6X10 EXPANSION BACK FOR DEARDORFF 4X5 SPECIAL - V2
This post is to share the second version of the 6x10 expansion back for the Deardorff 4x5 Special view camera. For informations and photos of version 1 of the project, click here.
The first version of the back worked out fairly well but it became clear that the design could be improved upon. I was directed toward an expansion back assembly, produced by Toyo many years ago for their 4 3/4 x 6 1/2 Toyo Field Camera, with the idea that I could possibly modify it to take the 6x10 spring back I’ve been using for this project:
I was able to disassemble the assembly and use the base, rails, and the bottom pieces that connect the rear standard to the ends of the rails. The original bellows were too far gone to be salvaged and wouldn’t have fit the dimensions of the 6x10 spring back, so a custom set were made along with front and rear frames for attaching to the camera body and the spring back. The original rear standard of the assembly is designed to sit lower in alignment with the original Toyo camera it was made for. The bed and rear standard assembly sits higher so risers were necessary to align the new rear standard/ spring back with the rear standard of the Deardorff. Once all assembled and after tweaking the placement of some screws for alignment, it all came together quite well.