Meridian 45B Info?

[BruceN]

Well, I've finally fallen into LF! A friend gave me a Meridian 45B! It was his father's and it's been sitting in the basement for probably nearly 40 years (There was a film box with it dated 1967). Both he and his mother seemed quite happy to see it go to someone who planned to restore and use it, which is why they gave it to me instead of selling it. Well, that and the fact that it's not in the best of shape. The lens is broken, it's a bit dirty and has a little fungus growing here and there (especially visible on the gg), but it seems mechanically sound. I think that with a new lens, one of Dave's SatinSnow GG's and quite a bit of elbow grease it will be a fine camera. My only problem is that, in order to do a good job cleaning and lubing it I'm going to have to take it apart. Not rocket science, I know, and I'm fairly mechanically inclined, it's just that I would feel a lot better if I could come up with an exploded parts drawing or some such. Anyone know where I can get that info? Also, if anyone has any general advice on restoring this type of camera I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,
Bruce

[Will S]

That's a great deal for free. I've got one. Great review and article at http://www.largeformatphotography.in.../meridian.html

Yours looks pretty good. I wouldn't mess with taking it apart unless something doesn't work, but I'm not an experienced camera repair person.

Also, it is worth a lot more than a speed graphic or similar. A restored one went for close to $600 recently on ebay. Others have gone in the $250 range. They are capable of just about any movement and are more like a technical camera than a press camera (I think).

You can get a manual online, but it doesn't have much useful info in it. There are no schemas etc. that I have ever heard of.

I find that with a 90mm lens I use the back focusing track only and drop the front bed. I don't know if you can go wider than that easily. With 90mm you can get movements using the back, but not much rise unless you remove the bracket for the sports finder. Since the lens is inside the body it is hard to reach in and make manipulations. However, compared to other cameras of similar design it is very wide angle friendly.

On the long end I have a 300 which almost uses up the bellows. Probably a 400 would be OK, but I'd try it first.

You can't use graflok type backs with it (This is the big problem with this camera) but you can use grafmatics and get a C2 rollfilm holder for 120 rollfilm (which I recommend if you like chromes as it is a lot cheaper). Polaroids work fine as do, of course, regular 4x5 film holders.

I would look at the page below for some ideas on lenses. The one you have seems like it needs some tlc:

http://www.hevanet.com/cperez/kit.html

Good luck and congratulations!

Will

[BruceN]

Thanks!