Agfa Ansco 8x10 wood field specs

[vnc1]

Just wondering if anyone out there could give me some specs on Agfa Ansco wooden 8x10 cameras. More specifically, what are the movements? I'm primarily interested in table top work.

 

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Thanks, Vinod

[tony_brent]

This site may help:

 

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http://www.fiberq.com/cam/fcam.htm

[sean_yates]

Richard Knoppow <dickburk@ix.netcom.com>

 

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Is the real source of info on these cameras. They were made for a

loooong time and although the basic design didn't change, the

materials, bellows draw, anmount of movement and which ones are

present vary depending on model and vintage.

 

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Basically, from a user standpoint, the C-1 or Commercial is the most

desireable as it has the most movements and draw.

 

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If you have seen a Calumet C-1 you have the general idea, except for

materials and some specs. They were good enough for many commercial

and fine art photographers including Ansel Adams, Wynn Bullock, and

others I can't recal at the moment. E-mail Mr. Knoppow - he is a

vertiable well-spring of photo arcana and a nice guy to boot!

[sean_yates]

For some reason Richard's e-mail didn't take in the last mesage.

Maybe it will here.

 

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dickburk@ix.netcom.com

[sean_yates]

p.s. I can e-mail jpg images if you need 'em

[vnc1]

Thanks Sean! If it's not a major hassle I would like those jpegs. I

am also considering Calumet C1s. While having very good movements,

they look quite hideous and heavy to me.

[josh2]

Other notable users of the C-1 are Brett & Cole Weston. I'd buy one

in a seond if i had the $$-J

[steve_barth]

I have an Agfa Ansco 8X10 Wood Bed Field camera and can list the

movements. The front standard has geared rise, center axis tilt and

lateral shift. The rear standard provides generous tilt ability and

a very useful amount of swing. The bed has an integral extension

rail. The extension rail allows the camera to expand to 30 inches.

My copy weighs just under 13 lbs.

 

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The only real drawback is that it doesn't fold up quite as compact as

the clam shell design. The camera is quite stable for an 8X10

woodfield.

[david richhart]

I have been using a vintage 8x10 Agfa-Ansco wooden field camera for

almost a year. I agree with Steve, the movements are adequate for my

landscape photography... and I also agree with Steve that it would be

nice if it would fold into a more compact package. But I must say

that it is a very solid and stable machine. It operates smoothly and

locks down well, and is simple to use... -Dave

[brian_ellis2]

I have an Agfa Ansco 5x7 and I usually look at the 8x10s when they

come up on e bay with a picture. As I think someone else said, there

seem to be different models and I think you would have to know which

model you're talking about in order to get specs. Some that I've seen

don't appear to have front tilt, others seem to have a very short

bellows. If you really want to get into some depth, there's a guy on

e bay who always has a copy of the 8x10 repair manual for sale. I

think they usually go for about $20. Since he obviously has a stock

on hand, you probably could call him and buy one for a fixed price

without going through the auction process.

[vnc1]

For the benefit of the archives, here's what Richard Knoppow's

reponse was to my question via private e-mail.

 

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Agfa/Ansco made several models but there are only two of real

interest.

They are the "Universal View" and "Commercial View". They were built

from about 1926 until sometime in the mid 1950's, I don't have exact

dates.

The two are similar except the Commercial View has more bellows

draw. Both have a built-in bed extension which pulls out from the

back of the regular bed. The Commercial model has, in addition, an

attachable extension similar to those for the Kodak 2D and Burke and

James cameras. Maximum extension for the Universal model is 26-1/2",

for the Commercial model it is 36". Both have the same movements.

The back has swing and tilt. The front varied with the time of

manufacture. Older cameras move sideways and

rise, with limited lowering. Later cameras have front tilt,

introduced about 1940 as near as I can tell from advertising

literature.

Both models have both front and back focusing.

Up till the beginning of WW-2 the lens boards were 7-1/2" square.

At some point later they became 6x6", probably to meet a government

spec for the Kodak 2D. I don't know if the larger boards were

available for later cameras.

The design of the bracing for the front standard also changed with

time. Early cameras, without the tilt feature, have a single straight

brass strip across the top. Cameras with the tilt feature have a

brace with a step in it to prevent interference with the lens. War-

time and later cameras have an arrangement of interlocked "L"

brackets at the sides of the uprights which brace it laterally and do

away with the top cross-brace altogether. 8X10 Agfa/Ansco's have a

sliding tripod block which allows balancing the camera on the stand

and adjusting its position. The camera can be used without it for

somewhat greater rigidity. The blocks are often missing.

Some very late cameras don't have the grove on the base needed for

the block.

The name Agfa was used until early 1944 when it was dropped in

favor of Ansco but I suspect the old labels were used until

exhausted.

After the war the design of the camera was changed. The rear was

changed from center tilt to a base tilt with side braces. The knobs

were changed from machined brass to Bakelite.

The cameras were offered in two finishes. The standard finish was

polished Cherry and Bronze-Gilt metalwork. The "Deluxe" finish is

aluminum-gray with bright nickel plated metalwork and red bellows.

Post war cameras seem to have a darker wood finish than earlier ones.

Agfa and Ansco made some cheaper models, there is a "portrait"

camera with a fixed front and shorter bellows extension. I see them

occasionally at shows.

There was also a large studio camera called the Number 5 Studio

Outfit. This consists of a large stand camera with two section

bellows and total bellows extension of around 42 inches. It comes on

a heavy twin-post crank-up studio stand. These turn up for sale

occasionally. While it would work well for table top work (it was

intended for that) it is large and heavy and not at all suitable for

field work. They have very large lens boards, 9" square, which can be

mounted in the center section as well as on the front.

Kodak made a similar camera under the Eastman-Century name which I

think had even longer bellows.

Agfa/Ansco cameras were definitely deluxe cameras, they were about

the highest priced cameras of the type on the market other than

Deardorf.

I can't think of anything else. If you have any questions please e-

mail

me again.

----

Richard Knoppow

Los Angeles,Ca.

dickburk@ix.netcom.com