Graflex.org

[kmoody19]

I've inherited a Graflex 4x5 press camera. I've done some research on this camera and I think it's very neat, however the front seems to be stuck. I've found the button on top of the camera to release the front door, but it does not release the door, frankly it does not even press down like I expected it to.
Also, the focusing knobs barley move (I've read that turning those may release the door).

Do you have any insight on other ways on how I might be able to open the front?
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K. Moody

[Paul Kinzer]

I'm surprised no one has responded to this. I just joined the other day, so maybe I am missing something....

If you haven't gotten this fixed yourself in the month since you posted your question, here are my thoughts: The mechanism for the door release may well be corroded to the point that none of it will move. My first thought would be to see if you can push the door inward while simultaneously pushing down hard on the button. If that doesn't work, I'd get something very flat to slide into the thin space between the door and the camera body and -- carefully -- just jiggle it about until you get something to move.

There is a spring-loaded hook that comes down and releases the door when you push on the 'button' under the leather covering. If there's enough room for it, and you can find a way to get some dry graphite lubricant in that gap, it might free up the mechanism. I would try getting some in and then shaking and turning the camera so the lube can find its way into the stuck bits. Then try the suggestion again of pushing in on the door while also pushing down on the button.

Once you get it open for the first time, it would be best to 'exercise' the mechanism by pushing the button in repeatedly after using some dry lubricant.

I've had a lot of these cameras in the past few decades, and many of them were sold to me without the seller even knowing what the things were because either they never knew to, or couldn't get, the opening mechanism to work. I had to more or less force some of them open with the good old uses of leverage and/or blunt force (putting a wooden rod on the button and striking it with a mallet). I figured it was better to just get the thing open, almost no matter what, rather than leave it as an unopenable box of mystery.