Vintage 5x7 / 3¼ X 4¼ Wood Sliding Back Portrait Camera used for school pictures

  

This camera was one of many used by a school photography company, Delma Studios, for high school and college senior portraits. This was the second model that they used-- the first was an 8x10 / 5x7 sliding back. Originally, it was used with hot lights so the shutter did not have a sync mechanism.

This 215mm Ilex lens with Electronic shutter was introduced when the company began using flash lighting. The shutter still functions today. The camera uses 5X7 film holders and has a sliding back with a 3¼ X 4¼ mask so that two portraits could be taken on each sheet of film. One double-sided film holder was dedicated to each student. The 3¼ X 4¼ mask can be removed so that either horizontal or vertical 5x7 exposures can be taken. The front lens mount section is fixed but the film section does have tilts. The camera has both a front and back tripod mount location but the plate for the back mount is missing. The camera uses a standard lens mount board so lenses could easily be changed. The bellows is in excellent condition as far as I can tell.