Just got a late-1940s miniature Speed with a Graflex back and a rollfilm back. In-lens shutter kaput, seems to be the springs, looks like it was stored for decades with the shutter cocked at 400. Focal plane shutter seems to work fine, however. Anyway, every time I have a question about operating it -- this is the first time I've ever handled a Speed --I look on the board here to see if someone else has been advised on a similar problem. Barring that, I do a site search. But in just a couple of days running film through it, I've found that if I just look at the camera, the answer to my question is there! How do I know where I am in the FPS? Hey, there's a little a little window with letter indicators. What's that knob down below the FPS trip thing? Well, let's see, there's this number window, and there's this chart on the inside of the bed.... Bingo.

Really, those Graflex guys put together an amazing system that is totally intuitive if you keep your mind's ears open to what the camera is telling you. My first roll was blank -- not fogged, blank. I know my front lens was thrown open the whole time. Turns out I was exposing the paper backing. How to load the film, however, so that the take-up spool wrapped paper-side out and not emulsion side? I was desultorily turning the knob, and noticed that the take-up spool went the opposite direction of what you might think it would. Bingo again -- it's designed to roll up underneath, giving you paper side out.

Playing with this camera is like having a conversation with design engineers from decades ago. I don't even remember how I first came across the idea of the Speed Graphic, probably linked from something else I was looking at (had already been interested in photography as my midlife crisis pursuit -- cheaper than a Jaguar XK 120!), but I like to think that the Speed Graphic found me.

[quote]
On 2005-08-14 05:21, montresor wrote:

"Really, those Graflex guys put together an amazing system that is totally intuitive if you keep your mind's ears open to what the camera is telling you. My first roll was blank -- not fogged, blank. I know my front lens was thrown open the whole time. Turns out I was exposing the paper backing".

What kind of roll film back are you using with the Mini?

"Playing with this camera is like having a conversation with design engineers from decades ago".

You like playing with the Speed, you should try a Kodak Medalist! Speeds look as if they were crafted by master cabinetmakers; the Kodak lookis like a Leica scaled up to be made on a Bridgeport milling machine.
The older cameras do give you a link to past production engineering and design techonolgy. Like fine watches and firearms, pro level cameras were made of the finest materials available to designs done by skilled engeneers and then made to last. The newest Super Speed Graphic is over 30 years old, yet we consider it new.
If you ever get a chance, line up a top handle, a pre-Anny, an Anny, and a Pacemaker and look at the product improvements on each.
End of sermon. Go in peace.
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Using a Graflex 23 back.

Have seen the Medalist but never handled one. Looks mighty chunky! I think what has kept me from pursuing one is the 620 requirement. Appears to be an interesting camera, though. I understand a lot of military guys used them in WWII.

Yeh having handled a Medalist Top is right, it feels like it was made on a Bridgeport, and weighs nearly as much. The lens is fantastic though (similar to a 105mm Ektar) and then there's that 620 problem.


Les

Welcome to the world of Speed Graphics! That's the way I learned to use 'em. It's all laid out for you. All you have to do is put 2&2 together. Fun to use, too.

Les;
Several folks will convert a Medalist to take 120, but such conversions tend to cost twice the value of the camera. Re-spooling 120 onto 620 really isn't more of a chore than bulk loading 35mm, and I'm doing it anyway for the Adapt-a-Roll. It's worth it to use that Ektar!
montresor;
You must be a Poe fan!
Both my 23 backs wind the film backing side out, just like my Rolleiflex, Medalist, ect. Only the Adapt-a-Roll I have winds inside out.
Does your Mini have the proper Graflokk conversion back,or one taken off a Pacemaker
Top?

"Both my 23 backs wind the film backing side out, just like my Rolleiflex, Medalist, ect. Only the Adapt-a-Roll I have winds inside out.
Does your Mini have the proper Graflokk conversion back,or one taken off a Pacemaker
Top?"


Dunno if it's a conversion back; I know it's not the spring back. It's not a true Graflok back either, like the one on my Crown 4x5. It's more like a simplified version of the Graflok, with two long horizontal tabs that slide left to lock the roll film holder in place. I was assuming this was the Graflex back.

I think I'm going to have to find someone locally who can show me exactly how to load it. I'm guessing that I should insert the feed spool so that the film pulls off from _underneath_ so the emulsion side faces the dark slide when I close it up, and bring it around to the take-up spool that way. How'm I doing here? On base? Off point? Stick to an Instamatic?

If both the upper and lower tabs slide it's a Graflokk missing the focusing panel. If only one slides, it's a Graflex. Is there a flash plug dead center on the top edge? That would be the factory conversion.
Someone posted detailed instructions re:loading rollfilm backs, but it sounds as if you have it. Just wind on until the arrows match up, close it up, zero the counter, and wind until it stops and you're good to go.
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Okay, looks like it's the Graflok without the focussing panel, it came with the roll back on it already. Looks like the focussing panel got lost in space or somerthing; it's in sketchy shape here and there (missing the flip-up sportsfinder, and there's that aforementioned blown shutter spring up front), but the focal plane shutter seems to work at all settings, which is better than good for a camera I picked up for pocket change.

Thanks for the loading tip too, I think I can get it right next time. Barring any other snafus on my part!

"You must be a Poe fan!"

Yep, that goes way back -- how far back, I won't say, but let's say that when I was a teenager reading Poe I also was able to take some of the money I earned caddying (great job, by the way) over to Robert Hall and buy a peacock blue Nehru jacket AND an ultra-groovy medallion on a chain to go with it.

Sometimes the past is best left buried...

[quote]
On 2005-08-14 18:04, montresor wrote:
"Okay, looks like it's the Graflok without the focussing panel, it came with the roll back on it already. Looks like the focussing panel got lost in space or somerthing; it's in sketchy shape here and there (missing the flip-up sportsfinder"

Not a big deal, as the sportsfinder eyepiece on top of the body is better anyway (IMHO).
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