murrayatuptown Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 Hello I had to create a new account...so I have to wait for account approval of uploaded images. I’m trying to identify a just-purchased unidentified 5x7 rotating spring back with ground glass and a tilting cover that has a reflex mirror BEHIND the GG, between the GG and tilting cover. It is very simple but every feature is functional. It is huge, making me wonder if it was a reducing back for a larger camera or for a commercial copy/process camera...maybe one that operated vertically...that might make the ground glass viewer mirror useful. The filmholder is created from steel angle stock, the cover with mirror is also steel, and the rest is 1/8” aluminum plate. The rotation is accomplished via 4 rounded corners on a squareish footprint. Since I don’t have the camera I’m not sure whether it actually rotates or is removable to reinsert rotated 90 degrees. There are two half-circle ‘locking knobs’ that would engage the lip of a tab above a recessed cavity the back would sit inside. All black wrinkletex paint, black felt light seal inside. The ground glass & mirror mounts and filmholder light trap plate are all implemented with simple aluminum strips...all additive features rather than grooves/slots removed. Possibly too simply functional to burden with the tag ‘primitive’. Thanks for reading & looking when the posted inaged are available, Thannk you Murray Murray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul ron Posted June 15, 2018 Share Posted June 15, 2018 Hi Murray, It would help to see a picture of it so it can be identified by the more experienced LF users here. but we can patiently await your approval I guess. Whats the distance between locks? It very well may be a reducing back. I once had a customer ask me to build similar 4x5 mirrored viewers for his LF club using first surface mirror. The mirrors worked very nicely when viewed from above. I myself have found it very useful in the field since I like my camera mounted low. Having the image right side up helps me compose much easier. What I find annoying is when I want to remove it for critical focusing off the GG. Im working on a better way to mount my mirror for easier removal. The more you say, the less people listen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_fromm2 Posted June 15, 2018 Share Posted June 15, 2018 Ron, I have a couple of Cambos (2x3, 4x5) and have both Cambo reflex viewers for the 4x5 and a Horseman reflex viewer for the 2x3. None of this is any help to you 'cos all attach to the backs. But some makers of 4x5 cameras offer reflex viewers with a hinge at one end so that the viewer can be swing out of the way. If you look around you should find pictures, instructions, ... And then steal the idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murrayatuptown Posted July 10, 2018 Author Share Posted July 10, 2018 Hey Ron & Dan... I will take pictures. I had .png images I couldn’t upload...first I thought because they were not mine (from eBay listing), but probably because they were png. The thing arrived...it must be for a non-portable camera...I could hardly hold it up with one hand...steel & aluminum plates...speaking of reducing, that’s literally what I did to it...removed the oversized baseplate and non-essential plates. Now it will fit the camera I hoped to fit it on. I will also steal the idea to make a lighter one of wood construction. What remains is still partially angle iron! Murray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murrayatuptown Posted July 10, 2018 Author Share Posted July 10, 2018 Murray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murrayatuptown Posted July 10, 2018 Author Share Posted July 10, 2018 Fooled the .png censor...edit on phone saves as jpeg. Murray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murrayatuptown Posted July 10, 2018 Author Share Posted July 10, 2018 Murray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murrayatuptown Posted July 10, 2018 Author Share Posted July 10, 2018 Murray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_fromm2 Posted July 11, 2018 Share Posted July 11, 2018 Murray, thanks for the pictures. Reflex viewer? Probably not. All the thing has in common with the reflex viewers I've (Cambo, monocular and binocular; Horseman monocular for 2x3; Sinar binocular) is a mirror. The reflex viewers I've see are light tight, have more-or-less fixed mirrors and ocular lenses. See MF & LF Reflex Finders I have no idea what your monster is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_t_butler Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Perhaps it is part of an opaque projector (epidiascope type device) for projecting 5 x 7 transparencies? Matt B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murrayatuptown Posted July 16, 2018 Author Share Posted July 16, 2018 Both good answers. Thanks. Intent was to put it on my first Franken-Cam (film) started years ago, derailed by errors, sidelined by Franken-Cam II-VI (digital-just microphone hacks). I forgot about Epi-whoever..I bought one for the lens and took the rusty metal housing etc. to the dumpster so quickly I don’t remember much about its mechanics other than the doghouse-like appearance...well, doghouse with a cyclops in it. Murray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murrayatuptown Posted July 17, 2018 Author Share Posted July 17, 2018 Hmmm, the presence of the ground glass reduces options for projection device origin. Murray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_t_butler Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 Does the device look like it accepts a 5 x 7 darkslide/film folder and is there a slot for an additional 5 x 7 filter in front of the film holder area? Matt B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_t_butler Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 Upon reflection (no pun intended) this could be from the top of a heavy duty rostrum 'down-shooter' camera set up used to photograph both flat art and 3D objects without the need to climb up and lean over the camera??? Matt B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_t_butler Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 ...... B&W 5 x 7 contact printer? Is the ground glass similar to opal glass? Intriguing .... Matt B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Meyer Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 ...... B&W 5 x 7 contact printer? Is the ground glass similar to opal glass? Intriguing .... This is a copy attachment for using a 5x7 enlarger as a copy camera. I have one like it in 4x5 for my Beseler enlarger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_t_butler Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 ..... a clever application! Matt B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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