Hi Gandalf...Would like an approximate date of birth for my "new" 4x5 Anniversary Speed Graphic. I assume the serial number is the one on the inside of the top of the camera. It is 401843. Spring back, Kalart Side Rangefinder, Wollensak Anastigmat 127mm f/4.7 lens in Supermatic shutter w/mounted solenoid release.
Thanks,
SobahGuy

Where is Gandalf these days? He doesn't seem to check in as frequently as he was in days gone by.
Does anyone else have serial number information available?

While it does not provide a fine way of dating the cameras, Mckeown's does list a table of serial number ranges with date ranges. Their ranges end in 1947. Your camera falls into this last range, serial 351,512 through 457,139 with the date range of 7/30/45 through 1947. Seems like your number is in the middle of the pack, so call it 1946. You did not mention if your camera had chrome or black hardware; that would hint at wartime or postwar production.

The lens and shutter may not be original; I have not heard of the Wollensak lenses being sold with Graphics under their own name. The Optars were out by that time, I believe. The Wolly in a Supermatic is a bit odd, at least in my experience. Does the shutter have "Graphic" engraved on its face?

The solenoid mechanism could have been added at any time, which was a common modification.

Quote:

On 2005-04-19 16:10, disemjg wrote: You did not mention if your camera had chrome or black hardware; that would hint at wartime or postwar production.

It has chrome hardware on it, not black. So that would mean post-1945? Appears so, since the serial# would date it after 1945, as you mentioned.

Quote:

On 2005-04-19 16:10, disemjg wrote: The lens and shutter may not be original; I have not heard of the Wollensak lenses being sold with Graphics under their own name. The Optars were out by that time, I believe. The Wolly in a Supermatic is a bit odd, at least in my experience. Does the shutter have "Graphic" engraved on its face?

I was in slight error and a bit incomplete in my first post on this thread. It is a Wollensak VELOSTIGMAT not an Anastigmat. It is in a No.2 Supermatic shutter with "GRAPHIC" engraved on it near the high speed indicators and release lever. The shutter is also un-synchronized for flash...no "X"...no "M" sync...no biposts. So this leads me to believe the solenoid was probably on it from the start for bulb sync and remote tripping.

Quote:

On 2005-04-19 16:10, disemjg wrote: The solenoid mechanism could have been added at any time, which was a common modification.

It certainly could have been, but as I mentioned above the solenoid is needed for 20-millisecond bulb sync. All that I needed to do to get the solenoid to trip the shutter was to turn the adjusting cap a few turns downward and now it atleast trips the shutter from the battery case. I have no means of timing it at exactly 20ms, except by sight thru the lens, so for now i'm just using it to trip the front shutter.

Thanks, disemjg, for the reply!!!

Quote:

On 2005-04-10 19:08, sobahguy wrote: Hi Gandalf...Would like an approximate date of birth for my "new" 4x5 Anniversary Speed Graphic. I assume the serial number is the one on the inside of the top of the camera. It is 401843.SobahGuy

1946