Hey everyone,

I just picked up a Graflex 4x5 with serial #326148 from Seawood Photo in San Anselmo, California. Graham, the salesperson, told me it was a Military (circa WWII) crown graphic. However, it has a the Rear Focal Plane Shutter, which tells me it might be a Speed Graphic...?

Anyway, it doesn't have the standard Graflok Spring back and instead, has some sort of removeable back system that takes non-standard 4x5 Riteway film holders.

Does anyone know if it's possible to replace this film back, with a standard Graflok 4x5 Spring Back? And would it fit right in, or would it require modifications, and who does that kind of work???

Please let me know, I'm desperate to get this working before I leave for a residency.

Thanks!

Marc

326148 is in the middle of a batch of 2500 Anniversary Speed Graphics made in 1943. Is the hardware all black?

The Pacemaker Graphic also known as Spring back and Graflok back will fit onto the Anniversary body but the Graflok back can go for as much as a complete camera and finding one is not easy.

Your camera probably has a Graflex back like the Graflex SLR's.

See:
http://graflex.org/speed-graphic/graphic-models.html
and
http://www.southbristolviews.com/pics/Graphic/manual-pdf/Anniversary.pdf

Quick solution is to return it and look for another camera. If you keep it and find another back contact me via the site private message function and I'll give you a quote on the servicing.