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paxety · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 69 Location: Florida

I have an Anniversary Speed Graphic that's missing the tripod socket. The hole is there, but there's nothing inside. As it would require a rather common 1/4-20 thread, has anyone found anything at a hardware store that would work to replace the missing socket?
john

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t.r.sanford · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 4:38 pm Post subject:

I'll be interested in the answer to this one...

I haven't ever looked up close at the tripod socket bushing on my "Anniversary," but it seems to me that something along the lines of a "tee nut" might work, if you're not an aesthete. You can get them in hardware stores, and 1.4"x20 is a very common size.

Rangemaster · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 7:05 pm Post subject:

I have had to replace a couple of these over the years, I pick up brass inserts that have threads on the outside enlarge the hole just a bit and they screw in, has worked out quite well for me, the store, I located them at was Ace Hardware.

Dave

t.r.sanford · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 8:14 pm Post subject:

Sounds like a better idea than a tee nut...

There also are reducing bushes that screw into the European 3/8" tripod sockets and accept 1/4"x20 tripod screws. If you carefully drilled out and tapped the hole where the tripod socket is supposed to go, you probably could insert one of these simply and securely. I've seen taps for wood, but I can't think of any reason why a conventional one wouldn't do.

RichS · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 8:22 pm Post subject:

Call me 'paranoid' (everyone else does

) but is that wood bottom really strong enough to simply use an insert? I see in the Pacemaker service manual that the original is the 'standard' type T with the larger flat on top for added support. It would be nice to know that just an insert would hold up...

I don't know if it would fit or work, but I might think of adding a small block of hardwood on top of the hole for a lonoger insert to screw into for added support?

Okay, just musing...

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t.r.sanford · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:04 pm Post subject:

That probably depends on what kind of lens and other equipment you put on the camera, and how you point it when it's attached to a tripod or other support. We must suppose that something destructive happened to the original tripod socket!

What I've never examined is the clearance over the bottom of the body. If it's sufficient to accommodate a reinforcing batten, you might make one out of fairly thick hard brass sheet or strip -- say, .064" which is readily available -- and drill and tap your tripod socket into that, along with four mounting holes so you could affix it to the bottom with four screws, from the inside. This would require a certain amount of disassembly.

If the track assembly will clear a tee nut, that probably would be quite strong enough. It has three prongs on its flange to secure it to the wood, and if hammered through the hole from the inside, that flange will be pulled into tighter contact with the wood. You probably could put enough stress on the camera to tear it out, but it would have to take much of the bottom of the camera with it. And I don't think any alternative disposition would offer much greater protection.

45PSS · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 2:15 am Post subject:

We sell a tee nut that has 3 screw mount holes that you use a #0 or #1 screw to attach the nut to the work piece with, much stronger than the hammer in type. Sorry we are not nation wide. http://www.osh.com

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[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2006-12-14 18:17 ]