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Hidden serial number on Press Graflex?

 
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bruiser



Joined: 15 Oct 2006
Posts: 260
Location: Northern NSW Australia

PostPosted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:11 am    Post subject: Hidden serial number on Press Graflex? Reply with quote

Hi all,

A little while someone mentioned on a forum here (maybe it was a little off topic as I have searched and can't find it) that the serial number of their Press Graflex was hiding somewhere. I have the same problem, having virtually disassembled the camera trying to find it. Can't see it behind the hood, on the hood frame, inside the back or inside the front.

If anyone has another 'secret spot' or if the original poster found his serial number somewhere can you please let me know!

Cheers,
Bruce
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bbjorkum



Joined: 14 Aug 2007
Posts: 8
Location: Norway

PostPosted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't think there is one.
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45PSS



Joined: 28 Sep 2001
Posts: 4081
Location: Mid Peninsula, Ca.

PostPosted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 3:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Every Graflex/Graphic camera has a serial number on it somewhere, but where is the mystery.

Bruiser, I assume you have seen this post:
http://graflex.org/helpboard/viewtopic.php?t=5522&highlight=press+graflex

You may need to remove the view hood and ground glass and check the lip of the opening or inside the box. A recent post on Photo.net had a mid 1920's RB Auto's serial number on the bed. It may be on the inside of the front standard behind the lens board. It will be embossed into the wood or ink stamped.
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bruiser



Joined: 15 Oct 2006
Posts: 260
Location: Northern NSW Australia

PostPosted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 5:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks 45PSS, that's the one I was searching for but couldn't find. Silly me, I was searching in Reflex Help, where I thought it would be!

Guess I'll have to pull the old thing apart even more as the serial number sure is NOT in an accessible place. I've even had an LED light and dental mirror probing it's nether regions but no luck yet.

So I'll try again tonight.

Cheers for the reply,
Bruce
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bbjorkum



Joined: 14 Aug 2007
Posts: 8
Location: Norway

PostPosted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 8:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, I did find a number on the inside top of the lid. Reads 173593 in large friendly numbers.
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45PSS



Joined: 28 Sep 2001
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 7:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Well, I did find a number on the inside top of the lid. Reads 173593 in large friendly numbers.


RB Series D June/July 1930.
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bbjorkum



Joined: 14 Aug 2007
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Location: Norway

PostPosted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 8:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Now, what's the code? It was indeed a series d.


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Dan Fromm



Joined: 14 May 2001
Posts: 2119
Location: New Jersey

PostPosted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 8:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There's no code. There is, however, an unofficial Graflex serial number book. According to it the block of serial numbers 173570- 173819, for 250 4x5 RB Ser. Ds, was assigned June 17, 1930. The next block of 4x5 RB Ser. D serial numbers was assigned Feb 16, 1931.

There's no guarantee that all of the numbers in a block were used, but in this case odds are the camera was made between the two dates above.

Until the very late 1940s, it seems that Graflex and predecessors assigned serial numbers sequentially, in blocks. A pre-1950 or so s/n carries no information about which model it was assigned to.

Cheers,

Dan
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