I just bought this. What is it? (Tripod)

[wogears]

<p>I saw this at a local pawn shop, and bought it for USD 10. (It has some slight damage.) It has two-section wooden legs, and an ungeared center column. The word "Billingham" is painted on one of the legs. It stands about 4' tall with the column retracted. It works very smoothly and appears to be well-made. I have emailed these photos to Berlebach, whom I consider the likeliest manufacturer, but it could easily be a knockoff. Anyone ever seen one of these?</p>

<p>Thanks<br>

Les<br>

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17946603-lg.jpg" alt="" width="467" height="700" /></p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17946602-lg.jpg" alt="" /></p>

[mukul_dube]

<p>If you find that you like working with it, that is that.</p>

[wogears]

<p><strong>Mukul Dube: </strong>Of course, but as I said, there is some slight damage, which I believe will worsen over time. I would like to know if and where spare parts might be available.</p>

[mukul_dube]

<p>If the damage is to the wooden legs you're probably better off looking for a skilled carpenter. No telling how old the thing is.</p>

[Dieter Schaefer]

<blockquote>

<p>I have emailed these photos to Berlebach</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Very likely the right track, have read somewhere that Berlebach tripods were imported into the US under the Billingham name - half a century ago or thereabouts.</p>

[JDMvW]

<p>I think these are mostly used for interior decoration items these days, but there are people (I hear) who do like wooden tripods.<br>

Don't know if this is the same outfit, or a newer one by the same name:<br>

http://www.billingham.co.uk/accessories.html </p>

[Lou_Meluso]

<p>In the days before carbon fiber, wooden tripods were <em>the</em> tool for maximum vibration dampening. Yours seems to have lived a charmed life and show very little signs of use. Nice for a large format camera. These days, modern materials have gained prominence due to lighter weight, but for 10 bucks I'd say you got yourself a nice deal on a clean, vintage tripod. </p>

[wogears]

<p>I will say that, although somewhat short, it's a very solid tripod. I wouldn't hesitate to put a LF camera on it. BTW, it IS a Berlebach. They may have the spare parts I need.</p>

[johne37179]

<p>What a great find. As others have pointed out, wooden tripods are solid and vibration damping. I would not hesitate to use this until it is kindling for your fireplace.</p>

[Aoresteen]

<p>Might have been used for surveying.</p>

[craig_shearman1]

<p>I have one of these and it's a pretty good basic wooden tripod. Bought it for my first view camera. it goes higher than four feet -- you do not have it fully exended in the photo. You only have the legs here, no head, but you can use any head on it you like. Reasonably sturdy, definitely a usable piece of photo gear. Where is the damage -- not obvious in the photo.</p>

[wogears]

<p>Craig: One of the spring-loaded pins that act as stops for the legs obviously got hit. The metal around it is slightly cracked. Works fine now, but I will probably have to repair/replace the cap piece at some point.</p>

[craig_shearman1]

<p>If it's holding the legs OK at this point I wouldn't worry about it. If it becomes a problem later and you can put a bolt or screw through it to hold things together that would work. But if you had to replace the whole metal casting at the top, I don't think you would be able to find parts and it's definitely not worth the trouble. Unlike a Manfrotto/Bogen, Gitzo or other major brand, this was not popular enough for parts to be available and not valuable enough to make it worth the cost. It's a good tripod but there are plenty of other good tripods new and used at good prices.<br /><br />If you decide to use this tripod, remember that you need a head to go with it. Manfrotto makes a bunch, wide range of prices. Whatever head you buy can be used with any other set of legs if you decide to buy a different tripod later. The screw that comes out of the flat piece on a set of tripod legs is either 1/4 inch or 3/8 inch. The socket on the bottom of a tripod head is usually 3/8 inch. if your legs have a 1/4 inch screw, you can get a bushing that goes into the head to adapt it. You can definitely buy the bushing where you buy the head. You might even be able to get it from a local hardware store.</p>

[wogears]

<p>Craig: I have a Bogen three-way head that I just put on this tripod. I did need a 1/4-20 female to 3/8-16 male adapter, which I got from Amazon.</p>

[craig_shearman1]

<p>Sounds great. Looks like you've got yourself a very nice tripod at very little cost. Hope it works well for you.</p>

[don_mawhinney]

<p>It may be to facilitate an artist working on 3D clay sculpture. That may explain the wooden construction as it would be indoors.</p>