Graflex.org

centuryuniversal · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 11:51 pm Post subject: Help dating my graflex cameras

Hi,

After reading a number of posts and being even more confused,
I was wondering if someone would be so kind and help me with some manufacturing dates.

Id ask for "the list" but it seems verboten....so I wont

OK here goes...

Auto graflex Jr 2x3 #39590
Auto Graflex 3x4 #52719
Auto Graflex 4x5 #91542
Auto Graflex series B 3x4 #130884
RB Auto Graflex 3x4 #131643
RB Graflex series B 2x3 #390786

Thanks.
_________________
"We must first see the picture in nature and be struck by its beauty so that we cannot rest until we have secured it on our plate"... P H Emerson

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2133 Location: New Jersey

The "Shutterfinger" list: http://www.southbristolviews.com/graflexchange/viewtopic.php?t=591

I believe that when Graflex used the set of numbers you posted it issued serial numbers in sequence. Things didn't get really confusing until sometime in the '40s when rationalisation hit and they started issuing serial numbers in product-specific blocks.

Did a quick look for the "book" on the site I once downloaded it from, couldn't find it there. I have a copy on my home PC, not on my office machine. And now I'm in the office.

centuryuniversal · Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 3:10 am Post subject: Thanks for the info

Hi,

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it.

Hopefully in the future this type of info will be readily available. Even in book form....Id buy it.

Cheers
Rob
_________________
"We must first see the picture in nature and be struck by its beauty so that we cannot rest until we have secured it on our plate"... P H Emerson

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2133 Location: New Jersey

By the "book:"

Auto graflex Jr 2x3 #39590 -- pre-1915
Auto Graflex 3x4 #52719 -- 1915
Auto Graflex 4x5 #91542 -- probably 1916
Auto Graflex series B 3x4 #130884 -- assigned 6/11/23
RB Auto Graflex 3x4 #131643 -- assigned 8/1/23
RB Graflex series B 2x3 #390786 -- assigned 5/13/46

NB, the book is incomplete at the beginning and probably at the end. It is vague about dates in the early years. The date a serial number was assigned is the earliest date it could have been used, there are no guarantees about exactly when an s/n was in fact used.