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cafort · Joined: 16 Aug 2003 Posts: 2 Location: Midwest

Hi all,
Can anyone provide info on the 4x5 Speed Graphic Anniversary Navy Issue. I'm thinking of purchasing one.
Thanks,
Cheryl

[ This Message was edited by: cafort on 2003-08-16 17:13 ]

[ This Message was edited by: cafort on 2003-08-16 17:18 ]

Les · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 2682 Location: Detroit, MI

Who ever said "To really foul things up takes a computer" never saw what Uncle Sam could do to records when they don't know what to do with them. At first the signal corp seemed to get most if not all of the cameras and then were assigned to different branches. Later each branch bought their own and had unique nomenclature. Later still the Air Force was the central purchasing agent but distributed the material to the other branches, again with different nomenclature.

for the most part, Speed Graphic cameras issued during most of WWII were stock, off the shelf, Annys, probaby with an Ektar, but certainly would take anything they could get.

Late in the war the Government/Graflex combined to make the Combat Graphic, it was bellowless, rangefinderless, or even a leather cover, but was built to be tossed into a foxhole with you right behind. Not many of these were issued. Great numbers were still found state-side after the war and were painted black, and usually poorly. These were sold by Burke and James and probably Army Surplus stores that were on every corner after the war.

If there's a specific model or question that you had in mind I'll try to answer it.

Graflex tried to sell its stock by renaming it the "Graphic 45".

Graflex Sid · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 221 Location: London,England

If you ever see the movie "The Bridges at Toko-Ri" (1954)about an aircraft carrier during the time of the Korean war...if you look carefully you will see American Navy photographers using the "combat Graphics"on the flight deck.
They can be seen several times during the oscar winning action scenes-first,you think they are Speeds,but look closely again,and the cameras are as described in your post above.

Built to take rough treatment and everything thrown at it!...wind,rain and the odd bullet.

As you would say:Shucks!