Folks:

Recently I bought a Speed Graphic camera
with no lens. I am having some problems
identifying this camera. There is a metal
tag on the inside of the front cover that
reads as follows:

GRAPHIC
Serial Number 881378
Manufactured by Graflex, Inc.
Rochester 8, New York, U.S.A.

The camera body has the Kalart
Synchronized Range Finder on the side. There
is an ink stamp on the crossbar of the
focusing rack but it is unreadable. It has
the focal-plane shutter with 1/1000 s top
speed.

In addition, I'm trying to identify the
removable back. I think (hope) it is a
Graflok; it is stamped with the number 31915
followed by a tiny symbol. It has a heavy
spring and a pop-out metal shade (which made
me jump when I accidentally found it). I'm
new to all this so please bear with me.

Although your fine website has been helpful, I still need some assistance in
identifying this camera's year of manufacture
so I can find an instruction manual for it.
I intend to use it as a beginner's large-
format camera.

Thank you,

Michael Lewis
Severn, MD

This should be a Pacemaker Speed made sometime in '53 or 54. These are commonly found with 127mm Ektars or Optars, occasionally with a 135 Optar.

If you are trying to get a user camera that still has the proper lens, look for these lenses in Graphex or Rapax Synchronizing shutters or the X model. These shutters seem to hold up better than the Kodak Supermatics.