I recently purchased a Crown Graphic at an estate sale. It has the Graflite flash attachment and I also inherited a whole bunch of flash bulbs. My question is how do I power the solenoid? Are there special batteries that fit in there?

"In there"? No, the power for the solenoid comes from the battery case for the flash by way of a cord from that case plugged directly into the bottom of the solenoid. See those holes? It's a very useful accessory. I love to use mine for remote shutter release with a long release cord plugged into the battery case. You need to review a Graflite Flash Manual. See John Craig books for copies.

Hi I am still learning about Graflite flash attachments. I got my copy of the Graflite Instruction Manual via the Large Format photo section on eBay. Later I was able to win an auction on eBay for an original manual for $7.25 (bid + shipping). Thanks Alec, now I know that those male plugs on some flash cords are for solenoids with female outlets. All my solenoids are HR and with male outlets. What brand are those solenoids with female outlets? Harry

Graflex has female outlets, Heiland Research (HR) put the pin on the solenoid.

Graflex made two models most will say Graflex 2 or Graflex 3, the number referring to the number of batteries it was designed for.

Is their any way to get a little more power out of the flash solenoid? Mine can't pull the shutter hard enough to release it. You can hit the flash button 4 or 5 times before the shutter fires. I tried adjusting the screw at the end of the solenoid but it didn't help

Hi Greg
You can add up to three extension tubes (6 D batteries-total) or maybe even more to your battery case. (Catalog No. 2774) I bought mine on eBay.
Harry

Alas there is no [help] for solenoids and these things just don't perform as well now that they are in their 60s as they did when they were in their prime.

The best thing you can to is to keep all of the contacts as clean as possible--the spring in the bottom of the case the contact at the top of the case, points of contact between batteries, there are even contacts from the spring to the case and the case to the plastic "comman center" in the top of the flash that should be cleaned.

32-600 sand paper works, Radio shack sells a fiberglass contact cleaning brush that works well too. Steel wool is a no no as the broken fibers can cause a short.

Check the number on the solenoid if its a Graflex (should be a 2 or 3) and stay with that number of batteries or they synchronizing may suffer.

Also don't screw that threaded top down so it keeps the linkage snug. The theory these work on is that the plunger is free to gain momentum before it hits the linkage. This is also where you get the 20 millisecond delay.

I checked the solenoid and it's a King Sol which is the same as the flash. Are replacement solenoids available? I took the lens out and put a minute amount of fine oil on the sear for the shutter. At least now it fires on the second push of the button. It just needs a little more force to work.

Greg
If you look on the back of your KING SOL solenoid you should see a small HR. If you are interested, checkout my Tilt-A-Mite post Reply tomorrow. It will cover field testing flashbulbs using a 22.5 volt driven 'B-C Cartridge' in combination with a HR solenoid.
Harry

Harry, I took the solenoid apart and lost the little screw that holds the 2 halves together. I just stuck a Kalart Speed Flash with a syncronizer on it till I can find the screw or get another.

I know it is too late now, but don't be so quick in tearing the solenoid apart. It may only need to be adjusted or relocated slightly!
Harry