Lensboard retention woes on a Calumet 400 series 4x5

My poor CC-400 has lately developed a bug. The sliding plate that looks as if it should retain the top of a properly fitting lensboard no longer stays underneath the screws.

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I ordered new parts from Calumet, which look identical, and they don't work either. I could probably work out some kind of kludge plate (or thick washers) for my itty bitty 150/5.6, but the weight of my new 355/9 Copal 3 behemoth makes me nervous.

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The long term answer, of course, is to get a real camera, but does anyone have any insight on this particular issue which does not involve spending tons of money on a format which I'll probably shelve in favor of 8x10 soon?

I am not sure from your description if this will help or not.

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I once had a Calumet C that the previous owner had modified by

bending one corner of the sliding clip at the top out and down, and

the one at the bottom out and up and then drilled two small holes in

each end. They put the ends of a small but beefy coil spring through

each hole so the spring pulled the two clips together assuring they

could not slide open.

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It made switching lensboards a bit of a task, but the lensboard

stayed put once in place.

Hmmm,

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Looking at by old cc-402...the screw heads are ample to retain the

sliding plate, and the friction is ample to keep the plate from

moving without my intent. A very positive retention.

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From your description the failure is the whole sliding retaining

plate comes off...it isn't just sliding up and allowing the lens

board to fall outward. Do you see wear in the slots or the screw

heads? I'd be inclined to go back and discuss it with

Calumet...sounds like you didn't get the right parts.

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Fred

John: The beefier screws seem to the a good solution. I have never

understood why the lens locks are on the top instead of the bottom. I

changed one of my cameras over so that the solid plate screwed

tightly to the top and the moveable one was at the bottom. It works

great. If the lock comes undone, the lens doesn't fall on the ground

unless it is pointed straight down. I have only changed one of my

cameras this way because the others lock up tightly, but I will

eventually change the others. I would recommend you look into

changing your Calumet to a bottom lock. Then the big lenses will stay

put.

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Regards,

Has the camera body worn away under the sliding plate, I wonder?

Perhaps a shim of thin brass, on the <i>underside</i> of the retaining

plate would help, or you could try some 'wavy' washers to give some

spring tension to the whole affair.