Around 1900, Kodak released the View Camera Model B in size 8.5 × 6.5"—a beautifully engineered instrument of its time. More than a century later, I stumbled across one on Marketplace: incomplete, tired, and scarred by age. It was missing critical parts—ground glass, rails, and its bellows were riddled with holes—but I saw the bones of something worth bringing back to life.

With no prior experience in restoration, I carefully documented every detail before dismantling it piece by piece. Brass fittings and screws were hand-polished, timber was sanded and waxed, and new rails were painstakingly rebuilt from Australian Blackwood. The rack was extended with the help of a 3D model designed by my son and printed by the team at Like Butter in Castlemaine. Recreating the bellows became a lesson in patience, precision, and respect for the ingenuity of the original makers. Even the ground glass and lens boards demanded trial, error, and invention.

What began as a marketplace find became a rewarding journey of craftsmanship, collaboration, and problem-solving. This camera now stands as both a functional tool and a testament to the resourcefulness of its original builders—and to the joy of giving something forgotten a second life.