Graflex.org

[kwmullet]

I've got a Crown Graphic 4x5 with no visible manufacturing code stamped under the focusing rail (must've come off before I bought it). It's serial# 936509.

I've got a Ektar 4.7/127mm serial# ET3430 mounted in a Graphex shutter with X synch and dual post. The serial# on the lens leads me to believe it was manufactured in 1949(?), but if the shutter isn't original to the lens, how can I date that? I can't find a serial# on the shutter.

On a more important (to me) note...
In what will probably end up being a pointless exercise in trying to keep my money local, I looked around the Dallas/Ft. Worth (Texas) area to try and find someone to fix/clean up the (top-mounted) rangefinder on my Crown and the shutter on the above lens. I found a place, Camera Repair Center, in Ft. Worth, but foolishly didn't ask how long it woudl take for them to take their first look at the camera. They've had it for two weeks now, and their most optimistic estimate is that sometime in the third week they might be able to take their first look at the camera.

What kind of turnaround times are you folks encountering when you send Graflex equip in for review/repair? How long does it take for your shop to begin looking at it, and how long does it take for a repair that doesn't require waiting on or manufacturing spare parts? I'd llike to see a poll, actually, on who goes where for what kind of repairs and how long it takes before they start on it, and before you get your equipment back.

Granted, I'm chomping at the bit to get my Crown back and start using it full-steam, but three weeks without even looking at it seems like an AWFULLY long time.

-KwM-

[davebias]

Hello and congratulations on your camera purchase.

I'm just thinking out loud here... If you had to search hard to find your selected shop, chances are they are the ONLY place in a wide geographic area that will service antique cameras, which could mean that they have a long list of jobs before yours. And more to the point, they may or may not have the proper parts on hand to fix it (once they look at it), which could also add to the time.

And there's one other unspoken rule of camera shops. If you didn't buy the camera from them (and especially if you got it from eBay) they may be a bit uninterested in fixing it for you and continually bump you down the list until there's absolutely nothing else for them to do.

But maybe they're just really busy. 'Tis the season, after all...

Good luck. I must say - you have incredible patience. I'd be hanging out in that place every day, nagging them to fix my stuff!

_________________
When does interest become obsession? You should ask my girlfriend...

[Gandolf]

1959.

An X sync shutter would have been typical for '59.

No data base that I know of for any shutter serial numbers including Compur.

[kwmullet]

Thanks very much for the prompt dating of my camera, Gandolf.

I'm still hopeful some of the readers might post their experiences with:

- who they send their graflexes to for repair work?
- How long before they get an estimate?
- How long before they get their equipment back?

I've repeatedly run across Fred Lustig's name, and I'd like to know what folks' experience is with him along these lines.

I remember reading that one of the Graflex Repair Luminaries had a stroke or some other health problem, and it was somewhat unclear (to me) if they were currently doing repairs. Does this ring a bell with anyone? If It's Lustig, I certainly don't want to ring up his home and go blathering on about a camera repair when he's in the middle of recovering from a stroke.

I've looked, and I can't seem to find where I read about these health probs and who had them.

-KwM-

[45PSS]

I, as many here, repair my own. What was not functioning properly on yours?
And, yes, it was Fred Lusting that had the stroke.
Charles

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

[kwmullet]

I wanted the shutter CLA'd and tested, the rangefinder cleaned and brought into as good function as possible and, like an idiot, I accidentally dumped out the contents of the rangefinder tube while learning how to replace a cam. I didn't catch that the plunger was misaligned with the tab on the focusing bed until I knocked it out and all the nice little bearings and spacers spilled out onto my studio floor. I'm 99% sure I retrieved them all, and I put them back in, but the travel of the rod at the top of the tube doesn't completely match. There's an area at closer focusing distances where the plunger at the bottom comes out, but the rod at the top doesn't follow. The rangefinder and the projected-light focusing gizmo appear to agree with the groundglass except at close distance, when the tube contents don't appear to be following the plunger all the way out. Occasionally, I can rap on the side of the camera body and get them to go into place, but obviously, this wouldn't work during a portrait session.

All in all, it's pretty frustrating to finally get a Crown Graphic, send it in for what I thought would be a fairly quick bit of maintenance, only to have it sit, unexamined on a counter for the better part of three weeks, so far. The season and light is changing and I'm dying to dig in and develop some expertise shooting LF with this wonderful thing.


[ This Message was edited by: kwmullet on 2003-12-19 20:54 ]

[45PSS]

That is one of the drawbacks of the Top RF series, beyond the close focus of 6 feet or so the rangefinder does not function(track) the cam comes out from under the follower arm, and jams the rails from fully closing, requiring the cam to be removed, focusing to be returned to futher than 6 feet focus distance(rails moved into camera body some) and then the cam reinstalled. Not a problem if you don't focus closer than 10-12 feet.
On the commerical links page contact Stephen Shuart, he may have parts if a local repair person needs them. You may have to use silicone rubber to keep the plunger cap in once you get all the balls and spacers in. My Super(s) use 42 on one and 45 on the other. The order is Top left -spring, cam, long rod(cam follower), ball, spacer, ball, .... bed follower rod.
Member RichS has a web site with the TOP RF Pacemaker Speed/Crown repair manual. His site is listed many times on these forms. Feel free to download it.
Chalres

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

[Jim23]

Repairs - I had Fred Lustig do several for me. Has anyone heard if he's recovering and will get back into it? There is a repair man in Cinti. that has repaired lots of Graphics in his day. Heiselman camera repair (on Iris Drive! Call 513 area code info for his number) - but don't be in a hurry. He is also good at Hasselblad, Mamiya, and has quite a backlog. He is up in the years and worked on Graphics in his heyday. He does a great job with shutters.

[kwmullet]

I dug around for a while and found an old post by someone on photo.net who mentioned Fred Lustig and have since exchanged a note with them to find out the latest they know. It sounds to me like Fred Lustig probably won't be back to doing repairs for a while.

Here's an idea -- maybe folks could give recommendations and give a quick one-line or one-paragraph summary of their experience with Graflex repair people and that could be the kernel of a maintenance referral list.

-KwM-

[sobahguy]

-KwM-

There is a post in the LF threads here...

http://graflex.org/helpboard/viewtopic.php?topic=1822&forum=15&6

The latest info is on 8/14/03 that JPMose said he talked to Fred and he said he expected to be out of work for 2 more months, which would be mid-late October. At this point a couple more additional months have passed since Fred indicated he would start up again. So I don't know if anyone has spoken to him since 8/14, but he may have resumed by now, depending on his recovery. You might try giving him a call to see how he is doing, he may appreciate the call and best wishes for the holidays. His wife may answer and she could let you know as well.

Fred is certainly the man to repair it. He has a passion for these cameras and the parts & expertise for any job.

Hope this helps.
SG

[tsgrimm]