Complete 10x8 Deardorff outfit NOW SOLD

[David Preutz]

This has now all been sold to a very happy photographer who will be putting it to good use and even doing platinum printing.
I'm very happy it's all gone to a good home

[patawauke]

David,

Some pics would be nice please. Also, would be helpful to know is it a model with/without front swing and/or tilt?

Thks-John

[David Preutz]

Hi John
I'll get round to posting up some pictures of everything sometime in the not too distant future.
Swings & tilts: Yes, it's the all s(w)inging, all dancing version with rising front & triple extension. As far as I know, Deardorff didn't make any other except maybe in the very early days. Gandolphi on the otherhand, wouldn't make me anything other than a standard double extension when I ordered one up off Fred in 1979.Quote .. 'At least a 4>5 year wait' .. I never did receive it, hence buying the Deardorff.

[Andrew Plume]

David

This is one hell of a quality outfit that you've posted on here, sadly owing to a lack of funds at this end + the fact that I really need to pursue a WP project prevents me from buying this

For those on here who may not be au fait with Deardorff's, these are 'tank-light' built and if needed there are plenty of accessories available on the used market, not only on that auction site but also from decent second hand camera shops in the States - although Jack Deardorff died a few years ago, said availability remains the case even though the original LF Deardorff and subsequently Jack who resurrected the business, no longer trade. Deardorff's were considered to be the US equivalent of the UK Gandolfi Bros

What David does have here is the 'full version' - there are plenty around in the US advertised as NFS, i.e. no front swings so this one has considerable advantages. There's also the point that reduction backs to take both 5x7 and 4x5 are often available in the US. If one wanted to go the whole hog, I'm sure that the much respected Richard Ritter would be able to made a WP reducing back and a 4x10 conversion back

I've been following the used LF camera market (mainly the camera shops that remain) for the past ten or so years, I've known of three only Deardorff 10 x8's that were up for sale here during that period, so they don't crop up here too regularly - ok there are always a few up for sale in the US but you have to pay a fairly heavy shipping fee to get them into the UK + the usual customs clearance charges etc

I'm almost talking myself into buying this excellent kit...................

Best rgds

andrew

[David Preutz]

About 5 or 6 years after buying my Deardorff, Gandolfi contacted me & I did eventually get a 5x4 after an extraordinary long wait. The first 2 were rejected for various reasons - Fred had fiddled with the 1st & replaced a ≠4 brass screw with a ≠6 chrome one & split the wood. The 2nd one the front standard was out of true. I took the 3rd one, used it mostly in the studio &, on one of my first big location shoots it managed to fog every sheet of film. The back hadn't been milled out enough & the light trap on the darkslide wasn't engaging correctly. Reshoot the next morning using the Deardorff & reduction back - no problems other than some embarrassment with my art director. Having used both a 5x4 Gandolfi & a Deardorff 5x4, the latter wins by miles. The Deardorff is infact a 5x7 camera with a reduction back. It's slightly bigger meaning you don't need tiny little fingers to operate it. The knobs are far more accessible. It has a triple extension not just a double and, it's got full on swinging front & back standards. Whereas the Gandolfi only has a notch facility on the front. Visually, the Gandolfi looks more 'handmade' - french polished mahogany & all brass, which is fine if you want to look at the thing on a mantlepiece. The Deardorff, whilst still handmade, feels & looks less like an antique and more utilitarian. It's a camera you can use in the studio, on the high street, in a field or up a mountain in all weathers.
A shame really as I've always believed in supporting my local sheriff & would buy British over anything else. Hence my preference for Strobe(x) lighting when I had a studio.

[Andrew Plume]

David - an interesting post, slightly dispels the myth surrounding the workmanship of the Gandolfi family and that they built the 'rolls-royce' of wooden view cameras...........!


andrew

[David Preutz]

This was after Fred had sold the company. Bear in mind he was getting on a bit at the time. He could be a bit 'awkward' & insisted everything had to go through him for checking before it could be released to the customer. A bit annoying, to say the least for Brian Gould/Hampshire Design who were a development engineering company & had some very sound ideas on how to improve the designs - even slightly. The answer was a very firm NO. I think it was only after Fred's passing that anything was allowed to be changed.

[David Preutz]

I've never really been a fan of standard lenses hence my preference for the 240 as a slightly wide one. Fabulous on still life or out in the field

240mm_1.jpg (110.51 KiB) Viewed 8383 times

[David Preutz]

deardorff_1.jpg (106.74 KiB) Viewed 8383 times

[David Preutz]

Profile

[David Preutz]

Rear ground glass - original Deardorff one

[David Preutz]

Front standard

[David Preutz]

Deardorff to Sinar lens panel adapter made from solid mahogany & brass by a specialist camera repairer who used to be based in Covent Garden during the 70's early 80's. Annoyingly, I can't remember his name but he was a true craftsman.

[David Preutz]

5x4 reduction back as supplied by Deardorff's featuring a Graflock International film holder. The focussing screen notches out allowing you to fit roll film backs such as Linhof or Wista. Having tried both, my preference is for the former for build quality & sturdiness.
The back features a fresnel for focussing up on with a plain glass this side of it marked out for both 6x9 & 6x12. These can easily be removed with a bit of lighter fuel & re-drawn if needs be. I might also have a fabulous ground glass for this made by a company called Satin Snow - no longer available. Do a google search on them & they should come up. Basically its a very very fine ground glass that is a lot brighter than anything available. Absolutely brilliant.

[David Preutz]

The base plate. What more can I say.