Graflex.org

[brimc76]

Hi all, I'm a new user and have just bought a Crown Graphic Special with serial number
981747. Anyone here have an idea what year this is from? Thanks.

[45PSS]

Open the camera, extend the rails(yoke) so that the first crossmember is beyond the bed. Look on the bottom and read the code printed there. If you have not read this site, post the information here.

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The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

[brimc76]

I did what you said and looked for the stamped code but there is nothing printed on the bottom of the cross piece. I did find the earlier post which explained all about the stamped codes and how to read them, but I can't find any code printed anywhere on the camera. There is a tag inside with patent numbers, the last patent number in the list is 2.888.868 and the serial number on the Graphic tag is 981747 but these are the only numbers I can find. Is it possible that the rail has been replaced? Everything on the camera is in excellent condition so I'm really not concerned, but it would be nice if I could date the body.
Thanks for your help.

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Brian Mc.

[Graflite]

Brian Mc:

If it is any help, I have a 4 x 5 Crown Graphic Special with a body serial number of 939928 and it was dated to the area of mid 1959, possibly June or July.

The absence of a stamped date code and the near proximity of your serial number (981747) to mine (939928) suggests mid to late 1959 to perhaps sometime in 1960 (before the date codes began).

I too had the same problem as you in not finding a stamped date code on the camera, from what I have been told and read, the stamped date codes were started by Graflex on their equipment sometime during 1960 and then continued up to their going out of business in the early 70's.

You did not mention what lens came with your camera, but mine came with a Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 135mm f/4.7 lens with a serial number of 6247356 in which the Schneider Optics web page shows this lens being manufactured between May 1959 (6 million lenss made) and February 1961 (7 million lens made).

From what I was told by the seller, the Xenar was the original lens that came with my Crown Special when it was ordered from the Graflex factory in Rochester, and from the looks of it, this was not a pressman's camera, but perhaps a "serious amateur photographers" camera, as it was in mint condition when I acquired it.

Hope this helps with "dating" your Crown Special.

graflite

[brimc76]

Thanks for the reply graflite. The person I bought the camera from told me that he was sure it was a later 60's model from the serial# but he hadn't actually dated it for sure. It is in mint condtion but he had reconditioned it so I don't know what repairs were made to it before he sold it to me. He told me that the "Special" designation was because of it being made with the Xenar 135mm 4.7 lens with the Compur shutter, but the actual lensboard had been replaced and didn't have the special name at the top. He deals in Graflex all the time and has a very good reputation as well as guaranteeing all sales, so I'm not concerned. I have been looking at user manuals and see that some are dated so I wanted to get one for the right year.

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Brian Mc.

[Les]

I have a crown special with a Xenar in a Copal shutter, the serial number is 991xxx and has a date code on the yoke of B3B which with the serial number dates it to 1973.

Yours is about 10k units earlier which I'm guessing puts it in to the later 60s ---'67-'69 era.

I also have a Crown Special from '61 and it was stamped "K1A" in white ink on the inside of the body on the "Kalart RF side" (not that it had a Kalart RF, it's just that people have a hard time with left and right side of a camera)

So you might want to look there, but I suspect yours was late enough to have been on the underside of the yoke.

[brimc76]

Thanks Les. I did forget to mention that this model has the top mounted Grapflex (I think) rangefinder. It's the one the has the two light beams that can be used for focusing as well as the split image. I'll check inside there.

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Brian Mc.

[Les]

Nearly all of the Crown Specials were top rangefinders. Tim Holden, Graflex historian and ex employee of Graflex says there was a Crown Special on the books in the side RF days, but I have yet to see one that says "Special" on it.

Les

[brimc76]

Thank you to everyone for all the help. I'll be out this weekend to try everything out, can't wait!

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Brian Mc.

[45PSS]

Someone may have cleaned the rail and removed the ink stamp in the process, it could have faded or worn off depending on how it was used. Special lighting or side viewing with heavy magnification may be necessary.

_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

[Graflite]

Somehow I got it into my mind that my Crown Special was a late 60's manufacture, but the serial number, the lack of a date code and the lens that came with the camera proved me wrong, it was actually made in mid 1959.

I guess it was the mint condition that blinded me and that same mint condition almost prevents me from taking it out of the case and using it for fear of putting a blemish on it, which is something I need to stop doing and get over it.

Camera's are meet to be used (but not abused) and a well used, but well maintained camera is something to be proud of, for it means it is being used for the purpose that it was made for.

Lately I find excuses for not dragging out the cases and using a camera or two to shoot some images, but if they sit in their cases, then they don't produce images, and there are so many images now gone that I wish I had shot, but didn't for various silly reasons and feeble excuses.

Perhaps now I need to get out more and take myself and my camera's for a nice long walk, and see if I can resolve this lethargy of the mind and body.

graflite