Hello there
I recently acquired a later pacemaker 4 x 5
I've been getting the hang of this camera and have made a few good shots already I recently got the flash working and picked up some bulbs
Wire filled GE bulbs about the size of a 40 bulb
I'm using the two post flash sink on the lens setting black M and shutter speed around 100 and f16.
I took two photos one inside the house and one of a tree outside
The film is BW ilford 400 speed
I Develop the film and they were blank completely:-(
Any ideas ? Focal plane shutter was open and I pulled the dark slides
I didn't miss anything obvious

Which shutter is the lens in?

If it is a Flash Synchromatic and you used it without cocking the synchronizer, it will give you "x" class sync, i.e., will fire an "m" class bulb too late.

Hello there

It seems to be a unusual Rapax lens. Here is a pic
https://ibb.co/hzLCPR

Anyone have any recommendations for camera setting for flash. So I have something to try this afternoon

Quote:

It seems to be a unusual Rapax lens.

An Optar is a Raptor with a different name.
A Graphex is a Rapax with a different name.
Same lens, same shutter, from the same company.

Now you have a Graflite connected via BiPost cable to the Rapax shutter.
The shutter is known as a full sync as it has settings for all types of flash.
You have it set to the black M which is correct for flash bulbs.

Now for the settings on the Graflite.
Read/check the settings in this instruction manual to ensure you have the N switch set correctly.
http://www.cameramanuals.org/flashes_meters/graflite.pdf

If you have it set correctly for use with in shutter flash delay then the shutter is at fault and should be serviced.
You can set the Graflite to trip the shutter via the solenoid which will fire the flash bulb then trip the shutter which will give you an exposure provided the solenoid is properly adjusted.

The solenoid adjustment procedure is in the Accessory Help section, flash bulbs are discussed under Articles and or Technical Information on the home page.

Thank you very much Seems I had all the setting correct. I have a 90mm lens I'll try I gues

Is there an ideal shutter and speed I should be using

Thank you

Flash bulbs 1/30 or slower.

Take a look at this page of the 1954 GE photolamp catalog
http://www.donsbulbs.com/bulbs/g623/l/ge1954/08.gif
Both a #5 and #11 have a 17 millisecond rise time to 2/3 of light output and on the fall drop to 2/3 of peak light output at 27 milliseconds leaving 10 milliseconds of burn time that is usable for film exposure. 0 to 16 and beyond 28 is too weak to expose the film .
10 milliseconds is 1/100 second, you might squeeze 1/60 second shutter speed at wide apertures and a perfectly synced shutter.