Graflex.org

vic valis · Joined: 21 Nov 2001 Posts: 247 Location: San Francisco

Couldn't find anything on it age-wise in the accessories page, but maybe that's because it's from Kalart and not Graflex. Anyone have an idea of years of manufacture?

jeff

_________________
That money talks,
I'll not deny.
I heard it once;
It said "good-bye."

alecj · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 853 Location: Alabama

There seem to be a lot of rumors that they began during the war - something about focusing inside bombers or something. I thought they were made for night photography, e.g. nightclub shots, etc. Heiland made them early on too, I believe. The "modern" units [with 2 male prongs] seem to have been made later, since the Graflite units were also later and they had the hot plug to furnish power.

hennesse · Joined: 30 Nov 2002 Posts: 10 Location: Bethesda, MD

Looks like Kalart started in 1946.

Here's some history from the EPA

Dave

vic valis · Joined: 21 Nov 2001 Posts: 247 Location: San Francisco

Kalart must have existed in some form or another prior to 1946, since I have seen (and own in parts) several very early reach-around rangehinders (the sort that had an arm that fit between the dclosed drop bed and the edge of the camera, not the kind that needed a hole drilled in the body for the arm... and speaking of which, I may need help mounting/calibrating one at some point). The company perhaps moved to that space, or else company records were lost for 1946 and earlier.

jeff

_________________
That money talks,
I'll not deny.
I heard it once;
It said "good-bye."