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Bilderkenner · Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Posts: 5 Location: Bedford, Ohio

I recently acquired this camera for my WWII photography artifact collection. Can I still take pictures with it? Where can I get an instruction manual. I need a lot of help with this! Thanks!

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

Since that is the only C4 I've ever seen you'll have a hard time finding the military manual for it. However. ebay has manuals for Miniature Speed Graphic Cameras up all the time.

What part of A-hi-ya are you in?

Les

Bilderkenner · Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Posts: 5 Location: Bedford, Ohio

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

The C-4 is nothing more than a Miniature Speed Graphic that was drafted by the Air force.

The quick start guide is as follows. One the right side of the camera there is a wind key at the top, an L shaped lever in the middle and a knob with an escarpment pawl near the bottom.

This small knob puts tension on the main spring of the focal plane shutter, by rocking the pawl, you release the tension. There's a window nearby with the numbers 1-6.

The wind key with the ears is what winds the shutter and you can see letters go by the window near by. the L shaped lever trips the shutter.

Starting from the weakest to strongest is O T A B C D. O is for open, T is for time. for the most part O is for open T is for trouble. 99% of the pictures I take with my mini are using the front shutter and if the back shutter is set to T, the the back shutter is closed and you're in trouble. So Set the back shutter to OPEN. Use the front shutter just like you would any other camera.

Focus using the side rangefinder or the ground glass. Check the View through the view finder at the top or the ground glass.

Les

Bilderkenner · Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Posts: 5 Location: Bedford, Ohio

Thanks Les, your explanation has been enough to get me started. How much do you know about the flash attachment that came with it?
chuck

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

the flash unit is the standard 2 cell Graflex flash, but it's that strange black thing attached to the shutter that makes this unique.

This is a military synchronizer developed for the Combat camera. You'll need a house hold to Graflex solenoid cord, or even a Graflex round port to solenoid cord (all three ports on the front of the flash are the same) to make things work. the solenoid end of the wire is a round tip fork that goes in those two holes in the synchronizer. Push the button above the shutter release lever and things should work.

Ask anybody else and they will say you'll need a solenoid. Not true. and don't lose that synchronizer. It's probably the only one outside of a Combat Graphic.