[LargeFormat] Elgeet Update

[Alan Davenport]

A while ago, I asked if anyone knew about a lens I had acquired,
an Elgeet 10" f/4.5.  While I learned a little about the
genesis of the name "Elgeet," little was forthcoming about the
lens.  I have trekked on...

This started out as a low-budget thing, with the lens being
sold on Ebay by someone who apparently had no idea what he had.
Cost of lens, including shipping: $50.00

I had to CLA the shutter; used the often-mentioned napthalene
soak, followed by re-oiling the shaft ends using a .3mm screwdriver
tip as an oiler.  The shutter, which had been sticking badly,
is working and all speeds seem close to accurate, using my best
calibrated ear.

As I received it, it had no mounting ring, at least not a proper
one.  It was epoxied into an aluminum ring (no threads.)
I determined that I would not keep that arrangement; I'm cheap
but not a miser.  I bought a flange from Steve Grimes.
Great work, perfect fit.  Cost: $25.00

In keeping with the "cheap" motif, I homebrewed a lensboard
for my Calumet.  Cost: $4.00 for the board, $0.85 for hardware
to mount the flange.

Total cost: $80, allowing for 15 cents worth of black paint.

Today got the lens on the camera and played on the GG.
I know it covers at least 8x10; I can't reach the edge of
the image circle using ALL of the (considerable) rise/fall and
shift the camera offers, and that's wide open.  One day I'll
try to actually measure the image circle.

I love this stuff!  Gee, a camera I can work on, and I don't
even need an oscilloscope (tho I'm thinking about cobbling
together a shutter speed tester...)

Now I gotta shoot some test shots.


FWIW