Graflex.org

t.r.sanford · Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 4:04 am Post subject:

Many, many years ago, I came across a book written just before WWII which mentioned a 2¼x3¼ "Speed Graphic" with a rotating back. I never have seen one, and never saw any other reference to it. I had assumed that the writer simply got it wrong -- until I found this cryptic listing in the Model History on this site:

2¼X3¼ Pre-Anniversary R B 1937 1938
immediately before the listing for the common

2¼X3¼ Miniature Speed 1938 1947

Does anyone know anything about this camera?
Did it have a focal-plane shutter and, if so, was the body significantly taller than the popular "Miniature Speed" that succeeded it?

The Model History also includes a listing for a

45 Electrified Crown Graphic 1956 1958

This sounds like a precursor of the "Super Graphic," perhaps partly inspired by the wonderful and perverse Kalart 3¼X4¼ press camera. Has anyone ever seen one of these?

Gandolf · Joined: 26 Dec 2001 Posts: 328 Location: middle earth

RB Graphic: There is a photo graph of one in Paine's "A review of Graflex" but it's only from the front. It's nothing more than an 3x4 pre an with a 2x3 RB back.

the electifed Crown shows up on ebay occasionally.

t.r.sanford · Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 1:11 pm Post subject:

The idea of converting my 3¼X4¼ "Anniversary" into a rotating-back 2¼X3¼ camera occurred to me in the mid-'70s, when 3¼X4¼ film was discontinued. Apparently, others had the same idea; somebody offered such a conversion on eBay last year. It seems logical and useful, and I wonder why Graflex gave up on it.

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

well remember it was a 3x4 PRE Ann

With the back it weighed more than a 3x4 Pre Ann

But it still shot 2x3 in Graflex holders

When the mini speed came out, Mini Speed owners could do the same thing by turning their wrist.

they offered the back for a while, but nobody (or very few) took them up on it. So why not discontinue it?

Les

glennfromwy · Joined: 29 Nov 2001 Posts: 903 Location: S.W. Wyoming

RE: Elecrified Crown -- what exactly was it that was electrified, and why? The only obvious thing would be the shutter. Or, perhaps the handle?

_________________
Glenn

"Wyoming - Where everybody is somebody else's weirdo"

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

they had a hot shoe and a cord to the sync on the lens. Others added a solenoid cord to the red button on the top RF so you could remote-fire the camera without the Graflite battery case. The trouble was these were using two little penlights to fire the solenoid....can't believe it was too successful. Maybe that's why the Supers use 45v.