Graflex.org

RichS · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 4:11 am Post subject:

Okay, so I haven't quite yet stopped adding to my collection

But while the service manuals are on their way here, I thought I might ask some questions about my new Super Speed...

First off, the Graflex 1000 shutter:

I've heard of plastic gears and internal explosions... Would the old Ronsonol soak and graphite dusting be a bad idea for this shutter?

I understand that the front lens hood can be removed by simply turning tot he left. Can the front cell be removed after the hood comes off? I haven't gotten up the courage yet to find out myself

Does anyone know for sure if Fred Lustig is still doing CLA/repairs on this shutter, or any other work for that matter?

Second... The GG. I noticed right away that this camera doesn't have an Ektalite screen. I thought they all did at this point? The holder is completely flat around the edges of the GG (no raised parts), and I measure 0.139 from the surface to the GG. It should be 0.197. Seems to me like an Ektalite belongs in there?

Third... The flash calculator on the top of the camera. This one seems way off. No way to reach the infinity mark with a P34 cam for the 135 lens. With the front standard all the way inside the body, the needle reads at 7.25 feet! I check inside by the cam and the little lever doesn't move much further... Has anyone adjusted this succesfully? I'll know more when the manual arrives, but I'm also wondering if I should just ship the whole thing off to Fred and have it done up right?

Hmmm, looks like that's enough for one message

Thanks for any help, as usual...

And this is absolutely, deffinitely, without any doubt, the last camera purchase I make.......

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

I talked to Fred a couple of weeks ago and it sounds like he is still doing repairs. I think you're right about the Ektalite being missing.

_________________
Glenn

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

RichS · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 4:21 pm Post subject:

Thanks Glenn. Now I just have to get up the courage to call him and send this off. I really hate to send anything away, for any reason...

Luckily, I should have a spare Ektalite around here somewhere. It may be old, scratched and yellowed, but at least the GG would be in the right position. And maybe it'll clean up a bit? Being a spare, I never bother to try cleaning it...

Next I have to look into the rangefinder and flash calculator. At least the rangefinder looks right at infinity. Being snowed in and working, I aimed the camera out the window and snapped a pic of the snow plow finally blazing by. Exposure and focus look good. At least the shutter works well at 1/15

I'll deffinitely have to play with it through this weekend before I make any plans to ship it off...

[ This Message was edited by: RichS on 2005-02-16 08:23 ]

45PSS · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 8:25 pm Post subject:

[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2005-12-25 11:17 ]

RichS · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 8:45 pm Post subject:

Sure, now you tell me about the reprint

I honestly don't know. If they offered a reprint, that's what I would have ordered... If it's that bad, I'll order the real one (if they have it)..

Thanks for theinfo on the shutter. I had a fealing that it's something I won't be taking apart... I really just wanted it to have a real "Super Speed" instead of "just" a Super Graphic. I have a 135 Optar sitting here I can use instead and have been thinking of buying a 'real' lens for normal shooting? Although I don't see anything wrong with the Optars?

I saw the dial to set the ISO, although I thought it may have been a guide number instead. Didn't put that much thought into it yet.

But my calculator needle sits around 7.5, when I open the front, set the standard and rack it back it moves all the way to almost 10. There's no way to get it over 10... I'll have to see what the service manual sas. I didn't see any obvious way of altering it even though I can see a bit of the rangfinder mechanism through the battery space.

It just wouldn't be fun if everything works right out of the box

And I did buy it knowing things needed adjustment...

[ This Message was edited by: RichS on 2005-02-16 12:54 ]

RichS · Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 5:39 am Post subject:

For those in the same boat:

The flash calculator on top of the Super turned out to be very easy to set.

If you slide up the panel that hides the cam, there is a chrome tip of a lever that rides directly on top of the cam. That goes to the rangefinder.

Sitting on top of that chrome tip is a very thin black lever that goes about 3/4 of an inch to a screw that holds it on. This lever controls the calculator needle. To set it, simply remove tha cam. Lossen the screw. Hold the lever firmly on top of the chrome tip at the other end. Tighten the screw.

To check, reinstall the cam and rack the focusing all the way back. The caculator needle should now be at infinity.

There may (undoubtedly) be a finer true adjustment for this, but for what it was made, this seems to work. I'll know more (I hope) when I get the service manual

RichS · Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 4:57 am Post subject:

Not much going on, so I'll add to the saga, and show some results

This camera obviously was designed for an Ektalite screen. After installing my spare, I cam to realize that someone had just as obviously removed the original. Worse yet, they had moved the infinity stops out to reflect the new position of the GG... Worse than that, they stripped the heads on the screws that hold the stops.... Okay, I got the stops for the 135 moved but I can't do anything for the extra stops for the 90... More work to do...

But so far the camera is working just fine. I'm even starting to like it, for a metal camera

And now that the flash calculator/distance scale works, I like ti even more. I may even use this camera handheld as it was designed to do... Al I have to do is find a cam for the tele and I'm set, after a little more TLC anyway...

And I thought I'd share my Winter blues with everyone. Okay, not exactly 'blue', more like B&W

Here's what happens around here when you buy a new camera and want to go play:

Henry · Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 9:30 pm Post subject:

Through five winters spent in the delightful climate of Rochester, I learned that there is one way to enjoy the white stuff: take a drinking glass, fill it with the aforementioned substance, and follow with a hearty slosh of bourbon or other distillate of your choice. It was very convenient to just scrape the snow off the window sills at the frat house and fire away, and it made a pleasant contrast to the usual Jenny Cream Ale.

(P.S. Now I remember that the standard formula was snow + Scotch, and the name for this concoction was "Scotch mist." What the heck, after the second one you didn't care anyway.)

[ This Message was edited by: Henry on 2005-02-18 14:13 ]

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

I sympathize, but if it's not been getting down to 30 below every night, you've got it made. Unlike here.

_________________
Glenn

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

RichS · Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2005 2:55 am Post subject:

Henry, I like your idea! Would Ten High sour mash work, or maybe Dickle?

Glenn, we've been lucky this year. Only down to the zero's during the nights. Last year was the -20's to -30's for a few weeks. I can live without that and you have my sympathies... It's nice to have a good wood burner on hand just in case... But plowing the snow when it's -30 and +30mph winds is a bit more than I like to handle

Henry · Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2005 6:18 pm Post subject:

Affirmative, Rich. Back in the '60s we weren't so sophisticated, or choosy. Whatever worked "with swift authority," as has been said about what came to be my favorite drink---the martini--was good enough for us.

RichS · Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 5:31 am Post subject:

Now, should I ask about "yellow snow"?

Hmmm, maybe not

_________________
----------------------------------------
"Ya just can't have too many GVIIs"

----------------------------------------

Henry · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 12:14 am Post subject:

That's snow with Jenny Cream Ale in it (new or used). Actually, we used to drink Standard Dry. If you remember this stuff, you have been in Rochester a lo-o-o-ng time.