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My First Pair of Speeds...
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bruiser



Joined: 15 Oct 2006
Posts: 260
Location: Northern NSW Australia

PostPosted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 6:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Gentlemen,

I didn't even mention Pre-Annys! All I said was that Lynn's black Speed is an early Anniversary and the chrome version is a later one. Nor did I say it was a Pacemaker, only that Pacemakers were introduced in 1947 so his chrome Anny predates that model change. Sorry if I caused confusion.

Anyway I'm sure Lynn will have some great work to show us when the Speeds arrive and he gets out shooting. I really want to see some results with that Speedex lens!

Cheers from Downunder,
Bruce
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P. Lynn Miller



Joined: 21 Jun 2009
Posts: 31
Location: Sydney, Australia

PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My Speeds Are Here!!!

Yippee! Christmas has come early!!!
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P. Lynn Miller
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P. Lynn Miller



Joined: 21 Jun 2009
Posts: 31
Location: Sydney, Australia

PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 11:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Serial Numbers...

The Black Speed - #340394 - late 1943 or early 1944...

The Silver Speed - #387715 - mid-1946...

They are so nice! The black Speed is just gorgeous! Oh my!

The Silver Speed seems to be working fine, the shutter in the lens abit dodgy, but the focal plane shutter is working and etc.

The Black Speed will need the focal plane shutter serviced, it is very sticky.

Now... the need list.

2- ground glass backs
6 or so film holders
2 or 3 Grafmatics
Polaroid or Fuji instant film back.

Want list...

Still searching for an Aero-Ektar
Wollensak 15" f5,6

A bunch of blondes, brunettes and red-heads for models!
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Les



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

PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 3:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm not sure what your nearest town is like, but somewhere in Aussieland should be a clock shop, and or clock repair materials. Find 'NYOIL' clock oil. There are a couple of different companies, but clock oil doesn't dry out and gum up like 3 in 1 does. It's a bit more expensive than 3 in 1 but not outrageous, $5-7 for a tube.

A couple of drops on each of the bushings of the FP shutter just might bring it to life again. I just brought an RB Auto back from the dead this way. Granted the speeds will be a little slow, but I want to take pictures not play in the Zone system and it'll be fine for that.

here's the micro-tools url for it in the US

http://www.micro-tools.com/store/item_detail.aspx?ItemCode=NYOIL
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IanG



Joined: 04 Aug 2006
Posts: 74
Location: United Kingdom

PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The shutters on Speed Graphics are quite easy to service/repair.

There's service manuals available on-line, but they are also quite logical anyway, and I stripped & restored mine with no references,. In addition there's a good book"Restoring Classic & Collectible Cameras, Thomas Tomosy" with illustrations & instructions for repairing a Speed shutter, by chance the relevant pages are available via Google books.

Hope that's helpful, have fun

Ian
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P. Lynn Miller



Joined: 21 Jun 2009
Posts: 31
Location: Sydney, Australia

PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 12:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Les & Ian...

Thanks for all the advice, I am looking forward to servicing the Black Speed's shutter when I get abit of spare time, maybe this weekend. I will try to find some 'NYOIL' as well.

The Silver Speed came with a non-working '23' roll film back which I resurrected while having my morning coffee. I checked that the rangefinder was calibrated for the Ektar 127mm by taping an exposed piece of film to the rails of the roll-film back. It all seemed OK, so the there is a roll of Tri-X drying as a I type this... maybe some scans in the morning.

I need some help... both of my Speeds came with out ground-glass. As near as I can tell neither camera has a Graflok back, so the cameras have the old 'spring backs'? I have been hunting on eBay for backs, but I have not been able to find anything like what I think I need, there are plenty of ground-glass holder for Graflok backs, but not for 'spring backs'.

Can anyone point me in the right direction of a part number or search term to use on eBay to find what I need?

Thanks,
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IanG



Joined: 04 Aug 2006
Posts: 74
Location: United Kingdom

PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 5:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If all that's missing is the glass screens it's remarkably easy to make your own, and that means as good as or better than commercial, (expect of course the special Maxwell. Beattie etc Intesescreens).

There's plenty on the internet, read this first as it tells you how, you just need glass and lapidiary polishing (grinding) paste 600-800 grit. It's harder to cut the glass than grind the screen takes about 20 mins per screen

I've just fitted a fresnel screen to my main Graphic and that makes a huge difference for hand-held work, its on the rear of the ground glass.

Ian
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P. Lynn Miller



Joined: 21 Jun 2009
Posts: 31
Location: Sydney, Australia

PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ian,

Thanks... both Speeds are completely missing the 'focusing frame' according to the parts diagram in the service manual from Rich's web-site. So just getting a sheet of glass will not solve the whole issue.

I am going to quickly 'grind' a screen to use in the the gate of the '23' roll film back to fine-tune the rangefinder. But when it comes to setting up the Speedex, I am going to need a full-size screen in a back, I suspect.

It appears for all intents and purposes that the rangefinder is spot on for infinity, shot at f4.7 -



The focus point was the telegraph pole in the center of the frame. But there does seem to be an odd field of sharpness running from the bottom left-hand corner of the negative diagonally across to the top right... could be the standard is bent or the film is not as flat as it could be.

At close focus, under 6ft, the there is about 4 inches of front focus -



Shot at f5.6 at 1/30sec hand-held. The focus point was the first little sail boat on the pillowcase, but the edge of the pillow is in focus. This was the case with all close focus negatives.

So there needs to be some done on the rangefinder...

Have the roll-film back has taken the pressure off getting the Speeds up and running, as I am able to start using one of the cameras straightaway and slowly work out the details of getting the Speedex and Aero-Ektar mounted and fit and servicing the Black Speed can be done at my leisure.

But the real deal is going to be when I start shooting sheet film, hopefully within the next few days. That is what this is all about... those big negatives.
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IanG



Joined: 04 Aug 2006
Posts: 74
Location: United Kingdom

PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:18 pm    Post subject: Graflex/Graflok backs Reply with quote

You were fleeced, they stole the skin of your back, Jesus and your an Aussie

I have a Busch Pressman with missing frame etc, big problem

Backs for Graphics are always coming up ******* on the LFPinfo Forum, APUG, and Eba etc, but they aren't cheap. The problem is apart from fitting to camera's like yours they are also ideal for making reducing backs for LF cameras, particularly 5x7/half-plate & 10x8.

So a back can cost almost as much as a complete camera, it's rare Graflok backs go for reasonable prices, but standard backs can be found for much less.

Ian
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P. Lynn Miller



Joined: 21 Jun 2009
Posts: 31
Location: Sydney, Australia

PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ian,

It gets even worse... I am Yank! That is stuck Down Under!

Actually for the price I paid for the this pair of Speeds, I have definitely come out of the deal OK.

The Black Speed came fit with one of those useless 'Film Pack Adapters' and on close inspection it can be refit into a very nice ground-glass frame, which work fine for what I need a focusing screen for... setting up lenses and calibrating rangefinders. At least until I find the proper 'focusing frame' or a Graflok back for a reasonable price.

The Black Speed will be fit with the Aero-Ektar and the Silver Speed with the Speedex, once the lens are fit, infinity stops reset, and the rangefinder recalibrated, I will have no use for a ground-glass, as I plan to shoot with Grafmatic's and Polaroid 550's on the fly and hand-held. If I want to mess around with movements and odd lenses, I will pick-up another complete Speed to work off the ground-glass.

Or at least that is the plan...
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IanG



Joined: 04 Aug 2006
Posts: 74
Location: United Kingdom

PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My pair of Speed Graphic's were in far worse condition than yours when I bought them, very decrepit but they restored quite easily OK one has no shutter now it's a Eunuch Speed Graphic

Can you clarify exactly what your backs are missing. I rebuilt the frame of my pre-Anniversary and it wouldn't be difficult to make a replacement, I've had springs made before that's not an issue.

I'd agree using an old film pack is ideal as a screen holder. Your lucky because Kalart Rangefinders re easy to work with although you may well need to make a new cam.

Ian
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P. Lynn Miller



Joined: 21 Jun 2009
Posts: 31
Location: Sydney, Australia

PostPosted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

They say a picture is worth a thousand words... so here are a few thousand.

Here are the backs of my Speeds...



Here is a close-up of the 'clip' on the back...



It appears to me that both of my Speeds have had their backs 'modified' to accept a roll-film back or film pack adapter. The 'clips are definitely not stock for the Graphic back. In fact, I can not fit a 'double-dark' sheet film on the back of the Speeds with these clips on it.

So it appears that I need to get a pair of 'spring backs' including the springs before I can really use my Speeds with 'double-darks' or Grafmatic's.

So more time will need to be spent scouring eBay, unless someone here has some spare parts they want to move to a good home.
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Last edited by P. Lynn Miller on Thu Jul 09, 2009 1:26 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Les



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

PostPosted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 12:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Those Springs are part of the "Spring kit" Graflex sold to allow Graphic back owners to use Graphic roll film holders.
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P. Lynn Miller



Joined: 21 Jun 2009
Posts: 31
Location: Sydney, Australia

PostPosted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 12:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Les,

You are right... I just discovered this while digging through 'The Graflex Speed Graphic FAQ'...

Find a "spring kit" originally made by Graflex to do this. It includes two replacements for the springs that hold the groundglass back in place, two screws, and two washers. The replacement springs have ends that are shaped so they press on the edges of a roll holder and keep it in place. I have one of these, and it has three disadvantages. The first, it will not work with very late "Singer" generation roll holders--there are bits that get in the way on these. It will work with slightly older lever wind holders, though. The second, I have seen these advertised for $79, which is outrageous for two springs, two screws, and two washers, third, interchanging the ground glass back and the roll film back isn't something you want to do very often. You definitely cannot just swap them back and forth.

And here is the clip in action...



Holding a "23" roll-film holder onto the back of the Black Speed.

This 'conversion' was done to both Speed's as the Silver Speed came with the "23" roll-film holder and the Black Speed came with a 'Film Pack Adapter'. So apparently someone made the conversion and discarded the 'Focusing Frame' because they only used the rangefinders to focus the Speeds.

I suppose these 'conversion' kits could be of value, especially to owners of 2x3 Speed Graphic that do not have the Graflok back. Since I want to shoot with 'double-dark', Grafmatic's or Polaroid 550 backs, these will be of no real use to me.

I expect it will be cheaper to pick-up a pair of trashed Speeds than it will be to buy two backs. I hate the idea of consigning a Speed to the parts bin... I prefer to rescue old things than pillaging them for parts.

I will probably just make some new springs that will let me use film-holders and Grafmatic's without worrying about having a ground-glass on the back of the camera at all times.
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IanG



Joined: 04 Aug 2006
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Location: United Kingdom

PostPosted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 7:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's a real disappointment when you find something critical missing. Yes you're right it may be cheaper to find a couple of beater Graphics for parts.

My 6x9?7 Busch Pressman has similar springs, I guess for the same reasons.

I've thought about the possibility of fitting a Japanes Rotating back, I've seen one for a very reasonable price, but am unsure at the moment of the dimensions, but as it's modern with Graflok fitting it would really transform a Speed/Crown Graphic.

Ian
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