CONSTRUCTION OF THE 8X20 VERTICAL CAMERA
GETTING STARTED
The 8×20 vertical camera project was undertaken once the 4×10 was finished. This camera started with more design work. The existing horizontal 8×20 camera was disassembled, measured and drawings were created. Some were hand drawn. . . some were CAD. . . The 8×20 is almost exactly two times the size of the 4×10, so everything is bigger. It contains all of the modifications and improvements used in the vertical 4×10. This camera has taken much more time to build than the 4×10.
Same as with the 4×10, rough cut mahogany is shaped into rough stock to be formed into the parts that make the camera. The only difference is the parts are larger.
Raw mahogany is cut to form the camera base.
Once cut to the correct size, the tongue and groove base pieces are glued and clamped.
When the glue is dry, the base is machined to accept the hardware and focus guides.
Next the focus guides and focus sliders for the front and rear beds are machined and fitted.
The focus guides and the base are machined to accept the Teflon dampers on the focus drive shaft.
The focus sliders are fitted for the rack gear, then the front focus slider is assembled.
The rear focus slider cross piece is fabricated and fitted to its hardware, then mated to the focus sliders. The base of the camera is fitted with both front and rear focus beds in the third photo.
The rear camera box is assembled using a homemade box joint fixture and a table saw. The box is machined for any hardware then glued and sanded.
The finished rear standard box.
The wood is machined for the ground glass frame.
Once the parts for the ground glass frame are ready they are glued and clamped.
Here the ground glass back has its final machine work completed.
The main film back parts are machined and fitted, then glued.
The ground glass springs are formed from flat spring stock. After bending they are buffed and drilled.
Brass threaded bushings are installed in the wooden back for mounting the springs. Here is the completed film back ready for vanishing.