Went to camera show today and bought what I think is a pre-anniversary 4x5. Has pop up peep sight,and single focus knob. All metal work is gray and does not look repainted, is this right? Somehow the rangfinder looks newer, but has that odd to me linkage on the bed to move the RF. Has good leather,bellows, lens and shutter even works at 1 sec. Snuck it into camera room before wife finds out I have added to my collection. Russ

It is indeed a Pre-Ann. The single focus knob is the give away. During the war, all new material was going to the effort, but Graflex promoted their ReNEWal program well and many Pre-Anns and even Top Handle Speeds were "modernized" with new handles and RFs. The easy way to tell a modified Top Handle from a Pre Ann is the tapered bellows.

Les, Boy do I feel stupid, that camera is a 3x4, and we all know what that means. It had a 13.5cm lens and I just assumed it was a 4x5. Also has a spring back,so it will take the modern film holders for the unavailable film. S/N is 238049. I see Film for Classics has film for this thing, so guess I will pick up a couple film holders try this thing out. It has the exact lens/shutter shown on page 433 of the 7th edition of Graphic Graflex Photography. Boy what a depressing turn of events. Russ

"Snuck it into camera room before wife finds out I have added to my collection. Russ"

If you thought she would be mad over a WORKING camera, just wait until she learns it's only a doorstop! We'll add you to our prayer list.

Well, you know what you do if you are stuck with a Lemon, you make Lemonade. So today I am putting my inventing hat on. Will let you know how this plays out. Russ

Doorstop is ready for film. Mounted a RH-8 on a homemade board, and got the solenoid flash working. Russ