blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

Thank you very much for commenting. Since the format is 5x7 it would probably make a nice 16x20 print.

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

I am curious, does it still function or is an Antiques Roadshow piece? I didn't have the time to read 8 pages of threads...how would you get film...5x7 should have great detail - post a sample! That's what other photographers would find really interesting, not a picture of the camera but a picture from the camera! I once did a small 3x5 negative in a press camera and it was so exquisite we (art school) didn't even make a positive.

blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

Yes, the camera still functions well and I still have 5x7 film in my freezer but my darkroom of 50 years is gone. As you might know that 5x7 film is not developed as easy as 35 or 120 film I have done it in the past. So the camera is only a historic show piece. Even if I would use it and post it's result here on UHH I most likely would get 2 comments like "Nice shot" after all the work, not worth the effort.

Dean Sturgis

The last time I saw him he didn't look that old but I have aged since too.
I have 2 of his books 6th edition dated 1987, and 11th dated 2001. I haven't seen new additions in some years.

dsturgis

blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

You missed his last edition, it was the 12th and it came out in 2004, it's huge over 1,200 pages. I remember I paid $100 and it was signed by him. I got a great compliment from him, I exhibited part of my collection at a Seattle show and he said in all his travels he had never seen a collection of so many rare cameras as mine.

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

Doesn't Deardorf still sell their line of view cameras? Bellows definitely can be made-accordions use them also. I have an old Folmer Portrait camera that needs one. It has a rise and fall on the front, but no tilt or swivel. From what I understand Folmer was a predecessor to Grafic in the 1920's, and made only wood cameras?

blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

I am not sure if Deardorf still produce cameras, as there is not much demand for film cameras anymore and I am sure as fewer people buy large format film it will be discontinued or be too expensive. You are correct Folmer Schwing was the forerunner of the Graphic cameras. I think that the art of making bellows might be gone too and if you would find someone it would cost an arm and a leg.

erbPIX Loc: Greater New York City area

Your story reminds me of a former associate I used to purchase most of my gear from. He had an inside booth at a local flea market that he opened on weekends. Pre-owned equipment was his forte. He always got there early so he could walk around before opening his store and get first shot at the items people were just starting to put out on their rented tables outside. One day he found a Leica M4 body new and complete in the box, never used, next to a Canon AE-1 w/50mm lens. The woman who had just put them out said she wanted $25 for the Canon and since the Leica didn’t have a lens, she would let it go for $5! Walt said it was all he could do to contain himself while pulling out a fiver. Another time he found a huge and fast Canon telephoto lens, #32 of fifty that, according to Canon when he called them with the serial #, had been specially made for the indoor Olympics. He picked that up for a mere $50. The spirit of adventure is hard to put a price on, so I wouldn’t try to kick that flea market “addiction” any time soon if I were you.

Blessings and Good Hunting.

blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

Thank you very much, wow, things like that can still happen even in the IPod times. Like yesterday, Art bought me a hot dog at the food truck to tell me a secret, the $140. painting he bought last month just sold for 8 grand at the gallery, it was not a secret to me as other people told me. But you can see persistence pays off.

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

Yes but it would be educational to others to see. We are photography nuts, after all. I guess I am more of an artist, I am interested more in the image than the camera. I think turning 60 has something to do with it, a lot of things I used to do suddenly became too much effort.

carlysue Loc: Columbus

Holy Cow, Mike! What a find! This is just in incredible shape and what beautiful wood grain. And the red bellows! How kind of John the Watch Guy to see this and know how it would satisfy your addiction! Most of us have our addictions and I agree than the hunt for the treasure is as fun as finding the booty. Thank you for pointing me to this thread and for the fun narrative. And congrats on this 120 year old prize!

blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

Thank you very much Carlsue, I knew you would like it.

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

hell, think of the black and white 5x7 contact print!!!

blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

It's not the print, to develop 5x7 Film has to be done in trays so it has to be in total darkness, there is no daylight film loader. It would be a hell of a job.

Shadetree Loc: Chattanooga, TN

What a great find Mike, thanks for the pictures and the story.