Posted by Bob Stoddard on December 13, 2000 at 15:52:13:
In Reply to: WWII re-inactor looking for help posted by Derek on December 12, 2000 at 19:15:54:Although there were many conventional cameras used by WWII
photogs., one of the more unique-appearing was the Combat Graphic
which was procured by one or more of the military branches from
Graflex, and was essentially a ruggedized, non-bellows-equipped, 4
X 5 Speed Graphic.
The body was made of wood in olive drab paint, and a wooden
box-like front supported the lens and shutter instead of the usual
drop-front with moving lens standard and bellows. The front did not
move for focusing, and the 127mm lens used front-element focusing
instead.
They were sold in the civilian market very briefly at the end of
the war, but I think almost all of them were strictly wartime and
military. As to price, I would check eBay to see if any have sold
recently, but I seem to remember prices of $275+. RKS