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Joe Koski · Joined: 09 Feb 2004 Posts: 39 Location: Southwest USA

According to Gandalf, my Anniversary Speed Graphic was manufactured in early 1940. When I got it as a Christmas present in 1955, it was in a large leather/wood case with a blue/purple felt interior that was obviously designed for the purpose. In the case, there are partitions in the lower middle part for the camera body and film holders. In the top of case, under a latched lid, are spring clamps for the flash gun and two reflectors (Press 40 and Press 5/25 reflectors). Was this part of a Speed Graphic kit marketed by Folmer Graflex?

When set up, the camera looks very similar to the camera WeeGee is holding on the back cover of Weegee's World. Was it sold to newspapers or commercial photographers? Anybody have any history on the case itself?

Joe Koski

Les · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 2682 Location: Detroit, MI

There hasn't been a definitive paper on cases but the offical Graflex versions fall into to catagories...

Leather, with purple velvet liner usually backed by thick paperboard. These were small and usually minimal divisions inside.

Fiberboard, both small and large. Mostly grey, but sometimes brown. They could be small or large.

Just like today camera stores love to sell you extras and they make more money on third party cases. Montgomery Ward's catalog from the 50s was full of the wood and canvas suit cases.. None of which were made by Graflex.

Somewhere downstairs I have a case made in Hollywood with a purple/blue corduroy with a flash clip in the top.

I wouldn't fret about getting an "official" case. Chances are this one is original to the camera.

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"In order to invent, you need a good imagination and a lot of junk" Thomas Edison

Joe Koski · Joined: 09 Feb 2004 Posts: 39 Location: Southwest USA

A few more details on this case: It is not small. It is about 19" long, 11-1/2 inches high and 8-1/2 inches in depth. It has a ripple-grained black leather exterior on a wood frame. As I said above, the interior is purple/blue velvet-like cloth. There are chambers in the center for 4x5 film holders, and the folded Speed Graphic, and smaller chambers on the ends for flash bulbs, and other accessories. The flash gun and reflectors store in the lid behind a latched cover.

My guess is that it was designed for use from a car trunk, because if you were to carry it loaded, you would end up with one arm much longer than the other.

I can't complain. I think the case is the reason why the camera is in as good a shape as it is now. The focal plane shutter still works, and seems accurate.

Anyone else seen this beast of a case?

glennfromwy · Joined: 29 Nov 2001 Posts: 903 Location: S.W. Wyoming

It's possible that it could be a Mastra case. I have two of their cases and they are built like a tank. I don't believe they are the same style as yours, however. Is it possible to post a photo?

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Glenn

"Wyoming - Where everybody is somebody else's weirdo"

MikeS · Joined: 25 Nov 2003 Posts: 71 Location: East Tennessee

Joe:

You wouldn't have a problem with one arm getting longer than the other, as in your other hand you'd have had another similiar case with another Speed, or just more accessories in it!

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-Mike