I have a 3x4 Pacemaker Crown Graphic and would like to acquire a 3x4 Pacemaker Speed Graphic to use. Although I see 3x4 Anniversary Speed Graphics on E-bay, why do the the 3x4 Pacemaker Speed Graphics seem so scarce?
Peter

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Northport on 2003-05-25 19:49 ]</font>

Hello Northport,
Greetings from London..I recently bought a Pacemaker S.G. 2x3 from the States-wonderful (with 101mm OPTAR lens)came with a spring back,converted that to a 120 roll film back (23)on a permanent basis.The back came with the pin-rollers for flatness...the pictures are OUTSTANDING...the sharpness jumps from the film stock when you remove it from the Dev tank (b/w)...I've handled some cameras in my time-but this beats them all.
Why a shortage-perhaps collectors have found out something I found out-it's a knockout model.Mine was born in '47,silver front,Kalart Rangefinder...Northport,climb on your horse...and hunt it down like a rare stallion.Happy hunting to you.

Sorry,Northport,did'nt have my reading glasses on..it was the Pacemaker 3x4 you were talking about..OK,I've 2 of those,excellent as well.
...and yes,they do seem rare don't they,why did I punish myself by getting them because of the film size-well I do cut down 5x4 film with a jig I made up...or use a 120 roll film back.
It is something about a 3x4 camera (like the 2x3)that has something special about it,perhaps because the 5x4 is '2 a penny'and you don't come across the middle version much.
I'd be very interested to know if many were sold during the time the company was in production-and how many people still own this size.
Now,I must remember where I put my glasses down...Sorry,Again.

The only speed thats easy to find in the late pacemaker models is the 2x3. The 3x4 was a dying horse in the 50s, and the "miniature" cameras (35mm) were gaining on the outside. Most people had given up on the focal plane shutter. The crown was lighter, cheaper (depending onthe lens) and smaller. If you watch, you'll find more 4x5 Crown Specials than regular Crowns or Speeds in late 50s, 60s markings. why? Because they were cheaper!

Thanks to both Graflex Sid and Les. I was afraid that I might get the answer that Les gave; it was the obvious answer. Things are usually scarce because not many of that thing have been made.
Peter

Quote:

On 2003-05-26 01:58, Graflex Sid wrote:Pacemaker S.G. 2x3 from the States-wonderful (with 101mm OPTAR lens)came with a spring back,converted that to a 120 roll film back (23)on a permanent basis.

Hi Sid --
I have a Crown 23 that came with a spring back. I currently have a RH10 kludged onto it. How did you do your 'permanent basis'?
thanx,
-ls-

Hi,Larrys:
One of my 3x4 came with a Graflok back,the other a spring back,the latter I waited until a back came up on ebay,it did!Fixing the Graflok took a little patience,because of all the grime etc behind the camera.

Now,a different story with the 2x3,this came with a spring back.I was'nt bothered with film holders.I bought a "23" Graphic roll film back,as mentioned above,and super glued the back onto the camera after removing the spring back.
Here,it's known as Araldite Rapid solvent,you have to be careful where the glue goes keeping it to the edges.Frankly I was'nt too worried as Im not using the back shutter again!.Works a treat.

But on a 3x4 camera this might prove difficult if you use film holders and roll film backs-well,really,on any size camera.

With the S.G.you have 'choices',and the road I took,because I use it as a workhorse might not be the choice of a collector.

I just thought on a 2x3 it was more appropriate to do this,only because it came first with a spring back,and I could'nt be bothered to look for the other type.

There is a spring kit for the 2x3. I bought one at a outrageous price to mount a rollfilm adaptor. It is fairly easy to remove (2 screws). You can also make one out of an old hacksaw blade which work fairly well. You see those spring kits come up about once in a blue moon on E-bay. Russ

NORTHPORT,
check your private message(s).