[LargeFormat] Kodak Specialist Model 2 half-plate camera

[Clive Warren]

>I have a Kodak 2D that I shot 5x7 for several years.  My 2D has only 
>rise on the front and swings and tilt on the back standard.  I have 
>a 2D 8x10 here that I am refinishing for a friend and it is set up 
>the same way.  I have never seen a 2D 4x5.  I have never seen a 2D 
>(stock) that had front tilt.  I am gonna try and build a new back 
>for my 5x7 camera and replace the bellows and make it a 7x17 camera. 
>It will probably be very crude but I hope it will work.  I join Pam 
>in wanting to see this camera.
>
>
>At 05:12 PM 12/17/00 +0000, you wrote:
>>At 10:12 am -0600 17/12/00, Pam Niedermayer wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>Clive Warren wrote:
>>>>  ...
>>>>  The camera is a Kodak Specialist Model 2 and was made by Kodak,
>>>>  London. I guess this was a camera intended for use in labs for
>>>>  scientific purposes.  It is a half plate camera with two backs, both
>>>>  with bails. The second back is quarter plate.
>>>>
>>>>  I would dearly like to find a 5x7 and 4x5 backs for the camera as it
>>>>  really is quite special (as it's name implies) - imagine a normal 2D
huge snip!

The serial number on the camera is 12xx which I initially though 
indicates that there were quite a few made.  However the bed is 
stamped with "2" on the two separate bed parts - which to me really 
says low volume. This is usually where the serial number is stamped 
into the wood on other cameras I have here.  Maybe the longer serial 
number was used for all Kodak products made under licence here in the 
UK. Or maybe the "2" refers to model 2........

The front standard has tilt plus geared rise and fall. The rear 
standard has geared swing and tilt.  The front standard has no swing 
- as was common with this type of design.

The camera came with an extension bed and a geared tripod mount to 
maintain centre of gravity.

Good luck with the 7x17 project - would like to see a photo of that 
beast if it all pans out.


-- 
All the best,

             Clive Warren   http://www.f32.net
                            Large Format travel and stock photography