A few hours of Internet research and a brief stop at http://www.photo.net have landed me here. My wife bid on some furniture items at a local government auction and we got this camera as an add-on item. It formally belonged to the National Historical Park here in Sitka, Alaska.

http://fmtravels03.com/Bruce%20Graflex%20Camera/index.htm

From reading here I think it is a 4x5 Crown Graphic 23 with a Graflock back, and an Optar f/4.7 125mm lens. The serial number is 917446. I have no idea if it works. I have no idea how to test if it works. I have, what appears to be, a ton of other things in the case as well. If one of you fine individuals would like to take on the project of tutoring a perspective LF photography student I would appreciate it. If there is a site where a person such as me could go to learn from step one that would be great.

I have a ton of questions:

What camera do I have for sure? When was it made? How do I check to see if it is operational? What kind of film(s) does it use? Where do I get it? All of these novice questions come before even general use questions. Sorry.

I realize that I am on the opposite end of the Graflex knowledge spectrum from most of you. I have inquired at the local camera shop here and they did not know of anyone in town with experience with these cameras. The local library has nothing. I need some help please. I need help from square one. I need a patient soul.

Thanks for reading this,

Bruce

Looks like you have got a 4 x 5 Crown Graphic press camera with a grafloc back there, from the looks of the pictures, it seems to be in pretty good shape, the roll film back your showing in the one picture is a Calumet roll film back designed to be used the same way a sheet film holder is.

You might want to take a look through the complete website as there is a wealth of information contained on this site, and then start posting away with your questions as this camera has been discussed extensivly over the years and there are a good many of us that own the exact same camera..

Welcome to the family.

Dave

That looks like a fairly complete setup. Do you have a tripod? Light meter? Any pro or semi serious amatuer camera store should be able to get you film. Any pro shop should be stocking 120 film at the very least. If the shutter is working then that's basically it. If not and you want to use the camera then it's possible to get it fixed or to replace it with a modern lens.

Check the thread titled

"I want to make a picture now!"

Various bits of info.