burke & james progress report
I'm actually inching closer and closer to shooting large format with the Burke & James. I'm working on a darkroom for film processing and have most of the tanks, hangers, and reels I'll need for 4x5 as well as 120 and 35mm. I need to move a couple of motorcycle frames out of the way and set up an old claw foot bathtub as a darkroom sink. By the time that is done (in another week I hope I hope I hope) I will be shooting some 4x5 Polaroid Type 55 negative/postive. Developing film will follow soon after. I have several rolls of 120 Tri-X to develop in Ilford DD-X. After that I will be trying some Efke 25 and JandC Classic Pan 400 In PyrocatHD and Delta 3200 in DD-X. I have a couple of rolls of 120 coming in the Delta 3200. Developing my own gives me options that I can't get from a lab.
Here are some ads for my Burke & James. The first one is from around 1959 and I found it on the web. The second two are opposing pages in a 1967 Burke & James catalog that I've had since 1973. These are great cameras. Not the most solid or well finished but it has all the movements you could ever want. Mine has both the 5x7 and a 4x5 back. A real working camera. They can be had between $100 and $200 on eBay. I was particularly fortunate to trade 5 rolls of film worth $17.50 for mine. A major score. Good deals can be had.
large image
large image
large image |