Graflex.org

[disemjg]

I recently obtained a 3X4 RB Tele Graflex (Nr. 89310) and it has one detail that puzzles me. The lens door has an aluminum dome rivited to the flat panel, providing an extra 3/4" clearrance for the lens when closed. This is a sensible feature on a camera with "tele" in its name, but the wrinkle is that none of the cameras shown in Review of Graflex or McKeowan's has this domed door. They all have normal, flat doors.

The domed door appears to be factory and not home made; unfortunately mine has lost the leather cover and all I could do to imporove its appearance was to paint it black. I suspect that the standard RB Tele had a flat door, and the dome was an infrequently seen option. I also think that this door was added after the camera was made; the metal hinge hardware on the door is painted gray and the all the other hardware on the camera is the much older plated style.

Does any else have a camera with the domed door?

[Les]

not on a Graflex, but have seen the modification on some Speed Graphic cameras, and yes it's probably a factory mod.
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[disemjg]

Les, on the Speeds with the dome modification that you saw, were the domes covered with leather?