Graflex.org

[awldune]

Hello, I have a older pacemaker speed and wanted to upgrade the spring back to a graflok.

I found a graflok back for cheap (!!) but it's missing the retaining clips that hold rollfilm backs and other accessories.

I was thinking of fabricating replacement parts, but am not sure what the factory part is like exactly. From pictures you can tell the overall shape, but I am not sure whether it just has slotted screw holes to enable the sliding action or if there is some more complex mechanism.

Is it basically the same as the retaining slides for the lens board?

[45PSS]

http://www.southbristolviews.com/pics/Graphic/manual-pdf/servicemanual.pdf pdf page 11, manual page 9 lists all the parts used on the Pacemaker Graflok back but not the dimensions or details of the parts. (page 40 is the same diagram but the parts list is incomplete. Page 9 items 1-8 have an incorrect descriptions, page 40 descriptions are correct.)
I have a Super Graphic which shows different part numbers for the slide locks.
The slide slots run near parallel to the slide lock then turn inward toward the film plane at a 45 to 50 degree angle. The mount screws are shoulder screws. The slide locks taper inward toward the film plane by 5 to 10 degrees, they are not flat metal like the lens board.
_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

[awldune]

Thanks, I had looked at that manual earlier but was frustrated with the diagram.

From your description, it sounds like the slot on the clip is sort of J-shaped, like this:

[C. Henry]

You may be able to buy the slide locks from;
Fred Lustig
4790 Caughlin Parkway #433
Reno, NV 89509
1-775-746-0111
He bought out the factory spare parts supply many years ago and has sold a variety of Graflex bits and pieces to many of us over the years. There ia a post about six months ago that he was still in business then and I have not heard anything about him going out of business since.
If you phone him please keep to normal business hours Pacific Time as he is getting up in years and needs his rest time.

C. Henry

[45PSS]

If you cannot find a pair maybe another member can give you the measurements of a Pacemaker Graflok slider.
At least this will give you an idea of what they are like. (Click on the thumbnail then save the image to your machine and enlarge to read the measurements.) This is a Super Graphic Graflok lock.
_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

[awldune]

Wow! Thanks everyone.

If I get in touch with Fred I will report back so the community will know he's still in business.

[awldune]

Any idea where I could get replacement felt strips for the graflok back? Mine seem very flattened out and mostly below the level of the surrounding metal.

[45PSS]

Go to a fabric store and get a piece of felt then cut to press fit the slot. Measure the depth of the slot for thickness of felt to get, my Super measures 1/32 inch.
_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

[awldune]

That makes sense. How much is the felt supposed to stick up, though? Presumably it should be slightly thicker than the depth of the groove.

[45PSS]

I don't know as I've never seen a new back. I assume flush to 1/32 above. It will pack down a little and too thick would cause the film holder to raise a little causing a light leak or worse focusing error. The felt is probably glued in not pressed in as I first stated. Contact cement or rubber cement will work best as the felt could absorb other types of glue and become hard.
_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

[C. Henry]

The felt should project above the back enough so that it will form a light trap for irregularities on the film holder, but not so much that the spring tension of the focus panel will not compress it to flush. The exact measurement depends on both the compressibility of the felt used and the strength of the springs on the retainer arms of the focus panel.

C. Henry

[awldune]

Thanks, I'll have to see what thicknesses are available at the fabric shop.

[disemjg]

for the light traps in the back, I use velvet ribbon from the fabric shop, not felt. The velvet ribbon is available in a variety of widths, including one that drops right into the recess in the back casting. And the velvet will not shed fibers the way some other materials might. It looks like it was made for the job. Use contact cement to glue it in place.

I keep several widths around and use it all the time for many purposes. If you're lucky you can get it in black, but you may get stuck with some vibrant color if that is all the have in the size you need. The material is cheap.

John

[awldune]

1/4'' velvet ribbon seems to be a perfect match, at least for what was on the back before. I had to get purple! Might try to dye it black or just go over it with a black Sharpie.

I am realizing that a complication for the accessory clips is finding screws that will fit. They are really small, but bigger than all the machine screws I have left over from other camera/lens repair projects.

Are they the same screws as on front standard lensboard locks? I tried to remove one and try it but it didn't want to come off and I was afraid of losing a nut on the back side.

[awldune]

The screws are #2 fine pitch machine thread.

I've been unable to get in touch with Mr. Lustig.

About the clips -- are they supposed to slide over the top of the accessory, or just butt up against it? Seems like the back angles downward where the clips attach.