I kept one 4x5 Graflex, the one my friend gave me when her dad died years ago. I have always used 4x5 film with it and now want to use a roll film back. I hate to appear 'stupid' but I am not sure which back I have on this camera. It has 2 metal slides that go back and forth. It lifts on the right side so I can put my sheet film in after I focus in my ground glass, which has a hood. I have a Singer Graflex 4x5 roll film back - but am not sure that it will work with this back.

I do not want to force the back, but when I pull the slides like I do on my Mamayia, the back doesn't lift off. Do you need a Singer back to use the roll film? Do I need a modification to my camera. I have a 4x5 Solar enlarger, but I have moved to a small home with a smaller darkroom, and would like to only use my Minolta enlarger that handles 35mm and 120 film. What do you think??? Thanks, Janet

By your description, on having two slides, it would suggest you have either a graflok or a graflex back on your camera, if you look on the top and the bottom of the glass focus panel, you should have a silver bar, that you can push down on and move the ground glass focus panel to the right, and it should disengage for the back on the camera, and then you can place your roll film back and use the sliders to hold it to the camera

Dave

Janet,
Sounds like a Graflok back....if it is, it is a two piece unit...push down on both of the side bars at the same time, and pull back to the right, the arms should
release from the back, and the ground glass frame now is a seperate component! And then roll film backs/Grafmatics/bag mags/polaroid 545 and 545i backs ect. can be used! Bert

Hey Thanks for the quick responses - I will do you suggestions and let you know. Thanks, Janet

I was going to suggest downloading the manual from my site for the explanation of the use of a Graflk back. Something made me check the manual. It does mention the Graflok, but no pics or good descriptions of it's use...

So, I dug out my TRF Pacemaker manual. It does contain all the pics and explanations. The difference may be that mine is from '68 or so and the one on the site is much older...

So, to make a long story even longer, the 'new' manual is now on the site for download. It contains quite good instructions for the Graflok, camera movements, flash use and everything else. Even the warranty card! Although filling it out and sending it in probably wouldn't do anyone much good

See:

http://www.southbristolviews.com

under Graflex Manuals. It's NOT the first one on the list...