Okay, maybe the dumbest question I've asked in a long time...

But, where is the serial number on a Super Graphic? I've got the code under the rail, of E5B... I've got a stamped number on the back of the camera frame next to the flip up finder, but to me that looks like someone did that as an ID number? Did graflex stamp such sloppy numbers into the camera? If not, where's the serial number???

Thanks, and you can stop laughing now...

6 digits just above the battery case & below the optical view finder

Thank you! That's the number that looked like someone stamped it in for an ID type thing. It's also the only number on the camera that had a chance...

Although mine is 9 digits!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2005-12-24 21:51 ]</font>

Quote:

On 2005-03-09 21:08, 45PSS wrote: B4A=653079;D3A=651758

HUH?

Okay, maybe that's obvious, but sometimes my brain eeds additional help

Hmmm, maybe you're relating date codes to serial numbers? Still doesn't explain why my 'E5B" went up to 9 digits, unless they made an awful lot of cameras that year?


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: RichS on 2005-03-09 21:31 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2005-12-24 21:52 ]</font>

Maybe a photograph is in order.. of the serial number.

Quote:

On 2005-03-10 05:09, Gandolf wrote: Maybe a photograph is in order.. of the serial number.

Well I'll give it a try...




Turns out this was beyond the capabilities of my old digicam, so I laid the camera on top of my scanner and let it do the work. A bit scary on that thin sheet of glass....

But there's the 9 digit serial num, and it all looks like it came from the same stamp set by the same hand. Nothing obviously different about the numbers...

It looks like somebody's social security number. Here's the serial on my Super Speed


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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Les on 2005-03-11 06:51 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Les on 2005-03-11 06:53 ]</font>

My first thought was a SS number too, that's why I asked about where the serial nums were. Oddly enough, the "602465" would roughly coincide with the date that the camera may be made. That leaves the "504"... And I see on your camera, there is a '5' or 'S' in a similar position. Although your stamping looks much better than mine... Maybe it's just one of those Gralfex anomalies?

well the 2465 might (02/04/65) since the date code comes up as May of 65.

Does the frame show any kind of filing in the area? My numbers are deep enough that filing them off would show somewhere.

Anything else odd about the camera? Most of the time Graflex didn't bother numbering modified cameras in any special way.


Oh and the left character on my camera is an "S". For Super I 'spect.
Les

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Les on 2005-03-11 09:03 ]</font>

Okay, long examination with a 8x loupe...

The area with the numbers is in relatively bad shape. A lot of scoring and scratches. The corner almost looks like it was worked on with a rasp. But...

I measured the thickness of the band around the frame. It measures winting .001 all the way around. I doubt it's missing any material.

The original "polish", which is rather corse, can still be seen through all these scratches and scars.

There's abolutely no evidence that any other number ever existed in this area.

And these numbers are not only very cleany done, almost looking engraved, and paint filled (or some dark black). There's no evidence of any black fill in any of the scratches. So they probably predate the scaring in the area. And some of this damahe does extend into the number edges showing the damage happened after the numbers were put there.

My opinon would be that these are the only number that ever existed in this area. But I'm no expert for sure...

As far as anything else odd? Not that I notice, but it's the only Super I've ever seen close-up. As far sa I can tell, it's just an ordinary Super Speed...

Except for this...

In the service manual, there's a production change from serial number 646124.

Prior to this number, the wiring went from the connection to connection. After this number, they all meet on a terminal board on the inside of the body, on the right left side (looking into the body) and has a metal cover. I had assumed mine was the older model because of the serial number. But I have this metal cover and terminal board... So either Gralfex modified this camera, or it had a higher serial number...

Ahhh, Graflex....

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2005-12-24 21:52 ]</font>

Quote:

On 2005-03-11 19:09, 45PSS wrote: Rich, The serial numbers on my cameras match the size and placement in Les's picture. Look carefully at the numbers on yours compared to Les, the numbers on yours are LARGER and the last digit is mistruck also. Someone did a fair job modifing the number.

No doubt these are not standard Graflex numbers. But I still seriously doubt that any other numbers were removed. And considering the placement on Les' camera, the last digits would have been in a blank space on mine. I think there would be some evidence of their removal. The last digit is not the only one out of line either.

It leaves me with two ideas. The camera had no serial number and someone did stamp their SS# into it. Or it was hand stamped at the factory for some other purpose. A testing camera, military... Who knows? I suppose if we could compare the number to an existing SS# and then ask that person if they ever owned it we could have an answer. But for now, it's just an oddity...


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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: RichS on 2005-03-11 19:32 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2005-12-24 21:53 ]</font>