I would like to find out approximately what manufacturing year this camera would be . Number on the top of the box is 187838 ?.
Also what is the flash sync rate for a focal plane shutter ? And finaly if somebody would know what activates the flash ? There is a plug on the top of the camera and the wires are cut off ,there is also a bracket on the left side of the camera ? Any help would be appreciated . Greg

The camera was made in 1935. Graflex did not syncronize focal plane shutters until much later.

Please include photos of the bracket and the plug.

Thank you very much for fast reply .Can I eMail you the picture ?

Many years ago, I had a pre-"Pacemaker" miniature "Speed Graphic" with a synchronized focal plane shutter. The synch contacts were at the top left of the back (two prongs protected by a shallow metal cylinder), and synchronization was by two contacts coming off the rear of these prongs, inside the back. The circuit was closed by metal plates affixed to the shutter curtain below the slits, shorting the contacts as it went by.

I never knew whether this was an OEM feature or something added later. It seemed pretty sophisticated, but not beyond the capabilities of a careful craftsman to implement.

The principal of focal plane shutter flash synchronization is that the bulb burns for a long enough time to provide steady illumination during the entire travel of the shutter curtain. Thus, you can synchronize at any shutter speed, but (naturally) less light gets through the narrow slits than the wide ones, so you have to adjust your exposure accordingly. The flashlamp packages and film instruction sheets were marked accordingly.

Quote:

On 2004-02-02 16:35, t.r.sanford wrote: Many years ago, I had a pre-"Pacemaker" miniature "Speed Graphic" with a synchronized focal plane shutter. The synch contacts were at the top left of the back (two prongs protected by a shallow metal cylinder), and synchronization was by two contacts coming off the rear of these prongs, inside the back. The circuit was closed by metal plates affixed to the shutter curtain below the slits, shorting the contacts as it went by. I never knew whether this was an OEM feature or something added later. It seemed pretty sophisticated, but not beyond the capabilities of a careful craftsman to implement. The principal of focal plane shutter flash synchronization is that the bulb burns for a long enough time to provide steady illumination during the entire travel of the shutter curtain. Thus, you can synchronize at any shutter speed, but (naturally) less light gets through the narrow slits than the wide ones, so you have to adjust your exposure accordingly. The flashlamp packages and film instruction sheets were marked accordingly.

I've had a Mini too, and have seen Graflok backs to be retrofitted to Minis. They had flash contacts etc. in the same position as the Mini's original spring (Graphic) back. And my Mini had the little metal plates on the shutter too. OEM all the way.

Cheers,

Dan