James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

As I could not find a Do It Yourself area on the UHH, I am posting this here - For one reason is that I wish to know IF any other people here have Built A "Sliding-Box" 4X5 or 8X10 Large Format Camera(s).

NO!!! I am not wanting to know about "pin-hole" 'cameras'. A "Sliding-Box Camera" that uses a LENS. This sort of camera was used from about 1838 to about 1850 = Before a bellows replaced the Sliding Inner Box to focus on a Ground Glass focal plane.

This is about photography - And the Paper Negative Chemical//Digital process. (Photographic Paper is used as a "Film Base" loaded into "film-holders" and placed into a Large Format 4X5 or 8X10 camera.)

I have built two and working on the third one now. Building these are not difficult, and you do not need a very extensive woodworking shop.

I have attached the two models I have made. And YES... They work well and good.

Thank you

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Model #1 3X4 "Sliding-Box" Camera.

(Download)

Model #2 4x5 "Sliding-Box" Camera


Rear View of the Model #2


Model #2 - with a 127mm (4 inch) Lens.

verichrome Loc: California

No photos attached. Would like to
see your cameras.

James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

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I was working on it ;-)

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Them were the days when you really needed to know what you were doing. No bookshelf of fancy advice books.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

There were plenty of photography advice books back then, too - technical books on how to calculate exposure, in-depth film developing techniques, even books discussing visual aesthetics and the different approaches to composition in photography. But these books certainly weren't "fancy" when compared to the flashy eye candy books of today.

James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

Well.... I'll Tell Ya......!!

In the years that these cameras were the ONLY cameras in use there were really not much good reference to the Art and Science of Photography. 1838 to 1850 = Those years were the foundation of the craft of photography. William Henry Fox Talbot (the inventor of the Paper Negative, whereby the photographer could make and duplicate as many Positives from one negative.) And, of course, the Frenchman = Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre (the inventor of the "Daguerreotype Process" - and with this the only image was the one that was made and ONLY one image each, would be made, no duplicates.) These and a few others, did not have the references that photographers of the 1900's and today have - They rarely shared information, and IF they did, they had to trust one another as to the "How To Do".
Thank goodness, for the today's libraries and Google - and Of Course sites like the UHH = whereby We All may share in our accomplishments and our failures. Yes - our failures are a very great part of everyone learning process. For one, I am NOT at all "embarrassed" to show what I have done wrong. For one thing it shows others that mistakes can happen, that we learn from our mistakes, and I personally feel much stronger to show my "mishaps" and errors to anyone.
Be That As It May....
I am still seeking ANYONE that has tried - Will Try - and or Going To Try building their very own camera.

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jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Nice builds

Graveman Loc: Indiana

Looks interesting. Where did you find the plans?

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

Incredible! Congrats on reliving fascinating early history. I've learned a few things from your experience.

James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

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To Quote from the movie "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (sort of) ....

"Plans???? We Don't Need Any Stinkin' PLANS."

In all reality the camera (Now three of them) were built out of my mind and onto the "work bench" via the table saw, and other hand tools.

I did make a few sketches when I got the Idea and just wanted to put them down to look at.

However - This is the way I Do A Lot of building - I See the idea as a finished product, then I "rewind" in my mind as to How to make The Build. (This works for me and a few other people)... I do hope that the sketch suits the purpose of what you wanted?

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First camera


Here is the 8X10 version (Almost Finished).


Work In Progress.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

I would suggest a deep mahogony stain followed by a hard wax rub to bring out the burnish your creation deserves.

James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

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OOPS! But - Thank you. Just applied the "Walnut" stain to the wood, mixed with some thinner. I rubbed it in - did not use a brush. I will use polyurethane, glossy, and then a application of some paste wax. Also the wax will be applied to the interior parts to assure a good and free sliding of the two boxes. This worked well for the others. Being that this 8X10 IS about 4 times larger it went together rather quickly.

Thank you, John, for your advice. I shall do what you suggested on a different one.

I do think that this will be my last camera build for a while. I would like to make Paper Negatives with these cameras as that is what William Henry Fox Talbot used with his sliding-box cameras.

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Tim Stapp Loc: Mid Mitten

Check out APUG (Analog Photography Users Group/now Photrio). A vast repository of analogue information. There is a specific section just for home built cameras. Folks there would love to see your builds (as have I).

Tim Stapp Loc: Mid Mitten

I'm not sure if Ilford still makes their direct positive paper for in camera photographs. I've considered that myself for teaching my grandson about large format photography. The last I knew, it was on fiber paper, not on rc paper. Not an issue at 4x5 or 5x7; but at 8x10, keeping it flat might pose an issue. I know that I have problems getting any fiber based paper flat at sizes 8x10 or larger. Bob Kyser suggested a mounting procedure that would help.

Nice builds. I've often thought about a build, but time (lack there of) keeps getting in the way.

James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

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Thank you for the advice about the "Analog Photography Users Group" = been a member for about 4 years now.

I have used different papers including Ilford. And too, I have over 3000 8X10 sheets of Kodak assorted photopaper. One that I have found very good to make the paper negatives with is "Kodabromide II "F" RC" ( ISO 4-8 ). I have a lot of "Polycontrast" "F" however, with that I have to use a #2 Yellow filter with open sunlight as the contrast is way Out There. The Yellow filter really helps retain high gray tones.

How long have you been making Paper Negatives?

Usually I use my Ansco 8X10 and or my Crown Graphic 4X5. But I wanted something close to what the "founding fathers" of photography used... Enter the "Sliding-Box" cameras.

I do hope to have photos of the Finished 8X10 Sliding-Box Tomorrow to show here. I think that it is really coming on in fine order. Looks Really Great that the lens I have selected. It uses "Waterhouse" F-stops... (Little slides of brass what slide into a slot in the lens between the front and rear elements.

Here are photos of the Lens I have selected.... No Shutter. The operator would remove a lens-cap and replace it after a few seconds of exposure.

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