Graflex.org

[Seedsca]

Hi all,

First post and I'm very much looking forward to using this camera! Found it in a small town in Northern California. Antique mall under a table, barely noticeable. $40 did the trick!!

Been shooting film for a while but never large format, so this should be fun.

My questions:
1. I did run into an immediate issue when trying to trigger the focal plane shutter. It won't. I'm guessing the selector slide is not functioning, since even on the BACK setting it will trigger the lens shutter still triggers. I've cocked the winder to 500 and have the lens open (T). Anything I'm doing wrong here?

2. Pretty sure this has a Graflex back. Can it be converted to Graflok? Seems like it would need a bit of modification, but may work. Seems this would give me more options for the film used.



3. What is this custom(?) piece on the top of the lens and what does it do?

[Dan Fromm]

1) Here https://archive.org/details/stroboflash-service-manual/3A%20Graflex%20Servicing/ is a link to a site with, among other things, a 1947 Pacemaker Graphic user manual. About firing your focal plane shutter, stupid question of the day: Is it wound up?

2) Yes, that looks like a Graflex back. It should be held on by several screws. Graflok and spring backs are direct replacements, use the same screw holes. Finding a Graflok back may be a problem.

3) That thingy is a viewfinder. In Graflex-speak a tubular view finder. The piece of metal in front of the finder's front lens is a mask to crop the finder's field of view for a particular focal length. The mask goes into a slot in the frame at the front of the finder. There's a number stamped somewhere on it. Pull it out to find the number. The Rapid Vance .. Guidebook at the link I gave you above has a table that will tell you which focal length you finder's mask is for.

Good luck, have fun.

[Seedsca]

Thanks Dan! I'll have a thorough look at the PDF you shared.

1. Having looked at the manual, I am seeing that the body release should indeed trigger the focal-plane shutter. But it doesn't However, the manual also states that I can use the selector slide to trigger it!!! That does work. I may have to open the shutter plate cover to see why the body release isn't working on that setting. Progress...

2. Thanks for verifying. I do see some ******* on eBay, but they are about $150+. I may have to deal with what I have, which I assume is quite functional still. For the time being, at least.

3. The thing I was referring to is attached to the shutter release arm. It's stamped HR and has some kind of trigger on it. Haven't seen it yet on any web searches or manuals. I think it's a solenoid? Which means nothing to me.