Graflex.org

[WLeach]

Recently acquired a very early "Press" camera. It is a R B Cycle Graphic, produced by Folmer while they were still attached to Kodak.
This model is the Full Plate, 6 1/2 x 8 1/2, with the Grundlach / Turner Reich triple convertible lens.
Does anyone know the approximate production #s of these cameras? Also can someone tell me where to find some more holders. These things are hard to find!

[Gandolf]

Actually this isn't a true press camera but a type of view camera. The whole plate size is a lot of fun-- its half the weight of an 8x10 in the field and 1/3 larger than a 5x7 on the wall.

a rule of thumb for age is if it says Folmer & schwing DIVISION it was made between '07 and '16 if it says "F&S DEPARTMENT it was made between '17 and '26.

Now these dates are not hard and fast. Since the money was going into the same bank old DIV nameplates were used up before new ones were used. On fast moving Speed graphics, the DIV/Depart was swift.

On slower moving items like and RB cycle graphic the transition came later. There were some cameras with the early plate made as late as '26.

There are also two RB cycle graphics. The early version was a Reversable Back, meaning you took the back off and reversed it.

Later the RB meant Revolving Back.

this camera is the basis of the #6 & #8 cirkut outfit too.

The serial number is usually stamped inside the body on either the upper left side or on the top right side (so the numbers look down on the bellows)

A rough guess of production would be under 750 units in whole plate.

[ This Message was edited by: Gandolf on 2002-07-12 11:35 ]