Graflex.org

spickering · Joined: 01 Jul 2004 Posts: 11 Location: Canada

I'm looking to buy one of these and have one in mind. To see pictures of it, visit:

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=008i5v

Anyway what Im wondering is if this perticular one uses normal 4x5 view camera film holders. If not what do I use to put the film into and where can I get these?

Rangemaster · Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 6:24 pm Post subject:

Looks to be a standard 4 X 5 crown and will use the standard 4 x 5 film holders and other acc. for that camera, just like they were saying over there.

Dave

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RichS · Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 6:55 pm Post subject:

I hate to dissagree, but that's a Graflex back and won't be able to use standard holders of any type.

There is a Grafmaic made for the Graflex back and not too hard to find.
Fot the "standard" double sided film holders, you'd have to find the older wood holders with the grooves on both edges. I'm sure there's a lot of these around but I haven't seen too many myself...

I don't know of any roll film holder that would work with a Graflex back?

I wouldn't buy this camera unless you had either a spring or Graflok back for it already waiting to be installed. Or a good stock of working film holders on hand...

The suggestions to view here: http://www.graflex.org/speed-graphic/features.html#GraflexBack
is a good one

[ This Message was edited by: RichS on 2004-07-01 11:57 ]

Rangemaster · Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 6:58 pm Post subject:

Sorry about that, I did not catch that there were no spring arms on the back, my mistake, I have to defer to Rich on this one, it is indeed a graflex back and there are not a lot of acc available for them.

Dave

_________________
Focus on the Picture, Not on the Glass.
Satin Snow(TM) Ground Glass

primus96 · Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 7:04 pm Post subject:

You should be looking for a Pacemaker Speed or Crown Graphic with a Graphic or the Graflok back. The Graphic back has two leaf aprings the Graflok, two 'hooks' on the back.
The picture on photo.net is the GRAFLEX back. The film holders for this have a groove and you may find it very hard to get them. The normal type of film holder has a ridge on it and they are a universal pattern used by everybody.

The 127mm Ektar is capable of giving a good 20x16 enlargement at f11 or smaller. F22 sharpens the corners a bit more. I know because thats what my 'Crown has.
Just make sure that whatever camera you consider that the slow speeds below 25th/sec on the shutter don't drag or hang up. This means the shutter needs a service.

You can get the metal lens panels for the Pacemaker Graphic for the #0 & #1 shutters so you can put a more modern lens on if you want.

If theres any more questions you need to ask you know where to ask know!

Just realise that if you own a 'Speed or 'Crown you are still going to get people asking which newspaper you work for.

RichS · Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 7:06 pm Post subject:

Okay, wait a minute...

I took a closer look at the pic of the camera back. I thought something was wrong...

Not only does the plate (screwed to back of camera) look like a Graflok, but it also looks like the bottom slider is really a slider?

I just went to get one of my Crowns to compare against the pic. The camera back itself still looks like a Graflok to me. I didn't think the Graflex "sliders" were tilted in to the camera back like the Graflok ones are? I don't have a Graflex here to compare...

Right now, my opinion has changed. I think the camera back is a Graflok and the focusing panel is something else that doesn't belong there...

That's good news if true becuase then any standrad film holder could be used. The bad news is that a Graflok viewing panal would have to be found for the camera, IF the back is functional and in good order for the panel spring hooks, etc...

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Rangemaster · Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 7:12 pm Post subject:

Rich,

I don't see any spring arms are all on that back and in comparing to a couple of mine, they are very prominent in looking at them, also the focus panel looks like it butts right up to the edge in the panel, which again would not allow the spring arms, also if you look at the top slider it seems to be in a groove on the top of the focusing panel.., not really the best pictures to see in, I would ask the guy to take the focus panel off and take a picture to be sure.

Dave

PS, I should have your glass in the mail on Friday Rich.

_________________
Focus on the Picture, Not on the Glass.
Satin Snow(TM) Ground Glass

spickering · Joined: 01 Jul 2004 Posts: 11 Location: Canada

I posted another pic of another camera on the Photo.net posting. Is this the kind of back I'd need to use the film holders? Also is this one a 4x5?

Rangemaster · Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 7:18 pm Post subject:

The new picture is denfinately a Graflok back, you can see the spring arms very clearly on this picture.

Dave

_________________
Focus on the Picture, Not on the Glass.
Satin Snow(TM) Ground Glass

RichS · Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 7:24 pm Post subject:

Thanks Dave

Yep, that focusing panel is the question? Overall the back itself looks 'Graflok' to me. But there's something wrong with the sliders and deffinitely the panel. Makes me wonder what someone may have done to it? And we can't tell without that panel coming off and looking closer!

spickering: That second pic is deffinitely a Graflok back and can use any standard current holders. As to whether or not it's 4x5, well the best I could say is probably... It's deffinitly not 2x3. Anyone know if the 3x4's had Grafloks?? It also looks like an older camera, but that won't hurt anything...

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"Ya just can't have too many GVIIs"

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RichS · Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 7:36 pm Post subject:

Okay, just for a "hey, I didn't know that"...

I'm looking in my repair book trying to locate a part that just fell out of my Crown

... And I noticed the blow-up of the Graflex back, in the back...

Well I never knew that a Graflex had TWO sliders! I always thought the bottom one didn't move? Although I can't see the angle of the sliders in this bad photo-copy-reprint, the Graflex back in the repair book does look exactly like the back on the original Crown in question here...

So, My mind has again been changed, and I learned something new... The whole day has at least not been wasted... Now if I can just figure out what this part is, I'll maybe veen be happy

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"Ya just can't have too many GVIIs"

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spickering · Joined: 01 Jul 2004 Posts: 11 Location: Canada

Well the second picture I posted that has the Graflok, I won in the auction. Thanks for the help. I've still bid on the first camera, but I probably wont win it due to a low bid. It is newer and better condition though. What I'm wondering is what parts can interchange between these two if by chance I should also win the second auction?

Secondly here is some info on the one I just won:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3823858338&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1

The lens looks mediocre to me, but let me know on that.

[ This Message was edited by: spickering on 2004-07-02 11:50 ]

Rangemaster · Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 8:08 pm Post subject:

There does not seem to be anything wrong with the lens from the picture and of course he does not mention any problems, which is normal. But I use one identicle to that one all the time, in fact the picture I recently posted in the Large Format thread was taken with the same lens.

Dave

_________________
Focus on the Picture, Not on the Glass.
Satin Snow(TM) Ground Glass

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

RichS;
Up through the Anniversary, Speeds had backs made of wood covered in leather. In those years Graflex backs had one slider and one rail.

When the Pacemaker series came around, the back went to all metal and, as you've figured out, they re-invented the Graflex back.

The original camera is definitely a factory made Graflex back. It will be a pain to use and may pose a better value to a collector than to buy it to switch parts off of or onto.

The lens is a 135mm Optar, depending on the year it was actually more expensive than an Ektar. I suspect there's more quality variation with an Optar, and since performance rating is a very subjective thing, I suggest you take it out for a spin and see what shows up.

While a new apo-Grandisymargon will probably out perform it, remember that somebody probably made a very good living using this lens.

les

RichS · Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 8:17 pm Post subject:

Looks like a good camera with a decent lens & shutter. I wouldn't worry about anything till you get to use it.

As far as interchanging parts. Everything should be interchangable between them. But it doesn't look like anything would have to be?

The only thing I would change on the camera you won is the flash bracket (around the range finder). That's not a standard bracket and it would be nice to have the Graphic bracket for a standard graphic flash. But that's just me

Congrats and enjoy it!

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"Ya just can't have too many GVIIs"

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