| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
William Hallett
Joined: 07 Jan 2012
Posts: 99
|
 Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 6:50 pm Post subject: Date for Speed |
 |
|
Could someone please give me a construction date for 4 x 5 Pacemaker Speed no. 830975?
Thanks!
_________________
WilliamH |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Henry
Joined: 09 May 2001
Posts: 1642
Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 7:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| c. 1949-50. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
William Hallett
Joined: 07 Jan 2012
Posts: 99
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 8:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks! This one still has a Graphic back, so I'm guessing it is probably one of the last pre-Graflok's produced.
_________________
WilliamH |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dan Fromm
Joined: 14 May 2001
Posts: 2133
Location: New Jersey
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| The Graflok back was originally an option, the default was Graphic. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
William Hallett
Joined: 07 Jan 2012
Posts: 99
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 10:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks - I was curious, as I have only seen one other non-Graflok Pacemaker.
I was wondering about another constructional feature. This one has external bearings for the focal plane shutter, as do most Speeds I've seen. However, I have another 4 x 5 Speed from 1948 (as dated from the Ektar lens) whose shutter bearings are flush with the case and covered by the leatherette. Were the concealed bearings a feature of early Pacemakers?
_________________
WilliamH |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
toolbox
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Posts: 7
Location: Montana
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 8:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| William Hallett wrote: | Thanks - I was curious, as I have only seen one other non-Graflok Pacemaker.
I was wondering about another constructional feature. This one has external bearings for the focal plane shutter, as do most Speeds I've seen. However, I have another 4 x 5 Speed from 1948 (as dated from the Ektar lens) whose shutter bearings are flush with the case and covered by the leatherette. Were the concealed bearings a feature of early Pacemakers? |
The very earliest ones did. I have one in my collection...I haven't bothered to check the serial number, but I'm sure it's a 1948. They must have switched pretty early, as it's the only one I've seen without caps. There were also two styles of bearing cap--a small one (early) and a big one they started using in the mid-1950s. It makes a lot of sense to use the cap, as it's a whole lot easier to clean and lube that end of the curtain shaft. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
William Hallett
Joined: 07 Jan 2012
Posts: 99
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 9:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks - that's very interesting. Any idea why they made the design change? Anniversaries and Pre-Anni's all have outside bearings, as far as I know. Perhaps they thought that burying them under the leather would protect them from dust, or maybe the decision was an aesthetic one.
_________________
WilliamH |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
toolbox
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Posts: 7
Location: Montana
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 9:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| William Hallett wrote: | | Thanks - that's very interesting. Any idea why they made the design change? Anniversaries and Pre-Anni's all have outside bearings, as far as I know. Perhaps they thought that burying them under the leather would protect them from dust, or maybe the decision was an aesthetic one. |
Afraid I don't know (maybe someone else does?) We can always speculate... My guess is that it was a style choice--functionally it was a step backwards, and I'm not sure how it would be any easier to manufacture that way. The shutter on the one I have with no caps needs a CLA on the shutter...I'm not looking forward to it lol. Much prefer the caps. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
45PSS
Joined: 28 Sep 2001
Posts: 4081
Location: Mid Peninsula, Ca.
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 10:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The curtain roller bushings are there on all FPS cameras, only their mounting is changed on some production runs, reason unknown, possibly a production line change for assembly speed.
Bushing outside diameter may be from whoever was making them for Graflex or a larger diameter was easier to assemble.
_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
toolbox
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Posts: 7
Location: Montana
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2014 12:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
| 45PSS wrote: | The curtain roller bushings are there on all FPS cameras, only their mounting is changed on some production runs, reason unknown, possibly a production line change for assembly speed.
Bushing outside diameter may be from whoever was making them for Graflex or a larger diameter was easier to assemble. |
Hmmm...I guess there's more to it than I thought...I'd always assumed that the "no bearing cap" was just a feature of very early Pacemakers, but the serial number on mine appears to place it in 1949...836071 (can you see what the book says?). It has an Ektar 152mm SN ES1348 in a Graphic Supermatic shutter. So the lens was made in 1947... That supermatic is bigger than the one they used for the 135mm, and they seem to be pretty uncommon. I have another one...it's on a Pacemaker Crown that appears to have been special ordered with a Graflex back. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
45PSS
Joined: 28 Sep 2001
Posts: 4081
Location: Mid Peninsula, Ca.
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2014 1:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
836xxx is in the middle of the block of confusion, anywhere from mid/late 1947 to 1949.
You can find the scoop on your Ektar here:
http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/kodak_4.html
_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
William Hallett
Joined: 07 Jan 2012
Posts: 99
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2014 2:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Perhaps the serial numbers of my two Speeds with bearings covered by the leather would be useful, if someone can date them:
- 4 x 5, serial 833825 (presumed 1948, as this is the date of its Ektar)
- 2 x 3, serial 707106 (has an Optar, so no clue as to the date)
In both cases there is absolutely no sign of any protrusion or anything but a smooth flat surface under the leather at the bearing locations, so this is not simply a case of covering the standard bearings with leather - they must be a different design. I serviced the 2 x 3's shutter some years ago, but can't remember what's in there.
The Speed that started this thread has outside bearings of the "small" type as described by Toolbox.
_________________
WilliamH |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dan Fromm
Joined: 14 May 2001
Posts: 2133
Location: New Jersey
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2014 5:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| 707,106 was in a block of 2x3 Pacemaker Graphics (Speeds and Crowns mixed) assigned 5/22/50. The next block of 2x3 Pacemaker Graphics was assigned 9/11/50 so presumably y'r 2x3 Speed was made between those two dates. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
45PSS
Joined: 28 Sep 2001
Posts: 4081
Location: Mid Peninsula, Ca.
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2014 6:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The 833xxx Speed is in the same "block of confusion" as 836xxx.
_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
William Hallett
Joined: 07 Jan 2012
Posts: 99
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2014 9:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks to you both for the dates. It looks as if there is no definite correlation between age and covered vs external shutter bearings.
_________________
WilliamH |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
