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Maintenance/Repair Issues on Graflex Cameras

 
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jpmose



Joined: 29 May 2001
Posts: 164
Location: Atlanta, GA

PostPosted: Wed Mar 13, 2002 9:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hello,

Other than my Super Speed Graphic, I have never performed any maintenance on my Graflex cameras and I'm ashamed to say it!

I have several repair manuals that I bought back in the 1980's for Graflex products. They are all the factory manuals that are currently available as reprints or used. I am about to order Rhomney's Graflex SLR repair manual as I don't have anything for this camera type.

FIRST QUESTION: Is the manual that Rhomney sells for the Pacemakers the same as the factory version or is it different (I want to know before I pay postage twice)?



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I am fairly mechanically inclined and would like to attempt maintenance on the focal plane shutters.

SECOND QUESTION: What lube(s) are required to perform the job. Rhomney sells two types, one being more of a grease...do I need this?

THIRD QUESTION: Are new springs available for the focal plane shutters? Can the old ones be adjusted to specification or should I just replace them...I have a 1A, 1922 Speed, Mini Speed, 4X5 Top Range. Pacemaker Speed and 4X5 Super D.

FOURTH QUESTION: Could one of you experts like Bert, Les, Alec, etc. provide me with a list of internal wear parts that deteriorate or weaken with age? What parts are still available (from someone like Fred Lustig) and what will I have to substitute? On a car engine, when you tear it down you replace all the seals, bearings, gaskets, etc. I am assuming this logic applies to my Graflex too.

FIFTH QUESTION: Are there any functions that are not possible to restore or bring up to specifications due to parts unavailabilty?

SIXTH QUESTION: Are reproductions of the rubberized shutter curtain available? I know this may sound stupid to some, but if I wanted to restore a camera to original specs the curtain would have to be the rubberized type? So far mine seems fine but I am assuming the rubber will crumble eventually


SEVENTH QUESTION: Manuals for older Graflex products....I see the same repair manuals over and over. What about manuals for 1A, 3A, National Graflex, early SLRs and Speeds (all pre war). Are they available anywhere? Craig Camera doesn't have any listed?

Thanks for all the help!

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bertsaunders



Joined: 20 May 2001
Posts: 577
Location: Bakersfield California

PostPosted: Fri Mar 15, 2002 9:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

First question--No, Romney has his own (sometimes, handwritten and drawn sketches)
Second question--Les recently posted this answer!
Third question--new focal plane shutter springs---in over 80 repairs on these shutters--have never seen a broken spring--able to adjust everyone I have seen. Have instructions on how to do that for several models!
Forth question--have yet to find anything broken, except for obvious novice repairs, sometimes screws are peened to keep them in place, (one part on winder mechanism is an example)
Fifth question--Never found any non repairable items--missing parts, can sometimes take years to find replacements for--example--wire finder and hinge for 1929 model 4x5 speed, and fold down top finders! Lucked out on both items on Ebay two years ago!
Sixth question--Yes
Seventh question--Have seen most, all except 1A.
Bought and restored my first Graflex camera in 1979, been collecting and restoring ever since!!
Eighth ANSWER--E-mail me for instruction sheets-->specify particulars<, as I have dozens of photos, sketches, text pages ect.
see >>profile<< for email address
Bert

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jpmose



Joined: 29 May 2001
Posts: 164
Location: Atlanta, GA

PostPosted: Fri Mar 15, 2002 11:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bert,

Thanks for your help. If only classic cars could keep running as well as a Graflex camera! I will e-mail you for additional information.

JP

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JP Mose
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45PSS



Joined: 28 Sep 2001
Posts: 4081
Location: Mid Peninsula, Ca.

PostPosted: Sat Mar 16, 2002 5:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I found http://www.craigcamera.com/lit_index.htm
(check both graflex boxes in the table) to have one of the best selections around.

Yes, Les posted the Lub., Cleaners, Adhesives section that I copied and emailed to him asking help in preparing for posting here.

Charles

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The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.
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