Deardorff 5x7 outfit....help

[Karl K]

I have been given the task of selling a perfect 5x7 Deardorff with
the 5x7 original back with ground glass, a Deardorff 4x5 revolving back with the original Deardorff ground glass, a lens board, a 210mm f/5.6 coated Componon in a barrel mount and four 4x5 Regal II film
holders.
The original owner is quite aged ill and has not used this camera for many years. It was stored in a non-airconditioned home, so it needs some TLC. The wood, the metal and the bellows are all beautiful, but I want to really clean it up for the best selling opportunity.

I have very little experience with wooden and leather cameras. What procedures do you recommend?

Also, how shall I price it? I tried to get some ideas from the evil auction site, but I couldn't find anything listed that was similar.

[MenacingTourist]

This is a sign Karl. Work something out with the owner and never let this camera out of your hands. You'll never regret it.

[John Kasaian]

Right! Buy it. Keep it. Use it. Think you can't afford it? Ask the old fellow if he'll take payments. A real "dorffer will want his baby to go to a good home anyway so you'll be doing him the bigger favor.

[Steve Sherman]

Guilty of being prejudiced as I own one and would never ever let it go.

So well made, so well designed and a better perspective than 8x10 if you have an opportunity to buy it do so and never look back.

If unconvinced do let me know as I know people who would die to own one.

Cheers

[Barry S]

I wouldn't attempt any non-professional restoration and other than wiping it down--no cleaning. Let the new owner deal with that because you can devalue the camera by ruining the original finish. I just saw a once-beautiful brass lens on eBay that had been clumsily cleaned to near ruination--the barrel scraped and discolored, the glass carelessly chipped. I would have been happy to bid on the original lens with a tarnished barrel and grimy (but unchipped) glass, but I passed on this hack job. Not to imply you wouldn't be careful, but my point is the potential buyers know the value of a 5x7 Deardorff--if it's in sound shape, you don't have to do anything for its value to be apparent. I'd suggest placing ads here and on the large format forum and soliciting offers--you won't have any trouble selling it for a very good price.

[climbabout]

Karl - I sold that very outfit a few years ago sans lens. I moved up to an 8x10 Deardorff to have larger contact prints - but as Steve stated the 5x7 is a wonderful perspective and the 5x7 Deardorff is a great compromise between large negative and portability. I wish I could have afforded to keep both. The 8x10 I bought was in good condition, similar to your description of your camera. I used 2 products that I bought from my local hardware store - ACE I believe. Made by howard products - try howardproducts.com. One is called "restore a finish" which blends scratches and blemishes without disturbing the existing finish. I bought mine in cherry color which matched my camera perfectly. I didn't want to do any sanding, so these products were perfect in that they just improved upon the existing finish. After applying that I used their "feed-n-wax" wood preserver - which is made from beeswax and orange oil. Steve Sherman has seen my camera and can attest to how well the camera looks after using these 2 products. If the leather bellows aren't brittle or cracked, I'd suggest a mild cleaning with leather upholstery cleaner - but very gently. FWIW, my camera sold on the auction site with just the 5x7 back for about 1500.00. I believe I sold the 4x5 revolving back separately for about 350-400$ That was about 3 years ago.
Good Luck - nice condition 5x7 Deardorffs are hard to find.
TIM

[John Koehrer]

The Componon is an enlarging lens & doesn't have a great deal of value as part of the package. It would be more of a toss it in piece.

[Karl K]

Thanks, guys. I'm holding on to it for the moment. The owner is trying to find the original lens, a Goerz Dagor in a shutter. What would be the correct normal focal length for the 5x7 format? I figure about 300mm? Is there something called a Gold Dot Dagor? I have only an empty Goerz box from the 1950's, I believe.

[climbabout]

Normal focal length for 5x7 is approx 210mm.
Tim

[loman]

Yes a gold dot dagor exists. And is generally, if in good condition, quite expensive.
Best Regards
Mads