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CELOPHANEMAN · Joined: 31 Dec 2005 Posts: 6 Location: SOUTHEASTERN PA.

I JUST BOUGHT A PACEMAKER SPEEDGRAPHIC 4X5 AND EACH TIME I OPN THE CAMERA AND PULL OUT THE BELLOWS IT COMES OFF THE BACK RAILS,AND I ALSO NEED TO GET SOME FILM BACKS. CAN YOU HELP THIS BEGINER GET STARTED? THANKS

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

It sounds like something's bent. It's common for rails and front standards to go screwy when somebody tried to shut the bed without racking the rails all the way back.

I think you can download a copy of the repair manual at southbristolviews.com. that way you might be able to diagnose it yourself. As for film holders, just about any used camera store, midwestphotoexchange, among others and the venerable ebay have film holders all the time. With a Pacemaker you have a very very slim chance of getting the dreaded Graflex back, so chances are just about any black film holder will work, though the Graphic Riteway film holders are best.

CELOPHANEMAN · Joined: 31 Dec 2005 Posts: 6 Location: SOUTHEASTERN PA.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! THANKS FOR YOUR HELP! I WILL POSTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT USING MY PACEMAKER, I JUST CAN'T WAIT TO DEVELOP MY FIRST PICTURE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING, I HAVE BEEN AN ADVID NIKKORMAT AND THE MINOLTA X-700 USER FOR , WELL SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND. THANKS

troublemaker · Joined: 24 Nov 2003 Posts: 715 Location: So Cal

Something is not right. The Front standard can only be removed by lowering the drop bed to its forward tilt position, and then moving the focussing rails forward about a 1/4" so the standard locking slides will clear and thus can be slid off. This on a properly functioning Pacemaker. The only other way it should come off is at extreme bellows extension off the front of the rails. I am wondering if someone may have tried grinding or filing down the standard lock tabs to get some front swing and now the standard sort of pops off on its own? Kind of hard to say without seeing it. Also check that the rails slide bars are all screwed down properly. How is the play with the bright aluminum focussing rails asside from this other probelem? It is pretty common for there to be some unwanted play with the short back piece when it is on its own short track in the back of the camera (which may not be a problem unless using short wide angle lenses), and if miss alligned, these are aluminum and can be worn down from wear and or as Les mentioned, can be damaged from not properly opening and closing the drop bed.
Do read the manuals available, and make sure when closing the camera to turn the focus rails all the way back, then run the Front standard back as far as it will go and lock it down. IF door will not close and catch easily do not force it and amake sure if there is a body release cable that it is not getting jammed or kinked in the back behond the back rail cross bar.
As far as film backs, It appears 120 roll film adapters for 4x5 Graflok backs are going for very reasonable prices lately, and I like to use these for a lot of my testing work, but of course this will not provide a full frame 4x5 image.

CELOPHANEMAN · Joined: 31 Dec 2005 Posts: 6 Location: SOUTHEASTERN PA.

everyone is just great, where have i been all my life? i'm going to send the camera out for reconditioning, can any of of you suggest where? i also want to purchase another speed graphic, which one would any of you buy and with what lens, i think i'm going to really like this new found hobby!

troublemaker · Joined: 24 Nov 2003 Posts: 715 Location: So Cal

What condition is this camera in. Have you been able to figure out the problem and what is and is not working on this Speed? A lot of things you can do yourself, esspecially if you search and read a lot of the info provided on this and other photo/camera sites.
Also check your private messages and I will leave you some info there.
regards

woodplane · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 33 Location: Chicago

Why buy a second camera? Give yourself some time learning on this one.

CELOPHANEMAN · Joined: 31 Dec 2005 Posts: 6 Location: SOUTHEASTERN PA.

I FEEL THAT THE PACEMAKER I JUST BOUGHT WILL NEED SOME MAJOR RECONDITIONING AND MY SON IS ALSO VERY INTERESTED IN THESE CAMERAS, ALONG WITH BEING 60 YEARS OLD WHY WAIT? IF THERE IS A GOOD SPEED GRAPHIC OUT THERE I'M BUYING, MEAN WHILE I'LL READ AND LEARN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, CAN'T LEARN ON A CAMERA THAT DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY!

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

Sounds like the rear rail guides (the little short ones inside the body) are broken. A common problem caused by forcibly and incorrectly closing the camera. This allows the short rear rail sections to jump the track and the standard will then derail on extending it. Those guides are extremely dificult to find. I have had to make my own from spare long sections to repair some of my low dollar ebay finds. Not that easy.

_________________
Glenn

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

bertsaunders · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 11:37 pm Post subject:

To all of MY FELLOW GRAFLEX LOVERS and CELO....HaaaaaaaaaaaPPY NEW YEAR
Most often the problem is broken rails, but folks out there in Ebay land also like to make good ones out of bad ones also! The do-it yourselfers like to replace parts from body only parts cameras, I find no fault with that, except for the fact that most of them have no idea of how to do that simple chore!
Your problem sounds more like a
missalignment problem.....the inside and outside rails must be at the same height, or the lensboard will not stay on track! Turn the inner rails around if they are broken (REVERSE them side to side..(switch good end to front))and then use a straightedge to check the height...inside rails to outside rails! Install or remove shims from >inner rails< to level them out! Have found several with bent door hinges (camera probably dropped), in this case it is a bit harder to repair, but if the door still latches, at times the outer rails can be shimmed....do not remove the rails, just loosen enough to insert the shims!
Have a nice day.......Bert

[ This Message was edited by: bertsaunders on 2006-01-03 15:43 ]

CELOPHANEMAN · Joined: 31 Dec 2005 Posts: 6 Location: SOUTHEASTERN PA.

THANKS BERT!
YOU WIN THE GOLDEN LENES AWARD, I HAD IT LOOKED AT BY A VERY ERIENCED CAMERA REPAIR PERSON DID WHAT YOU SAID THE VERY SAME THING. HE TOLDS ME I HAVE BOUGHT AN EXCEPTIONAL PACEMAKER AND TO HAVE IT RECONDITIONED AND HE WILL TEACH ME HOW TO USE IT. THANKS. CELOPHANEMAN

troublemaker · Joined: 24 Nov 2003 Posts: 715 Location: So Cal

I found a camera a couple days ago with an allignment problem where the drop bed to body hinge mounting plate is not properly fastened anymore and this has caused what appears to be something like what Bert mentions above. One screw is gone, and the other is cadywhompus. So I have found that very often if one is willing to look at the camera long enough it will eventually tell you what it needs, but not necessarilly how to fix it (no my cameras are not really talking to me, I made that up) No telling what one of these hardware store repairmen would do to it, so I will see if these here 1/2-13 x 1-1/2" galvanized carriage bolts with square nits and flat wushers can fix er up...

CELOPHANEMAN · Joined: 31 Dec 2005 Posts: 6 Location: SOUTHEASTERN PA.

THANKS TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED TO MY QUESTIONS! I HAVE DECIDED TO SEND IT AND HAVE RECONDITIONED BY ONE OF YOU WHOM MY GUT FEELING TELLS ME I CAN TRUST AND WAIT FOR THE RESULTS. I STILL WANT TO OBTAIN ANOTHER, HOWEVER I NEED SOME RECOMINDATIONS ON WHICH MODEL AND WHAT LENS TO LOOK FOR AND A CONSENSUS OF WHAT A FAIR VALUE WOULD BE. THANKS CELOPHANEMAN!!!