in message
...

"Nick Zentena" wrote in message
...

I learned a few more things cleaning it up today. The
back
started life out being some sort of sliding back. It still
slides but it's
only setup for 5x7. The back actually adds just over 2" of
extension. I'm
not missing a rail. What I had thought might have been a
rear rail
attachment screw was in fact a little knob for the hook
on the camera to
grab when you fold up the camera. Shifting the front right
is kind of stiff
but other then that the cleaning and waxing seems to have
put things right.
Famous last words I guess. Just need to get a tripod
mount setup now.

Nick

There was a sliding back attachment for the 8x10 which
allowed two exposures on a single sheet for portrait work. I
don't see anyting like this for the 5x7 but the catalogues I
have may not be complete.
I found my 5x7 Universal View complete with case, lens,
camera stand, accessories, at a yard sale being sold as
_furniture_.


--
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA

Richard Knoppow wrote:


What you have is a Universal View. It sounds like its
been modified. The bellows should have a length of about 21
inches, since yours are only 14 inches its likely this was
part of the modification. My 5x7 Universal View must have
been built around 1940. Its bellows are original and in good
condition. My 8x10 Universal View is a war time camera. Its
bellows were a mess, I replaced them. Leather can be very
long lasting but is sensitive to the way its kept. From what
I can find out many leather dressings actually shorten the
life of the leather.


The bellows are some sort of man made material. They seem the sort of
thing that will never rot. Taking off the lensboard and looking inside it's
easy to guess these bellows were cut off something else and attached.
They're a little stiff at the extremes but fine other wise.

Some thing I'm confused about. How long should the bed be? Mine is
shorter then 21" I"m pretty sure but I'm also starting to think it was
stock. OTOH a full lenght bellow would allow movements at max extension.

Thanks
Nick

Richard Knoppow wrote:


There was a sliding back attachment for the 8x10 which
allowed two exposures on a single sheet for portrait work. I
don't see anyting like this for the 5x7 but the catalogues I
have may not be complete.


I think my back is off a bigger camera. It looks out of place on the
camera. OTOH Somebody is selling a similar sounding back on Ebay. The
pictures are lousy so it's impossible to tell how big.

Did they then just contact print the two images? Would have been
around 5"x3.5"?

Nick

"Alan Wood" wrote in message
ink.net...
Richard,
This reminds me. I asked about the odd back on my ansco
universal 8x10 a
few months ago. I have since seen this back on two
different ebay sales of
ansco 8x10 universals. Though I can't rule out that they
are the same (not
mine I still own and use it) camera. So it apears that
this was not the one
off or custom back we initialy thought.
Oh the joys of a photography question you don't have the
answer to at your
fingertips!
Alan Wood

Next time you see one let me know and I will have a look
at it. Its hard to identify without seeing it. I still might
not be able to identify it but stand a better chance:-)


--
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA

"Nick Zentena" wrote in message
...
Richard Knoppow wrote:


What you have is a Universal View. It sounds like its
been modified. The bellows should have a length of about
21
inches, since yours are only 14 inches its likely this
was
part of the modification. My 5x7 Universal View must
have
been built around 1940. Its bellows are original and in
good
condition. My 8x10 Universal View is a war time camera.
Its
bellows were a mess, I replaced them. Leather can be
very
long lasting but is sensitive to the way its kept. From
what
I can find out many leather dressings actually shorten
the
life of the leather.


The bellows are some sort of man made material. They
seem the sort of
thing that will never rot. Taking off the lensboard and
looking inside it's
easy to guess these bellows were cut off something else
and attached.
They're a little stiff at the extremes but fine other
wise.

Some thing I'm confused about. How long should the bed be?
Mine is
shorter then 21" I"m pretty sure but I'm also starting to
think it was
stock. OTOH a full lenght bellow would allow movements at
max extension.

Thanks
Nick

Both the Universal View and Commercial View cameras had
sliding bed extensions. There should be a lock knob on the
right rear (facing the back of the camera) for the sliding
section. When pulled out the bed will be long enough for the
21" bellows draw. If this sliding section is missing you
have a very heavily modified camera. The Commercial View had
this sliding section plus an external bed extension, a'la
the Kodak 2D, which fitted onto the front of the bed.
If your camera is complete it would be worth having a new
bellows made. The cost is around $150. I've posted a list of
bellows makers in the past but the best are probably Western
Bellows and English Bellows. English bellows is the only one
who will work in leather. While leather looks nice synthetic
material is far longer lasting.


--
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA

Richard Knoppow wrote:


Both the Universal View and Commercial View cameras had
sliding bed extensions. There should be a lock knob on the
right rear (facing the back of the camera) for the sliding
section. When pulled out the bed will be long enough for the
21" bellows draw. If this sliding section is missing you
have a very heavily modified camera. The Commercial View had
this sliding section plus an external bed extension, a'la
the Kodak 2D, which fitted onto the front of the bed.

I think it's missing. There is a lock knob but it doesn't lock anything. I
had thought it was a focus lock. I can see how a section could slide out but
I'm having trouble with seeing how the gear track could. I guess the rear
tripod mount should be on that sliding section?


If your camera is complete it would be worth having a new
bellows made. The cost is around $150. I've posted a list of
bellows makers in the past but the best are probably Western
Bellows and English Bellows. English bellows is the only one
who will work in leather. While leather looks nice synthetic
material is far longer lasting.


My first goal is a flat 5x7 back. That will let me use both my 150mm and
my 240mm. I'd be happy with that. With the current back the 150mm is iffy.
Even if it focusses at infinity the bellows will be squished together not
allowing much movement. I still need to make lensboards.

Thanks
Nick

"Nick Zentena" wrote in message
...

I found a hair pin inside the bellows. I'm not sure I want to know what
kind of photos this camera took-)) Hopefully not too much of a project. So
far just adding the tripod mounts and cleaning.

Hair pin? The previous owner must have really 'gotten into' her camera. (To
fix pinholes, I've found the automobile soft-top patch kits to be perfect.
It's a flexible paste that comes in a palate of colors you can mix, if you
have too, to match the bellows color. Cheap, easy to use, and strong. Apply
to the inside of the bellows sparingly.)