Posted by Les on January 16, 2001 at 09:36:24:
In Reply to: Production Date posted by Chuck Hartway on January 16, 2001 at 05:56:08:: The serial # on my Speed Graphic is 877751.
: What year (month?) was it manufactured?
Dating Graflex products isn't as exact as say Leicas, which makes it more fun. Graflex entered a block of numbers in a book assinging these numbers to a particular model camera--and then went ahead and built them. While I was never in the building I suspect that several different cameras were being built at the same time, so several blocks of numbers were being worked on together.
In the early years the block of numbers were relatively small and estimating when the last of those cameras were made was realively easy. By the 50s the blocks of numbers grew very large and knowing when the last of the bunch was made has been difficult. The alpha-numeric date code, when used seems to be more accurate, since it was added on the the production line. I've seen a two year gap between the serial date and the date code.
That said your camera was part of a block of 3000 numbers entered in the book February 7, 1952. Your serial number is closer to the front so I would be fairly certain yours was made in the spring or summer of '52.
what the book doesn't say is any kind of designations these cameras have, whether for Gov't or a Crown Special or the sort.
Could you please tell me whether or not your camera is a military or Crown Special. Contact me off list is you like (click on my name above)