Graflex.org

[IanG]

[Rangemaster]

All of mine have been Mahogany Ian, and I have stripped quite a few of them.

They all look like this image...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/Swietenia_macrophylla_wood.jpg


Dave

[ This Message was edited by: Rangemaster on 2006-11-11 16:52 ]

[Les]

Dear IanG,
First off let me welcome you introduce my self as the (apparetnly AWOL) moderator of this forum. Second, let me apologize for not watching this thread closer.

At the time this forum was created many other photo sites had for s a l e s and wants and it usually devolved into a flame war when somebody posted a want for a Graflex flash as a light saber.

Leigh Klotz Jr. set this site up without wants and sales to avoid this problem and not to compete with the used camera equipment stores around the country.

Some on this list consider the rule as hard as the Great Wall of China. Since I became moderator I prefer to look at it as the Maginot Line.... It's big and obvious, It's can be used to great effect, but can be worked around if the need arises.

For blatant 'for wants' I usually remind them of the rule and then lock the thread but let it stand, so others can help them out via the private messages feature.

For people "looking for a source" for small parts, I let it go as that is clearly information. Anybody should be able to post a source, even if it's him or herself, though I hope they will do it through the Private Messages feature.

Sales on the other hand get the boot as soon as possible.

Les Newcomer
Moderator



[ This Message was edited by: Les on 2006-11-11 18:29 ]

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Ian,

[Les]

[troublemaker]

With well over twenty years experience working with and refinishing mahogany woods, even if Graflex didn't know what kind of wood they used, I think I can safely comment that, yes indeed, the material used in manufacturing of lightweight and sturdy press camera bodies is beyond much doubt the hardwood known to many boat builders, cabinet makers, and other various wood workers and manufacturing entities as Honduran mahogany; even if it came from another nearby Latin American supplier. It certainly is not the cheap celery wood known as Phillipine mahogany, which I believe is a fast growing cheap substitute in the cedar family, which is commonly found sold as an economical toungue and groove panelling and borad stock and is generally an ugly pink color lacking the deep redish brown and fine grain of the real mahogany and has a tendency to split easily due to its course straight grain, which gave it our nick name of "celery wood" when we were re-panelling the interior of the schooner Ranger in the '80s.
On another note, and this is speculation, but I have got an idea that mahogany was used in the manufacture of Graflex cameras because of: A.its abundance at the time and price versus say cherry wood, B.it is really nice to work with as far as cutting sanding etc, and also glues up well, C.from what I have seen over the years, mahogany has less tendency to warpage as compared to harder woods like oak when exposed to humidity and direct contact with water.

I would think after a few decades passing, that it might have come to the attention of the Graflex company what the actual type of wood was that they had been producing their camera bodies from. And furthermore, if some other substance were available that would have enabled them to produce similar or better quality camera bodies they may have switched. But on the other hand, why alter what was probably one of the longer runs in accepted quality production with little design alteration in the twentieth century?
I could be wrong though, and after all these years we come to find out that what we had been led to believe by false marketing ploys has turned out to be mystery wood, and since the manufacturer is no longer in business we will have to accept that there is chance, if ever so slight, that what we actually have is some kind of inferior wood product Graflex contracted to purchase from the rejects of a high quality popsicle stick manufacturer...

[IanG]

Your right Les, the wood used is the same as the earky americans threw in the sea at the Boston Tea party.

It's box wood,and fairly soft, it does stain and polish up extremely well, and looks quite like mahogany, but mahogany in comparison is a very hard wood.

Ian

[/quote]

Well mahogany isn't as hard as say beech or oak. Not as heavy either, but it is a hardwood, ie came from a diciduous tree.

And there's is no doubt that Graflex cameras were made from the same 'cheap box wood" that fine English tea caddies are made of.

[/quote]

[Doug Kerr]

So, what is box wood? I know what boxwood is.

Sounds to me like "box wood" is something that the writer thinks is less desirable (in some respect) than some other kind of wood that's being thought of.

Best regards,

Doug

[Dan Fromm]

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Dan,

[troublemaker]

There is a whitish-yellow boxwood that has been used in fine inlay work and for musical instruments, and there is a shrub known as boxwood, but it is not the stuff of Graphic cameras.


[ This Message was edited by: troublemaker on 2006-11-16 20:32 ]

[IanG]

[bruiser]

Hi guys (and the occaisional girl),
Regarding mahogany being a 'soft' hardwood, that is quite correct. Balsa on the other hand is a hardwood that is 'soft'. Surprised?
Hardwood and softwood generally refers to the seeding differences of the trees and not necessarily the timber qualities.
There you go!
Cheers,
Bruce

[pv17vv]

Who still cares twenty months later ?????