Graflex.org

[jpmose]

Hello,

As a collector and user of Graflex cameras, I just added a 1939 Pre-Anniversary Speed Graphic to my collection. I am very familiar with minor changes that occurred on models post war and forward. Plus, there always seems to be some much more information on the later models ("Graphic Graflex Photography" stated in 1940 and the focus was on the new Anniversary Speed Graphic). Here is what I know so far:

4 X 5 Pre-Anniversary Speed was manufactured from 1928 through 1939. The 3 1/4 X 4 1/4 started in 1935 which changes occurring the same as big brother. The Miniature Speed stated in 1938 under a differnent name but was essentially a Pre-Anniversary (I will therefore exclude this from discussion). Here are the only changes that I am aware of:

1) Metal parts changed from silver oxidized plating to dull gray paint -- when did this occur?

2) Sliding bar that secures lensboard against front standard changed from plain to "Speed Graphic" badge -- when did this occur?

3) Early models did not have a side mount accessory rangefinder -- when did this option become available?

4) In 1939, folding optical viewfinder was replaced with a tubular viewfinder.

These are the only changes that I am aware of. Were there more? Do any of you collector experts know the answer to 1 - 3 above?

I have most books and literature on Graflex products but the "pre" isn't too detailed. Thank you for your time! When I get an "Anniversary Speed", which would complete my collection of Speed Graphics, I may ask the same questions!

_________________
Best regards,

JP Mose

[Les]

[vic valis]

Well my collection has a 99% complete 4x5 Anniversary military model (C-3), a pre-anniversary 4x5, and a top-handle 4x5, and if someone wants to start the database, I'll answer whatever questions I can. I also have a huge box full of 4x5 and 3 /12 x 4 1/2 bodies for parts that I'm hoping to start selling off soon, ranging from pre-anns to Century models... start asking the questions soon before I unload them! Can even contribute photos to whoever gets this started.

jeff


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

[bertsaunders]

I too have a top handle, Pre-Ann, Anniversary and Pace models....so I am open to whatever help I can render.....ask away!Bert

[jpmose]

I also have a Top Handle, Pre-Anniversary, Miniature, Pacemaker, Super Speed (2) Graphic. Also a 1A with the accordian hood, Super D Graflex, Graflex View II and Graphic 35. I would love to see a datebase developed so we can estimate minor changes. I am more than willing to help too. What do you think Les?

[vic valis]

Well tell y'all what I'm going to do (and I've been meaning to do it fer a while anyhow) is I'm going to photograph my finished (or almost finished) cameras and post them as examples. The finished C-3 has parts borowed off of a variety of cameras, but looks pretty typical. The almost finished top-handle is pretty much completed cosmetically. I'll make sure to get close-up of the hardware so that we can do a side-by-side of the minute changes.

jeff

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

[vic valis]

Okay, I'm in the process of photographing my SGs, thinking that I may post them on an AOL homepage with info like serial number, date of manufacture, dimensions and etc. Including images of external hardware and finish, type of camera back, maybe accessories. Once I have this done, I will post an email address and/or URL, and anyone with good images and info on their cameras will be invited to send them to me. May also photograph my various and assorted accessories (diffferent models of rangefinder, bag-mags for plate and film, so forth) and scan my manuals (the ones that are not already here at Graflex.org). Anyone with ideas about what other sort of stuff we can include in this database idea, go ahead and post it here. I'm no computer genuis though; anyting that is not click and drag someone else is going to have to be drafted to do.


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

[vic valis]

Okay folks... just created an AOL hometown thingy and posted images and a little info on two of my cameras. Check it out, give me suggestions. Any info y'all think should be listed, let me know. If you have images to share, go ahead and send them. There should be a working email link, if I did it all correctly. I'll need to get dates on these cameras again. Anyone who can point out details or variations, let me know... hopefully I do not run out of space too quickly.

http://hometown.aol.com/jcodori/myhomepage/speedgraphic.html

check it out.

jeff



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

[vic valis]

An update on the site: have added a page of Kalart information... well not actual information but some old Kalart pamphlets. Cool stuff, check it out. I don't know too much about hte rangefinders myself, so any contributons to the page are appreciated... I will mention contributors. Also, I'm not too big on the Pacemakers and the smaller formats, so images or information on the other formats will be appreciated... I will add pages as needed.

jeff

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

[jpmose]

Vic,

I do not receive any of the photos except for the Kalart images (quite interesting). Is anyone else having problems with opening the file?

I received my 1937 Graflex catalog in the mail yesterday. The images of the Pre-Anniversary Speed Graphics are displayed with an external rangefinder that is mounted on the top of the camera, next to the peep site for the sports finder...maybe it is an accessory Leica finder? Makes me wonder if the Kalart wasn't available until 1938?

[vic valis]

When I check from home the images come up, but I assume they're already cached (hey, I don't know squat about computers but I'm talking like an expert). Possibly they are large images that are taking too long to load... if more people have this problem I will reduce the size of them. It is on AOL, so of course there are probably going to be issues with Internet Explorer, if that's your browser.

jeff

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

[clnfrd]

I have Windows ME/Internet Explorer and the images load just fine. Ya gotta wait for 'em to load...it's not an instant thing. Fred.

[vic valis]

I may try reducing the size of the images and reposting them... they should all be jpegs, but if they are not then that might also affect them. Want to save as much space as possible for all the other contributins that will come rolling in any moment!

jeff

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

[vic valis]

And now a reply to jpmose; I have heard that before the Kalart RF was offered as an option, uncoupled rangefinders were used, attached vie an accessory shoe that could be screwed to the side or top of the camera. I have seen some examples of cameras that have a brass block attached to the handle side of the camera with a threaded hole big enough to accept a tripod screw. Some flash gun mounts have this size screw, so I assume the block was for flash or other accessories. I don't know when the Kalart Synchronized rf came out, although it may have existed before they figured out the means to couple it to the camera... Kalarts are probably a whole other site in and of themselves though.

jeff

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

[Les]

richard paine in "a Review of Graflex" talks about a model camera with a Leica RF on it.

In one of my catalogs I see a Leica RF as an option along with a Kalart finder.