[LargeFormat] Plate Holders

[rstein]

Dear Friends,

     Perusing a new purchase - that's reading a book, folks - I noted a
section that dealt with the plate-film cameras of the 1900-1920 period. All
those lovely old English and German folding cameras with focussing rails,
ground glasses, and geared movements. Some excellent lenses. too.

     All for plate or cut film in adapter. Plates are never seen around here
and cut film seems to be 4 x 5 only. But that is not the nub of this query.

     What I was curious about was how many of these older cameras - not the
pre-1900 field or studio types - are seen with the plate backs. I have seen
a number that seem to have rollfilm adapters and some with only the ground
glass, but so far very few with plate holders. Even in the case of one
Voightlander with a very beautiful geared front standard and nickle plating
everywhere, there was only one holder.

     Did the photographers of the day venture out with a number of plate
holders ready-loaded as we might do with double dark slides? How many did
they carry? Did they reload in the feild in dark bags? Where have all the
plate holders gone to?

     Questions on the back of an envelope, please.

     Uncle Dick