My work on my large format cameras continues. All the leather is off of the Speed Graphic. Getting the residual leather and the old glue off slowed me down but I tried a scraper and that works fine. I'll have pictures when the scraping is done.

I'm almost done with the 4x5 reducing back for the Burke and James. I built an insert with a 4x5 hole that fits in the sapce for the 5x7 film holder. I used some masonite-like hardboard that came with the packing of some furniture we picked up Thursday. There are actually three thicknesses of the stuff. I just put a thin layer of 5 minute epoxy on them and then set a heavy toolbox on it until the epoxy went off. It is all one now. I think I will also be able to use the hardboard for building lens boards. I have the 210 Schnieder G-Claron process lens in a barrel that Marja-Leena sent me that needs a lens board.

The perimeter of the Graflok back had strips of self-sticking fuzzy stuff. With this insert, the corners are hanging out so I took off the fuzzy stuff, shortened it up, applied some Barge cement and moved them closer to the hole where they will be in contact with the insert. The paint is drying and I should be able to screw the Graflock back on tomorrow.

It's been a long time since I cut glass. I have a feeling it will be a long time before I cut any more. I screwed up the first piece and had to use the one that came with the camera. It cut down fine. I plan on getting some Satin Snow ground glass (and they are cut to size) so this is a short term solution although sometimes short term solutions seem to become long term solutions. (I learned this from Blaine.) The Satin Snow site had some PDF files of ground glass markings so I printed them out and marked up the ground glass with a pencil.

I moved last summer and somewhere there is a box with my 4x5 sheet film holders and a Polaroid back. I'm still looking for them. There is also a Packard shutter with them that I will need for the 210. The first thing I want to do is get a roll film back for shooting close ups.

I have the 210 and the 254 that came with the camera. Now that the 4x5 is nearing completion the guy I got the camera from is sending me a 127mm lens in shutter that will better for the 4x5. That will help with the close-ups.

I've been a long time without a view camera. The Burke and James is going to be a lot of fun! It's perfect for what I want to do.